Page 4 of 324

2008 Civic Sedan Online Reference Owner's Manual
Refer to 2008 Civic GX Supplement for topics specific to the Civic GX. Contents
Owner's Identification Form
Introduction .............................................................................................................................\
............................. i
A Few Words About Safety ......................................................................\
........................................................ iii
Your Vehicle at a Glance (main controls) ....................................................\
................................................ 3
Driver and Passenger Safety (seat belts, SRS, and child protection) ......................\
.............................. 5
Instruments and Controls (indicators, gauges, dashboard, and steering column) ................................ 55
Features (heating and cooling, audio, steering wheel, security, and cru\
ise control) ............................ 107
Before Driving (fuel, vehicle break- in, and cargo loading) ................\
..................................................... 179
Driving (engine and transmission operation) .........................................\
....................................................... 195
Maintenance (minder, fluid checking, minor services, and vehicle storage)........................................... 221
Taking Care of the Unexpected (flat tire, dead battery, overheating, and fuses) ............................. 265
Technical Information (vehicle specifications, tires, and emissions controls) ....................................... 289
Warranty and Customer Relations (U. S. and Canada only) (warranty and contact information) ... 305
Authorized Manuals (U. S. only) (how to order) ..............................................\
........................................... 309
Index ......................................................................\
......................................................... ........................................ I
Service Information Summary ( fluid capacities and tire pressures)
\
\
1 00X31-SNA-6210
Page 268 of 324

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 vehicle towed.......................
Compact Spare Tire .266
....................
Changing a Flat Tire .267
.............
If the Engine Won’t Start .271
................................
Jump Starting .273
..............
If the Engine Overheats .275
.........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .277
..........
Charging System Indicator .277
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .278
...............
Brake System Indicator .279
..............................................
Fuses .280
..............................
Fuse Locations .284
......................
Emergency Towing .286
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
265
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The under-hood f use box is on the
driver’s side, next to the brake f luid
reservoir. To open it, push the tabs
as shown.If something electrical in your
vehicle stops working, the first thing
youshouldcheckforisablownfuse.
Determine f rom the chart on pages
and , or the diagram on the
f use box lid, which f use or f uses
control that device. Check those
f uses f irst, but check all the f uses
bef ore deciding that a blown f use is
the cause. Replace any blown f uses,
and check if the device works.
Thefusesareintwofuseboxes.The
interior f use box is underneath the
steering column. 284 285
Fuses
Checking and Replacing Fuses
280
INTERIOR UNDER-HOOD
TAB
FUSE LABEL
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Turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK (0) position. Make sure the
headlights and all other
accessories are of f .
Remove the cover f rom the f use
box.Check the smaller f uses in the
under-hood f use box and all the
fuses in the interior fuse box by
pulling out each one with the f use
pullerprovidedonthebackof the
under-hood f use box cover.
Check each of the large f uses in
the under-hood f use box by
looking through the top at the wire
inside. Removing these f uses
requires a Phillips-head screw-
driver.
1.
2. 3. 4.
CONT INUED
Fuses
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
281
FUSE PULLER
BLOWN
FUSE
BLOWN
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Page 285 of 324

If you cannot drive the vehicle
without f ixing the problem, and you
do not have a spare fuse, take a fuse
of the same rating or a lower rating
f rom one of the other circuits. Make
sureyoucandowithoutthatcircuit
temporarily (such as the accessory
power socket or radio).
If you replace the blown f use with a
spare f use that has a lower rating, it
might blow out again. This does not
indicate anything wrong. Replace the
f use with one of the correct rating as
soon as you can.
Look f or a blown wire inside the
f use. If it is blown, replace it with
oneof thesparefusesof thesame
rating or lower. If the replacement fuse of the
same rating blows in a short time,
there is probably a serious
electrical problem with your
vehicle. Leave the blown fuse in
that circuit, and have your vehicle
checked by a qualif ied technician.
6.
5.
Fuses
282
BLOWN
Replacing a f use with one that has a
higher rating greatly increases the
chances of damaging the electrical
system. If you do not have a
replacement f use with the proper rating
f or the circuit, install one with a lower
rating.
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Page 286 of 324
If the driver’s power window f use is
removed, the AUTO function of the
driver’s window will be disabled. You
should reset the AUTO f eature, (see
page ).
If the radio f use is removed, the
audio system will disable itself . The
nexttimeyouturnontheradioyou
will see ‘‘ENTER CODE’’ in the
f requency display. Use the preset
buttons to enter the digit code (see
page ).
When the audio system is disabled,
the clock setting in the audio system
will be canceled. You will need to
reset the clock (see page ).100
174
173
All models except DX and Canadian
DX-G
Fuses
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
283
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ÎÎ
Î
µ
µ
µ
µ
Î
Î
No.
No. Circuits Protected Circuits Protected
Amps. Amps.
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
1
2
3 Main Fuse
EPS
Option Main
Ignition Switch Main
ABS/VSA Motor
ABS/VSA F/S Headlight Main
Power Window Main
Not Used
Sub Fan Motor
Main Fan Motor (M/T)
Main Fan Motor (A/T)
Rear Defogger
Blower
Hazard
FI Sub
Stop and Horn
Not Used
Not Used
IGPS Oil Level
Not Used
Audio Amp
IG Coil
FI Main
MG Clutch
DBW
Interior Light
Back Up
100 A
(70 A) 60 A
50 A
30 A
30 A
40 A 50 A
40 A
20 A
20 A
30 A
30 A
40 A
10 A
15 A
15 A
7.5 A
(15 A) 15 A
15 A
7.5 A 15 A
7.5 A 10 A
1:
2: If equipped
On models with VSA system
1 1
2
Fuse Locations
284
UNDER-HOOD FUSE BOX
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Î
Î Î
Î
µ
µ µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
Î
No. No. No.
Circuits Protected
Circuits Protected
Amps. Amps. Amps. Circuits Protected
:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8 9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16 17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
ODS
MET ER
SRS
Right Headlight High
Left Headlight High
Small (Interior)
Small (Exterior)
Right Headlight Low
Power Window
Fuel Pump
Alternator
ABS/VSA
Heated Seat
Not Used
TPMS
Not Used
7.5 A
15 A
10 A
7.5 A
(15 A)
(7.5 A) 7.5 A
7.5 A
10 A
10 A
10 A
7.5 A
7.5 A 10 A 10 A
20 A
15 A
20 A
(20 A) 20 A
20 A
(15 A) 15 A
20 A
20 A
20 A
7.5 A 10 A
7.5 A 30 A Left Headlight Low
Headlight High Main
Small (Main)
Not Used
Headlight Low Main
Not Used
Not Used
Moonroof
Door Lock
Driver’s Power Window
Not Used
Rear ACC Socket
ACC
Passenger’s Power Window
Not Used
Right Rear Power Window
Left Rear Power Window
Not Used
ACC Radio
HAC
Daytime Running Light
Front Wiper
If equipped
Fuse Locations
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
285
INTERIOR FUSE BOX
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