2003 HONDA CIVIC HATCHBACK check engine light

This indicator should light when the
ignition switch is ON (II), and go out
af ter the engine starts. It should
never come on when the engine is
running. If it starts f lashing, it
indicates that the oil pressure
dropped very low f or a moment, then
recovered. If the indicator stays on
with the engine running, it shows
that the engine has lost oil pressure
and serious engine damage is
possible. In either case, you should
take immediate action.Saf ely pull of f the road and shut
of f the engine. Turn on the hazard
warning indicators.
If necessary, add oil to bring the
level back to the full mark on the
dipstick (see page ).
Letthecarsitforaminute.Open
the hood and check the oil level
(see page ). Although oil level
and oil pressure are not directly
connected, an engine that is very
low on oil can lose pressure during
cornering and other driving
maneuvers. Start the engine and watch the oil
pressure indicator. If the light
does not go out within ten seconds,
turn of f the engine. There is a
mechanical problem that needs to
be repaired bef ore you can
continue driving. (See
on page .)
1. 2. 3. 4.
132 167 245
Emergency
Towing
L ow Oil Pressure Indicator
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
234 LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR
Running the engine with low oil
pressure can cause serious mechanical
damage almost immediately. Turn of f
the engine as soon as you can saf ely get
the car stopped.

Youshouldalsohavethedealer
inspect your car if this indicator
comes on repeatedly, even though it
may turn of f as you continue driving.
This indicator should light when the
ignition switch is ON (II), and go out
af ter the engine starts. If it comes on
at any other time, it indicates one of
the engine’s emissions control
systems may have a problem. Even
though you may f eel no dif f erence in
your car’s perf ormance, it can
reduce your f uel economy and cause
your car to put out excessive
emissions. Continued operation may
cause serious damage. If you have recently ref ueled your
car, the cause of this indicator
coming on could be a loose or
missing f uel f ill cap. Check the cap
and tighten it until it clicks several
times. Replace the fuel fill cap if it is
missing. Tightening the cap will not
make the indicator turn of f
immediately; it takes at least one
driving trip.
If the indicator remains on, or the
f uel cap was not loose or missing,
have the car checked by the dealer
as soon as possible. Drive
moderately until the dealer has
inspected the problem. Avoid f ull-
throttle acceleration and driving at
high speed.
Malf unction Indicator L amp
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
236 MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP
If you keep driving with the
malf unction indicator lamp on, you can
damage your car’s emissions controls
and engine. Those repairs may not be
covered by your car’s warranties.

Bulb Replacement..........................
Back-up Lights . 206
..................................
Stop Light . 206
......................
Cargo Area Light . 211
................
Front Parking Lights . 205
........
Front Side Marker Lights . 204
.................................
Headlights . 202
.........
High-mount Brake Light . 207
...........................
Interior Lights . 210
.................
License Plate Lights . 209
..................
Side Marker Lights . 204
...........
Side Turn Signal Lights . 208
............................
Specif ications . 251
....................
Turn Signal Lights . 203
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen . 202
.........
Cables, Jump Starting With . 230
............................
Capacities Chart . 250
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 52
...........................
Cargo Area Cover . 84
.............................
Carrying Cargo . 137
Cassette Player
............................................
Care . 122
...................................
Operation . 119 ..............
CAUTION, Explanation of . ii
...................................
CD Changer . 115
.......................................
CD Player . 113
........................
Certif ication Label . 248
............................................
Chains . 199
Change Oil
........................................
How to . 169
......................................
When to . 158
....................
Changing a Flat Tire . 223
............
Changing Engine Coolant . 173
...
Charging System Indicator . 58, 235
Checking
.....................
Battery Condition . 184
................................
Brake Fluid . 178
...............................
Clutch Fluid . 178
.................................
Drive Belts . 192
..........................
Engine Coolant . 133
..................................
Engine Oil . 132
..........................................
Fuses . 241
....
Manual Transmission Fluid . 177
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving . 142
.....................................
Child Saf ety . 20
....................
Cleaner Element, Air . 179
Cleaning
....................
Aluminum Wheels . 216
...................................
Carpeting . 216 ......................................
Exterior . 214
.........................................
Fabric . 217
.......................................
Interior . 216
...................................
Seat Belts . 218
...........................................
Vinyl . 217
....................................
Windows . 218
.........................
Clock, Setting the . 109
...................................
Clutch Fluid . 178
........................
CO in the Exhaust . 256
............
Cold Weather, Starting in . 143
..............................
Compact Spare . 222
.............
Controls, Instruments and . 55
Coolant
........................................
Adding . 171
....................................
Checking . 133
.........................
Proper Solution . 171
...................................
Replacing . 173
...................
Temperature Gauge . 64
....................
Corrosion Protection . 219
Crankcase Emissions Control
........................................
System . 256
...............................
Cruise Control . 124
Index
C
II

CONT INUED
................
DANGER, Explanation of . ii
...................................
Dashboard . 2, 56
................
Daytime Running Lights . 67
...........
Dead Battery, What to Do . 230
............
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety . 264
........................
Def og and Def rost . 101
................
Def ogger, Rear Window . 70
..............
Def rosting the Windows . 101
....................................
Dimensions . 250
...............
Dimming the Headlights . 66
Dipstick
..................................
Engine Oil . 132
..........................
Directional Signals . 68
.....
Disabled, Towing Your Car If . 245
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 147
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil . 170
Doors
..............
Locking and Unlocking . 75
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 252
Downshif ting, 5-speed Manual
.............................
Transmission . 144
.....................................
Drive Belts . 192
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 5 ...........................................
Driving . 141
....................................
Economy . 134
.........................
In Bad Weather . 151
................
In Foreign Countries . 255
..............................
Economy, Fuel . 134
............
Emergencies on the Road . 221
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 230
...........
Brake System Indicator . 238
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 223
.....
Charging System Indicator . 235
..................
Checking the Fuses . 241
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 234
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 236
..................
Overheated Engine . 232
...........................
Emergency Brake . 89
......................
Emergency Flashers . 70
......................
Emergency Towing . 245
.......................
Emissions Controls . 256Engine
............................................
Belts . 192
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 64
Malf unction Indicator
................................
Lamp . 59, 236 ........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 58, 234
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 167
...............................
Overheating . 232
............................
Specif ications . 250
...................
Engine Speed Limiter . 145
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline . 254
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 256
...............................
Exhaust Fumes . 52
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................
Belts by . 18
..................
Exterior,Cleaningthe .214
............................
Fabric, Cleaning . 217
.....................................
Fan, Interior . 96
Features, Comfort and
................................
Convenience . 95
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 129
Filter
................................
Air Cleaner . 179
...............................................
Oil . 169
Index
E
F
D
III

...
Identif ication Number, Vehicle . 248
......
If Your Car Has to be Towed . 245
Ignition
..............................................
Keys . 72
...........................................
Switch . 72
5-speed Manual Transmission
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 177
................................
Shif ting the . 144
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 70
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 223
Fluids
..........................................
Brake . 177
.........................................
Clutch . 177
..............
Manual Transmission . 177
..................
Windshield Washer . 176
FM Stereo Radio ...................................
Reception . 111
...........................
Folding Rear Seat . 83
.....
Foreign Countries, Driving in . 255
..........................
Four-way Flashers . 70
Front End, Towing by
................
Emergency Wrecker . 245
.................................................
Fuel . 128
......................
Fill Door and Cap . 129
...........................................
Gauge . 63
................
Octane Requirement . 128
...............................
Oxygenated . 254
........................
Reserve Indicator . 60
........................
Tank, Filling the . 129
.....................
Fuses, Checking the . 241 ...............
Gas Mileage, Improving . 134
..........................................
Gasohol . 254
.........................................
Gasoline . 128
...............
Fuel Reserve Indicator . 60
...........................................
Gauge . 63
................
Octane Requirement . 128
........................
Tank, Filling the . 129
................
Gas Station Procedures . 129
Gauges
Engine Coolant
...........................
Temperature . 64
...............................................
Fuel . 63
Gearshif t Lever Positions 5-speed Manual
.........................
Transmission . 144
..............................
Glass Cleaning . 218
........................................
Glove Box . 90
.............
Halogen Headlight Bulbs . 202
Hatch
.................................
Opening the . 80
..............
Hazard Warning Flashers . 70 Headlights
............
Daytime Running Lights . 67
..................
High Beam Indicator . 59
...........
High Beams, Turning on . 66
............
Low Beams, Turning on . 66
........................
Reminder Beeper . 66
........
Replacing Halogen Bulbs . 202
...................................
Turning on . 66
..............................
Head Restraints . 82
.......................
Heating and Cooling . 96
.............
High Altitude, Starting at . 143
.................
High-Low Beam Switch . 66
....................................
Hood Latch . 181
.......................
Hood, Opening the . 130
..............................................
Horn .3,65
.......
Hot Coolant, Warning about . 171
...........................
Hydraulic Clutch . 178
.................................
Hydroplaning . 152
Index
G H I
IV

...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline . 128
.........................................
Odometer . 63
...............................
Odometer, Trip . 63
Oil
........................
Change, How to . 169
......................
Change, When to . 158
......................
Checking Engine . 132
..............
Pressure Indicator . 58, 234
...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) . 73
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor
....................................
Recovery . 256
.........................
Opening the Hatch . 80
........................
Opening the Hood . 130
..
Operation in Foreign Countries . 255
..............................
Outside Mirrors . 88
....................
Overheating, Engine . 232
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 165
.........................
Oxygenated Fuels . 254
..............................
Paint Touch-up . 216
..............
Panel Brightness Control . 67
...........................................
Parking . 146 .................................
Parking Brake . 89
Parking Brake and Brake
.................
System Indicator . 59, 238
.................................
Parking Lights . 66
..
Parking Over Things that Burn . 258
.............................
PGM-FI System . 257
..................
Polishing and Waxing . 215
..............................
Power Windows . 85
............
Pre-Drive Saf ety Checklist . 11
.........
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . 18
............................
Protecting Adults . 12
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 18
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 18
........................
Protecting Children . 20
.......................
Protecting Inf ants . 29
.......
Protecting Larger Children . 35
.........
Protecting Small Children . 32
Using Child Seats with
.....................................
Tethers . 39
...................
Radiator Overheating . 232
...
Radio/Cassette Sound System . 104
..........................
Rear End Towing . 245
..
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement . 206 ............................
Rear Seat Access . 82
..........................
Rear Seat, Folding . 83
............................
Rear View Mirror . 88
.................
Rear Window Def ogger . 70
....................
Rear Window Washer . 69
.......................
Rear Window Wiper . 69
...............
Reclining the Seat Backs . 81
.......
Recommended Shif t Speeds . 145
.............................
Reminder Lights . 57
Replacement Inf ormation
.................
Air Cleaner Element . 179
..........................
Engine Coolant . 173
................
Engine Oil and Filter . 169
..........................................
Fuses . 241
................................
Light Bulbs . 202
....................................
Schedule . 156
................................
Spark Plugs . 181
...........................................
Tires . 197
.............................
Wiper Blades . 186
Replacing Seat Belts Af ter a ............................................
Crash . 45
Reserve Tank, Engine
...............................
Coolant . 133, 171
...............................
Restraint, Child . 20
................................
Rotation, Tire . 196
Index
P R
O
VI