check engine light HONDA CIVIC HATCHBACK 2003 7.G User Guide

Put a new washer on the drain bolt,
then reinstall the drain bolt.
Tighten it to:
Refill the engine with the recom-
mended oil.
Engine oil change capacity
(including f ilter):Let the engine run f or several
minutes, then check the drain bolt
and oil f ilter f or leaks.
Turn of f the engine, let it sit f or
several minutes, then check the oil
level. If necessary, add oil to bring
the level to the upper mark on the
dipstick.
Replace the engine oil f ill cap.
Start the engine. The oil pressure
indicator light should go out within
f ive seconds. If it does not, turn of f
the engine and reinspect your
work. 9.
8.
7.
6.
5.
Engine Oil
Maint enance
170 33 lbf·ft (44 N·m , 4.5 kgf·m)
4.4 US qt (4.2
)
Improper disposal of engine oil can be
harmf ul to the environment. If you
change your own oil, please dispose of
the used oil properly. Put it in a sealed
container and take it to a recycling
center. Do not discard it in a trash bin
or dump it on the ground.

Check the level in the windshield
washer reservoir at least monthly
duringnormaluse.Inbadweather,
when you use the washers of ten,
check the level every time you stop
f or f uel. This reservoir supplies the
windshield and rear window washers.Fill the reservoir with a good-quality
windshield washer f luid. This
increases the cleaning capability and
prevents f reezing in cold weather.
When you ref ill the reservoir, clean
the edges of the windshield wiper
blades with windshield washer fluid
on a clean cloth. This will help to
condition the blade edges.
The windshield washer reservoir is
located behind the lef t headlight.
Check the windshield washer f luid
level as f ollows:
Check the f luid level in the tube. If
the f luid level is low, f ill the
reservoir with windshield washer
f luid.
The low washer level indicator will
light when the level is low (see page
).
Cover the small hole in the center
of the cap with your f inger and
pull up until the tube is f ully
exposed.
Unf asten the reservoir cap.
1. 2. 3.
60
On Canadian model
Windshield Washers
Maint enance
176 Fluid level
Do not use engine antif reeze or a
vinegar/water solution in the
windshield washer reservoir.
Antif reeze can damage your car’s paint,
while a vinegar/water solution can
damage the windshield washer pump.
Use only commercially-available
windshield washer f luid.

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.
251
A ir Condit ioning Syst em
Maint enance189
AIR CONDITIONING
CONDENSER
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):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. 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:
Check the transmission interlock.
The clutch pedal must be pushed
all the way to the f loor or the
starter will not operate.
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 .230
Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
Jump Starting
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
If Your Engine Won’t Start
228

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 for the ignition
switch or starter motor. You will
need a qualif ied technician to
determine the problem. (Seeon 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 ). 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.
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 ).
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 . If youfindnothingwrong,youwill
need a qualif ied technician to f ind
the problem. See
on page .
143 74
245
184 230 241
245
If Your Engine Won’t Start
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Emergency T owing
T he Starter Operates Normally
Starting the
Engine Emergency
Towing
229

´´
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. Connect one jumper cable to the
positive ( ) terminal on your
Honda’s battery. Connect the
other end to the positive ( )
terminal on the booster battery.
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.
1. 2.3.
184
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
Jump Starting
230 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.
132 167 245
Emergency
Towing
L ow Oil Pressure Indicator
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
234 LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR
Running 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.

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. 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 at least one
driving trip.
If the indicator remains on, 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 f ull-
throttle acceleration and driving at
high speed.
Malf unction Indicator L amp
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
236 MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP
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.

Bulb Replacement..........................
Back-up Lights . 206
..................................
Stop Light . 206
......................
Cargo Area Light . 211
................
Front Parking Lights . 205
........
Front Side Marker Lights . 204
.................................
Headlights . 202
.........
High-mount Brake Light . 207
...........................
Interior Lights . 210
.................
License Plate Lights . 209
..................
Side Marker Lights . 204
...........
Side Turn Signal Lights . 208
............................
Specif ications . 251
....................
Turn Signal Lights . 203
..............................
Bulbs, Halogen . 202
.........
Cables, Jump Starting With . 230
............................
Capacities Chart . 250
.............
Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 52
...........................
Cargo Area Cover . 84
.............................
Carrying Cargo . 137
Cassette Player
............................................
Care . 122
...................................
Operation . 119 ..............
CAUTION, Explanation of . ii
...................................
CD Changer . 115
.......................................
CD Player . 113
........................
Certif ication Label . 248
............................................
Chains . 199
Change Oil
........................................
How to . 169
......................................
When to . 158
....................
Changing a Flat Tire . 223
............
Changing Engine Coolant . 173
...
Charging System Indicator . 58, 235
Checking
.....................
Battery Condition . 184
................................
Brake Fluid . 178
...............................
Clutch Fluid . 178
.................................
Drive Belts . 192
..........................
Engine Coolant . 133
..................................
Engine Oil . 132
..........................................
Fuses . 241
....
Manual Transmission Fluid . 177
............
Checklist, Bef ore Driving . 142
.....................................
Child Saf ety . 20
....................
Cleaner Element, Air . 179
Cleaning
....................
Aluminum Wheels . 216
...................................
Carpeting . 216 ......................................
Exterior . 214
.........................................
Fabric . 217
.......................................
Interior . 216
...................................
Seat Belts . 218
...........................................
Vinyl . 217
....................................
Windows . 218
.........................
Clock, Setting the . 109
...................................
Clutch Fluid . 178
........................
CO in the Exhaust . 256
............
Cold Weather, Starting in . 143
..............................
Compact Spare . 222
.............
Controls, Instruments and . 55
Coolant
........................................
Adding . 171
....................................
Checking . 133
.........................
Proper Solution . 171
...................................
Replacing . 173
...................
Temperature Gauge . 64
....................
Corrosion Protection . 219
Crankcase Emissions Control
........................................
System . 256
...............................
Cruise Control . 124
Index
C
II

CONT INUED
................
DANGER, Explanation of . ii
...................................
Dashboard . 2, 56
................
Daytime Running Lights . 67
...........
Dead Battery, What to Do . 230
............
Def ects, Reporting Saf ety . 264
........................
Def og and Def rost . 101
................
Def ogger, Rear Window . 70
..............
Def rosting the Windows . 101
....................................
Dimensions . 250
...............
Dimming the Headlights . 66
Dipstick
..................................
Engine Oil . 132
..........................
Directional Signals . 68
.....
Disabled, Towing Your Car If . 245
........
Disc Brake Wear Indicators . 147
.....................
Disposal of Used Oil . 170
Doors
..............
Locking and Unlocking . 75
..........
DOT Tire Quality Grading . 252
Downshif ting, 5-speed Manual
.............................
Transmission . 144
.....................................
Drive Belts . 192
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety . 5 ...........................................
Driving . 141
....................................
Economy . 134
.........................
In Bad Weather . 151
................
In Foreign Countries . 255
..............................
Economy, Fuel . 134
............
Emergencies on the Road . 221
.............
Battery, Jump Starting . 230
...........
Brake System Indicator . 238
................
Changing a Flat Tire . 223
.....
Charging System Indicator . 235
..................
Checking the Fuses . 241
.....
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 234
...
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 236
..................
Overheated Engine . 232
...........................
Emergency Brake . 89
......................
Emergency Flashers . 70
......................
Emergency Towing . 245
.......................
Emissions Controls . 256Engine
............................................
Belts . 192
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge . 64
Malf unction Indicator
................................
Lamp . 59, 236 ........
Oil Pressure Indicator . 58, 234
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use . 167
...............................
Overheating . 232
............................
Specif ications . 250
...................
Engine Speed Limiter . 145
......................
Ethanol in Gasoline . 254
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls . 256
...............................
Exhaust Fumes . 52
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................
Belts by . 18
..................
Exterior,Cleaningthe .214
............................
Fabric, Cleaning . 217
.....................................
Fan, Interior . 96
Features, Comfort and
................................
Convenience . 95
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 129
Filter
................................
Air Cleaner . 179
...............................................
Oil . 169
Index
E
F
D
III