HONDA CIVIC COUPE 1998 Owners Manual

Air Cleaner Element
Replacement
On HX and EX models in the U.S., and Si
model in Canada
The air cleaner element is inside the air cleaner housing on the passenger's
side of the engine compartment.
To replace it:
1. Unsnap the two clips and remove the air cleaner housing cover. 2. Remove the old air cleaner
element.
Clean the inside of the air cleaner
housing with a damp rag.
3. Place the new air cleaner element in the air cleaner housing. 4. Align the tabs and reinstall the air
cleaner housing cover, snap the
two clips back into place.

Maintenance
CLIPS
AIR CLEANER
ELEMENTMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Spark Plugs

The spark plugs in your vehicle need to be replaced every 2 years or30,000 miles (48,000 km), whichever
comes first.
Replacement

1. Clean up any dirt and oil around the spark plug caps.
2. Remove the spark plug cap by pulling it straight out.
3. Remove the spark plug with a five-eighths inch (16 mm) spark
plug socket. 4. Put the new spark plug into the
socket; then screw it into the hole.
Screw it in by hand so you do not
crossthread it.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

SPARK PLUG CAPMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Spark Plugs

5. Torque the spark plug. (If you do
not have a torque wrench, tighten

the spark plug two-thirds of a turn
after it contacts the cylinder head.)

Tightening torque:
13 lbf.ft (18 N.m,1.8kgf.m)
Tighten the spark plugs carefully. A
spark plug that is too loose can
overheat and damage the engine. Overtightening can cause damage to
the threads in the cylinder head.

6. Install the spark plug cap.

7. Repeat this procedure for the other three spark plugs.
Specifications:

(U.S.: HX) NGK:

DENSO:
ZFR4F-11
KJ14CR-L11

(U.S.: DX, EX, Canada: DX, Si) NGK: ZFR5F-11
DENSO: KJ16CR-L11
Spark Plug Gap: 0.04 in (1.1 mm)
Maintenance
NOTICEMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Battery

Check the condition of your vehicle's
battery monthly. You should check
the color of the test indicator window, and for corrosion on the terminals.
Check the battery condition by
looking at the test indicator window on the battery.
The label on the battery explains the test indicator's colors. Check the battery terminals for
corrosion (a white or yellowish
powder). To remove it, cover the
terminals with a solution of baking soda and water. It will bubble up and
turn brown. When this stops, wash it off with plain water. Dry off the
battery with a cloth or paper towel. Coat the terminals with grease to
help prevent future corrosion.

CONTINUED

Maintenance
TEST INDICATOR WINDOWMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Battery
If the terminals are severely cor-
roded, clean them with baking soda
and water. Then use a wrench to
loosen and remove the cables from
the terminals. Always disconnect the negative (—) cable first and recon-
nect it last. Clean the battery termi-nals with a terminal cleaning tool or
wire brush. Reconnect and tighten
the cables, then coat the terminals
with grease. If you need to connect the battery to
a charger, disconnect both cables to
prevent damage to the vehicle's
electrical system.
Charging the battery with the cables
connected can seriously damage your vehicle's electronic controls. Detach
the battery cables before connecting
the battery to a charger.
Maintenance
The battery gives off explosive
hydrogen gas during normal
operation.
A spark or flame can cause the battery to explode with enough
force to kill or seriously hurt you.
Wear protective clothing and a
face shield, or have a skilled mechanic do the battery
maintenance.
NOTICEMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Wiper Blades
Check the condition of the wiper
blades at least every six months. Look for signs of cracking in the
rubber, or areas that are getting
hard. Replace the blades if you find these signs, or they leave streaks
and unwiped areas when used.
To replace the blade:1. Raise the wiper arm off the windshield. 2. Disconnect the blade assembly
from the wiper arm by pushing inthe lock tab. Hold it in while youpush the blade assembly toward
the base of the arm.
CONTINUED

Maintenance

WIPER ARMS
LOCK TABMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Wiper Blades

3. Remove the blade from its holder by grasping the tabbed end of the
blade. Pull firmly until the tabs
come out of the holder. 4. Examine the new wiper blades. If
they have no plastic or metal rein-
forcement along the back edge,
remove the metal reinforcementstrips from the old wiper blade and
install them in the slots along the edge of the new blade. 5. Slide the new wiper blade into the
holder until the tabs lock.
6. Slide the wiper blade assembly onto the wiper arm. Make sure it
locks in place.
7. Lower the wiper arm down against the windshield.

Maintenance
BLADE
BLADE

REINFORCEMENTMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Air Conditioning System
Standard on U.S. EX model

Your vehicle's air conditioning is a sealed system. Any major mainte-
nance, such as recharging, should be
done by a qualified mechanic. You
can do a couple of things to makesure the air conditioning works
efficiently. Periodically check the engine's
radiator and air conditioning
condenser for leaves, insects, and
dirt stuck to the front surface. These
block the air flow and reduce cooling efficiency. Use a light spray from a
hose or a soft brush to remove them.
The condenser and radiator fins bend
easily. Only use a low-pressure spray
or soft-bristle brush to clean them.
Run the air conditioning at least once
a week during the cold weather
months. Run it for 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 refrigerant. If the air conditioning does not get as
cold as before, have your dealer
check the system. Recharge the
system with Refrigerant HFC-134a
(R-134a). (See Specifications on page 234.)
Whenever you have the air conditioning

system serviced, make sure the service

facility uses a refrigerant recycling
system. This system captures the
refrigerant for reuse. Releasing
refrigerant into the atmosphere can

damage the environment.

Maintenance

NOTICE
NOTICE

AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSERMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Drive Belts, Timing Belt
Drive Belts
Check the condition of the two or
three drive belts. Examine the edges
of each belt for cracks or fraying. Check the tension of each belt by
pushing on it with your thumb
midway between the pulleys.
The belts should have the following

"play" or deflection.
Alternator belt:
0.31— 0.41 in (8.0—10.5 mm)

Power steering belt:
0.41 — 0.55 in (10.5 — 14.0 mm)

On cars with Air Conditioning

Compressor belt:

0.30 — 0.37 in (7.5 — 9.5 mm)

If you see signs of wear or looseness,
have your dealer adjust or replace
the belts. Timing Belt
The timing belt should normally be replaced at the intervals shown in
the maintenance schedule.
Replace this belt at 60,000 miles (U.S.)
or 100,000 km (Canada) if you regu-
larly drive your vehicle in one or
more of these conditions: In very high temperatures
(over110°F,43°C).

In very low temperatures
(under —20°F, —29°C).

Maintenance

POWER STEERING
BELT
ALTERNATOR

BELT

COMPRESSOR BELTMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Tires

To safely operate your vehicle, your tires must be the proper type andsize, in good condition with adequate

tread, and correctly inflated. The

following pages give more detailed information on how and when to
check air pressure, how to inspect
your tires for damage and wear, and what to do when your tires need to

be replaced.
Inflation

Keeping the tires properly inflated
provides the best combination of
handling, tread life and riding comfort. Underinflated tires wear
unevenly, adversely affect handling and fuel economy, and are more
likely to fail from being overheated. Overinflated tires can make your
vehicle ride more harshly, are more prone to damage from road hazards,and wear unevenly.
We recommend that you visually check your tires every day. If you
think a tire might be low, check it
immediately with a tire gauge. Use a gauge to measure the air
pressure at least once a month. Even
tires that are in good condition may
lose one to two psi (10 to 20 kPa, 0.1 to 0.2 kgf/cm2) per month.Remember to check the spare tire at
the same time you check all the other tires.
Check the pressure in the tires when
they are cold. This means the vehicle
has been parked for at least three
hours. If you have to drive the
vehicle before checking the tire pressure, the tires can still be
considered "cold" if you drive less
than 1 mile (1.6 km).

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Using tires that are excessively
worn or improperly inflated can

cause a crash in which you can be seriously hurt or killed.

Follow all instructions in this
owner's manual regarding tire
inflation and maintenance.Main Menu Table of Contents s t