2008 HONDA CIVIC SEDAN overheating

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

If you turn the steering wheel to the
f ull lef t or right position repeatedly
while stopping or driving at very low
speed, you may f eel slightly harder
steering due to overheating of the
steering gear box.This indicator normally comes on f or
a f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position.
If this indicator comes on and stays
on at any other time, or if it does not
come on when you turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position, there
is a problem with the TPMS. With
this indicator on, the low tire
pressure indicator will not come on
when a tire loses pressure. Take the
vehicle to your dealer to have the
system checked.
This indicator normally comes on f or
a f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position.
If it comes on while driving, it
indicates that one or more of your
vehicle’s tires are signif icantly low
on pressure.
If this happens, pull to the side of the
road when it is saf e, check which tire
has lost the pressure, and determine
the cause. If it is because of a flat tire,
replace the flat tire with the compact
spare (see page ), and have the
f lat tire repaired as soon as possible.
If two or more tires are underinf lated,
call a prof essional towing service
(see page ). For more
inf ormation, see page .
267
286 212
U.S. models only
U.S. models only
Instrument Panel Indicators
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (T PMS) Indicator
Low Tire Pressure
Indicator
Inst rument s and Cont rols
63
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Shif t up
1st to 2nd
2nd to 3rd 3rd to 4th4th to 5th
5th to 6th
When slowing down, you can get
extra braking f rom the engine by
shifting to a lower gear. This extra
braking can help you maintain a safe
speed and prevent your brakes f rom
overheating while going down a
steep hill. Bef ore downshif ting,
make sure the engine speed will not
go into the tachometer’s red zone in
the lower gear.
Your vehicle is equipped with an
aluminum shif t lever. If you leave the
vehicle parked outside f or a long time on a hot day, be caref ul bef ore
moving the shift lever. Because of
the heat, the shift lever may be
extremely hot. If the outside
temperature is low, the shif t lever
f eels cold.
Drive in the highest gear that lets
the engine run and accelerate
smoothly. This will give you good
f uel economy and ef f ective
emissions control. The f ollowing
shif t points are recommended:
Shif t up
1st to 2nd
2nd to 3rd 3rd to 4th4th to 5th Normal acceleration
15 mph (24 km/h)
27 mph (43 km/h)
39 mph (63 km/h)
53 mph (85 km/h) Normal acceleration
17 mph (27 km/h)
29 mph (47 km/h)
37 mph (60 km/h)
43 mph (69 km/h)
49 mph (79 km/h)
With 5-speed manual transmission With 6-speed manual transmission
On Si model
Recommended Shif t Points
Manual T ransmission
200
Rapid slowing or speeding up
can cause loss of control on
slippery surfaces. If you crash,
you can be injured.
Use extra care when driving on
slippery surfaces.
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Î
CONT INUED
Doors.
Auto Door Locking/Unlocking .81
.....................
Auto Door Locking .81
.................
Auto Door Unlocking .83
..............
Locking and Unlocking .79
......................
Power Door Locks .80
........
DOT Tire Quality Grading .295
Downshif ting, Manual
.............................
Transmission .199
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety .5
...........................................
Driving .195
....................................
Economy .186
..................................
Guidelines .196
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter .250
..............................
Economy, Fuel .186
............
Emergencies on the Road .265
.............
Battery, Jump Starting .273
...........
Brake System Indicator .279
................
Changing a Flat Tire .267
.....
Charging System Indicator .277
..................
Checking the Fuses .280
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .277
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .278 ..................
Overheated Engine .275
.........................
Emergency Brake .103
......................
Emergency Flashers .74
......................
Emergency Towing .286
............
Emergency Trunk Opener .87
.......................
Emissions Controls .300
........................
Emissions Testing .303
Engine
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge .67
......
Engine Speed Limiter .201, 204
Malf unction Indicator
......................................
Lamp .278
........
Oil Pressure Indicator .65, 277
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use .232
...............................
Overheating .275
............................
Specif ications .292
.......................................
Starting .198
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline .181
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls .300
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .51
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................
Belts by .16
...................................
Fan, Interior .108 .........................................
Features .107
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank .181
Filters
.........................
Dust and Pollen .250
...............................................
Oil .234
5-speed Manual Transmission ...............
Checking Fluid Level .241
................................
Shif ting the .199
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning .74
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a .267
Fluids
..........
Automatic Transmission .240
..........................................
Brake .242
.........................................
Clutch .243
...................................
Locations .230
..............
Manual Transmission .241
..........................
Power Steering .243
..................
Windshield Washer .239
FM Stereo Radio ...................................
Reception .166
...........................
Folding Rear Seat .95
..........................
Four-way Flashers .74
..............................
Front Airbags .9, 24
Index
F
E
INDEX
III
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CONT INUED
..................................................
Keys .76
.......................
Label, Certif ication .290
.................
Lane Change, Signaling .72
..................
Lap/Shoulder Belts .14, 19
.................
LATCH Anchor System .42
Lights
....................
Bulb Replacement .244
.......................................
Indicator .59
.........................................
Parking .72
..................................
Turn Signal .72
....................................
Load Limits .192
......
LOCK (Ignition Key Position) .78
Locks
.......
Anti-thef t Steering Column .78
............................
Fuel Fill Door .181
.................................
Power Door .80
...........................................
Trunk .86
........................
Low Coolant Level .185
.........................
Low Fuel Indicator .64
................................
Lower Anchors .42
...
Lower Gear, Downshif ting to a .199 ...
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .65, 277
Low Tire Pressure
.............................
Indicator .63, 212
...
Lubricant Specif ications Chart .293
...................
Neutral Gear Position .203
..................
New Vehicle Break-in .180
.....................
Normal Shif t Speeds .200 ...................
NOTICE, Explanation of .i
...............
Numbers, Identif ication .290
..................................
Maintenance .221
................................
Minder .223-229
.........................
Minder Indicator .65
...
Owner Maintenance Checks .228
..........................................
Saf ety .222
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp .278
...................
Manual Transmission .199
........
Manual Transmission Fluid .241
...............................
Meters, Gauges .66
...................
Methanol in Gasoline .181
........................
Mirrors, Adjusting .102
.......................................
Moonroof .100
...........................
MP3/WMA .125, 145 ...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline .180
.........................................
Odometer .66
...............................
Odometer, Trip .67
Oil
........................
Change, How to .234
......................
Change, When to .223
......................
Checking Engine .183
..............
Pressure Indicator .65, 277
.......
Selecting Proper Viscosity .232
...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) .78
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor
....................................
Recovery .300
............................
Outside Mirrors .102
....
Outside Temperature Indicator .68
....................
Overheating, Engine .275
....
Owner’s Maintenance Checks .228
.........................
Oxygenated Fuels .181
Index
M
N O
K
L
INDEX
V
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Saf ety Belts .8, 18
.........
Safety Defects, Reporting .308
.................................
Saf ety Features .7
...........................................
Airbags .9
.......................................
Seat Belts .8
.............
Saf ety Labels, Location of .52
..............................
Saf ety Messages .iii
.....................................
Seat Belts .8, 18
...............
Additional Information .18
Automatic Seat Belt
...............................
Tensioners .19
................
Lap/Shoulder Belt .14, 19
........................
Maintenance .20, 250
Reminder Light and
................................
Beeper .18, 59
..............
Panel Brightness Control .73
........................
Park Gear Position .203
...........................................
Parking .206
...............................
Parking Brake .103
Parking Brake and Brake
.................
System Indicator .59, 279
.................................
Parking Lights .72
..
Parking Over Things that Burn .302
........................
Playing a Disc .124, 144
.........................
Playing a PC Card .153
..................
Playing the Radio .115, 132
.............................
PGM-FI System .301
.........
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts .16
.........
Protecting Adults and Teens .11
...
Additional Safety Precautions .17
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women .16
........................
Protecting Children .33
.....................
General Guidelines .33
...........................
Protecting Inf ants .38
...........
Protecting Larger Children .47
.............
Protecting Small Children .39 ...................
Radiator Overheating .275
.............
Radio/CD Sound System .114
Radio/CD/PC Card Sound
........................................
System .132
...........................
Readiness Codes .278
Rear Lights, Bulb
.......................
Replacement .247-249
..........................
Rear Seat, Folding .95
..........................
Rear View Mirror .102
.................
Rear Window Def ogger .74
...............
Reclining the Seat Backs .91
.......
Recommended Shif t Speeds .200
.............................
Reminder Lights .59
................
Remote Audio Controls .171
.......................
Remote Transmitter .88
Replacement Inf ormation
..............
Dust and Pollen Filter .250
................
Engine Oil and Filter .234
..........................................
Fuses .280
................................
Light Bulbs .244
................
Maintenance Minder .223
...........................................
Tires .259
.............................
Wiper Blades .251 Replacing Seat Belts Af ter a
............................................
Crash .20
Reserve Tank, Engine ...............................
Coolant .185, 236
...............................
Restraint, Child .33
..................
Reverse Gear Position .203
................................
Rotation, Tire .258
Index
R
S
P
VI
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