check engine light HONDA CIVIC 2001 7.G User Guide

Periodically check the engine’s
radiator and air conditioning
condenser f or leaves, insects, and
dirt stuck to the f ront surf ace. These
block the air f low and reduce cooling
ef f iciency. Use a light spray f rom a
hose or a sof t brush to remove them.If the air conditioning does not get as
cold as before, have your dealer
check the system. Recharge the
system with Ref rigerant HFC-134a
(R-134a). (See Specif ications on page
.)
Run the air conditioning at least once
a week during the cold weather
months. Run it f or at least ten
minutes while you are driving at a
steady speed with the engine at
normal operating temperature. This
circulates the lubricating oil con-
tained in the ref rigerant.
Your car’s air conditioning is a sealed
system. Any major maintenance,
such as recharging, should be done
by a qualif ied mechanic. You can do
a couple of things to make sure the
air conditioning works ef f iciently.
293Optional for Canadian DX, LX, models
A ir Condit ioning Syst em
Maint enance
230
AAIIRRCCOONNDDIITTIIOONNIINNGGCCOONNDDEENNSSEERR Whenever you have the air conditioning
system serviced, make sure the service
f acility uses a ref rigerant recycling
system. This system captures the
ref rigerant f or reuse. Releasing
ref rigerant into the atmosphere can
damage the environment.
The condenser and radiator f ins bend
easily. Only use a low-pressure spray
or sof t-bristle brush to clean them.

Diagnosing why your engine won’t
start f alls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
key to START (III):When you turn the ignition switch to
START (III), you do not hear the
normal noise of the engine trying to
start. You may hear a clicking sound
or series of clicks, or nothing at all.
Check these things:
You hear nothing, or almost
nothing. The engine’s starter
motor does not operate at all, or
operates very slowly.
You can hear the starter motor
operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
f aster than normal, but the engine
does not start up and run. Check the transmission interlock.
If you have a manual transmission,
the clutch pedal must be pushed
all the way to the f loor or the
starter will not operate. With an
automatic transmission, it must be
in Park or Neutral.
Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
Turn on the headlights and check
their brightness. If the headlights
are very dim or don’t light at all,
the battery is discharged. See
on page . Turn the ignition switch to START
(III). If the headlights do not dim,
check the condition of the f uses. If
thefusesareOK,thereisproba-
bly something wrong with the
electrical circuit f or the ignition
switch or starter motor. You will
need a qualif ied technician to
determine the problem. (See
on page .)
If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start the
engine, either the battery is dis-
charged or the connections are
corroded. Check the condition of
the battery and terminal connec-
tions (see page ). You can
then try jump starting the car from
a booster battery (see page ).
270 286
226 270
If Your Engine Won’t Start
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
Jump Starting Emergency T owing
268

If youfindnothingwrong,youwill
need a qualif ied technician to f ind
the problem. Seeon page .
In this case, the starter motor’s
speed sounds normal, or even f aster
than normal, when you turn the
ignition switch to START (III), but
the engine does not run.
Your car has the Immobilizer
System. You should use a
properly-coded master or valet key
to start the engine (see page ).
A key that is not properly coded
will cause the immobilizer system
indicator in the dash panel to blink
rapidly.
Are you using the proper starting
procedure? Ref er to on page . Do you have f uel? Turn the
ignition switch to ON (II) for a
minute and watch the f uel gauge.
The low f uel level warning light
may not be working, so you were
not reminded to f ill the tank.
There may be an electrical
problem, such as no power to the
f uel pump. Check all the f uses
(see page ).
80
175 282
286
If Your Engine Won’t Start
T aking Care of t he Unexpect edEmergency
Towing
T he Starter Operates Normally
Starting the
Engine
269

If your car’s battery has run down,
you may be able to start the engine
by using a booster battery. Although
this seems like a simple procedure,
you should take several precautions.
You cannot start a Honda with an
automatic transmission by pushing
or pulling it.To jump start your car, f ollow these
directions closely:
Open the hood and check the
physical condition of the battery
(see page ). In very cold
weather, check the condition of
the electrolyte. If it seems slushy
or like ice, do not try jump starting
until it thaws. Turn of f all the electrical acces-
sories: heater, A/C, stereo system,
lights, etc.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park and set the parking brake.
1.
2.
226
Jump Starting
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
270 A battery can explode if you do
not follow the correct procedure,
seriously injuring anyonenearby.
Keep all sparks, open flames,
and smoking materials away
from the battery.
If a battery sits in extreme cold, the
electrolyte inside can f reeze.
Attempting to jump start with a f rozen
battery can cause it to rupture.

This indicator should light when the
ignition switch is ON (II), and go out
af ter the engine starts. It should
never come on when the engine is
running. If it starts f lashing, it
indicates that the oil pressure
dropped very low f or a moment, then
recovered. If the indicator stays on
with the engine running, it shows
that the engine has lost oil pressure
and serious engine damage is
possible. In either case, you should
take immediate action.Saf ely pull of f the road and shut
of f the engine. Turn on the hazard
warning indicators.
If necessary, add oil to bring the
level back to the full mark on the
dipstick (see page ).
Letthecarsitforaminute.Open
the hood and check the oil level
(see page ). Although oil level
and oil pressure are not directly
connected, an engine that is very
low on oil can lose pressure during
cornering and other driving
maneuvers. Start the engine and watch the oil
pressure indicator. If the light
does not go out within ten seconds,
turn of f the engine. There is a
mechanical problem that needs to
be repaired bef ore you can
continue driving. (See
on page .)
1. 2. 3. 4.
164 205 286
L ow Oil Pressure Indicator
T aking Care of t he Unexpect edEmergency
Towing
275
LLOOWWOOIILLPPRREESSSSUURREEIINNDDIICCAATTOORRRunning the engine with low oil
pressure can cause serious mechanical
damage almost immediately. Turn of f
the engine as soon as you can saf ely get
the car stopped.

If you have recently ref ueled your
car, the cause of this indicator
coming on could be a loose or
missing f uel f ill cap. Check the cap
and tighten it until it clicks several
times. Replace the fuel fill cap if it is
missing. Tightening the cap will not
make the indicator turn of f
immediately; it takes one driving trip.
If the indicator remains on past one
driving trip, or the f uel cap was not
loose or missing, have the car
checked by the dealer as soon as
possible. Drive moderately until the
dealer has inspected the problem.
Avoid full-throttle acceleration and
driving at high speed.Youshouldalsohavethedealer
inspect your car if this indicator
comes on repeatedly, even though it
may turn of f as you continue driving.
This indicator should light when the
ignition switch is ON (II), and go out
af ter the engine starts. If it comes on
at any other time, it indicates one of
the engine’s emissions control
systems may have a problem. Even
though you may f eel no dif f erence in
your car’s perf ormance, it can
reduce your f uel economy and cause
your car to put out excessive
emissions. Continued operation may
cause serious damage.
CONT INUED
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Malf unction Indicator L amp
277
MMAALLFFUUNNCCTTIIOONNIINNDDIICCAATTOORRLLAAMMPP If you keep driving with the
malf unction indicator lamp on, you can
damage your car’s emissions controls
and engine. Those repairs may not be
covered by your car’s warranties.

CONT INUED
...
Accessories and Modif ications . 167
................................
Accessories . 167
...
Additional Safety Precaution . 168
............................
Modif ications . 168
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key .......................................
Position) . 83
.............
Accessory Power Socket . 102
....................
Additives, Engine Oil . 206
.............................
Airbag (SRS) . 10, 48
.....................
Air Cleaner Element . 221
..............
Air Conditioning System . 106
......................
Maintenance . 230, 231
.........................................
Usage . 106
.......................
Air Outlets (Vents) . 108
.......................
Air Pressure, Tires . 234
..................
High Speed Driving . 235
.........................
Normal Driving . 235
.......................
Alcohol in Gasoline . 296
......................................
Antif reeze . 209
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
....................
Indicator Light . 62, 187
...................................
Operation . 185
Anti-thef t Steering Column ..............................................
Lock . 82 ..........................
Appearance Care . 253
................
Audio System . 114, 126, 138
...............
Automatic Speed Control . 76
..............
Automatic Transmission . 178
..........................
Capacity,Fluid .292
...............
Checking Fluid Level . 216
.......................................
Shif ting . 179
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 178
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 179
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 182
Battery Charging System ...........................
Indicator . 62, 276
............................
Jump Starting . 270
..............................
Maintenance . 226
............................
Specif ications . 293
..............................
Bef ore Driving . 159
....................................
Belts,Seat .8,44
...........................
Beverage Holder . 101
.................................
Body Repairs . 260
Brakes
...........
Anti-lock System (ABS) . 185
.............
Break-in, New Linings . 160 ............
Bulb Replacement . 246, 247
...........................................
Fluid . 218
.........................................
Parking . 99
.................
System Indicator . 62, 279
........................
Wear Indicators . 184
.............................
Braking System . 184
........................
Break-in, New Car . 160
..
Brightness Control, Instruments . 71
........................
Brights, Headlights . 70
Bulb Replacement
..........................
Back-up Lights . 247
..............................
Brake Lights . 246
..............................
Ceiling Light . 250
................
Front Parking Lights . 244
........
Front Side Marker Lights . 244
.................................
Headlights . 243
.........
High-mount Brake Light . 247
.................
License Plate Lights . 248
.........
Rear Side Marker Lights . 246
............................
Specif ications . 293
...................................
Spotlights . 250
...............................
Trunk Light . 249
....................
Turn Signal Lights . 244
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen . 243
Index
A
B
I

Î
............................
Capacities Chart . 292
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 54
.............................
Carrying Cargo . 169
Cassette Player
............................................
Care . 156
...................
Operation . 120, 132, 153
..............
CAUTION, Explanation of . ii
..................
CD Changer . 123, 135, 149
......................
CD Player . 123, 135, 147
..................................
Ceiling Light . 103
........................
Certif ication Label . 290
............................................
Chains . 240
....................
Changing a Flat Tire . 263
............
Changing Engine Coolant . 211
Changing Oil
........................................
How to . 207
......................................
When to . 194
...
Charging System Indicator . 62, 276
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving . 174
.....................................
Child Saf ety . 21
Child Seats
.......................
Lower Anchorage . 42
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 41
..................
Childproof Door Locks . 88 ....................
Cleaner Element, Air . 221
Cleaning
......................................
Exterior . 254
.......................................
Interior . 256
...................................
Seat Belts . 257
...........................................
Vinyl . 257
....................................
Windows . 258
.........
Clock, Setting the . 119, 131, 143
...................................
Clutch Fluid . 219
........................
CO in the Exhaust . 298
............
Cold Weather, Starting in . 175
..............................
Compact Spare . 262
...............
Consumer Inf ormation . 304
.............
Controls, Instruments and . 57
Coolant
........................................
Adding . 209
....................................
Checking . 165
.........................
Proper Solution . 209
...................................
Replacing . 211
...................
Temperature Gauge . 68
....................
Corrosion Protection . 259
Crankcase Emissions Control
........................................
System . 298
..............
Cruise Control Operation . 76
..........
Customer Relations Of f ice . 304 ................
DANGER, Explanation of . ii
...................................
Dashboard . 2, 58
................
Daytime Running Lights . 71
............
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety . 308
........................
Def og and Def rost . 111
................
Def ogger, Rear Window . 74
..............
Def rosting the Windows . 111
....................................
Dimensions . 292
...............
Dimming the Headlights . 71
Dipstick
..........
Automatic Transmission . 216
..................................
Engine Oil . 164
..........................
Directional Signals . 72
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 184
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil . 208
Doors
..............
Locking and Unlocking . 83
......................
Power Door Locks . 84
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 294
Downshif ting, 5-speed Manual
.............................
Transmission . 176
.....................................
Drive Belts . 233
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 5
Index
C D
II

CONT INUED
.......................
Label, Certif ication . 290
.................
Lane Change, Signaling . 72
........................
Lap/Shoulder Belts . 44
Lights
....................
Bulb Replacement . 243
.......................................
Indicator . 59
.........................................
Parking . 70
..................................
Turn Signal . 72
.....................................
Load Limit . 170
......
LOCK (Ignition Key Position) . 82
Locks
.......
Anti-thef t Steering Column . 82
............................
Fuel Fill Door . 161
.................................
Power Door . 84
...........................................
Trunk . 88
........................
Low Coolant Level . 165
.........................
Low Fuel Indicator . 63
...........................
Lower Anchorage . 42
...
Lower Gear, Downshif ting to a . 177
...
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 62, 275
...
Lubricant Specif ications Chart . 292
.........................................
Luggage . 169 ..................................
Maintenance . 191
...
Owner Maintenance Checks . 203
.................................
Record . 201-202
......................
Required Indicator . 64
..........................................
Saf ety . 192
.............................
Schedule . 194-200
.
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 63, 277
...................
Manual Transmission . 176
........
Manual Transmission Fluid . 219
...............................
Meters, Gauges . 66
...................
Methanol in Gasoline . 296
..........................
Mirrors, Adjusting . 98
.........................................
Moonroof . 97
......................
Closing Manually . 279
.....................................
Operation . 97
...................
Neutral Gear Position . 180
..................
New Vehicle Break-in . 160
.....................
Normal Shif t Speeds . 177
...................
NOTICE, Explanation of . i
...............
Numbers, Identif ication . 290 ...
Octane Requirement, Gasoline . 160
.........................................
Odometer . 66
...............................
Odometer, Trip . 67
Oil
........................
Change, How to . 207
......................
Change, When to . 194
......................
Checking Engine . 164
..............
Pressure Indicator . 62, 275
Selecting Proper Viscosity
......................................
Chart . 206
...........
ON (Ignition Key Position) . 83
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor
....................................
Recovery . 298
..
Operation in Foreign Countries . 297
..............................
Outside Mirrors . 98
....................
Overheating, Engine . 272
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 203
.........................
Oxygenated Fuels . 296
Index
LM
N O
V

Î
..............................
Paint Touch-up . 255
..............
Panel Brightness Control . 71
........................
Park Gear Position . 179
...........................................
Parking . 183
.................................
Parking Brake . 99
.................................
Parking Lights . 70
..
Parking Over Things that Burn . 300
.............................
PGM-FI System . 299
..................
Polishing and Waxing . 255
............
Pre-Drive Saf ety Checklist . 12
.........
Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts . 19
............................
Protecting Adults . 13
...
Additional Safety Precautions . 19
.....
Advice f or Pregnant Women . 19
........................
Protecting Children . 21
.......................
Protecting Inf ants . 30
.......
Protecting Larger Children . 37
.........
Protecting Small Children . 34
Using Child Seats with
.....................................
Tethers . 41
..........
Using Lower Anchorages . 42 ...................
Radiator Overheating . 272
Radio/CD/Cassette
...........
Sound System . 114, 126, 138
...................
Readiness Codes . 278, 301
Rear Lights, Bulb
......................
Replacement . 246, 247
..........................
Rear Seat, Folding . 93
............................
Rear View Mirror . 98
.................
Rear Window Def ogger . 74
...............
Reclining the Seat Backs . 90
.......
Recommended Shif t Speeds . 177
.............................
Reminder Lights . 59
.......................
Remote Transmitter . 85
Replacement Inf ormation
.................
Air Cleaner Element . 221
..........................
Engine Coolant . 211
................
Engine Oil and Filter . 207
..........................................
Fuses . 282
................................
Light Bulbs . 243
....................................
Schedule . 194
................................
Spark Plugs . 223
................................
Timing Belt . 233
...........................................
Tires . 238
.............................
Wiper Blades . 228 Replacing Seat Belts Af ter a
............................................
Crash . 46
Reserve Tank, Engine ...............................
Coolant . 165, 209
...............................
Restraint, Child . 21
..................
Reverse Gear Position . 180
................................
Rotation, Tire . 237
..................................
Saf ety Belts . 8, 44
.........
Safety Defects, Reporting . 308
.................................
Saf ety Features . 7
.........................................
Airbags . 10
..................................
Door Locks . 11
..........................
Head Restraints . 11
.......................................
Seat Belts . 8
.....................
Seats & Seat-Backs . 11
.............
Saf ety Labels, Location of . 55
...............................
Saf ety Messages . ii
.....................................
Seat Belts . 8, 44
...............
Additional Information . 44
Automatic Seat Belt
...............................
Tensioners . 45
.....................................
Cleaning . 257
......................
Lap/Shoulder Belt . 44
Index
PR
S
VI