2001 HONDA CIVIC light

Modif ying your car, or installing
some non-Honda accessories, can
make your car unsaf e. Bef ore you
make any modif ications or add any
accessories,besuretoreadthe
f ollowing inf ormation.
Your dealer has Genuine Honda
accessories that allow you to
personalize your car. These
accessories have been designed and
approved f or your car, and are
covered by warranty.
Non-Honda accessories are usually
designed f or universal applications.
Although aftermarket accessories
may f it on your car, they may not
meet f actory specif ications, and
could adversely af f ect your car’s
handling and stability. (See
‘‘Modif ications’’ on the page f or
additional information.)When properly installed, cellular
phones, alarms, two-way radios, and
low-powered audio systems should
not interf ere with your car’s
computer-controlled systems, such
as the SRS and anti-lock brake
system.
If possible, have your dealer inspect
the f inal installation.Have the installer contact your
Honda dealer f or assistance bef ore
installing any electronic accessory.
Be sure electronic accessories do
not overload electrical circuits
(see page ).
Make sure the accessory does not
obscure any lights, or interf ere
with proper car operation or
perf ormance.
Bef ore installing any accessory:
However, if electronic accessories
are improperly installed, or exceed
your car’s electrical system capacity,
they can interfere with the operation
of your car, or even cause the
airbags to deploy.
168 281
A ccessories
A ccessories and Modif ications
Bef ore Driving
167
Improper accessories or
modifications can affect your
car’s handling, stability and
performance, and cause a
crash in which you can be hurt
or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner’s manual regarding
accessories and modifications.

ÎÎÎÎ
ÎÎ
ÎÎYour car has several convenient
storage areas so you can stow cargo
saf ely.
However, carrying too much cargo,
or improperly storing it, can af f ect
your car’s handling, stability and
operation and make it unsafe. Before
carrying any type of cargo, be sure to
read the f ollowing pages.
The glove box, and the pockets in
the front doors and seat-back, are
designed f or small, lightweight items.
The trunk is intended f or larger,
heavier items. In addition, the back
seatcanbefoldeddowntoallowyou
to carry more cargo or longer items.
Carrying Cargo
Bef ore Driving
169
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11

Make sure all windows, mirrors,
and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove f rost, snow,
or ice.
Check that the hood and trunk are
f ully closed.Make sure the doors are securely
closed and locked.
Check that any items you may be
carrying with you inside are stored
properly or f astened down
securely.
Visually check the tires. If a tire
looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure. Check the adjustment of the seat
(see page ).
Check the adjustment of the
inside and outside mirrors (see
page ).
Check the adjustment of the
steering wheel (see page ).Turn the ignition switch ON (II).
Check the indicator lights in the
instrument panel.
Start the engine (see page ).
Check the gauges and indicator
lights in the instrument panel (see
page ).
Fasten your seat belt. Check that
your passengers have f astened
their seat belts (see page ).
Youshoulddothefollowingchecks
and adjustments every day bef ore
you drive your car. 1. 2. 3. 4.
9.
10.
8.
7.
6.
5.
11.
12.
98 90
75 16
175
59
Preparing to Drive
Driving
174

µMake sure the moonroof and the
windows are closed.
Make sure the parking brake is f ully
released bef ore driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or damage
the rear brakes. Turn of f the lights.
Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the trunk or take them with you.
Lockthedoorswiththekeyorthe
remote transmitter.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other f lammable
materials. The three way catalytic
converter gets very hot, and could
cause these materials to catch on
fire.
Always use the parking brake when
you park your car. The indicator on
the instrument panel shows that the
parking brake is not f ully released; it
does not indicate that the parking
brakeisfirmlyset.Makesurethe
parking brake is set f irmly or your
car may roll if it is parked on an
incline.
If your car has an automatic
transmission, set the parking brake
bef ore you put the transmission in
Park.Thiskeepsthecarfrom
moving and putting pressure on the
parking mechanism in the
transmission making it easier to
move the shift lever out of Park
when you want to drive away. If the car is f acing uphill, turn the
f ront wheels away f rom the curb. If
you have a manual transmission, put
it in f irst gear.
If the car is f acing downhill, turn the
f ront wheels toward the curb. If you
have a manual transmission, put it in
reverse gear.
Parking
Parking T ips
Driving183

Check your brakes af ter driving
through deep water. Apply the
brakes moderately to see if they f eel
normal. If not, apply them gently and
f requently until they do. Since a
longer distance is needed to stop
with wet brakes, be extra cautious
and alert in your driving.
Constant application of the brakes
when going down a long hill builds
up heat and reduces their ef f ective-
ness. Use the engine to assist the
brakes by downshif ting to a lower
gear and taking your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal.
All Civics are equipped with f ront
disc brakes. The brakes on the rear
wheels are drum. A power assist
helps reduce the ef f ort needed on
the brake pedal.
Put your f oot on the brake pedal only
when you intend to brake. Resting
your f oot on the pedal keeps the
brakes applied lightly, causing them
to build up heat. Heat build-up can
reduce how well your brakes work. It
also keeps your brake lights on all
the time, conf using drivers behind
you. When the brake pads need replacing,
you will hear a distinctive metallic
‘‘screeching’’ sound when you apply
the brakes. If you do not have the
brake pads replaced, they will begin
screeching all the time.
Your brakes may sometimes squeal
or squeak when you apply them
lightly. Do not conf use this with the
brake wear indicators. They make a
very audible ‘‘screeching.’’
The f ront disc brakes on all models
have audible brake wear indicators.
Brake Wear Indicators
The Braking System
Driving
184

µ
µ Being able to see
clearly in all directions and being
visible to other drivers are important
in all weather conditions. This is
more difficult in bad weather. To be
seen more clearly during daylight
hours, turn on your headlights.
Inspect your windshield wipers and
washers f requently. Keep the wind-
shield washer reservoir f ull of the
proper f luid. Have the windshield
wiper blades replaced if they start to
streak the windshield or leave parts
unwiped. Use the def rosters and air
conditioning to keep the windows
f rom f ogging up on the inside (see
page ).
Exercise extra caution when driving
in rain af ter a long dry spell. Af ter
months of dry weather, the f irst
rains bring oil to the surf ace of the
roadway, making it slippery.
Rain, f og, and snow conditions
require a dif f erent driving technique
because of reduced traction and
visibility. Keep your car well-
maintained and exercise greater
caution when you need to drive in
bad weather. The cruise control
should not be used in these
conditions. Always drive
slower than you would in dry
weather. It takes your car longer to
react, even in conditions that may
seem just barely damp. Apply
smooth, even pressure to all the
controls. Abrupt steering wheel
movements or sudden, hard appli-
cation of the brakes can cause loss of
control in wet weather. Be extra
cautious f or the f irst f ew miles
(kilometers) of driving while you
adjust to the change in driving
conditions. This is especially true in
snow. A person can f orget some
snow-driving techniques during the
summer months. Practice is needed
to relearn those skills. 111
Driving in Bad Weather
Driving Visibility
Driving T echnique
188

This section also includes
Maintenance Schedules f or normal
driving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions f or simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself .
If you have the skills and tools to per-
f orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your Honda, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your Honda
dealer.
This section explains why it is
important to keep your car well
maintained and to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.
......................
Maintenance Saf ety . 192
.
Important Safety Precautions . 193
.................
Maintenance Schedule . 194 ....................
Maintenance Record . 201
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 203
..............................
Fluid Locations . 204
......................................
Engine Oil . 205
..................................
Adding Oil . 205
....................
Recommended Oil . 205
..............................
Synthetic Oil . 205
....................................
Additives . 205
.....
Changing the Oil and Filter . 207
.............................
Cooling System . 209
............
Adding Engine Coolant . 209
.......
Replacing Engine Coolant . 211
....................
Windshield Washers . 215
.......................
Transmission Fluid . 216
Automatic .........................
Transmission . 216
5-speed Manual
.........................
Transmission . 217
................
Brake and Clutch Fluid . 218
............................
Brake System . 218
...........................
Clutch System . 219
..............................
Power Steering . 220
.....................
Air Cleaner Element . 221
....................................
Hood Latch . 222
....................................
Spark Plugs . 223
..............................
Replacement . 223 ............................
Specif ications . 225
...........................................
Battery . 226
.................................
Wiper Blades . 228
..............
Air Conditioning System . 230
.................
Air Conditioning Filter . 231
.....................................
Drive Belts . 233
....................................
Timing Belt . 233
...............................................
Tires . 234
......................................
Inf lation . 234
Recommended Tire Pressures ...........
f or Normal Driving . 235
Tire Pressure Adjustment f or ..........
High Speed Driving . 235
..................................
Inspection . 236
..............................
Maintenance . 236
.............................
Tire Rotation . 237
...
Replacing Tires and Wheels . 238
......................
Wheels and Tires . 239
..........................
Winter Driving . 239
.............................
Snow Tires . 239
...................
Traction Devices . 240
.............................................
Lights . 241
.....................
Headlight Aiming . 243
........................
Replacing Bulbs . 243
...........................
Storing Your Car . 251
309
Maintenance
Maint enance
191

µ
Î ÎÌÌÌ
Î
ÌÎÌ
Maint enance
198 Service at the indicated distance or time whichever comes first. miles x
1,000
km x 1,000
months Replace every 5,000 miles (8,000 km) or 6 months
Service the following items at the recommended intervals
Every 36 months
At 120,000 miles (192,000 km) or 120 months,
then every 60,000 miles (96,000 km) or 60 months Every 110,000 miles (176,000 km) or 84 months
Inspect every 110,000 miles (176,000 km), otherwise adjust only if noisy Every 110,000 miles (176,000 km)
Every 15,000 miles (24,000 km) in dusty conditions,
otherwise use normal schedule
1016
2032304840645080609670
112 80
128 90
144 100160110176120192
See information on maintenance and emissions warranty, last column, page .
See Air Conditioning Filter on page for replacement information under special driving conditions.
See timing belt on page to determine need for replacement.
Replace engine oil and filter
Rotate tires (Check tire inflation and condition at least once per month)
Inspect front and rear brakes
Lubricate locks and hinges
Visually inspect the following items:
Tie rod ends, steering gear box and boots, Suspension components
Driveshaft boots
Check parking brake adjustment
Visually inspect the following items: Brake hoses and lines (including ABS)
All fluid levels and condition of fluids
Cooling system hoses and connectionsExhaust system, Fuel lines and connections
Lights and controls, Vehicle underbody
Inspect and adjust drive belts
Replace air conditioning filter
Replace transmission fluid
Replace air cleaner element
Replace spark plugs
Inspect valve clearance
Replace timing belt , and inspect water pump
Inspect idle speed
Replace engine coolant
Replace brake fluid 24 48 72
12 36 60
MT AT
1:2: : 231
233 195
1
2Maintenance Schedule for Severe Conditions