2008 HONDA CIVIC maintenance

Dirt build-up in the loops of the seat
belt anchors can cause the belts to
retract slowly. Wipe the insides of
the loops with a clean cloth
dampened in mild soap and warm
water or isopropyl alcohol.This f ilter removes the dust and
pollenthatisbroughtinfromthe
outside through the heating and
cooling system.
If your seat belts get dirty, use a sof t
brush with a mixture of mild soap
and warm water to clean them. Do
not use bleach, dye, or cleaning
solvents. Let the belts air dry bef ore
you use the vehicle. The floor mats that came with your
vehicle hook over the f loor mat
anchors. This keeps them f rom
sliding f orward and possibly
interf ering with vehicle operation.
If you remove the driver’s f loor mat,
make sure to re-anchor it when you
putitbackinyourvehicle.If you use non-Honda f loor mats,
make sure they f it properly and that
theycanbeusedwiththefloormat
anchors. Do not put additional f loor
mats on top of the anchored mats.
Have your dealer replace the filter
when this service is indicated by a
maintenance message on the
inf ormation display. It should be
replaced every 15,000 miles (24,000
km) if you drive primarily in urban
areas that have high concentrations
of soot in the air, or if the f low f rom
the heating and cooling system
becomeslessthanusual.
If equipped
On models with A/C
Floor Mats
Dust and Pollen Filter
Cleaning the Seat Belts
Cleaning the Seat Belts, Floor Mats, Dust and Pollen Filter
250
LOOP
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To saf ely operate your vehicle, your
tires must be the proper type and
size, in good condition with adequate
tread, and correctly inf lated.
The f ollowing pages give more
detailed inf ormation on how to take
care of your tires and what to do
when they need to be replaced.Keeping the tires properly inf lated
provides the best combination of
handling, tread lif e, and riding
comf ort.
Underinf lated tires wear unevenly,
adversely affect handling and fuel
economy, and are more likely to
fail from being overheated.
Overinf lated tires can make your
vehicleridemoreharshly,are
more prone to damage f rom road
hazards, and wear unevenly.
Thetirepressuremonitoringsystem
(TPMS) warns you when a tire
pressure is low. See page f or
more inf ormation.
Even though your vehicle is
equipped with TPMS, we
recommend that you visually check
your tires every day. If you think a tire might be low, check it
immediately with a tire gauge.
We recommend that you visually
check your tires every day. If you
think a tire might be low, check it
immediately with a tire gauge.
Use a gauge to measure the air
pressure in each tire at least once a
month. Even tires that are in good
condition may lose 1 to 2 psi (10 to
20 kPa, 0.1 to 0.2 kgf /cm ) per
month. Remember to check the
sparetireatthesametime.
Check the air pressures when the
tires are cold. This means the
vehicle has been parked f or at least 3
hours, or driven less than 1 mile (1.6
km). Add or release air, if needed, to
match the recommended cold tire
pressures.
212
On U.S. models On Canadian models
Tires
Inf lation Guidelines
254
Using tires that are excessively
worn or improperly inflated can
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously hurt or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner’s manual regarding tire
inflation and maintenance.
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Your tires have wear indicators
molded into the tread. When the
tread wears down, you will see a
band 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) wide band
across the tread. This shows there is
less than 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) of tread
lef t on the tire.
A tire this worn gives very little
traction on wet roads. You should
replace the tire if you can see three
or more tread wear indicators.The service lif e of your tires is
dependent on many f actors,
including, but not limited to, driving
habits, road conditions, vehicle
loading, inf lation pressure,
maintenance history, speed, and
environmental conditions (even
when the tires are not in use).
In addition to your regular
inspections and inf lation pressure
maintenance, it is recommended that
you have annual inspections
perf ormed once the tires reach f ive
years old. It is also recommended
that all tires, including the spare, be
removed f rom service af ter 10 years
from the date of manufacture,
regardless of their condition or state
of wear.
The last f our digits of the TIN (tire
identif ication number) are f ound on
the sidewall of the tire and indicate
the date of manufacture (See
on page ).297
Tires
Tire Service Lif e
Tire
Labeling
Maint enance
257
TREAD WEAR INDICATOR INDICATOR LOCATION MARKS
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In addition to proper inf lation,
correct wheel alignment helps to
decrease tire wear. If you f ind a tire
is worn unevenly, have your dealer
check the wheel alignment.
Have your dealer check the tires if
you f eel a consistent vibration while
driving. A tire should always be
rebalanced if it is removed f rom the
wheel. When you have new tires
installed, make sure they are
balanced. This increases riding
comf ort and tire lif e. For best results,
have the installer perform a dynamic
balance.To help increase tire lif e and
distribute wear more evenly, rotate
the tires according to the
maintenance messages displayed on
the information display. Move the
tires to the positions shown in the
chart each time they are rotated. If
you purchase directional tires, rotate
only f ront-to-back.
When the tires are rotated, make
sure the air pressures are checked.The tires that came on your vehicle
were designed and constructed to
provide superior grip during
acceleration, braking, and cornering.
As a trade-of f , they will wear more
rapidly than tires used on ordinary
passenger vehicles. Because of the
vehicle’s weight distribution, and the
fact that the front wheels are the
driving wheels, you can expect them
to wear more rapidly than the rear
tires.On Si model only
T ire Maintenance T ire Rotation T ire Wear
Tires
258
Front Front
(For Non-directional
Tires and Wheels) (For Directional
Tires and Wheels)
On vehicles with aluminum wheels,
improper wheel weights can damage
your vehicle’s aluminum wheels. Use
only Honda wheel weights f or
balancing.
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µIf your vehicle’s battery is
disconnected, or goes dead, the
audio system will disable itself . The
nexttimeyouturnontheradio,you
may see ‘‘CODE’’ in the f requency
display. Use the preset buttons to
enter the code (see page ).
The navigation system will also
disableitself.Thenexttimeyouturn
on the ignition switch, the system
will require you to enter a PIN
bef ore it can be used. Ref er to the
navigation system manual.
If you need to connect the battery to
a charger, disconnect both cables to
prevent damaging your vehicle’s
electrical system. Always disconnect
the negative ( ) cable first, and
reconnect it last.
If additional battery maintenance is
needed, see your dealer or a
qualif ied technician.
Battery posts,
terminals, and related accessories
contain lead and lead compounds. 173
On vehicles with navigation system
WARNING:
Wash your hands af ter handling.
Checking the Battery
262
The battery gives off explosive
hydrogen gas during normaloperation.
A spark or flame can cause the
battery to explode with enough
force to kill or seriously hurt you.
Wear protective clothing and a
face shield, or have a skilled
technician do the batterymaintenance.
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µ
Always check the TPMS malf unction
telltale af ter replacing one or more
tires or wheels on your vehicle to
ensure that the replacement or
alternate tires and wheels allow the
TPMS to continue to f unction
properly.
Your vehicle has also been equipped
with a TPMS malf unction indicator
to indicate when the system is not
operating properly. The TPMS
malf unction indicator is provided by
a separate telltale, which displays the
symbol ‘‘TPMS’’ when illuminated.
When the malf unction indicator is
illuminated,
the system may not be able to detect
or signal low tire pressure as
intended.
TPMS malf unctions may occur f or a
variety of reasons, including the
installation of replacement or
alternate tires or wheels on the
vehicle that prevent the TPMS f rom
f unctioning properly.
Driving on a signif icantly under-
inf lated tire causes the tire to
overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Under-inf lation also reduces f uel
efficiency and tire tread life, and may
af f ect the vehicle’s handling and
stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a
substitute for proper tire
maintenance, and it is the driver’s
responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if under-inf lation has
not reached the level to trigger
illumination of the TPMS low tire
pressure telltale.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Required Federal Explanat
ion
T echnical Inf ormation
299
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T he publications shown below can be purchased f rom Helm
Incorporated. You can order by phone or online:Call Helm Inc. at 1-800-782-4356 (credit card orders only)
Go online at
If you are interested in other years or models, contact Helm Inc.
at 1-800-782-4356.
Covers maintenance and recommended procedures f or
repair to engine and chassis components. It is written
f or the journeyman mechanic, but it is simple enough
f or most mechanically inclined owners to understand.
Complements the Service Manual by providing in-depth
troubleshooting inf ormation f or each electrical circuit
in your vehicle.
Describes the procedures involved in the replacement
of damaged body parts.
Purchasing Factory Authorized Manuals Service Manual:
Electrical T roubleshooting Manual:
Body Repair Manual:
(U.S. only)
Authorized Manuals
Authorized Manuals
309
Form Description
2006-2008 Honda Civic 2/4 Door Service Manual
2006-2008 Honda Civic 2/4 Door
Electrical Troubleshooting Manual
2006 Model Series Honda Civic 2/4 Door
Body Repair Manual
2008 Honda Civic 4 Door Owner’s Manual
2008 Honda Civic
Navigation System Owner’s Manual
2008 Honda Civic Honda Service History
2008 Honda Civic 4 Door Quick Start Guide Order Form for Previous Years-
Indicate Year and Model Desired
Publication
Form Number 61SNA05
61SNA05EL 61SNA30
31SNA621 31SNA810
31SNAM20 31SNAQ20 HON-R
www. helminc. com
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CONT INUED
...
Accessories and Modif ications . 189
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key
.......................................
Position) . 78
.............
Accessory Power Socket . 106
..................
Active Head Restraints . 94
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 233
...............................
Airbag (SRS) . 9, 21
...
Airbags, Additional Information . 21
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 32
..........
AdvancedAirbagSystem .26
.............................
Airbag Service . 31
How the Passenger Airbag Of f
......................
Indicator Works . 30
How the Side Airbag Of f ......................
Indicator Works . 30
..
How the SRS Indicator Works . 29
How Your Front Airbags
.........................................
Work . 24
...
How Your Side Airbags Work . 27
How Your Side Curtain Airbags
.........................................
Work . 29
........................
SRS Components . 21
..............
Air Conditioning System . 108
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires . 255 ......................................
Antif reeze . 236
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
...............................
Indicator . 60, 208
...................................
Operation . 208
..............
Anti-thef t, Audio System . 173
Anti-thef t Steering Column
..............................................
Lock . 78
............................................
Armrest . 95
................................
Audio System . 112
.....
Auto Door Locking/Unlocking . 81
.........................
Auto Door Locking . 81
.....................
Auto Door Unlocking . 83
...
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners . 19
.............
Automatic Speed Control . 176
..............
Automatic Transmission . 202
..........................
Capacity, Fluid . 293
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 240
.......................................
Shif ting . 202
Shif t Lever Position
...............................
Indicators . 202
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 203
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 205
......................
Auxiliary Input Jack . 172 Battery
Charging System ...........................
Indicator . 65, 277
............................
Jump Starting . 273
..............................
Maintenance . 262
............................
Specif ications . 294
..............................
Bef ore Driving . 179
....................................
Belts,Seat .8,18
.........................
Beverage Holders . 106
Brakes
...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) . 208
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 180
....................
Bulb Replacement . 247
...........................................
Fluid . 242
.................
Pad Wear Indicators . 207
.......................................
Parking . 103
.................
System Indicator . 59, 279
.............................
Braking System . 207
.................
Break-in, New Vehicle . 180
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 73
........................
Brights, Headlights . 72
Index
A B
INDEX
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