tow HONDA CIVIC 1991 User Guide

Appearance Care
Interior Trim
Remove dust and loose dirt with a vacuum cleaner.
Wipe the vinyl with a clean, damp cloth or sponge. Stains can be removed with a commercially available vinyl cleaner.

CAUTION:

Do not use thinner, gasoline, kerosene, naphtha or other solvents
on the interior. They are toxic, flammable and hazardous and could
damage the material you're cleaning.

Windows
A 10 to 1 mix of water and white vinegar, or a commercially
available glass cleaner may be used to clean windows and to remove

the dust film sometimes caused by the ingredients used in interior vinyls and plastics.

NOTE:

Do not put this solution in the windshield washer reservoir, it will
damage the windshield washer pump.
Be careful not to scratch or damage the defogger wires when clean-
ing the inside of the rear window; wipe the window horizontally
along the wires, not up and down.
Dry the windows with a lint-free cloth or paper towel. Keep all the
windows clean for maximum visibility.
Exterior Care

Washing
Rinse all loose dirt off the car by spraying it with lukewarm or cold

water. Do not use hot water.

Wash using a soft-bristle brush, sponge or cloth with water containing a mild detergent such as a liquid dishwashing detergent. Remove oil, tar, tree sap, etc., with tar remover or turpentine.
Remove road salt, insects, etc., with mild detergent and lukewarm
water. Any of these substances may damage the finish if left on
painted surfaces.
Rinse the car well. Promptly wipe with a chamois or soft towel toprevent water-spotting. Do not let water or soap air-dry on painted
surfaces. During wiping, inspect the surface for stone chips and scratches;
paint them with touch-up paint so they won't rust (touch-up paint

is available through your Honda dealer).
For further instructions on corrosion protection, refer to the Rust
Prevention section on following page.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

13. Repair or replace the damaged tire as soon as you can, reinstall
it in its original position, then put the spare back in the car.

CAUTION:

Always stow the jack, tools and tire securely to prevent them
from becoming dangerous projectiles in an accident.
14. Secure the tire and the spacer as shown in the illustration.
COMPACT SPARE DAMAGED TIRE

SPACERProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Jump Starting

To start a car with a dead battery, use another battery of the samevoltage, and the proper jumper cables.
Procedures other than those below could cause injury or
damage from battery acid spray, explosion or charging system

overload.

Never connect the jumper cable directly to the negative post of
the "dead" battery.
Never allow the two cars to touch each other. Never allow the jumper cable clamps to touch each other.
Never lean over the battery when making connections.
Never attempt to jump start a vehicle with a frozen battery. The
battery could rupture and explode. If you suspect a frozenbattery, remove the vent caps and check the fluid. If there
seems to be no fluid, or if you see ice, do not attempt a jump
start until the fluid thaws.

CAUTION:

If jumper cables are connected backwards, the car's main fuse
may blow.
1.Turn off all lights, heater and other electrical loads, set parking brake, and shift the transmission to Neutral or Park.
2. Use one cable to connect the positive terminal of the booster
battery to the positive terminal of the "dead" battery.

3. Use the other cable to connect
the negative terminal of the

booster battery to the engine at
the ground cable as shown.
4. To remove the cables, reverse the above procedures exactly.
DO NOT push or tow a car to start
it. The forward surge when the en- gine starts could cause a collision.
Also, under some conditions, the catalytic converter could be dam- aged. A car equipped with an auto-matic transmission cannot be
started by pushing or towing.
DEAD

BATTERY
Negative to the
engine at the

ground cable, not

to the battery

Do not attach

cable here
Positive to

positive
BOOSTER

BATTERYProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

If towing is necessary, contact a professional towing service. Your
authorized Honda dealer can assist you with detailed towing

instructions.

Never use tow chains or rope to tow a car; your ability to safely
control the car may be adversely affected.
We recommend the following: Flat Bed Equipment —Entire car is winched on a flat bed vehicle.
This is the best way of transporting your Honda.
Wheel Lift Type—Tow with the front wheels off the ground.

If the car can only be towed with the front wheels on the ground:

make sure the transmission is full of fluid (see pages 78 — 79) and
tow with the transmission in neutral (N) and the ignition key in the 1
position.

CAUTION:

To avoid serious damage on automatic transmission cars, first
start the engine and shift to D4, then to N and shut the engine off. If the engine does not run or the transmission cannot be shifted
while the engine is running, the car must be transported on flat
bed equipment.
Check local regulations for towing.

CAUTION:
Do not exceed 35 mph (55 km/h) or tow for distances of more
than 50 miles (80 km).
If a sling type tow is used, the tow truck driver should position
wood spacer blocks between your car's frame and the chains
and lift straps to avoid damaging the bumper and the body. Do not use the bumpers to lift the car or to support the car's
weight while towing. TowingProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

If Your Car Gets Stuck
If your car gets stuck in sand, mud, or snow, call a professional
towing service for assistance in getting your car out.
CAUTION: Do not rev up the engine and allow the wheels to spin freely at
high speed. Severe transmission damage may result if the wheels are allowed to spin for more than a few seconds.DO NOT try to free a car with automatic transmission from
snow, etc. by rocking the car alternately between forward and
reverse gears. Severe transmission damage may result from
shifting into gear with the wheels moving.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Catalytic Converter

A catalytic converter is installed in the exhaust system to help
clean-up the harmful exhaust gases that can cause air pollution.
To be effective, the converter must work at high temperature, so don't park your car over dry grass, leaves or anything else that

could burn easily.

To stay effective, the converter must not be contaminated by

leaded gasoline; use only unleaded gas as explained on page 54.

CAUTION:
The converter can be overheated and damaged if it's fed too much
unburned fuel mixture from the engine, so:
— Don't push or tow the car to start it; if the battery is dead, jump start the car as shown on page 110.
— Don't turn the key off while the engine is running above idle
speed.

— Don't change the ignition timing, or remove any emission control
parts.

— Use only the spark plugs specified in this manual. — Don't keep driving your car if it isn't running properly, or if its CHARGE warning light comes on; have it checked by your
Honda dealer.
CATALYTIC CONVERTERProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Index

Battery
Charging System Warning Light.............................................. 30
Jump Starting ........................ 110
Maintenance............................. 89
Specification (Hatchback).... 116
Specification (Sedan)............ 119
Beeper System Fasten Seat Belt Beeper(Sedan).................................. 11

(Hatcback)............................ 15

Belts, Seat............. See "Seat Belts"
Body Repair.................................. 102
Brake Warning Light...................... 31 Brakes
Brake Failure Warning Light.... 31

Brake Fluid................................ 84

Brake System Design.............. 83
Brake Wear Indicators............. 84
Parking Brake........................... 42
Parking Brake Warning Light.. 31
Break-in Period................................. 2

Bulb
Replacement............................
92

Specification (Hatchback)....
117
Specification (Sedan)............

120
Buzzer........... See
"Beeper System"
Capacities (Hatchback)............... 115 Capacities (Sedan)....................... 118
Care and Cleaning.......................... 99
Catalytic Converter..................... 126 Certification Label....................... 121
Chains, Tires...................................

95
Check Engine
Warning Light......... 31
Child Proof Door Locks...................

5

Child Restraint
System................. 21
Cigarette Lighter............................ 44

Clock............................................... 42
Clutch Pedal Adjustment.............. 61
Compact Spare Tire.................... 104
Coolant Temperature Gauge ........

28
Cooling (with
A/C).........................

49

Cooling System..............................

80

Crankcase Emission Control
System................................... 124
Cruise Control Operation.................................. 39
Indicator.................................... 31

Defogger........................................ 34
Defroster........................................ 51

Doors
Child Proof Door Locks............. 5

Locks........................................... 3

Power Locks.............................. 4

Emergency
Changing a Flat Tire............... 105
Hazard Warning System ......... 37If Your Car Gets Stuck.......... 112
Jump Starting........................ 110

Shoulder Belt Buckle............. 113

Towing.................................... 111
Warning and Indicator Lights.. 29
Emission Controls........................ 124

Engine
Coolant...................................... 80

Coolant Temperature Gauge... 28
Exhaust Controls................... 125Identification Number............ 12

1
Oil and
Filter.............................. 76
OH Pressure Warning Light..... 30
Specification (Hatchback).... 116
Air Conditioner
Operation.................................. 47

Service...................................... 98

Air Filter.......................................... 86

Air Pressure, Tires......................... 94
Antifreeze.. See "Radiator Coolant" Anti-theft Steering Column Lock System ..................................... 57
Appearance Care........................ 100

Ashtrays......................................... 44

Automatic Seat Belt...................... 10

Automatic Transmission
Driving Technique.................... 66

Fluid........................................... 79

Operation.................................. 64

(cont'd)ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Index (cont'd)

Inspection................................. 25

Passive Belt.............................. 10
Pregnant Women..................... 25
Rear Center Seat Belt.............. 20
Replacement............................. 25 Shoulder Belt Buckle............. 113

Seats
Front Seat................................... 6
Head Restraints.......................... 7

Rear Seat.................................... 8

Shifting
Automatic................................ 64

Manual....................................... 61

Spare Tire Changing a Flat Tire............... 106
COMPACT Spara Tire........... 104
Spark Plugs Replacement............................. 87
Specifications (Hatchback) ..116Specifications (Sedan).......... 119
Speedometer.................................. 28
Starting the Engine......................... 58
Steering Anti-theft Column Lock .......... 57Power Steering......................... 85

Tilt Steering.............................. 32

Stuck Car..................................... 112

Sunroof........................................... 52
If the Sunroof Won't Close..... 53
Maintenance............................. 53
Operation.................................. 52

Sunshade.................................. 52

Tachometer.................................... 28
Temperature Gauge, Coolant....... 28 Tilt Steering.................................... 32
Tire Air Pressure............................. 94
Balancing................................... 97

Chains....................................... 95

Changing a Flat Tire............... 106COMPACT Spare.................. 104
DOT Tire Quality Grades....... 122
Inflation Pressures................... 94 Requirement............................. 96
Rotation.................................... 97
Snow Tire................................. 95
Spare Tire............................... 104
Specification (Hatchback).... 116 Specification (Sedan)............ 119
Tools............................................. 105
Towing.......................................... 111

Transmission
Capacity.................................... 79
Identification Number............ 121

Oil/Fluid..................................... 78

Shifting the Automatic............ 64

Shifting the Manual.................. 61
Transmission............................ 78
Treadwear.................................... 122

Trip Meter....................................... 28
Trunk Access From Rear Seat....... 8

Trunk Lid........................................... 5

Turn Signals.................................... 36
Warning Lights............................... 29
Warranty Service........................ 127Washer Rear Window Washer............. 34Reservoir Capacity.................. 33
Windshield Washer.................. 33
Washing........................................ 100

Waxing......................................... 101

Windows
Appearance Care................... 100
Power Windows...................... 43

Windshield Defogger..................... 51 Windshield Washer....................... 33
Windshield Wipers........................ 33
Wiper Blades ..................................
88
Wipers Rear Windo
w Wiper................ 34
Windshield Wipers................... 33
Vehicle Identification Number.... 121
Ventilation...................................... 45ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Zone Office Locations

Western Zone
P.O. Box 2260
700 Van Ness Avenue
Torrance, California 90509-2260
(310) 781-4565

Northwestern Zone

P.O. Box 20186
12439 N.E. Airport Way
Portland, Oregon 97220
(503) 256-0943
(also includes Alaska and Hawaii)

South Central Zone

4529 Royal Lane
Irving, Texas 75063

(214)929-5481
Central Zone

101 South Stanfield Road
Troy, Ohio 45373
(513) 332-6250

Northeastern Zone
P.O.
Box 337
Eastgate Industrial Park 115 Gaither Drive
Moorestown, New Jersey 08057

(609) 235-5533

Includes: NYC Metro area and
Fairfield County, CT area

Mid-Atlantic Zone

902 Wind River Ln., Suite 200
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878

(301) 990-2020

Southeastern Zone
1500 Morrison Parkway
Alpha retta, Georgia 30201
(770) 442-2045
North Central Zone

601 Campus Drive, Suite A-9
Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004 (847) 870-5600

New England Zone

555 Old County Road
Windsor Locks, Connecticut 06096
(203) 623-3310

See Zone 5 for: NYC Metro area
and Fairfield County, CT area

West Central Zone
1600 South Abilene Street, Suite D
Aurora, Colorado 80012

Puerto Rico and U.S. V.I.

Bella International

P.O. Box 190816

San Juan, PR 00919-0816
(787) 250-8070

The above addresses and telephone numbers are subject to change. If you
cannot reach your Zone office, ask your Honda dealer for the current
information.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t