2002 HONDA CIVIC radiator

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.
297Standard f or LX and EX models in
the U.S., and DX-GOP andLX models in CanadaOptional f or other models
A ir Condit ioning Syst em
Maint enance234
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.

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.

Î
..
Operation in Foreign Countries . 301
..............................
Outside Mirrors . 96
....................
Overheating, Engine . 276
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 207
.........................
Oxygenated Fuels . 300
...................
Radiator Overheating . 276
Radio/CD/Cassette
...........
Sound System . 114, 126, 138
...................
Readiness Codes . 282, 305
Rear Lights, Bulb
......................
Replacement . 250, 251
..........................
Rear Seat, Folding . 91
............................
Rear View Mirror . 96
.................
Rear Window Def ogger . 75
...............
Reclining the Seat Backs . 88
.......
Recommended Shif t Speeds . 181
.............................
Reminder Lights . 59
.......................
Remote Transmitter . 83
Replacement Inf ormation
.................
Air Cleaner Element . 225
..............
Dust and Pollen Filter . 235
..........................
Engine Coolant . 215
................
Engine Oil and Filter . 211 ..........................................
Fuses . 286
................................
Light Bulbs . 247
....................................
Schedule . 198
................................
Spark Plugs . 227
................................
Timing Belt . 237
...........................................
Tires . 242
.............................
Wiper Blades . 232
Replacing Seat Belts Af ter a ............................................
Crash . 47
Reserve Tank, Engine ...............................
Coolant . 169, 213
...............................
Restraint, Child . 22
..................
Reverse Gear Position . 184
................................
Rotation, Tire . 241
..................................
Saf ety Belts . 8, 45
.........
Safety Defects, Reporting . 310
.................................
Saf ety Features . 7
.........................................
Airbags . 10
..................................
Door Locks . 11
..........................
Head Restraints . 11
.......................................
Seat Belts . 8
.....................
Seats & Seat-Backs . 11
.............
Saf ety Labels, Location of . 55
..............................
Paint Touch-up . 259
..............
Panel Brightness Control . 71
........................
Park Gear Position . 183
...........................................
Parking . 187
.................................
Parking Brake . 97
Parking Brake and Brake System
.......................................
Indicator . 62
.................................
Parking Lights . 70
..
Parking Over Things that Burn . 304
.............................
PGM-FI System . 303
..................
Polishing and Waxing . 259
............
Pre-Drive Saf ety Checklist . 12
.........
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . 20
............................
Protecting Adults . 13
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 20
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 20
........................
Protecting Children . 22
.......................
Protecting Inf ants . 31 .......
Protecting Larger Children . 38
.........
Protecting Small Children . 35
Using Child Seats with
.....................................
Tethers . 42
.............................
Using LATCH . 43
Index
PR
S
VI