2003 HONDA CIVIC HATCHBACK catalytic converter

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.

Always use the parking brake when
you park your car. The indicator on
the instrument panel shows that the
parking brake is not f ully released; it
does not indicate that the parking
brakeisfirmlyset.Makesurethe
parking brake is set f irmly or your
car may roll if it is parked on an
incline.Make sure the moonroof and the
windows are closed.
Turn of f the lights.
Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the cargo area or take them
with you.
If the car is f acing uphill, turn the
f ront wheels away f rom the curb and
put the transmission in f irst gear.
If the car is f acing downhill, turn the
f ront wheels toward the curb and put
the transmission in reverse gear.
Make sure the parking brake is f ully
released bef ore driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or damage
the rear brakes.
Lockthedoorswiththekeyorthe
remote transmitter.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other f lammable
materials. The three way catalytic
converter gets very hot, and could
cause these materials to catch on
fire.
Parking T ips
Parking
Driving
146

Thediagramsinthissectiongive
you the dimensions and capacities of
your Honda, and the locations of the
identif ication numbers. It also
includes inf ormation you should
know about your car’s tires and
emissions control systems.................
Identif ication Numbers . 248
................................
Specif ications . 250
DOT Tire Quality Grading
......................
(U.S. Vehicles) . 252
.................................
Treadwear . 252
......................................
Traction . 252
.............................
Temperature . 253 .........................
Oxygenated Fuels . 254
......
Driving in Foreign Countries . 255
.......................
Emissions Controls . 256
.....................
The Clean Air Act . 256
Crankcase Emissions Control
....................................
System . 256
Evaporative Emissions Control ....................................
System . 256
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor ................................
Recovery . 256
...
Exhaust Emissions Controls . 257
....................
PGM-FI System . 257
Ignition Timing Control
................................
System . 257
Three Way Catalytic
...........................
Converter . 257
....................
Replacement Parts . 257
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter . 258
..............
State Emissions Testing . 259
....
Testing of Readiness Codes . 259
T echnical Inf ormat ion
T echnical Inf ormation 247

If you are planning to take your
Honda outside the U.S. or Canada,
contact the tourist bureaus in the
areas you will be traveling in to f ind
out about the availability of unleaded
gasoline with the proper octane
rating.
If unleaded gasoline is not available,
be aware that using leaded gasoline
in your Honda will af f ect perf or-
mance and fuel mileage, and damage
its emissions controls. It will no
longer comply with U.S. and
Canadian emissions regulations, and
will be illegal to operate in North
America. To bring your car back into
compliance will require the replace-
ment of several components, such as
theoxygensensorsandthethree
way catalytic converter. These re-
placements are not covered under
warranty.
Driving in Foreign Countries
T echnical Inf ormation255

The exhaust emissions controls
include three systems: PGM-FI,
Ignition Timing Control and Three
Way Catalytic Converter. These
three systems work together to
control the engine’s combustion and
minimize the amount of HC, CO, and
NOx that comes out the tailpipe. The
exhaust emissions control systems
are separate from the crankcase and
evaporative emissions control
systems.The emissions control systems are
covered by warranties separate f rom
the rest of your car. Read your
warranty manual f or more inf orma-
tion.
The PGM-FI System uses sequential
multiport f uel injection.
It has three subsystems: Air Intake,
Engine Control, and Fuel Control.
The Engine Control Module (ECM)
uses various sensors to determine
how much air is going into the
engine. It then controls how much
f uel to inject under all operating
conditions.
This system constantly adjusts the
ignition timing, reducing the amount
of HC, CO and NOx produced.
The three way catalytic converter is
in the exhaust system. Through
chemical reactions, it converts HC,
CO, and NOx in the engine’s exhaust
to carbon dioxide (CO ), dinitrogen
(N ), and water vapor. The emissions control systems are
designed and certif ied to work to-
gether in reducing emissions to
levels that comply with the Clean Air
Act. To make sure the emissions
remain low, you should use only new
genuine Honda replacement parts or
their equivalent f or repairs. Using
lower quality parts may increase the
emissions f rom your car.
2
2
Exhaust Emissions Controls
Replacement Parts
PGM-FI Syst em
Ignit ion T iming Cont rol Syst emThree Way Catalytic Converter
Emissions Cont rols
T echnical Inf ormation 257

The three way catalytic converter
contains precious metals that serve
as catalysts, promoting chemical
reactions to convert the exhaust
gasses without af f ecting the metals.
The catalytic converter is ref erred to
as a three-way catalyst, since it acts
on HC, CO, and NOx. A replacement
unit must be an original Honda part
or its equivalent.Always use unleaded gasoline.
Even a small amount of leaded
gasoline can contaminate the
catalyst metals, making the three
way catalytic converter inef f ective.Keep the engine tuned-up.
The three way catalytic converter
must operate at a high temperature
for the chemical reactions to take
place. It can set on f ire any com-
bustible materials that come near it.
Park your car away f rom high grass,
dry leaves, or other f lammables. A defective three way catalytic
converter contributes to air pollution,
and can impair your engine’s per-
f ormance. Follow these guidelines to
protect your car’s three way catalytic
converter. Have your car diagnosed and
repaired if it is misf iring, back-
f iring, stalling, or otherwise not
running properly.
Three Way Catalytic Converter
T echnical Inf ormation
258 THREE WAY CATALYTIC CONVERTER

Î.................
Vehicle Capacity Load . 138
......................
Vehicle Dimensions . 250
....
Vehicle Identif ication Number . 248
.............................
Vehicle Storage . 212
........................................
Ventilation . 99
.................................................
VIN . 248
...............................
Vinyl Cleaning . 217
..................................
Viscosity, Oil . 168
Warning Beepers
..............................
Headlights on . 66
.............................
Key in Ignition . 73
.............
WARNING, Explanation of . ii
.........
Warning Labels, Location of . 53
..................
Warranty Coverages . 263
Washer, Windshield
........
Checking the Fluid Level . 176
.......................................
Indicator . 60
.....................................
Tachometer . 64
......
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in . 206
Taking Care of the
...............................
Unexpected . 221
....................................
Tape Player . 119
Technical Descriptions
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 252
..
Driving in Foreign Countries . 255
.....
Emissions Control Systems . 256
.....................
Oxygenated Fuels . 254
Three Way Catalytic
...............................
Converter . 258
.......................
Temperature Gauge . 64
..............
Tether Anchorage Points . 39
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter . 258
..........................
Time, Setting the . 109
....................................
Tire Chains . 199
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat . 223
...............................................
Tires . 193
..............................
Air Pressure . 193
.........................
Checking Wear . 195
..........................
Compact Spare . 222
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 252
......................................
Inf lation . 193 ..................................
Inspection . 195
...................................
Replacing . 197
......................................
Rotating . 196
...........................................
Snow . 199
............................
Specif ications . 251
................................
Tire Chains . 199
...................
Tools, Tire Changing . 223
Towing
.....................................
A Trailer . 152
................
Emergency Wrecker . 245
Transmission Checking Fluid Level, ...................................
Manual . 177
...........................
Fluid Selection . 177
..............
Identif ication Number . 248
..................
Shif ting the Manual . 144
.....................................
Treadwear . 252
.......................................
Trip Meter . 63
....................................
Turn Signals . 68
.....................
Underside, Cleaning . 219
Unexpected, Taking Care
..........................................
of the . 221
....
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading . 252 ........................
Unleaded Gasoline . 128
.....................
Upholstery Cleaning . 216
.......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of . 170
Index
T
U V W
VIII