2004 HONDA CIVIC checking oil

Wait a f ew minutes af ter turning the
engine of f bef ore you check the oil.Remove the dipstick (orange loop).
Wipe the dipstick with a clean
cloth or paper towel.
Insert it all the way back in its tube. 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 . 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
inf ormation on adding the proper
coolant.
Refer to on page f or inf ormation
on checking other items in your
Honda.
2. 3.
1.
4.
144 138147
Bef ore Driving
Oil Check
A dding Oil A dding
Engine Coolant
Engine Coolant Check
Owner’s Maintenance
Checks
Service Station Procedures
115
DIPSTICK UPPER MARK
LOWER MARKRESERVE TANK
MINMAX
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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 vehicle well
maintained and how to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.
......................
Maintenance Saf ety . 136
.................
Maintenance Schedule . 137
....................
Maintenance Record . 141
..............................
Fluid Locations . 143
........................
Adding Engine Oil . 144
.........
Changing the Oil and Filter . 145
..............................
Engine Coolant . 147
....................
Windshield Washers . 148
.....
Automatic Transmission Fluid .149
........
Manual Transmission Fluid . 150
....................................
Timing Belt . 150
................
Brake and Clutch Fluid . 151
....................
Power Steering Fluid . 152
....................................
Hood Latch . 152
.............................................
Lights . 153
.......................................
Seat Belts . 159
.....................................
Floor Mats . 159
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 159
.................................
Wiper Blades . 160
...............................................
Tires . 161
................
Checking Your Battery . 167
.............................
Vehicle Storage . 168
211
Maintenance
Maint enance135
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CONT INUED
....................................
Accessories . 117
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key
.......................................
Position) . 69
...............
Accessory Power Socket . 85
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 145
.............................
Airbag (SRS) . 10, 22
...
Airbags, Additional Information . 22
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 28
.............................
Airbag Service . 28
How the Side Airbag Cutof f
......................
Indicator Works . 27
..
How the SRS Indicator Works . 26
How Your Front Airbags
.........................................
Work . 22
...
How Your Side Airbags Work . 25
........................
SRS Components . 22
................
Air Conditioning System . 89
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires . 162
..................
High Speed Driving . 162
.........................
Normal Driving . 162
.......................
Alcohol in Gasoline . 200
......................................
Antif reeze . 147
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
...............................
Indicator . 55, 133 ...................................
Operation . 133
..............
Anti-thef t, Audio System . 105
Anti-thef t Steering Column
..............................................
Lock . 69
..................................
Audio System . 92
...
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners . 20
.............
Automatic Speed Control . 107
..............
Automatic Transmission . 128
..........................
Capacity, Fluid . 196
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 149
.......................................
Shif ting . 128
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 128
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 128
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 130
Battery Charging System ...........................
Indicator . 55, 182
............................
Jump Starting . 178
..............................
Maintenance . 167
............................
Specif ications . 197
..............................
Bef ore Driving . 111
....................................
Belts,Seat .8,19
.............................
Beverage Holder . 85 Brakes
...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) . 133
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 112
....................
Bulb Replacement . 153
...........................................
Fluid . 151
.......................................
Parking . 131
.................
System Indicator . 55, 184
........................
Wear Indicators . 132
.............................
Braking System . 132
.................
Break-in, New Vehicle . 112
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 64
........................
Brights, Headlights . 63
Bulb Replacement
..........................
Back-up Lights . 157
..............................
Brake Lights . 156
................
Front Parking Lights . 155
........
Front Side Marker Lights . 155
.................................
Headlights . 153
.........
High-mount Brake Light . 158
.........
Rear Side Marker Lights . 156
............................
Specif ications . 197
Bulb Replacement ....................
Turn Signal Lights . 155
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen . 153
Index
A
B
I
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............................
Capacities Chart . 196
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 46
.............................
Carrying Cargo . 119
Cassette Player
............................................
Care . 104
...................................
Operation . 102
..............
CAUTION, Explanation of . ii
.....................................
CD Changer . 98
.........................................
CD Player . 97
....................................
Ceiling Light . 83
........................
Certif ication Label . 194
............................................
Chains . 166
....................
Changing a Flat Tire . 171
Changing Oil
........................................
How to . 145
......................................
When to . 139
...
Charging System Indicator . 55, 182
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving . 124
.....................................
Child Saf ety . 29
Child Seats
......
LATCH Anchorage System . 37
...........................
Lower Anchors . 37
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 41
..................
Childproof Door Locks . 70 .........................
Clock, Setting the . 106
...................................
Clutch Fluid . 151
........................
CO in the Exhaust . 202
............
Cold Weather, Starting in . 125
..............................
Compact Spare . 170
...............
Consumer Inf ormation . 208
.............
Controls, Instruments and . 49
Coolant
........................................
Adding . 147
....................................
Checking . 115
.........................
Proper Solution . 147
...................
Temperature Gauge . 60
Crankcase Emissions Control ........................................
System . 202
............
Cruise Control Operation . 107
..........
Customer Relations Of f ice . 208
................
DANGER, Explanation of . ii
...................................
Dashboard . 2, 50
................
Daytime Running Lights . 63
............
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety . 210
..........................
Def og and Def rost . 91
................
Def ogger, Rear Window . 65
................
Def rosting the Windows . 91 ....................................
Dimensions . 196
...............
Dimming the Headlights . 63
Dipstick
..........
Automatic Transmission . 149
..................................
Engine Oil . 115
..........................
Directional Signals . 63
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 132
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil . 146
Doors
..............
Locking and Unlocking . 70
......................
Power Door Locks . 70
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 198
Downshif ting, 5-speed Manual
.............................
Transmission . 126
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 5
...........................................
Driving . 123
....................................
Economy . 116
................
In Foreign Countries . 201
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 159
..............................
Economy, Fuel . 116
............
Emergencies on the Road . 169
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 178
...........
Brake System Indicator . 184
Index
C
D E
II
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CONT INUED
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 171
.....
Charging System Indicator . 182
..................
Checking the Fuses . 186
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 182
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 183
...
Manually Closing Moonroof . 185
..................
Overheated Engine . 179
...........................
Emergency Brake . 82
......................
Emergency Flashers . 65
......................
Emergency Towing . 190
............
Emergency Trunk Opener . 71
.......................
Emissions Controls . 202
.............
Emissions Testing, State . 205 Engine
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 60
......
Engine Speed Limiter . 127, 130
Malf unction Indicator
................................
Lamp . 56, 183
........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 55, 182
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 144
...............................
Overheating . 179
............................
Specif ications . 196
.......................................
Starting . 125
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline . 200
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 202
...............................
Exhaust Fumes . 46 Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................
Belts by . 17
.....................................
Fan, Interior . 89
Features, Comfort and
................................
Convenience . 87
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 113
Filters
.........................
Dust and Pollen . 159
...............................................
Oil . 145
5-speed Manual Transmission ...............
Checking Fluid Level . 150
................................
Shif ting the . 126
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning . 65
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a . 171
Fluids
..........
Automatic Transmission . 149
..........................................
Brake . 151
.........................................
Clutch . 151
..............
Manual Transmission . 150
..........................
Power Steering . 152
..................
Windshield Washer . 148
FM Stereo Radio .....................................
Reception . 95 ...........................
Folding Rear Seat . 76
.....
Foreign Countries, Driving in . 201
..........................
Four-way Flashers . 65
............................
Front Airbags . 10, 22
.................................................
Fuel . 112
......................
Fill Door and Cap . 113
...........................................
Gauge . 59
................
Octane Requirement . 112
...............................
Oxygenated . 200
........................
Reserve Indicator . 56
........................
Tank, Filling the . 113
.....................
Fuses, Checking the . 186
...............
Gas Mileage, Improving . 116
..........................................
Gasohol . 200
.........................................
Gasoline . 112
...............
Fuel Reserve Indicator . 56
...........................................
Gauge . 59
................
Octane Requirement . 112
........................
Tank, Filling the . 113
................
Gas Station Procedures . 113
Index
F
G
III
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Locks.......
Anti-thef t Steering Column . 69
............................
Fuel Fill Door . 113
.................................
Power Door . 70
...........................................
Trunk . 71
........................
Low Coolant Level . 115
.........................
Low Fuel Indicator . 56
................................
Lower Anchors . 37
...
Lower Gear, Downshif ting to a . 126
...
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 55, 182
...
Lubricant Specif ications Chart . 196
.........................................
Luggage . 119
..................................
Maintenance . 135
...
Owner Maintenance Checks . 138
.................................
Record . 141-142
......................
Required Indicator . 58
..........................................
Saf ety . 136
.............................
Schedule . 137-140
.
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 56, 183
...................
Manual Transmission . 126
........
Manual Transmission Fluid . 150
...............................
Meters, Gauges . 59
...................
Methanol in Gasoline . 200 ..........................
Mirrors, Adjusting . 80
.........................................
Moonroof . 80
......................
Closing Manually . 185
.....................................
Operation . 80
...................
Neutral Gear Position . 129
..................
New Vehicle Break-in . 112
.....................
Normal Shif t Speeds . 127
...................
NOTICE, Explanation of . i
...............
Numbers, Identif ication . 194
...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline . 112
.........................................
Odometer . 59
...............................
Odometer, Trip . 59
Oil
........................
Change, How to . 145
......................
Change, When to . 139
......................
Checking Engine . 115
..............
Pressure Indicator . 55, 182
Selecting Proper Viscosity
......................................
Chart . 144
...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) . 69 Onboard Ref ueling Vapor
....................................
Recovery . 202
..
Operation in Foreign Countries . 201
..............................
Outside Mirrors . 81
....................
Overheating, Engine . 179
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 138
.........................
Oxygenated Fuels . 200
..............
Panel Brightness Control . 64
........................
Park Gear Position . 129
...........................................
Parking . 131
.................................
Parking Brake . 82
Parking Brake and Brake
.................
System Indicator . 55, 184
.................................
Parking Lights . 55
..
Parking Over Things that Burn . 204
............................
Playing the Radio . 92
....................................
Playing a CD . 97
.............................
PGM-FI System . 203
.........
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . 17
CONT INUED
Index
M N O
P
V
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CONT INUED
.....................................
Snow Tires . 165
..................................
Sound System . 92
Spare Tire
......................................
Inf lating . 170
............................
Specif ications . 197
....................
Specif ications Charts . 196
................................
Speed Control . 107
.........................................
Spotlights . 83
..........
SRS, Additional Inf ormation . 22
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 28
.............................
Airbag Service . 28
How the Side Airbag Cutof f
...........
Indicator Light Works . 27
How the SRS Indicator .......................................
Works . 26
How Your Front Airbags .........................................
Work . 22
...
How Your Side Airbags Work . 25
........................
SRS Components . 22
.............................
SRS Indicator . 26, 54
....
START (Ignition Key Position) . 69
..............
State Emissions Testing . 205
.......................
Starting the Engine . 125
In Cold Weather at High ..................................
Altitude . 125
................
With a Dead Battery . 178 ........
Steam Coming f rom Engine . 179
Steering Wheel
..................................
Adjustment . 66
.............
Anti-theft Column Lock . 69
.....................
Stereo Sound System . 92
....................
Storing Your Vehicle . 168
Supplemental Restraint
................................
System . 10, 22
......................................
Servicing . 28
.........................
SRS Indicator . 26, 54
...................
System Components . 22
..................................
Synthetic Oil . 145
Taillights, Changing
..................................
Bulbs . 156, 157
.
Taking Care of the Unexpected . 169
....................................
Tape Player . 102
Technical Descriptions
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 198
.....
Emissions Control Systems . 202
.....................
Oxygenated Fuels . 200
..........
State Emissions Testing . 205
Three Way Catalytic
...............................
Converter . 204 .................................
Tire Labeling . 199
.......................
Temperature Gauge . 60
..............
Tether Anchorage Points . 41
............................
Thef t Protection . 105
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter . 204
..........................
Time, Setting the . 106
....................................
Timing Belt . 150
....................................
Tire Chains . 166
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat . 171
...........................
Tire Inf ormation . 198
...............................................
Tires . 161
..............................
Air Pressure . 162
.........................
Checking Wear . 163
..........................
Compact Spare . 170
......
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 198
......................................
Inf lation . 162
..................................
Inspection . 163
..............................
Maintenance . 164
...................................
Replacing . 165
......................................
Rotating . 164
...........................................
Snow . 165
............................
Specif ications . 197
................................
Tire Chains . 166
...................
Tools, Tire Changing . 171
Index
T
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Towing
.....................................
A Trailer . 134
..................
Emergency Towing . 190
...........................
Traction Devices . 166
Transmission
Checking Fluid Level, ..............................
Automatic . 149
Checking Fluid Level, ...................................
Manual . 150
..................
Fluid Selection . 149, 150
..............
Identif ication Number . 194
.............
Shif ting the Automatic . 128
..................
Shif ting the Manual . 126
.....................................
Treadwear . 198
.......................................
Trip Meter . 59
................................................
Trunk . 71
........................................
Opening . 71
...................
Open Monitor Light . 56
....................................
Turn Signals . 63 .............
WARNING, Explanation of . ii
.........
Warning Labels, Location of . 47
..................
Warranty Coverages . 209
Washer, Windshield
........
Checking the Fluid Level . 148
.......................................
Indicator . 56
.....................................
Operation . 62
Wheels ...............
Adjusting the Steering . 66
............
Alignment and Balance . 164
..........................
Compact Spare . 170 ......................................
Wrench . 172
Windows ..................
Operating the Power . 78
...........................
Rear, Def ogger . 65
Windshield .......................................
Cleaning . 62
.....................................
Def roster . 91
.......................................
Washers . 62
Wipers, Windshield .......................
Changing Blades . 160
.....................................
Operation . 62
....................................
Worn Tires . 164
.....
Wrecker, Emergency Towing . 190
Unexpected, Taking Care ..........................................
of the . 169
....
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading . 198
........................
Unleaded Gasoline . 112 .......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of . 146
..................................
Vanity Mirror . 84
.................
Vehicle Capacity Load . 120
......................
Vehicle Dimensions . 196
....
Vehicle Identif ication Number . 194
.............................
Vehicle Storage . 168
........................................
Ventilation . 90
.................................................
VIN . 194
..................................
Viscosity, Oil . 144
: U.S. and Canada only
Index
UW
V
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