2003 HONDA CIVIC COUPE engine overheat

The manual transmission is syn-
chronizedinallforwardgearsfor
smooth operation. It has a lockout so
you cannot shift directly from Fifth
to Reverse. When shif ting up or
down,makesureyoupushtheclutch
pedal down all the way, shift to the
next gear, and let the pedal up
gradually. When you are not shif ting,
do not rest your f oot on the clutch
pedal. This can cause your clutch to
wear out faster.Come to a full stop before you shift
into Reverse. You can damage the
transmission by trying to shif t into
Reverse with the car moving. Push
down the clutch pedal, and pause f or
a f ew seconds bef ore shif ting into
Reverse, or shif t into one of the
f orward gears f or a moment. This
stops the gears so they won’t ‘‘grind.’’
When slowing down, you can get
extra braking from the engine by
shifting to a lower gear. This extra
braking can help you maintain a safe
speed and prevent your brakes f rom
overheating while going down a
steep hill. Bef ore downshif ting,
make sure the vehicle speed is low
enough that you will not activate the
engine speed limiter in the lower
gear. On all models except U.S. DX,
make sure the engine speed will not
go into the tachometer’s red zone in
the lower gear bef ore downshif ting.
5-speed Manual T ransmission
Driving172
Rapid slowing or speeding-up
can cause loss of control on
slippery surfaces. If you crash,
you can be injured.
Use extra care when driving on
slippery surfaces.
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´ µSpark Plug Gap:
Push the wire connector onto the
ignition coil. Make sure it locks in
place.
Repeat this procedure f or the
other three spark plugs.
Reinstall the cover.
Install the ignition coil. Reinstall
the nut.
NGK:
DENSO:
8.
11.
10. 9.
Maint enance
Spark Plugs
Specif ications:
223
PZFR6F-11
PKJ20CR-M11
0.04 in (1.1 mm)
0
0.1 mm
Tighten the spark plugs caref ully. A
spark plug that is too loose can
overheat and damage the engine.
Overtightening can cause damage to
the threads in the cylinder head.
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Your car can overheat f or several
reasons, such as lack of coolant or a
mechanical problem. The only
indication may be the temperature
gauge climbing to or above the red
mark. Or you may see steam or
spray coming f rom under the hood.
In either case, you should take
immediate action.
The pointer of your car’s tempera-
ture gauge should stay in the mid-
range under most conditions. It may
go higher if you are driving up a long
steep hill on a very hot day. If it
climbs to the red mark, you should
determine the reason.
Start your car. If the starter motor
still operates slowly, check the
jumper cable connections to make
sure they have good metal-to-
metal contact.
Once your car is running, discon-
nectthenegativecablefromyour
car, then from the booster battery.
Disconnect the positive cable f rom
your car, then the booster battery.
Keep the ends of the jumper cables
away from each other and any metal
on the car until all are disconnected.
Otherwise, you may cause an
electrical short.
7.
6.
CONT INUED
If Your Engine Overheats
Jump Starting, If Your Engine Overheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed269
Steam and spray from an
overheated engine can
seriously scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out.
Driving with the temperature gauge
pointer at the red mark can cause
serious damage to your engine.
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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.
161 283
Emergency
Towing
If Your Engine Overheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed270
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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.
283
Emergency
Towing
If Your Engine Overheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed271
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.
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CONT INUED
...........................................
Driving . 169
....................................
Economy . 162
.........................
In Bad Weather . 187
................
In Foreign Countries . 293
............................
Fabric, Cleaning . 253
...................................
Fan, Interior . 110
Features, Comfort and
..............................
Convenience . 109
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 157
Filters
................................
Air Cleaner . 219
.........................
Dust and Pollen . 229
...............................................
Oil . 205 5-speed Manual Transmission
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 216
................................
Shif ting the . 172
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 78
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 259
Fluids
..........
Automatic Transmission . 214
..........................................
Brake . 217
.........................................
Clutch . 217
..............
Manual Transmission . 216
..........................
Power Steering . 218
..................
Windshield Washer . 213
FM Stereo Radio ...................................
Reception . 137
...........................
Folding Rear Seat . 94
.....
Foreign Countries, Driving in . 293
..........................
Four-way Flashers . 78
.................................................
Fuel . 156
....................................
Economy . 162
......................
Fill Door and Cap . 157
...........................................
Gauge . 70
................
Octane Requirement . 156
...............................
Oxygenated . 292
........................
Reserve Indicator . 66
........................
Tank, Filling the . 157
..............................
Economy, Fuel . 162
............
Emergencies on the Road . 283
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 267
...........
Brake System Indicator . 275
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 259
.....
Charging System Indicator . 273
..................
Checking the Fuses . 279
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 272
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 274
...
Manually Closing Moonroof . 277
..................
Overheated Engine . 269
.........................
Emergency Brake . 100
......................
Emergency Flashers . 78
......................
Emergency Towing . 283
............
Emergency Trunk Opener . 89
.......................
Emissions Controls . 294Engine
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 71
.................................
Drive Belts . 231 Malf unction Indicator
................................
Lamp . 66, 274
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 64, 272
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 203
...............................
Overheating . 269
............................
Specif ications . 288
.......................................
Starting . 171
......
Engine Speed Limiter . 173, 177
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline . 292
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 294
...............................
Exhaust Fumes . 55
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................
Belts by . 19
..................
Exterior, Cleaning the . 250
Index
E
F
III
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CONT INUED
..................................................
Keys . 80
...................
Neutral Gear Position . 176
..................
New Vehicle Break-in . 156
.....................
Normal Shif t Speeds . 173 ...................
NOTICE, Explanation of . i
...............
Numbers, Identif ication . 286
..................................
Maintenance . 189
...
Owner Maintenance Checks . 201
.................................
Record . 199-200
......................
Required Indicator . 67
..........................................
Saf ety . 190
.............................
Schedule . 192-198
.
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 66, 274
...................
Manual Transmission . 172
........
Manual Transmission Fluid . 216
...............................
Meters, Gauges . 69
...................
Methanol in Gasoline . 292
..........................
Mirrors, Adjusting . 99
.........................................
Moonroof . 98
......................
Closing Manually . 277
.....................................
Operation . 98 ...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline . 156
.........................................
Odometer . 69
...............................
Odometer, Trip . 70
Oil
........................
Change, How to . 205
......................
Change, When to . 192
......................
Checking Engine . 160
..............
Pressure Indicator . 64, 272
Selecting Proper Viscosity
......................................
Chart . 204
...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) . 83
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor
....................................
Recovery . 295
..
Operation in Foreign Countries . 293
..............................
Outside Mirrors . 99
....................
Overheating, Engine . 269
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 201
.........................
Oxygenated Fuels . 292
.......................
Label, Certif ication . 286
.................
Lane Change, Signaling . 75
........................
Lap/Shoulder Belts . 45
Lights
....................
Bulb Replacement . 241
.......................................
Indicator . 61
.........................................
Parking . 73
..................................
Turn Signal . 75
.....................................
Load Limit . 166
......
LOCK (Ignition Key Position) . 82
Locks
.......
Anti-thef t Steering Column . 82
............................
Fuel Fill Door . 157
.................................
Power Door . 84
...........................................
Trunk . 88
........................
Low Coolant Level . 161
.........................
Low Fuel Indicator . 66
................................
Lower Anchors . 42
...
Lower Gear, Downshif ting to a . 173
...
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 64, 272 ...
Lubricant Specif ications Chart . 288
.........................................
Luggage . 165
Index
L M N O
K
V
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Î..................................
Saf ety Belts . 8, 45
.........
Safety Defects, Reporting . 302
.................................
Saf ety Features . 7
.........................................
Airbags . 10
..................................
Door Locks . 11
..........................
Head Restraints . 11
.......................................
Seat Belts . 8
..................
Seats and Seat-Backs . 11
.............
Saf ety Labels, Location of . 56
...............................
Saf ety Messages . ii
.....................................
Seat Belts . 8, 45
...............
Additional Information . 45
Automatic Seat Belt
...............................
Tensioners . 46
.....................................
Cleaning . 253
......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt . 45
...................
Radiator Overheating . 269
Radio/CD/Cassette
....................
Sound System . 118, 130
...................
Readiness Codes . 275, 297
Rear Lights, Bulb
......................
Replacement . 244, 245
..........................
Rear Seat, Folding . 94
............................
Rear View Mirror . 99
.................
Rear Window Def ogger . 78
...............
Reclining the Seat Backs . 90
.......
Recommended Shif t Speeds . 173
.............................
Reminder Lights . 61
.......................
Remote Transmitter . 85
Replacement Inf ormation
.................
Air Cleaner Element . 219
..........................
Engine Coolant . 209
................
Engine Oil and Filter . 205
..........................................
Fuses . 279
................................
Light Bulbs . 241
....................................
Schedule . 192
................................
Spark Plugs . 221
................................
Timing Belt . 231
...........................................
Tires . 236
.............................
Wiper Blades . 226 Replacing Seat Belts Af ter a
............................................
Crash . 48
Reserve Tank, Engine ...............................
Coolant . 161, 207
...............................
Restraint, Child . 21
..................
Reverse Gear Position . 176
................................
Rotation, Tire . 235
..............................
Paint Touch-up . 251
..............
Panel Brightness Control . 74
........................
Park Gear Position . 176
...........................................
Parking . 182
...............................
Parking Brake . 100
.................................
Parking Lights . 73
..
Parking Over Things that Burn . 296
.............................
PGM-FI System . 295
..................
Polishing and Waxing . 251
............
Pre-Drive Saf ety Checklist . 12
.........
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . 19
............................
Protecting Adults . 13
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 19
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 19
........................
Protecting Children . 21
.......................
Protecting Inf ants . 30
.......
Protecting Larger Children . 37
.........
Protecting Small Children . 34
Using Child Seats with
.....................................
Tethers . 41
................
Using Lower Anchors . 42
Index
PR
S
VI
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