2003 HONDA CIVIC HATCHBACK snow chains

This section also includes
Maintenance Schedules f or normal
driving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions f or simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself .
If you have the skills and tools to per-
f orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your Honda, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your Honda
dealer.
This section explains why it is
important to keep your car well
maintained and how to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.
......................
Maintenance Saf ety . 154
.
Important Safety Precautions . 155
.................
Maintenance Schedule . 156
...
Required Maintenance Record . 163
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 165
..............................
Fluid Locations . 166
......................................
Engine Oil . 167
..................................
Adding Oil . 167
....................
Recommended Oil . 167
..............................
Synthetic Oil . 168
....................................
Additives . 168
.....
Changing the Oil and Filter . 169
.............................
Cooling System . 171
............
Adding Engine Coolant . 171
.......
Replacing Engine Coolant . 173
....................
Windshield Washers . 176
.......................
Transmission Fluid . 177
................
Brake and Clutch Fluid . 177
............................
Brake System . 178
...........................
Clutch System . 178
.....................
Air Cleaner Element . 179
....................................
Hood Latch . 181
....................................
Spark Plugs . 181
..............................
Replacement . 181
............................
Specif ications . 183
...........................................
Battery . 184 .................................
Wiper Blades . 186
..............
Air Conditioning System . 189
..................
DustandPollenFilter .190
.....................................
Drive Belts . 192
...............................................
Tires . 193
......................................
Inf lation . 193
Recommended TirePressures f or Normal ...........................
Driving . 194
Tire Pressure Adjustment ....
f or High Speed Driving . 194
..................................
Inspection . 195
..............................
Maintenance . 195
.............................
Tire Rotation . 196
...
Replacing Tires and Wheels . 197
......................
Wheels and Tires . 198
..........................
Winter Driving . 198
.............................
Snow Tires . 199
............................
Tire Chains . 199
.............................................
Lights . 200
.....................
Headlight Aiming . 202
........................
Replacing Bulbs . 202
...........................
Storing Your Car . 212
265
Maintenance
Maint enance
153

´
Wheels:
Tires:
See page f or inf ormation about
DOT Tire Quality Grading. Tires that are marked ‘‘M S’’ or
‘‘All Season’’ on the sidewall have an
all-weather tread design. They
should be suitable f or most winter
driving conditions. Tires without
these markings are designed f or
optimum traction in dry conditions.
They may not provide adequate
perf ormance in winter driving.
For the best perf ormance in snowy
or icy conditions, you should install
snow tires or tire chains. They may
be required by local laws under
certain conditions.
TheABSworksbycomparingthe
speed of the wheels. When replacing
tires, use the same size originally
supplied with the car. Tire size and
construction can af f ect wheel speed
and may cause the system to work
inconsistently.
If you ever need to replace a wheel,
make sure the wheel’s specif ications
match those of the original wheel
that came on your car. Replacement
wheels are available at your Honda
dealer.
252
Wheels and Tires Winter Driving
Tires
Maint enance
198 15x6J
195/60R15 88V

When installing chains, f ollow the
manuf acturer’s instructions and
mount them as tightly as you can.
Drive slowly with chains installed. If
you hear the chains contacting the
body or chassis, stop and investigate.
Make sure the chains are installed
tightly, and that they are not
contacting the brake lines or
suspension. Remove the chains as
soon as you begin driving on cleared
roads.
If you mount snow tires on your
Honda, make sure they are radial
tires of the same size and load range
as the original tires. Mount snow
tiresonallfourwheelstobalance
your car’s handling in all weather
conditions. Keep in mind the traction
provided by snow tires on dry roads
may not be as high as your car’s
original equipment tires. You should
drive cautiously even when the roads
areclear.Checkwiththetiredealer
f or maximum speed recommenda-
tions.
Mount snow chains on your car
when warranted by driving condi-
tions or required by local laws. Make
sure the chains are the correct size
f or your tires. Install them only on
the front tires. If metal chains are
used, they must be SAE class ‘‘S.’’
Cable type traction devices can also
be used.
Snow T ires T ire Chains
Tires
Maint enance
199
Chains of the wrong size or that are
improperly installed can damage your
car’s brake lines, suspension, body, and
wheels. Stop driving if you hear the
chains hitting any part of the car.

Follow these precautions whenever
you are using the compact spare tire:Thecompactsparetirehasashorter
tread lif e than a regular tire. Replace
it when you can see the tread wear
indicator bars. The replacement
shouldbethesamesizeanddesign
tire, mounted on the same wheel.
Thecompactsparetireisnot
designed to be mounted on a regular
wheel, and the compact wheel is not
designed f or mounting a regular tire.
Check the inf lation pressure of the
compact spare tire every time you
check the other tires. It should be
inf lated to:
Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)
under any circumstances.
This tire gives a harsher ride and
less traction on some road sur-
f aces than the regular tire. Use
greater caution while driving on
this tire.
Do not mount snow chains on the
compact spare.
Your car has a compact spare tire
that takes up less space. Use this
sparetireasatemporaryreplace-
ment only. Get your regular tire
repaired or replaced and put it back
on your car as soon as you can.
The wheel of the compact spare
tire is designed especially to f it
your car. Do not use your spare
tire on another vehicle unless it is
thesamemakeandmodel.
Compact Spare Tire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
222 INDICATOR LOCATION MARK
TREAD WEAR INDICATOR BAR
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm
)

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
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VIII