2009 HONDA CIVIC SEDAN check engine

This shows how much f uel you have.
It may show slightly more or less
than the actual amount.This shows the temperature of the
engine’s coolant. During normal
operation, the reading should rise to
about the middle of the gauge. In
severe driving conditions, such as
very hot weather or a long period of
uphill driving, the reading may rise
intotheupperhalfofthegauge.Ifit
reaches the red (Hot) mark, pull
safely to the side of the road. See
page f or instructions and
precautions on checking the engine
cooling system.347
Gauges
Fuel Gauge T emperature Gauge
70
Avoid driving with an extremely low
f uel level. Running out of f uel could
cause the engine to misf ire, damaging
the catalytic converter.
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2009 Civic Sedan

Bef ore you begin driving your
vehicle, you should know what
gasoline to use and how to check the
levels of important f luids. You also
need to know how to properly store
luggage or packages. The
inf ormation in this section will help
you. If you plan to add any
accessories to your vehicle, please
read the information in this section
first..............................
Break-in Period .248
.................
Fuel Recommendation .248
.........
Service Station Procedures .249
....................................
Ref ueling .249
Opening and Closing the
.......................................
Hood .250
...................................
Oil Check .251
.............
Engine Coolant Check .253
...............................
Fuel Economy .254
...
Accessories and Modif ications .257
.............................
Carrying Cargo .259
Bef ore Driving
Bef ore Driving
247
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2009 Civic Sedan

Wait a f ew minutes af ter turning the
engine of f bef ore you check the oil.
Put your f ingers under the f ront
edge of the hood near the center.
Slide your hand to the lef t until
you f eel the hood latch handle.
Push this handle up to release it.
Lif t up the hood.
If the hood latch handle moves
stif f ly, or if you can open the hood
without lifting the handle, the
mechanism should be cleaned and
lubricated. Pull the support rod out of its clip
by holding the grip, and insert the
end into the designated hole in the
hood.
To close the hood, lif t it up slightly
to remove the support rod f rom
the hole. Put the support rod back
into its holding clip. Lower the
hood to about a f oot (30 cm) above
the fender, then let it drop. Make
sure it is securely latched.
Remove the dipstick (orange
handle).
Insert it all the way back in its tube.
Wipe of f the dipstick with a clean
cloth or paper towel.
3.
1.
2.
3.
2.
CONT INUED
Service Station Procedures
Oil Check
Bef ore Driving
251
DIPSTICK
SUPPORT ROD
LATCH GRIP
Except Si
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2009 Civic Sedan

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 .
4.
300
Service Station Procedures
A dding Engine Oil
252
LOWER MARK
DIPSTICK
UPPER MARK
Si Except Si Si
UPPER MARK LOWER MARK
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2009 Civic Sedan

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, seeon page f or
inf ormation on adding the proper
coolant. Refer to
on page f or inf ormation
about checking other items on your
vehicle.
304 296
A dding
Engine Coolant Owner’s Maintenance
Checks
Engine Coolant Check
Service Station Procedure
Bef ore Driving
253
MAX
MIN
MAX
MIN
Except Si Si
RESERVE TANK
RESERVE TANK
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2009 Civic Sedan

µµ
µ µ
µ
µµ
Aggressive driving (hard
acceleration and braking)
Excessive idling, accelerating and
braking in stop-and-go traf f ic
Cold engine operation (engines
aremoreefficientwhenwarmed
up)
Driving with a heavy load or the
air conditioner running
Improperly inf lated tires
The f ollowing f actors can lower your
vehicle’s f uel economy:
A properly maintained vehicle
maximizes f uel economy. Poor
maintenance can signif icantly reduce
f uel economy. Always maintain your
vehicle according to the maintenance
messages displayed on the
inf ormation display (see
on page ).
For example: Rapid
acceleration, abrupt cornering,
and hard braking increase fuel
consumption.
Aerodynamic drag has a big ef f ect
on f uel mileage at speeds above 45
mph (75 km/h). Reduce your
speed and you reduce the drag.
Trailers, car top carriers, roof
racks and bike racks are also big
contributors to increased drag.
If your vehicle has a
manual transmission, you can
boost your f uel economy by up
shif ting as early as possible.
Idling
results in 0 miles per gallon.
An underinf lated tire increases
‘‘rolling resistance,’’ which reduces
f uel economy.
It puts a heavier
load on the engine, increasing f uel
consumption.
In
particular, a build-up of snow or
mud on your vehicle’s underside
adds weight and rolling resistance.
Frequent cleaning helps your f uel
economy.
296
CONT INUED
Fuel Economy
Fuel Economy Factors Use the recommended viscosity motor oil, displaying the A PI
Certif ication Seal (see page
).
Improving Fuel Economy Owner’s
Maintenance Checks Drive moderately
Observe the speed limit
Always drive in the highest gear
possible
Avoid excessive idling
Maintain proper tire inf lation
A void carrying excess weight in
your vehicle
K eep your vehicle clean
300
Vehicle Maint enance Drive Ef f icient ly
Bef ore Driving
255
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2009 Civic Sedan

µµ
Fill the f uel tank until the nozzle automatically clicks of f .
Reset trip counter to zero.
Record the total gallons (liters) needed to ref ill.
Follow one of the simple calculations above.
The A/C
puts an extra load on the engine
which makes it use more f uel. Use
the f resh-air ventilation when
possible.
Combine several short trips into
one. A warmed-up engine is more
f uel ef f icient than a cold one.
Direct calculation is the
recommended source of inf ormation
about your actual f uel economy.
Using f requency of f ill-ups or taking
f uel gauge readings are NOT
accurate measures of f uel economy.
Fuel economy may improve over the
f irst several thousand miles. 1)
2)
3)
4)
Fuel Economy
Checking Your Fuel Economy
Measuring T echniquesMinimize the use of the air
conditioning system
Plan and combine trips
Calculating Fuel Economy
256
Miles per Gallon
100 Kilometers
Gallons
of fuel
Miles
driven
Liter Lper
100 km
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2009 Civic Sedan

Make sure all windows, mirrors,
and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove f rost, snow,
or ice.
Check that the hood and trunk are
f ully closed.Check that any items you may be
carrying are stored properly or
f astened down securely.
Check the seat adjustment (see
page ).
Check the adjustment of the
inside and outside mirrors (see
page ).
Check the steering wheel
adjustment (see page ).
Make sure the doors are securely
closed and locked.Fasten your seat belt. Check that
your passengers have f astened
their seat belts (see page ).
Youshoulddothefollowingchecks
and adjustments every day bef ore
you drive your vehicle.
When you start the engine, check
the gauges and indicators in the
instrument panel (see page ).
Visually check the tires. If a tire
looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure (see page ).
1.
2.
3. 4. 9.
8.
7.
6.
5. 10.
14
57
324 93
104 77
Preparing to Drive
Driving
265
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2009 Civic Sedan