2003 HONDA CIVIC HATCHBACK checking oil

Refer toon page f or inf ormation
on checking other items in your
Honda.
Look at the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Make sure it is
between the MAX and MIN lines. If
it is below the MIN line, see
on page f or
informationonaddingtheproper
coolant.
Remove the dipstick again and
check the level. It should be
between the upper and lower
marks.
If it is near or below the lower mark,
see on page .
Insert it all the way back in its tube. 4.
3.
167171
165
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving
Owner Maintenance
Checks A dding
Engine Coolant
A dding Oil
Engine Coolant Check
133
UPPER MARK
LOWER MARK MAX
RESERVE
TANK
MIN

Some of the most important saf ety
precautions are given here. However,
we cannot warn you of every
conceivable hazard that can arise in
perf orming maintenance. Only you
can decide whether or not you
should perf orm a given task.
This section includes instructions f or
simple maintenance tasks, such as
checking and adding oil. Any service
items not detailed in this section
should be perf ormed by a Honda
technician or other qualif ied
mechanic.
Regularly maintaining your car is the
best way to protect your investment.
Proper maintenance is essential to
your saf ety and the saf ety of your
passengers. It will also reward you
with more economical, trouble-f ree
driving and help reduce air pollution.
Maint enance
Maintenance Saf ety
154 Failure to properly follow
maintenance instructions and
precautions can cause you to
be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the procedures
and precautions in this owner’smanual.
Improperly maintaining this car
or failing to correct a problem
before driving can cause a
crash in which you can be
seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the inspection
and maintenance
recommendations and
schedules in this owner’smanual.

This section covers the more-
common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you inf ormation about how to
safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has
stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again.
If not, you will also f ind instructions
on getting your car towed.......................
Compact Spare Tire . 222
....................
Changing a Flat Tire . 223
..........
If Your Engine Won’t Start . 228
Nothing Happens or theStarter Motor Operates ............................
Very Slowly . 228
The Starter Operates ................................
Normally . 229
................................
Jump Starting . 230
............
If Your Engine Overheats . 232
.........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 234
..........
Charging System Indicator . 235
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 236
.......................
Readiness Codes . 237
...............
Brake System Indicator . 238
..................
Closing the Moonroof . 239
..............................................
Fuses . 240
..........
Checking and Replacing . 241
......................
Emergency Towing . 245
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed 221

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

...
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

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