2003 HONDA CIVIC HATCHBACK Owners Manual

The instrument panel has many
indicators to give you important
inf ormation about your car. If this light comes on when theengine is running, the battery is not
being charged. For complete
inf ormation, see page .
The engine can be severely damaged
if this light f lashes or stays on when
the engine is running. For complete
inf ormation, see page .This indicator lights when you turn
the ignition switch ON (II). If it
comes on at any other time, it
indicates a potential problem with
your f ront airbags or automatic seat
belt tensioners. On vehicles
equipped with side airbag, this light
will also alert you to a potential
problem with your side airbags or
passenger’s side airbag automatic
cutof f system. For complete
inf ormation, see page .
This indicator lights when you turn
the ignition switch ON (II). If it
comes on at any other time, it
indicates that the passenger’s side
airbag has automatically shut off.
For complete inf ormation, see page
.
This indicator lights when you turn
the ignition switch ON (II). It is a
reminder to you and your passengers
to protect yourselves by f astening
the seat belts.
If you do not f asten your seat belt,
the light stays on until you do. The
light stays of f if you f asten your seat
belt bef ore turning on the ignition.
48
49
235 234
Only when equipped with side airbags
Indicator L ights
Inst rument s and Cont rols Seat Belt Reminder L ight
L ow Oil Pressure
IndicatorSupplemental Restraint
System Indicator
Charging System
Indicator
Passenger Airbag Cutof f
Indicator
58

This light has two f unctions:This indicator comes on when you
turn the ignition switch ON (II). It
is a reminder to check the parking
brake. Driving with the parking
brake not f ully released can
damage the brakes and tires.
If the indicator remains lit after
you have f ully released the
parking brake while the engine is
running, or if it comes on while
driving, it can indicate a problem
in the brake system. For complete
inf ormation, see page . See page .
The lef t or right turn signal light
blinks when you signal a lane change
or turn. If the light does not blink or
blinks rapidly, it usually means one
of the turn signal bulbs is burned out
(see page ). Replace the bulb as
soon as possible, since other drivers
cannot see that you are signaling.
This light comes on if the hatch is
not closed tightly. This indicator lights when you turn
the ignition switch to ON (II) with
the headlight switch of f and the
parking brake set. It should go of f if
youturnontheheadlightsorrelease
the parking brake. If it comes on at
any other time, it means there is a
problem with the DRL. There may
also be a problem with the high
beam headlights.
This light comes on with the high
beam headlights. See page f or
inf ormation on the headlight
controls.
WhenyouturnontheHazard
Warning switch, both turn signal
lights blink. All turn signals on the
outside of the vehicle should f lash.
On Canadian model, this indicator
comes on with reduced brightness
when the Daytime Running Lights
(DRL) are on (see page ).
1. 2.
6766
238 236
200
Canadian model only
Indicator L ights
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Parking Brake
and Brake
System
Indicator
Malf unction Indicator
Lamp
Turn Signal and
Hazard Warning
Indicators
Hatch-open Indicator ‘‘Daytime Running
Lights’’ Indicator
High Beam Indicator
59
U.S. Canada

This indicator is located in the f uel
gauge.This light comes on when the
washer f luid level is low. Add washer
f luid when you see this light come on
(see page ).
This lights when you set the cruise
control. See page f or inf ormation
on operating the cruise control.
This light normally comes on f or a
f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch ON (II), and when
the ignition switch is turned to
START (III). If this light comes on at
any other time, there is a problem in
theABS.If thishappens,takethe
cartoyourdealertohaveitchecked.
With the light on, your car still has
normal braking ability but no anti-
lock. For complete inf ormation, see
page .
If the indicator glows, it means you
should ref uel soon. 124
148
176
Canadian model only
Indicator L ights
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Low Fuel Indicator Washer Level Indicator
Cruise Control IndicatorAnti-lock Brake
System (A BS)
Indicator
60 Canada
U.S.
LOW FUEL INDICATOR

This light normally comes on when
you turn the ignition ON (II) and
goes of f af ter the engine starts. If it
comes on at any other time, there is
a problem in the Electric Power
Steering system. If this happens,
stop the car in a safe place and turn
of f the engine. Reset the system by
restarting the engine. The indicator
will not turn of f immediately. If it
does not go of f af ter driving a short
distance, or comes back on again
while driving, take the car to your
dealer to have it checked. With the
light on, the EPS may be turned of f ,
making the car harder to steer.This indicator comes on f or a f ew
seconds when you turn the ignition
switch ON (II). It will then go of f if
you have inserted a properly-coded
ignition key. If it is not a properly-
coded key, the indicator will blink
and the engine will not start (see
page ).
This indicator also blinks several
times when you turn the ignition
switch f rom ON (II) to ACCESSORY
(I) or LOCK (0).
This indicator reminds you that it is
time to take your car in for
scheduled maintenance.
Ref er to the Maintenance Schedules
f or Normal and Severe Driving
Conditions on pages and .
For the f irst 8,000 miles (12,800 km)
after the Maintenance Required
Indicator is reset, it will come on f or
two seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to ON (II).
Between 8,000 miles (12,800 km)
and 10,000 miles (16,000 km) this
indicator will light f or two seconds
when you f irst turn the ignition
switch to ON (II), and then flash for
ten seconds.
If the power steering system
overheats while driving, the assisting
power is reduced and steering may
f eel slightly harder. 74
160
158
CONT INUED
Indicator L ights
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Electric Power Steering
(EPS) Indicator
Immobilizer System
IndicatorMaintenance Required
Indicator
61

If you exceed 10,000 miles (16,000
km) without having the scheduled
maintenance perf ormed, this
indicator will remain on as a constant
reminder.Your dealer will reset this indicator
af ter completing the scheduled
maintenance. If this maintenance is
done by someone other than your
Honda dealer, reset the indicator as
f ollows.
Hold the button until the indicator
resets (approximately ten
seconds).
Turn of f the engine.
Press and hold the Select/Reset
buttonintheinstrumentpanel,
then turn the ignition switch ON
(II).
1. 2. 3.
Indicator L ights
Inst rument s and Cont rols
62

This shows your speed in miles per
hour (mph). The smaller inner
numbers are the speed in kilometers
per hour (km/h).
This shows your speed in kilometers
per hour (km/h). The smaller inner
numbers are the speed in miles per
hour (mph).This meter shows the number of
miles (U.S.) or kilometers (Canada)
driven since you last reset it.
To reset a trip meter, display it, and
then press and hold the Select/Reset
button until the number resets to‘‘0.0’’.
There are two trip meters: Trip A
and Trip B. Switch between these
displays and the odometer by
pressing the Select/Reset button
repeatedly. Each trip meter works
independently, so you can keep track
of two dif f erent distances.
The odometer shows the total dis-
tance your car has been driven. It
measures miles in the U.S. model
and kilometers in the Canadian
model.
It is illegal under U.S. f ederal law and
Canadian provincial regulations to
disconnect, reset, or alter the
odometer with the intent to change
the number of miles or kilometers
indicated.
U.S. model
Canadian model
Speedometer Odometer Trip Meter
Gauges
Inst rument s and Cont rols
63
MAINTENANCE
REQUIRED
INDICATOR
TACHOMETER TEMPERATURE GAUGE
ODO/TRIPMETER
U.S. model shown SPEEDOMETER
SELECT/RESET BUTTON FUEL GAUGE

The tachometer shows the engine
speed in revolutions per minute
(rpm). To protect the engine f rom
damage, never drive with the
tachometer needle in the red zone.
The needle returns to the bottom
after you turn off the ignition. The
gauge shows the f uel level reading
immediately af ter you turn the ignition switch back ON (II).
This shows the temperature of the
engine’s coolant. During normal
operation, the pointer should rise
from the bottom mark to about the
middle of the gauge. In severe
driving conditions, such as very hot
weather or a long period of uphill
driving, the pointer may rise to the
upper blue zone. If it reaches the red
(Hot) mark, pull saf ely to the side of
the road. Turn to page for
instructions and precautions on
checking the engine’s cooling
system.
This shows how much f uel you have.
It is most accurate when the vehicle
is on level ground. It may show
slightly more or less than the actual
amount when you are driving on
curvy or hilly roads.
232
Gauges
Inst rument s and Cont rolsT achometer
Fuel Gauge Temperature Gauge
64 MAINTENANCE
REQUIRED
INDICATOR
TACHOMETER SPEEDOMETER
TEMPERATURE GAUGE
ODO/TRIPMETER
U.S model shown SELECT/RESET BUTTONFUEL GAUGE
Avoid driving with an extremely low
f uel level. Running out of f uel could
cause the engine to misf ire, damaging
the catalytic converter.

Î
Î
Thetwoleversonthesteering
column contain controls f or driving
f eatures you use most of ten. The lef t
lever controls the turn signals,
headlights, and high beams. The
right lever controls the windshield
washers and wipers.
The tilt adjustment lever on the
underside of the steering column
allows you to tilt the steering wheel.
To use the horn, press the pad around the ‘‘H’’ logo.
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Inst rument s and Cont rols65
HEADLIGHTS/
TURN SIGNALS
(P. 66/68)
WINDSHIELD WIPERS/
WASHERS
(P. 68/69) REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER
(P. 70)
MIRROR CONTROLS
(P. 88) TILT ADJUSTMENT
(P. 71)HORN
(P. 70)
HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS