2013 HONDA CIVIC check engine light

Contents
Child Safety P. 50Exhaust Gas Hazard P. 62 Safety Labels P. 63Opening and Closing the Trunk P. 109 Security System P. 112 Opening and Closing the Windows P. 114
Operating the Switches Around the Steering Wheel P. 117 Adjusting the Mirrors P. 126
Interior Lights/Interior Convenience Items P. 135 Heating and Cooling
* P. 142
Audio Error Messages P. 175General Information on the Audio System P. 178When Driving P. 223 Braking P. 241 Parking Your Vehicle P. 245
Accessories and Modifications P. 251Maintenance Under the Hood P. 265 Replacing Light Bulbs P. 282
Checking and Maintaining Tires P. 297 Battery P. 306 Remote Transmitter Care
* P. 307
Cleaning P. 309
Engine Does Not Start P. 330 Jump Starting P. 331 Shift Lever Does Not Move P. 334
Fuses P. 341 Emergency Towing P. 344Devices that Emit Radio Waves P. 351 Reporting Safety Defects P. 352
Authorized Manuals P. 357 Customer Service Information P. 358
Quick Reference Guide
P. 2
Safe Driving
P. 25
Instrument Panel
P. 65
Controls
P. 97
Features
P. 149
Driving
P. 213
Maintenance
P. 253
Handling the Unexpected
P. 313
Information
P. 345
Index
P. 359

18Quick Reference Guide
Maintenance
(P 253)
Under the Hood
(P 265)
● Check engine oil, engine coolant, and windshield washer
fluid. Add when necessary.
● Check brake fluid and clutch fluid.
● Check the battery regularly.
a
Pull the hood release handle under the corner of the
dashboard.
b
Locate the hood latch lever, pull the lever up, and lift up
the hood.
c
When finished, close the hood and make sure it is firmly
locked in place.
Lights
(P 282)
● Inspect all lights regularly.
Wiper Blades
(P 295)
● Replace blades if they leave streaks
across the windshield.
Tires
(P 297)
● Inspect tires and wheels regularly.
● Check tire pressures regularly.
● Install snow tires for winter
driving.

71
uuIndicators u
Continued
Instrument Panel
Indicator
Name
On/Blinking
Explanation
Message
*
Trunk Open
Indicator
●Comes on for a few seconds if you turn
the ignition switch to ON
(w, then goes
off.
●Comes on if the trunk is not completely
closed.
●Goes off when the trunk is closed.
EPS (Electric
Power
Steering)
System
Indicator
●Comes on when you turn the ignition
switch to ON
(w, and goes off when the
engine starts.
●Comes on if there is a problem with the
EPS (Electric Power Steering) System.
●Stays on constantly or does not
come on at all - Have the vehicle
checked by a dealer.
2 If the EPS System Indicator Comes
On P. 339
Daytime
Running
Lights
Indicator
*
●Comes on for a few seconds when you
turn the ignition switch to ON
(w, then
goes off.
●Comes on if there is a problem with the
DRL system.
●Have your vehicle checked by a dealer.
2 Daytime Running Lights P. 121
—
Low Tire
Pressure/
TPMS
Indicator
●Comes on for a few seconds when you
turn the ignition switch to ON
(w.
●Comes on if the tire pressure of any of the
tires becomes significantly low.●Blinks for about one minute, and then
stays on if there is a problem with the
TPMS, or when a compact spare tire
* is
temporarily installed.
●Comes on while driving - Stop in a
safe place, check tire pressures, and
inflate the tire(s) if necessary.●Blinks and remains on - Have the
vehicle checked by a dealer. If the
vehicle is fitted with a compact spare,
get your regular tire repaired or
replaced and put back on your vehicle
as soon as you can.
U.S.
models* Not available on all models

214Driving
Before DrivingDriving PreparationCheck the following items before you start driving.
•Make sure there are no obstructions on the windows, door mirrors, exterior
lights, or other parts of the vehicle.
u Remove any frost, snow, or ice.
u Remove any snow on the roof, as this can slip down and obstruct your field of
vision while driving. If frozen solid, remove ice once it has softened.
u When removing ice from around the wheels, be sure not to damage the wheel
or wheel components.
• Make sure the hood is securely closed.
u If the hood opens while driving, your front view will be blocked.
• Make sure the tires are in good condition.
u Check air pressure, check for damage and excessive wear.
2 Checking and Maintaining Tires P. 297
•Make sure there are no people or objects behind or around the vehicle.
u There are blind spots from the inside.■Exterior Checks
1Exterior ChecksNOTICEWhen doors are frozen shut, use warm water around
the door edges to melt any ice. Do not try to force
them open, as this can damage the rubber trim
around the doors. When done, wipe dry to avoid
further freezing.
Do not pour warm water into the key cylinder.
You will be unable to insert key if the water freezes in
the hole.
Heat from the engine and exhaust can ignite
flammable materials left under the hood, causing a
fire. If you've parked your vehicle for an extended
period, inspect and remove any debris that may have
collected, such as dried grass and leaves that have
fallen or have been carried in for use as a nest by a
small animal.
Also check under the hood for leftover flammable
materials after you or someone else has performed
maintenance on your vehicle.

223
Continued
Driving
When DrivingStarting the Engine
1.Make sure the parking brake is applied.
2. Check that the shift lever is in
(P, then
depress the brake pedal.
u Although it is possible to start the vehicle
in
(N, it is safer to start it in
(P.
2. Check that the shift lever is in
(N. Then
depress the brake pedal with your right
foot, and the clutch pedal with your left
foot.
u The clutch pedal must be fully depressed
to start the engine.
1Starting the Engine
Keep your foot firmly on the brake pedal when
starting the engine.
The engine is harder to start in cold weather and in
thinner air found at altitudes above 8,000 feet (2,400
meters).
When starting the engine in cold weather, turn off all
electrical accessories such as the lights, heating and
cooling system
*/climate control system
*, and rear
defogger in order to reduce battery drain.
If you live in a region where winter is extremely cold,
an engine block heater will improve starting and
warming of the engine. If temperatures consistently
below -22
°F (-30
°C) are expected, the coolant
mixture should be changed to a higher concentration
to prevent freezing. Consult a dealer for details.
If the exhaust system sounds abnormal or you can
smell exhaust gas inside the vehicle, have your vehicle
checked by a dealer. There may be a problem with
the engine or exhaust system.
Brake Pedal
Automatic transmission models
Brake Pedal
Clutch Pedal
Manual transmission models
* Not available on all models

uuWhen Driving uShifting
228Driving
■Shift Lever Operation
1Shift Lever OperationNOTICEWhen you change the shift lever from
(D to (R and
vice versa, come to a complete stop and keep the
brake pedal depressed.
Operating the shift lever before the vehicle has come
to a complete standstill can damage the transmission.
Use the shift lever position indicator to check the
lever position before pulling away.
Whichever position the shift lever is in when driving,
a blinking
(D indicator indicates a transmission
problem.
Avoid sudden acceleration and have the transmission
checked by a dealer as soon as possible.
The fuel supply may be cut off if you drive at engine
speeds in or over the tachometer’s red zone (engine
speed limit). If this happens, you may experience a
slight jolt.
It may not be possible to operate the shift lever if the
brake pedal is applied while the shift lever release
button is held down.
Depress the brake pedal first.
Tachometer's red zone Shift Lever Position Indicator
Depress the brake pedal and press
the shift lever release button to
shift.
Shift without pressing the shift lever
release button.
Press the shift lever release button
and shift.

uuBraking uBrake System
242Driving
Your vehicle is equipped with front disc brakes. The brakes on the rear wheels may
be disc or drum, depending on the model. A vacuum power assist helps reduce the
effort needed on the brake pedal. The brake assist system increases the stopping
force when you depress the brake pedal hard in an emergency situation. The anti-
lock brake system (ABS) helps you retain steering control when braking very hard.2 Brake Assist System P. 244
2 ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) P. 243■Foot Brake
1Foot Brake
Check the brakes after driving through deep water,
or if there is a buildup of road surface water. If
necessary, dry the brakes by lightly depressing the
pedal several times.
If you hear a continuous metallic friction sound when
applying the brakes, the brake pads need to be
replaced. Have the vehicle checked by a dealer.
Constantly using the brake pedal while going down a
long hill builds up heat, which reduces the brake
effectiveness. Apply engine braking by taking your
foot off the accelerator pedal and downshifting to a
lower gear. With manual transmission use a lower
gear for greater engine braking.
Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, as it will lightly apply the brakes and cause
them to lose effectiveness over time and reduce pad
life. It will also confuse drivers behind you.

243
uuBraking uABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
Driving
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)Helps prevent the wheels from locking up, and helps you retain steering control by
pumping the brakes rapidly, much faster than you.
The electronic brake distribution (EBD) system, which is part of the ABS, also
balances the front-to-rear braking distribution according to vehicle loading.
You should never pump the brake pedal. Let the ABS work for you by always
keeping firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal. This is sometimes referred to as
“stomp and steer.”■ABS operation
The brake pedal may pulsate slightly when the ABS is working. Keep holding the
pedal firmly down. On dry pavement, you will need to press on the brake pedal very
hard before the ABS activates. However, you may feel the ABS activate immediately
if you are trying to stop on snow or ice.
When the vehicle speed goes under 6 mph (10 km/h), the ABS stops.■ABS
1 ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)NOTICEThe ABS may not function correctly if you use an
incorrect tire type and size.
When the ABS indicator comes on while driving,
there may be a problem with the system.
While normal braking is not affected, there is a
possibility of the ABS not operating. Have the vehicle
checked by a dealer immediately.
The ABS does not reduce the time or distance it takes
to stop the vehicle. It only helps with steering control
during hard braking.
In the following cases, your vehicle may need more
stopping distance than a vehicle without the ABS:•When driving on rough road surfaces, including
when driving on uneven surfaces, such as gravel or
snow.•When tire chains are installed.
You may hear a motor sound coming from the
engine compartment while system checks are being
performed immediately after starting the engine or
while driving. This is normal.