2001 HONDA CIVIC charging

This light has two f unctions:This light normally comes on f or a
f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch ON (II), and when
the ignition switch is turned to
START (III). If this light comes on at
any other time, there is a problem in
theABS.If thishappens,takethe
cartoyourdealertohaveitchecked.
With the light on, your car still has
normal braking ability but no anti-
lock. For complete inf ormation, see
page .
If this light comes on when the
engine is running, the battery is not
being charged. For complete
inf ormation, see page .
The engine can be severely damaged
if this light f lashes or stays on when
the engine is running. For complete
inf ormation, see page .
This indicator comes on when you
turn the ignition switch ON (II). It
is a reminder to check the parking
brake. Driving with the parking
brake not f ully released can
damage the brakes and tires.
If the indicator remains lit after
you have f ully released the
parking brake while the engine is
running, or if it comes on while
driving, it can indicate a problem
in the brake system. For complete
inf ormation, see page .
1. 2.
276
275 279187
Only on models equipped with ABS (see
page ) 185
Parking Brake
and Brake
System
Indicator Anti-lock Brake
System (A BS)
Indicator
Charging System
Indicator
L ow Oil Pressure
Indicator
Indicator L ights
Inst rument s and Cont rols
62 U.S. Canada
U.S. Canada

µ
If the terminals are severely cor-
roded, clean them with baking soda
and water. Then use a wrench to
loosen and remove the cables f rom
the terminals. Always disconnect the
negative ( ) cable f irst and recon-
nect it last. Clean the battery termi-
nals with a terminal cleaning tool or
wire brush. Reconnect and tighten
the cables, then coat the terminals
with grease. If you need to connect the battery to
a charger, disconnect both cables to
prevent damage to the car’s
electrical system.
If your car’s battery is disconnected
or goes dead, the audio system will
disableitself.Thenexttimeyouturn
on the radio you will see ‘‘ ’’
in the f requency display. Use the
Preset buttons to enter the five-digit
code (see page ).157
On EX and Canadian LX models
Battery
Maint enance227
The battery gives off explosive
hydrogen gas during normaloperation.
A spark or flame can cause the
battery to explode with enough
force to kill or seriously hurt you.
Wear protective clothing and a
face shield, or have a skilled
mechanic do the batterymaintenance.
Charging the battery with the cables
connected can seriously damage your
car’s electronic controls. Detach the
battery cables bef ore connecting the
battery to a charger.

Periodically check the engine’s
radiator and air conditioning
condenser f or leaves, insects, and
dirt stuck to the f ront surf ace. These
block the air f low and reduce cooling
ef f iciency. Use a light spray f rom a
hose or a sof t brush to remove them.If the air conditioning does not get as
cold as before, have your dealer
check the system. Recharge the
system with Ref rigerant HFC-134a
(R-134a). (See Specif ications on page
.)
Run the air conditioning at least once
a week during the cold weather
months. Run it f or at least ten
minutes while you are driving at a
steady speed with the engine at
normal operating temperature. This
circulates the lubricating oil con-
tained in the ref rigerant.
Your car’s air conditioning is a sealed
system. Any major maintenance,
such as recharging, should be done
by a qualif ied mechanic. You can do
a couple of things to make sure the
air conditioning works ef f iciently.
293Optional for Canadian DX, LX, models
A ir Condit ioning Syst em
Maint enance
230
AAIIRRCCOONNDDIITTIIOONNIINNGGCCOONNDDEENNSSEERR Whenever you have the air conditioning
system serviced, make sure the service
f acility uses a ref rigerant recycling
system. This system captures the
ref rigerant f or reuse. Releasing
ref rigerant into the atmosphere can
damage the environment.
The condenser and radiator f ins bend
easily. Only use a low-pressure spray
or sof t-bristle brush to clean them.

This section covers the more-
common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you inf ormation about how to
safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has
stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again.
If not, you will also f ind instructions
on getting your car towed.......................
Compact Spare Tire . 262
....................
Changing a Flat Tire . 263
..........
If Your Engine Won’t Start . 268
Nothing Happens or the StarterMotor Operates Very .....................................
Slowly . 268
The Starter Operates ................................
Normally . 269
................................
Jump Starting . 270
............
If Your Engine Overheats . 272
.........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 275
..........
Charging System Indicator . 276
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 277
.......................
Readiness Codes . 278
...............
Brake System Indicator . 279
..................
Closing the Moonroof . 280
..............................................
Fuses . 281
..........
Checking and Replacing . 282
......................
Emergency Towing . 286
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed 261

This indicator should come on when
the ignition switch is ON (II), and go
out af ter the engine starts. If it
comes on brightly when the engine
is running, it indicates that the
charging system has stopped
charging the battery.By eliminating as much of the
electrical load as possible, you can
drive several miles (kilometers)
before the battery is too discharged
to keep the engine running. Drive to
a service station or garage where
you can get technical assistance.
Immediately turn of f all electrical
accessories: radio, heater, A/C, rear
def ogger, cruise control, etc. Try not
to use other electrically-operated
controls such as the power windows.
Keep the engine running and take
extra care not to stall it. Starting the
engine will discharge the battery
rapidly.
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Charging System Indicator
276
CCHHAARRGGIINNGGSSYYSSTTEEMMIINNDDIICCAATTOORR

CONT INUED
...
Accessories and Modif ications . 167
................................
Accessories . 167
...
Additional Safety Precaution . 168
............................
Modif ications . 168
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key .......................................
Position) . 83
.............
Accessory Power Socket . 102
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 206
.............................
Airbag (SRS) . 10, 48
.....................
Air Cleaner Element . 221
..............
Air Conditioning System . 106
......................
Maintenance . 230, 231
.........................................
Usage . 106
.......................
Air Outlets (Vents) . 108
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires . 234
..................
High Speed Driving . 235
.........................
Normal Driving . 235
.......................
Alcohol in Gasoline . 296
......................................
Antif reeze . 209
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
....................
Indicator Light . 62, 187
...................................
Operation . 185
Anti-thef t Steering Column ..............................................
Lock . 82 ..........................
Appearance Care . 253
................
Audio System . 114, 126, 138
...............
Automatic Speed Control . 76
..............
Automatic Transmission . 178
..........................
Capacity,Fluid .292
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 216
.......................................
Shif ting . 179
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 178
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 179
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 182
Battery Charging System ...........................
Indicator . 62, 276
............................
Jump Starting . 270
..............................
Maintenance . 226
............................
Specif ications . 293
..............................
Bef ore Driving . 159
....................................
Belts,Seat .8,44
...........................
Beverage Holder . 101
.................................
Body Repairs . 260
Brakes
...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) . 185
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 160 ............
Bulb Replacement . 246, 247
...........................................
Fluid . 218
.........................................
Parking . 99
.................
System Indicator . 62, 279
........................
Wear Indicators . 184
.............................
Braking System . 184
........................
Break-in, New Car . 160
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 71
........................
Brights, Headlights . 70
Bulb Replacement
..........................
Back-up Lights . 247
..............................
Brake Lights . 246
..............................
Ceiling Light . 250
................
Front Parking Lights . 244
........
Front Side Marker Lights . 244
.................................
Headlights . 243
.........
High-mount Brake Light . 247
.................
License Plate Lights . 248
.........
Rear Side Marker Lights . 246
............................
Specif ications . 293
...................................
Spotlights . 250
...............................
Trunk Light . 249
....................
Turn Signal Lights . 244
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen . 243
Index
A
B
I

Î
............................
Capacities Chart . 292
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 54
.............................
Carrying Cargo . 169
Cassette Player
............................................
Care . 156
...................
Operation . 120, 132, 153
..............
CAUTION, Explanation of . ii
..................
CD Changer . 123, 135, 149
......................
CD Player . 123, 135, 147
..................................
Ceiling Light . 103
........................
Certif ication Label . 290
............................................
Chains . 240
....................
Changing a Flat Tire . 263
............
Changing Engine Coolant . 211
Changing Oil
........................................
How to . 207
......................................
When to . 194
...
Charging System Indicator . 62, 276
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving . 174
.....................................
Child Saf ety . 21
Child Seats
.......................
Lower Anchorage . 42
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 41
..................
Childproof Door Locks . 88 ....................
Cleaner Element, Air . 221
Cleaning
......................................
Exterior . 254
.......................................
Interior . 256
...................................
Seat Belts . 257
...........................................
Vinyl . 257
....................................
Windows . 258
.........
Clock, Setting the . 119, 131, 143
...................................
Clutch Fluid . 219
........................
CO in the Exhaust . 298
............
Cold Weather, Starting in . 175
..............................
Compact Spare . 262
...............
Consumer Inf ormation . 304
.............
Controls, Instruments and . 57
Coolant
........................................
Adding . 209
....................................
Checking . 165
.........................
Proper Solution . 209
...................................
Replacing . 211
...................
Temperature Gauge . 68
....................
Corrosion Protection . 259
Crankcase Emissions Control
........................................
System . 298
..............
Cruise Control Operation . 76
..........
Customer Relations Of f ice . 304 ................
DANGER, Explanation of . ii
...................................
Dashboard . 2, 58
................
Daytime Running Lights . 71
............
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety . 308
........................
Def og and Def rost . 111
................
Def ogger, Rear Window . 74
..............
Def rosting the Windows . 111
....................................
Dimensions . 292
...............
Dimming the Headlights . 71
Dipstick
..........
Automatic Transmission . 216
..................................
Engine Oil . 164
..........................
Directional Signals . 72
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 184
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil . 208
Doors
..............
Locking and Unlocking . 83
......................
Power Door Locks . 84
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 294
Downshif ting, 5-speed Manual
.............................
Transmission . 176
.....................................
Drive Belts . 233
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 5
Index
C D
II

CONT INUED
...........................................
Driving . 173
....................................
Economy . 166
.........................
In Bad Weather . 188
................
In Foreign Countries . 297
............................
Fabric, Cleaning . 257
...................................
Fan, Interior . 106
Features, Comfort and
..............................
Convenience . 105
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 161
Filters
................................
Air Cleaner . 221
.......................
Air Conditioning . 231
...............................................
Oil . 207 5-speed Manual Transmission
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 217
................................
Shif ting the . 176
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 74
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 263
Fluids
..........
Automatic Transmission . 216
..........................................
Brake . 218
.........................................
Clutch . 219
..............
Manual Transmission . 217
..........................
Power Steering . 220
..................
Windshield Washer . 215
FM Stereo Radio ...................................
Reception . 145
...........................
Folding Rear Seat . 93
.....
Foreign Countries, Driving in . 297
..........................
Four-way Flashers . 74
.................................................
Fuel . 160
......................
Fill Door and Cap . 161
...........................................
Gauge . 67
................
Octane Requirement . 160
...............................
Oxygenated . 296
........................
Reserve Indicator . 63
........................
Tank, Filling the . 161
.....................
Fuses, Checking the . 282
..............................
Economy, Fuel . 166
............
Emergencies on the Road . 286
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 270
...........
Brake System Indicator . 279
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 263
.....
Charging System Indicator . 276
..................
Checking the Fuses . 282
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 275
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 277
...
Manually Closing Moonroof . 279
..................
Overheated Engine . 272
...........................
Emergency Brake . 99
......................
Emergency Flashers . 74
......................
Emergency Towing . 286
.......................
Emissions Controls . 298
.............
Emissions Testing, State . 301Engine
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 68
.................................
Drive Belts . 233 Malf unction Indicator
................................
Lamp . 63, 277
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 62, 275
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 205
...............................
Overheating . 272
............................
Specif ications . 292
.......................................
Starting . 175
......
Engine Speed Limiter . 177, 181
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline . 296
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 298
...............................
Exhaust Fumes . 54
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................
Belts by . 19
..................
Exterior, Cleaning the . 254
Index
E
F
III