2002 HONDA CIVIC HATCHBACK tow

Crosswinds and air turbulence
caused by passing trucks can disrupt
your steering and cause trailer
swaying. When being passed by a
large vehicle, keep a constant speed
and steer straight ahead. Do not try
to make quick steering or braking
corrections.
Always drive slowly and have
someone guide you when backing up.
Grip the of the steering
wheel; then turn the wheel to the lef t
to get the trailer to move to the lef t,
andturnthewheelrighttomovethe
trailer to the right.Follow all normal precautions when
parking, including f irmly setting the
parking brake and putting the
transmission in Park (automatic) or
in 1st or Reverse (manual). Also,
place wheel chocks at each of the
trailer’s tires.
bottom
Handling Crosswinds and Buf f et ing
Backing Up Parking
Towing a Trailer
Driving233

µ
Ì
Î ÎÎ ÌÎÎ
Î
Î
ÌÌ
Follow the Maintenance
Schedule f or Severe Conditions.
Follow the Severe Conditions
Maintenance Schedule if you
drive your vehicle
under one or more of the
f ollowing conditions:
Driving less than 5 miles (8
km) per trip or, in f reezing
temperatures, driving less
than 10 miles (16 km) per trip.
Driving in extremely hot
[over 90°F (32°C)] conditions.
Extensive idling or long
periods of stop-and-go driving.
Trailer towing, driving with a
car top carrier, or driving in
mountainous conditions.
Driving on muddy, dusty, or
de-iced roads.
MAINLY
Maint enance
U.S. Owners
Canadian Owners
242
Visually inspect the following items: Replace every 3,750 miles (6,000 km) or 6 months
Check oil and coolant at each fuel stop
Service at the indicated
distance or time whichever
comes first.
miles x 1,000
km x 1,000
months
Balancer belt applies to 4-cylinder models only.
See timing belt on page to determine need for replacement. See information on maintenance and
emissions warranty, last column, page .
Every 60,000 miles (96,000 km) or 3 years
120,000 miles (192,000 km) or 10 years, then every
60,000 miles (96,000 km) or 5 years
See Dust and Pollen Filter on page for replacement information under special driving conditions.
Replace engine oil and oil filter
Check engine oil and coolant
Clean ( ) or replace ( ) air cleaner element
Use normal schedule except in dusty conditons
Inspect valve clearance
Replace spark plugs
Replace timing belt , balancer belt , and
inspect water pump
Inspect and adjust drive belts
Inspect idle speed
Replace engine coolant
Replace transmission fluid
Inspect front and rear brakes
Replace brake fluid
Check parking brake adjustment
Replace dust and pollen filter
Lubricate all hinges, locks and latches
Rotate tires (Check tire inflation and condition
at least once per month) Every 3 years (independent of mileage)
Tie rod ends, steering gear box, and boots
Suspension components, driveshaft boots
Brake hoses and lines (including ABS)
All fluid levels and conditions of fluids
Cooling system hoses and connections Exhaust system, fuel lines and connections
Lights and controls, vehicle underbody 152412
304824457236609648
75
120
60 90
144 72 105168
84 120192
96
Rotate tires every 7,500 miles (12,000 km)
Every 7,500 miles (12,000 km) or 6 months Adjust only if noisy
Every 7,500 miles (12,000 km) or 6 months
:
1:2:3: 239
283 MTAT
282
60,000 miles (96,000 km) or 3 years, then every 30,000 miles (48,000 km) or 2 years
11 ,2
3
Maintenance Schedule for Severe Conditions

If the temperature gauge stays at
the red mark, turn of f the engine.
Wait until you see no more signs
of steam or spray, then open thehood.
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 pointerreaches 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.
If you don’t f ind an obvious leak,
check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank (see page
). If the level is below the
MIN mark, add coolant to halfway
between the MIN and MAX marks. Start the engine and set the
temperature control dial to
maximum (climate control to
FULL AUTO at 90°F/32°C). 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.
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.
Look f or any obvious coolant leaks,
such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot,
so use caution. If you f ind a leak, it
must be repaired bef ore you
continue driving (see
on page ). 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 .)
4. 5.
6. 7. 8. 9.
11.12.10.
336
200 336
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
If Your Engine Overheats
Emergency
Towing
Emergency
Towing
324
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.

If you decide to tow your car with all
f our wheels on the ground, make
sure you use a properly-designed and
attached tow bar. Prepare the car for
towing as described above, and leave
the ignition switch in Accessory (I)
so the steering wheel does not lock.
Make sure the radio and any items
plugged into the accessory power
socket are turned of f so they do not
rundownthebattery.
Emergency T owing
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed337
The steering system can be damaged if
the steering wheel is locked. Leave the
ignition switch in Accessory (I), and
make sure the steering wheel turns
f reely bef ore you begin towing.Trying to lif t or tow your car by the
bumpers will cause serious damage.
The bumpers are not designed to
support the car’s weight.

CONT INUED
...........................................
Driving . 207
....................................
Economy . 201
.........................
In Bad Weather . 225
................
In Foreign Countries . 348
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 282
............................
Fabric, Cleaning . 307
...................................
Fan, Interior . 104
Features, Comfort and
..............................
Convenience . 103
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 194
Filter
.........................
Dust and Pollen . 282
...............................................
Oil . 252 5-speed Manual Transmission
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 265
5-speed Manual Transmission ................................
Shif ting the . 211
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 68
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 313
Fluids
.
Automatic Transmission . 263, 264
..........................................
Brake . 267
.........................................
Clutch . 268
..............
Manual Transmission . 265
..........................
Power Steering . 268
..................
Windshield Washer . 262
FM Stereo Radio ...................................
Reception . 170
...........................
Folding Rear Seat . 87
.....
Foreign Countries, Driving in . 348
..........................
Four-way Flashers . 68
.................................................
Fuel . 194
......................
Fill Door and Cap . 194
...........................................
Gauge . 61
................
Octane Requirement . 194
...............................
Oxygenated . 347
........................
Tank, Filling the . 194
.....................
Fuses, Checking the . 332
..............................
Economy, Fuel . 201
............
Emergencies on the Road . 311
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 320
...........
Brake System Indicator . 329
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 313
.....
Charging System Indicator . 326
..................
Checking the Fuses . 332
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 325
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 327
...
Manually Closing Moonroof . 330
..................
Overheated Engine . 323
...........................
Emergency Brake . 95
......................
Emergency Flashers . 68
......................
Emergency Towing . 336
.......................
Emissions Controls . 349Engine
............................................
Belts . 282
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 61 Malf unction Indicator
................................
Lamp . 56, 327
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 56, 325
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 250
...............................
Overheating . 323
............................
Specif ications . 343
....................
Speed Limiter . 212, 216
.......................................
Starting . 209
..........
Engine Speed Limiter . 212, 216
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline . 347
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 349
...............................
Exhaust Fumes . 51
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................
Belts by . 19
..................
Exterior, Cleaning the . 304
Index
E
F
III

Î
...............................................
Tires . 283
..............................
Air Pressure . 284
.........................
Checking Wear . 286
..........................
Compact Spare . 312
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 345
......................................
Inf lation . 284
..................................
Inspection . 286
...................................
Replacing . 287
......................................
Rotating . 287
...........................................
Snow . 289
............................
Specif ications . 344
...................
Tools, Tire Changing . 313
Towing
.....................................
A Trailer . 227
................
Emergency Wrecker . 336
..............
Traction Control System . 222
......................
TCS Indicator . 58, 223
...............
TCS ON/OFF Switch . 223
Transmission Checking Fluid Level, ......................
Automatic . 263, 264
Checking Fluid Level, ...................................
Manual . 265
..................
Fluid Selection . 263, 265
..............
Identif ication Number . 339
.............
Shif ting the Automatic . 212 ..................
Shif ting the Manual . 211
.....................................
Treadwear . 345
.......................................
Trip Meter . 61
................................................
Trunk . 79
....................
Emergency Opener . 80
.................................
Opening the . 79
...................
Open Monitor Light . 58
....................................
Turn Signals . 66 .............
WARNING, Explanation of . ii
.........
Warning Labels, Location of . 52
..................
Warranty Coverages . 357
Washer, Windshield
........
Checking the Fluid Level . 262
.....................................
Operation . 68
.........................................
Washing . 304
..................
Waxing and Polishing . 305
Wheels
...............
Adjusting the Steering . 69
............
Alignment and Balance . 286
..........................
Compact Spare . 312
......................................
Wrench . 314
Windows .....................................
Cleaning . 308
..................
Operating the Power . 91
...........................
Rear, Def ogger . 68
Windshield .......................................
Cleaning . 66
.......................................
Washers . 68
..................................
Vanity Mirror . 99
.................
Vehicle Capacity Load . 205
......................
Vehicle Dimensions . 342
....
Vehicle Identif ication Number . 340
.............................
Vehicle Storage . 301 .................................................
VIN . 340
...............................
Vinyl Cleaning . 307
..................................
Viscosity, Oil . 251
.....................
Underside, Cleaning . 309
Unexpected, Taking Care
..........................................
of the . 311
....
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading . 345
........................
Unleaded Gasoline . 194
.....................
Upholstery Cleaning . 306
.......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of . 254
Index
U V W
VIII

Î
Wipers, Windshield.......................
Changing Blades . 279
.....................................
Operation . 66
....................................
Worn Tires . 286
.....
Wrecker, Emergency Towing . 336
: U.S. and Canada only
Index
IX

CONT INUED
..........................
Directional Signals . 69
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 217
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil . 252
Doors
..............
Locking and Unlocking . 78
..............................
Monitor Light . 61
......................
Power Door Locks . 78
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 348
Downshif ting, 5-speed Manual
.............................
Transmission . 209
.....................................
Drive Belts . 280
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 5
...........................................
Driving . 205
....................................
Economy . 199
.........................
In Bad Weather . 223
................
In Foreign Countries . 351
..............................
Economy, Fuel . 199
............
Emergencies on the Road . 311
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 321
...........
Brake System Indicator . 331
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 313
.....
Charging System Indicator . 328
..................
Checking the Fuses . 333 .....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 327
Malf unction Indicator
......................................
Lamp . 329
...
Manually Closing Moonroof . 332
..................
Overheated Engine . 324
...........................
Emergency Brake . 99
......................
Emergency Flashers . 71
......................
Emergency Towing . 338
............
Emergency Trunk Opener . 83
.......................
Emissions Controls . 352
.............
Emissions Testing, State . 355Engine
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 64
.................................
Drive Belts . 280
Malf unction Indicator
................................
Lamp . 59, 329
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 58, 327
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 248
...............................
Overheating . 324
....................
Specif ications . 345, 347
....................
Speed Limiter . 210, 214
.......................................
Starting . 207
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline . 350
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 352
...............................
Exhaust Fumes . 52 Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................
Belts by . 18
..................
Exterior, Cleaning the . 304
............................
Fabric, Cleaning . 307
..........................
Fan, Interior . 108, 119
Features, Comfort and
..............................
Convenience . 107
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 193
Filters
................................
Air Cleaner . 267
.........................
Dust and Pollen . 280
...............................................
Oil . 250
5-speed Manual Transmission ...............
Checking Fluid Level . 263
................................
Shif ting the . 209
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 71
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 313
.....................................
Floor Mats . 306
Fluids
..........
Automatic Transmission . 261
..........................................
Brake . 264
Index
E F
III