2002 HONDA CIVIC wheel

This section also includes
Maintenance Schedules f or normal
driving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions f or simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself .
If you have the skills and tools to per-
f orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your Honda, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your Honda
dealer.
This section explains why it is
important to keep your car well
maintained and to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.
......................
Maintenance Saf ety . 196
.
Important Safety Precautions . 197
.................
Maintenance Schedule . 198 ...
Required Maintenance Record . 205
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 207
..............................
Fluid Locations . 208
......................................
Engine Oil . 209
..................................
Adding Oil . 209
....................
Recommended Oil . 209
..............................
Synthetic Oil . 210
....................................
Additives . 210
.....
Changing the Oil and Filter . 211
.............................
Cooling System . 213
............
Adding Engine Coolant . 213
.......
Replacing Engine Coolant . 215
....................
Windshield Washers . 219
.......................
Transmission Fluid . 220
Automatic .........................
Transmission . 220
5-speed Manual .........................
Transmission . 221
................
Brake and Clutch Fluid . 222
............................
Brake System . 222
...........................
Clutch System . 223
..............................
Power Steering . 224
.....................
Air Cleaner Element . 225
....................................
Hood Latch . 226
....................................
Spark Plugs . 227
..............................
Replacement . 227 ............................
Specif ications . 229
...........................................
Battery . 230
.................................
Wiper Blades . 232
..............
Air Conditioning System . 234
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 235
.....................................
Drive Belts . 237
....................................
Timing Belt . 237
...............................................
Tires . 238
......................................
Inf lation . 238
Recommended Tire Pressures ...........
f or Normal Driving . 239
Tire Pressure Adjustment f or ..........
High Speed Driving . 239
..................................
Inspection . 240
..............................
Maintenance . 240
.............................
Tire Rotation . 241
...
Replacing Tires and Wheels . 242
......................
Wheels and Tires . 243
..........................
Winter Driving . 243
.............................
Snow Tires . 243
............................
Tire Chains . 244
.............................................
Lights . 245
.....................
Headlight Aiming . 247
........................
Replacing Bulbs . 247
...........................
Storing Your Car . 256
311
Maintenance
Maint enance195

A low power steering f luid level can
indicate a leak in the system. Check
the f luid level f requently and have
the system inspected as soon as
possible.
Always use Honda Power Steering
Fluid. If it is not available, you may
use another power steering f luid as
an emergency replacement.
However, continued use can cause
increased wear and poor steering in
cold weather. Have the power
steering system f lushed and ref illed
with Honda PSF as soon as possible.
Check the level when the engine is
cold. Look at the side of the
reservoir. The f luid should be
between the UPPER LEVEL and
LOWER LEVEL. If it is below the
LOWER LEVEL, add power steering
f luid to the UPPER LEVEL.
Power Steering
Maint enance224
UUPPPPEERRLLEEVVEELL
LLOOWWEERRLLEEVVEELL
T urning the steering wheel to f ull lef t
or right lock and holding it there can
damage the power steering pump.

Every time you check inf lation, you
should also examine the tires f or
damage, f oreign objects, and wear.
Youshouldlookfor:Bumps or bulges in the tread or
side of the tire. Replace the tire if
youfindeitherof theseconditions.
Excessive tread wear. In addition to proper inf lation,
correct wheel alignment helps to
decrease tire wear. If you f ind a tire
is worn unevenly, have your dealer
check the wheel alignment.
Cuts, splits, or cracks in the side
of the tire. Replace the tire if you
can see f abric or cord. The tires were properly balanced by
the factory. They may need to be
rebalanced at some time bef ore they
are worn out. Have your dealer
check the tires if you f eel a consis-
tent vibration while driving. A tire
should always be rebalanced if it is
removed f rom the wheel f or repair.
Your car’s tires have wear indicators
molded into the tread. When the
tread wears down to that point, you
will see a 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) wide
band running across the tread. This
shows there is less than 1/16 inch
(1.6 mm) of tread lef t on the tire. A
tire that is this worn gives very little
traction on wet roads. You should
replace the tire if you can see the
tread wear indicator in three or more
places around the tire.
Inspection
Maintenance
Tires
Maint enance240
IINNDDIICCAATTOORRLLOOCCAATTIIOONNMMAARRKKSS
TTRREEAADDWWEEAARRIINNDDIICCAATTOORR

When shopping f or replacement
tires, you may find that some tires
are ‘‘directional.’’ This means they
are designed to rotate only in one
direction. If you use directional tires,
they should be rotated only front-to-
back.
Make sure the installer balances the
wheels when you have new tires
installed. This increases riding
comf ort and tire lif e. Your car’s
original tires were dynamic or ‘‘spin’’
balanced at the f actory. For best
results, have the installer perf orm a
dynamic balance.
To help increase tire lif e and
distribute wear more evenly, you
should have the tires rotated every
10,000 miles (16,000 km). Move the
tires to the positions shown in the
chart each time they are rotated.
Tire Rotation
Tires
Maint enance241
((FFoorrNNoonn--ddiirreeccttiioonnaallTTiirreessaannddWWhheeeellss))((FFoorrDDiirreeccttiioonnaallTTiirreessaannddWWhheeeellss))
FFrroonnttFFrroonntt

The tires that came with your car
were selected to match the perform-
ance capabilities of the car while
providing the best combination of
handling, ride comf ort, and long lif e.
Youshouldreplacethemwithradial
tires of the same size, load range,
speed rating, and maximum cold tire
pressure rating (as shown on the
tire’s sidewall). Mixing radial and
bias-ply tires on your car can reduce
its braking ability, traction, and
steering accuracy. It is best to replace all f our tires atthesametime.If thatisnotpossible
or necessary, then replace the two
f ront tires or the two rear tires as a
pair. Replacing just one tire can
seriously af f ect your car’s handling.TheABSworksbycomparingthe
speed of the wheels. When replacing
tires, use the same size originally
supplied with the car. Tire size and
construction can af f ect wheel speed
and may cause the system to work
inconsistently.
If you ever need to replace a wheel,
make sure the wheel’s specif ications
match those of the original wheel
that came on your car. Replacement
wheels are available at your Honda
dealer.
Replacing T ires and Wheels
Tires
Maint enance242
Installing improper tires on your
car can affect handling and
stability. This can cause a crash
in which you can be seriously
hurt or killed.
Always use the size and type of
tires recommended in this
owner’s manual.

´
Wheels: Tires that are marked ‘‘M S’’ or
‘‘All Season’’ on the sidewall have an
all-weather tread design. They
should be suitable f or most winter
driving conditions. Tires without
these markings are designed f or
optimum traction in dry conditions.
They may not provide adequate
perf ormance in winter driving.
For the best perf ormance in snowy
or icy conditions, you should install
snow tires or tire chains. They may
be required by local laws under
certain conditions.If you mount snow tires on your
Honda, make sure they are radial
tires of the same size and load range
as the original tires. Mount snow
tiresonallfourwheelstobalance
your car’s handling in all weather
conditions. Keep in mind the traction
provided by snow tires on dry roads
may not be as high as your car’s
original equipment tires. You should
drive cautiously even when the roads
areclear.Checkwiththetiredealer
f or maximum speed recommenda-
tions.
Tires:
See page f or inf ormation about
DOT Tire Quality Grading. (DX, U.S. LX)
(DX, U.S. LX)
(EX, Canadian LX)
298
(EX, Canadian LX)
CONT INUED
Snow T iresWheels and Tires Winter Driving
Tires
Maint enance243
14x51/2JJ
P185/70R14 87S
P185/65R15 86H
15x6JJ

Because your Honda has limited tire
clearance, mount only SAE Class ‘‘S’’
cable-type traction devices on the
front tires. Use traction devices only
when required by driving conditions
or local laws. Make sure they are the
correct size f or your tires.
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.When installing cables, f ollow the
manuf acturer’s instructions and
mount them as tightly as you can.
Drive slowly with them installed. If
youhearthemcomingincontact
with the body or chassis, stop and
investigate. Make sure the cables are
installed tightly, and that they are
not contacting the brake lines or
suspension.
Remove them as soon as you begin
driving on cleared roads.
Tires
Maint enance
T ire Chains
244
Traction devices that are the wrong
size or improperly installed can
damage your vehicle’s brake lines,
suspension, body, and wheels. Stop
driving if they are hitting any part of
the vehicle.

Block the rear wheels.
Fill the f uel tank.
Change the engine oil and f ilter
(see page ).
Wash and dry the exterior
completely.
Cleantheinterior.Makesurethe
carpeting, floor mats, etc. are
completely dry.
Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in Reverse
(5-speed manual) or Park
(automatic).
If you need to park your car f or an
extended period (more than one
month), there are several things you
should do to prepare it f or storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to
get your car back on the road. If
possible, store your car indoors.
If the car is to be stored for a
longer period, it should be
supported on jackstands so the
tires are of f the ground.
Leave one window open slightly (if
the car is being stored indoors).
Disconnect the battery.
Support the f ront wiper blade
arms with a f olded towel or rag so
they do not touch the windshield.
To minimize sticking, apply a
silicone spray lubricant to all door
and trunk seals. Also, apply a
vehiclebodywaxtothepainted
surfaces that mate with the door
and trunk seals.Coverthecarwitha‘‘breathable’’
cover, one made f rom a porous
material such as cotton.
Nonporous materials, such as
plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint.
If possible, run the engine f or a
while periodically (pref erably once
amonth).
If you store your car f or 12 months
or longer, have your Honda dealer
perf orm the inspections called f or in
the 24 months maintenance schedule
(Normal Conditions) as soon as you
take it out of storage (see page ).
The replacements called f or in the
maintenance schedule are not
needed unless the car has actually
reached that time or mileage.
211
200
St oring Your Car
Maint enance256