2002 HONDA CIVIC coolant level

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 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.
Start the engine and let it run until
the radiator cooling f an comes on
at least twice. Then stop the
engine.
Remove the radiator cap. Fill the
radiator with coolant up to the
base of the f iller neck.
14.
15.
16.
17. 18.
19. 20.
21. 22.
Cooling Syst em
Maint enance218

CONT INUED
Saf ely pull to the side of the road.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park, and set the parking brake.
Turn of f the heating and cooling
system and all other accessories.
Turn on the hazard warning
indicators.
If you see steam and/or spray
coming f rom under the hood, turn
of f the engine.If you do not see steam or spray,
leave the engine running and
watch the temperature gauge. If
the high heat is due to overloading
(climbing a long, steep hill on a
hot day with the A/C running, f or
example), the engine should start
to cool down almost immediately.
If it does, wait until the tempera-
ture gauge comes down to the mid-
point then continue driving.
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.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 ).
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.
1. 2.
3. 4. 5.6. 7.
290
169
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
If Your Engine Overheats
Emergency
Towing
277

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.
290
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
If Your Engine Overheats
Emergency
Towing
278
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.

CONT INUED
Downshif ting, 5-speed Manual.............................
Transmission . 180
.....................................
Drive Belts . 237
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 5
...........................................
Driving . 177
....................................
Economy . 170
.........................
In Bad Weather . 192
................
In Foreign Countries . 301
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 235
..............................
Economy, Fuel . 170
............
Emergencies on the Road . 265
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 274
...........
Brake System Indicator . 283
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 267
.....
Charging System Indicator . 280
..................
Checking the Fuses . 286
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 279
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 281
...
Manually Closing Moonroof . 284
..................
Overheated Engine . 276
...........................
Emergency Brake . 97
......................
Emergency Flashers . 74
......................
Emergency Towing . 290 ............
Emergency Trunk Opener . 87
.......................
Emissions Controls . 302
.............
Emissions Testing, State . 305 Engine
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 68
.................................
Drive Belts . 237
......
Engine Speed Limiter . 181, 185
Malf unction Indicator
................................
Lamp . 63, 281
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 62, 279
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 209
...............................
Overheating . 276
............................
Specif ications . 296
.......................................
Starting . 179
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline . 300
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 302
...............................
Exhaust Fumes . 54
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................
Belts by . 20
..................
Exterior, Cleaning the . 258
............................
Fabric, Cleaning . 261
...................................
Fan, Interior . 106
Features, Comfort and ..............................
Convenience . 105
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 165
Filters
................................
Air Cleaner . 225
.........................
Dust and pollen . 235
...............................................
Oil . 211
5-speed Manual Transmission ...............
Checking Fluid Level . 221
................................
Shif ting the . 180
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 74
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 267
Fluids
..........
Automatic Transmission . 220
..........................................
Brake . 222
.........................................
Clutch . 223
..............
Manual Transmission . 221
..........................
Power Steering . 224
..................
Windshield Washer . 219
FM Stereo Radio ...................................
Reception . 145
...........................
Folding Rear Seat . 91
.....
Foreign Countries, Driving in . 301
..........................
Four-way Flashers . 74
............................
Front Airbags . 10, 48
Index
E
F
III

CONT INUED
..................................................
Keys . 77 ........................
Jacking up the Car . 268
.......................................
Jack, Tire . 267
................................
Jump Starting . 274
..................................
Maintenance . 195
...
Owner Maintenance Checks . 207
.................................
Record . 205-206
......................
Required Indicator . 64
..........................................
Saf ety . 196
.............................
Schedule . 198-204
.
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 63, 281
...................
Manual Transmission . 180
........
Manual Transmission Fluid . 221
...............................
Meters, Gauges . 66
...................
Methanol in Gasoline . 300
..........................
Mirrors, Adjusting . 96
.........................................
Moonroof . 95
......................
Closing Manually . 284 .....................................
Operation . 95
...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline . 164
.........................................
Odometer . 66
...............................
Odometer, Trip . 67
Oil
........................
Change, How to . 211
......................
Change, When to . 200
......................
Checking Engine . 168
..............
Pressure Indicator . 62, 279
Selecting Proper Viscosity
......................................
Chart . 210
...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) . 81
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor
....................................
Recovery . 302 ...................
Neutral Gear Position . 184
..................
New Vehicle Break-in . 164
.....................
Normal Shif t Speeds . 181
...................
NOTICE, Explanation of . i
...............
Numbers, Identif ication . 294
.......................
Label, Certif ication . 294
.................
Lane Change, Signaling . 72
..................
Lap/Shoulder Belts . 16, 45
...........
LATCH Anchorage System . 43
Lights
....................
Bulb Replacement . 247
.......................................
Indicator . 59
.........................................
Parking . 70
..................................
Turn Signal . 72
.....................................
Load Limit . 174
......
LOCK (Ignition Key Position) . 80
Locks
.......
Anti-thef t Steering Column . 80
............................
Fuel Fill Door . 165 .................................
Power Door . 82
...........................................
Trunk . 86
........................
Low Coolant Level . 169
.........................
Low Fuel Indicator . 63
................................
Lower Anchors . 43
...
Lower Gear, Downshif ting to a . 181
...
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 62, 279
...
Lubricant Specif ications Chart . 296
.........................................
Luggage . 173
Index
LM N O
J K
V