2001 HONDA CIVIC SEDAN stop start

Push the lever up to lock the
steering wheel in that position.
Make sure you have securely
locked the steering wheel in place
by trying to move it up and down.
Move the steering wheel to the
desired position, making sure the
wheel points toward your chest,
not toward your f ace. Make sure
you can see the instrument panel
gauges and the indicator lights. Push the lever under the steering
column all the way down.
To adjust the steering wheel upward
or downward:
Make any steering wheel adjustment
bef ore you start driving.
1.4. 3.
2.
See page f or important saf ety inf ormation about how to properlyposition the steering wheel. 17
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Steering Wheel A djustment
75
Adjusting the steering wheel
position while driving may
cause you to lose control of the
car and be seriously injured in a
crash.
Adjust the steering wheel only
when the car is stopped.

When the interior has cooled down
to a more comf ortable temperature,
close the windows and set the
controls as described f or normal
cooling.Air conditioning places an extra load
on the engine. Watch the engine
coolant temperature gauge (see page
) when driving in stop-and-go
traf f ic or climbing a long, steep hill.
If it moves near the red zone, turn
of f the A/C until the gauge reads
normally.
If the interior is very warm f rom
beingparkedinthesun,youcancool
it down more rapidly by setting up
the controls this way: Turn on the A/C by pressing the
button. The light in the button
comesonwhenafanspeedis
selected.
Make sure the temperature
control dial is all the way to the left.
Select .
If the outside air is humid, select
Recirculation mode. If the outside
air is dry, select Fresh Air mode.
Set the f an to the desired speed.
Start the engine.
Turn on the A/C by pressing the
button. Make sure the tempera-
ture control dial is turned all the
way to the left.
Set the f an to maximum speed.
Open the windows partially. Select
and Fresh Air mode.
1.
2.
3.
4. 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
68
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Heating and Cooling
T o Cool wit h A /C
110
A AI
IRR C
COON NDDI
ITT I
IOON NIINNG G
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N
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M O
ODDE
E C
COON NTTR
RO OL L D
DI
IAA L
L
T
T E
EM
M P
PE
ER
RA A T
TU
UR REE
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CO ON NTTR
RO OL L D
DI
IAA L
L
F
FA A N
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COON NTTR
RO OL L D
DI
IAA L
L R
RE
EC
CI IRRC CUUL LAA T
TI
IOON N B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N
R
REEA
A R
R W
WI INND DO
OW W
D
D E
EF
FOOG GGGEER
R
B
BU UT TT
TO
ON N

µ
CONT INUED
Do this:
Press the brake pedal and
press the release button.
Press the release button.
Move the lever.
3 To shift from:
PtoR
RtoP
NtoR
Dto2
2toD
DtoD DtoN
DtoD NtoDRtoN
This position mechani-
cally locks the transmission. Use
Park whenever you are turning of f or
starting the engine. To shif t out of
Park, you must press on the brake
pedal and have your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal. Press the release
buttononthefrontof theshiftlever
to move it.
The shif t lever has six positions. It
must be in Park or Neutral to start
the engine. When you are stopped in
D, D , 2, N or R, press f irmly on the
brake pedal, and keep your f oot of f
the accelerator pedal.
3
3
3
3
Automatic Transmission
Driving
Shif t L ever Positions
Park (P)
179

µ
µ µ
If you have done all of the above and
still cannot move the lever out of
Park, see Shif t Lock Release on page
.
You must also press the release
button to shift into Park. To avoid
transmission damage, come to a
complete stop bef ore shif ting into
Park. The shif t lever must be in Park
bef ore you can remove the key f rom
the ignition switch. To shif t to Reverse
f rom Park, see the explanation under
Park. To shif t to Reverse f rom
Neutral, come to a complete stop and
then shift. Press the release button
bef ore shif ting into Reverse f rom
Neutral.
Use Neutral if you
need to restart a stalled engine, or if
it is necessary to stop brief ly with
the engine idling. Shif t to Park posi-
tion if you need to leave the car for
any reason. Press on the brake pedal
when you are moving the shif t lever
f rom Neutral to another gear. Use this position f or
your normal driving. The transmis-
sion automatically selects a suitable
gear f or your speed and acceleration.
You may notice the transmission
shif ting up at higher speeds when
the engine is cold. This helps the
engine warm up f aster.
182
Automatic Transmission
Driving
Reverse (R)
Neutral (N) Drive (D)
180

µµThis position is similar
to D , except only the first three
gears are selected. Use D to provide
engine braking when going down a
steep hill. D can also keep the
transmission f rom cycling between
third and f ourth gears in stop-and-go
driving.
ForfasteraccelerationwheninD or
D , you can get the transmission to
automatically downshif t by pushing
the accelerator pedal to the floor.
The transmission will shif t down one
or two gears, depending on your
speed. If you exceed the maximum speed
f or the gear you are in, the engine
speed will enter into the tachometer’s
red zone. If this occurs, you may f eel
the engine cut in and out. This is
caused by a limiter in the engine’s
computer controls. The engine will
run normally when you reduce the
RPM below the red zone.
To shif t to Second,
pressthereleasebuttononthefront
of the shif t lever. This position locks
the transmission in second gear. It
does not downshif t to f irst gear
when you come to a stop. Second
gives you more power when climbing,
and increased engine braking when
going down steep hills. Use second
gear when starting out on a slippery
surf ace or in deep snow. It will help
reduce wheelspin.
If you exceed the maximum speed
f or the gear you are in, you may f eel
the engine cut in and out. This is
caused by a limiter in the engine’s
computer controls. The engine will
run normally when you reduce the
engine speed by upshif ting or
slowing down.
43
3
3
4On EX and LX models
On DX model
Automatic Transmission
Driving
Drive (D ) Engine Speed L imiter
Second (2)3
181

Start the engine and hold it at
1,500 rpm until the radiator f an
comes on. Turn of f the engine.
Check the coolant level in the
radiator and add coolant if needed.
Install the radiator cap, and
tighten it fully.
If necessary, f ill the reserve tank
to the MAX mark. Install the
reserve tank cap.
Start the engine and let it run until
the radiator fan comes on two
times. Then stop the engine.
Remove the radiator cap. Fill the
radiator with coolant up to the
base of the f iller neck.
Start the engine and let it run f or
about 30 seconds. Then turn of f
the engine.
Check the level in the radiator,
add coolant if needed.
Fill the reserve tank to the MAX
mark. Install the reserve tank cap.
Install the radiator cap, and
tighten it to the first stop.
16.
17. 18.
19. 20.
12.
13.
14. 15.
Cooling Syst em
Maint enance214

When installing traction devices,
f ollow the manuf acturer’s
instructions and mount them as
tightlyasyoucan.Driveslowlywith
them installed. If you hear them
coming in contact with the body or
chassis, stop and investigate. Make
sure the traction devices are
installed tightly, and that they are
not contacting the brakes or
suspension.
Remove them as soon as you start
driving on cleared roads.
Mount traction devices only when
required by driving conditions or
local laws. Make sure they are the
correct size f or your tires. Install
them only on the front tires.
Because your Honda has limited tire
clearance, mount only SAE Class ‘‘S’’
cable-type traction devices.
Metal link-type ‘‘chains’’ should not
be used. No matter how tight they
seem to be installed, they can come
into contact with the body and
suspension, causing serious damage.
Tires
Maint enance
T ract ion Devices
240
Cables that are the wrong size or
improperly installed can damage your
car’s brake lines, suspension, body, and
wheels. Stop driving if they are hitting
any part of the car.

If there was no coolant in the
reserve tank, you may also have to
add coolant to the radiator. Let the
engine cool down until the pointer
reaches the middle of the tempera-
ture gauge, or lower, bef ore check-
ing the radiator.Using gloves or a large heavy
cloth, turn the radiator cap
counterclockwise, without pushing
down, to the f irst stop. This
releases any remaining pressure in
the cooling system. After the
pressure releases, push down on
the cap and turn it until it comes
off.
Start the engine and set the
temperature control dial to
maximum. Add coolant to the
radiator up to the base of the f iller
neck. If you do not have the
proper coolant mixture available,
you can add plain water.
Remember to have the cooling
system drained and ref illed with
the proper mixture as soon as you
can.Put the radiator cap back on
tightly. Run the engine and watch
the temperature gauge. If it goes
back to the red mark, the engine
needs repair. (See
on page .)
If the temperature stays normal,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. If it has
gone down, add coolant to the
MAX mark. Put the cap back on
tightly.
8.
9.
10. 11.
12.
286
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
If Your Engine Overheats
Emergency
Towing
274
Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and
radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.