2003 HONDA CIVIC HATCHBACK Owners Manual

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This manual describes the procedures involved in the
replacement of damaged body parts.
This manual covers maintenance and recommended
procedures f or repair to engine and chassis components.
It is written f or the Journeyman mechanic, but is simple
enough f or most mechanically-inclined owners to under-
stand.
This manual complements the Service Manual by
providing in-depth troubleshooting inf ormation f or each
electrical circuit in your car.
Authorized Manuals
Service Manual:
Electrical T roubleshooting Manual:
Body Repair Manual:
266 NOTE: Dealers and Companies please provide dealer or company name,
and also the name of the person to whose attention the shipment should
be sent. For purchases outside U.S.A. please write to the address shown
below for a quotation.
P.O. BOX 07280·DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48207·1-800-782-4356
Customer Name
Attention
Apartment Number
State & Zip Code
City
Daytime Telephone Number
Check or money order enclosed payable to Helm Inc U.S. funds only.
Do not send cash
Master
Card VISA Check here if your billing address is different
from the shipping address shown above.
Account Number Expiration: Mo. Yr.
CUSTOMER SIGNATURE DATE
Street Address No P.O. Box Number
()
These Publications cannot be returned for credit without receiving advance authorization within 14
days of delivery. On returns, a restocking fee may be applied against the original order.

CONT INUED
BatteryCharging System ...........................
Indicator . 58, 235
............................
Jump Starting . 230
..............................
Maintenance . 184
............................
Specif ications . 251
..............................
Bef ore Driving . 127
....................................
Belts,Seat .8,43
...........................
Beverage Holders . 90
.................................
Body Repairs . 220
Brakes
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 128
...........................................
Fluid . 177
.....................
Light, Burned-out . 207
.........................................
Parking . 89
.................
System Indicator . 59, 238
........................
Wear Indicators . 147
.............................
Braking System . 147
........................
Break-in, New Car . 128
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 67
........................
Brights, Headlights . 66
...
Accessories and Modif ications . 135
................................
Accessories . 135
.
Additional Safety Precautions . 136
............................
Modif ications . 136
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key .......................................
Position) . 73
...............
Accessory Power Socket . 92
Adding
................................
Brake Fluid . 178
...............................
Clutch Fluid . 178
..........................
Engine Coolant . 171
..................................
Engine Oil . 167
....
Manual Transmission Fluid . 177
........
Windshield Washer Fluid . 176
Additional Inf ormation About .......................
Your Seat Belts . 43
......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt . 43
...............
Seat Belt Maintenance . 45
..
Seat Belt System Components . 43
Additional Inf ormation About ...........................
Your Airbags . 46
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 51
How the Passenger Airbag
..........
Cutoff Indicator Works . 49 How Your Front Airbags
.........................................
Work . 46
....................
Airbag Components . 46
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 168
Adjustments
..........................
Head Restraints . 82
.........................................
Mirrors . 88
.............................................
Seats . 81
...........................
Steering Wheel . 71
...............................
Airbag (SRS) . 9, 46
.....................
Air Cleaner Element . 179
................
Air Conditioning System . 96
..............................
Maintenance . 189
............................................
Usage . 96
.........................
Air Outlets (Vents) . 98
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires . 193
..................
High Speed Driving . 194
.........................
Normal Driving . 194
.......................
Alcohol in Gasoline . 254
......................................
Antif reeze . 171
Anti-thef t Steering Column
..............................................
Lock . 73
..........................
Appearance Care . 213
................................
Audio System . 104
Index
A B
I

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

CONT INUED
..................................................
Keys . 72 ........................
Jacking up the Car . 224
.......................................
Jack, Tire . 223
................................
Jump Starting . 230 ..................................
Maintenance . 153
...
Owner Maintenance Checks . 165
................................
Record . 163, 164
..........................................
Saf ety . 154
.............................
Schedule . 158-162
.
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 59, 236
...................
Manual Transmission . 144
........
Manual Transmission Fluid . 177
...............................
Meters, Gauges . 63
...................
Methanol in Gasoline . 254
..........................
Mirrors, Adjusting . 88
..................
New Vehicle Break-in . 128
.....................
Normal Shif t Speeds . 145
..................
NOTICE, Explanation of . ii
...............
Numbers, Identif ication . 248
............
Timing Control System . 257
.........
Important Safety Precautions . 6
Indicator Lights, Instrument
.............................................
Panel . 57
...............................
Inf ant Restraint . 28
...................
Inf lation, Proper Tire . 193
..................
High Speed Driving . 194
.........................
Normal Driving . 194
...................................
Inside Mirror . 88
.............................
Inspection, Tire . 195
............................
Instrument Panel . 57
........
Instrument Panel Brightness . 67
...........................
Interior Cleaning . 216
.................................
Interior Lights . 93
........................................
Introduction . i .......................
Label, Certif ication . 248
.................
Lane Change, Signaling . 68
..........................
Lap/Shoulder Belt . 43
.........
Leaking of Exhaust into Car . 52
Lights
....................
Bulb Replacement . 202
.......................................
Indicator . 57
.........................................
Parking . 89
..................................
Turn Signal . 68
.....................................
Load Limit . 138
......
LOCK (Ignition Key Position) . 73
Locks
.......
Anti-thef t Steering Column . 73
............................
Fuel Fill Door . 129
............................................
Hatch . 80
........................
Low Coolant Level . 133
.........................
Low Fuel Indicator . 60
...
Lower Gear, Downshif ting to a . 145
...
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 58, 234
...
Lubricant Specif ications Chart . 250
.........................................
Luggage . 137
Index
J K LM
NV

...
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

ÎÎ
CONT INUED
..................................
Saf ety Belts . 8, 43
.........
Safety Defects, Reporting . 264
.................................
Saf ety Features . 7
...........................................
Airbags . 9
..................................
Door Locks . 11
..........................
Head Restraints . 10
.......................................
Seat Belts . 8
..................
Seats and Seat-Backs . 10
.............
Saf ety Labels, Location of . 53
...............................
Saf ety Messages . ii
Seat Belts, Additional
..............................
Inf ormation . 43
......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt . 43
...............
Seat Belt Maintenance . 45
..
Seat Belt System Components . 43
.....................................
Seat Belts . 8, 43
.....................................
Cleaning . 218
................................
Maintenance . 45
...................
System Components . 43
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 39
...............
Use During Pregnancy . 18
...
Wearing a Lap/Shoulder Belt . 15
........................
Seats, Adjusting the . 81
...............................
Serial Number . 248 ...........................
Service Intervals . 158
...........................
Service Manual . 265
.........
Service Station Procedures . 129
..........................
Setting the Clock . 109
Shif ting
The 5-speed Manual
.........................
Transmission . 144
Side Marker Lights, Bulb .........................
Replacement in . 204
...............................
Signaling Turns . 68
.....................................
Snow Tires . 199
...................
Solvent-type Cleaners . 214
................................
Sound System . 104
Spare Tire
......................................
Inf lating . 222
............................
Specif ications . 251
................
Spark Plugs, Replacing . 181
....................
Specif ications Charts . 250
...................................
Speedometer . 63
..........
SRS, Additional Inf ormation . 46
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 51
....................
Airbag Components . 46
.............................
Airbag Service . 50
How the Passenger Airbag
Cutoff Indicator Light
...................................
Works . 49 How the SRS Indicator
.......................................
Works . 48
How Your Front Airbags .........................................
Work . 46
...
How Your Side Airbags Work . 48
.............................
SRS Indicator . 48, 58
....
START (Ignition Key Position) . 73
.......................
Starting the Engine . 143
In Cold Weather at High ..................................
Altitude . 143
................
With a Dead Battery . 230
........
Steam Coming f rom Engine . 232
Steering Wheel
..................................
Adjustment . 71
.............
Anti-theft Column Lock . 73
...................
Stereo Sound System . 104
...........................
Storing Your Car . 212
Supplemental Restraint
..................................
System .9,46
......................................
Servicing . 50
.........................
SRS Indicator . 48, 58
...................
System Components . 46
..................................
Synthetic Oil . 168
Index
S
VII