HONDA CIVIC COUPE 1998 Owners Manual

1998 Civic Coupe Online Reference Owner's Manual
Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through\
this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.h\
elminc.com.

Contents

Introduction ........................................................................\
........................ .........................................
i


A Few Words About Safety........................................................................\
.........................................ii
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
......................................3
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restr\
aint System.
Instruments and Controls........................................................................\
.........................................49
Instrume nt panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
...................... 85
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
......................................................... 107
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
..................................................................... 119
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
.............................................................141
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take you r vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Care........................................................................\
......................................................199
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your\
vehicle ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpected........................................................................\
..............................205
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, an d how to handle them.
Technical Information........................................................................\
.............................................229
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................243
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)........................................................................\
..............................249
How to order manuals and other technical literature.

Index........................................................................\
............................................................................. I
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump. Service Information Summary Owner's Identification

Owner's Identification
OWNER

ADDRESS
STREET

CITY
STATE/PROVINCE ZIP CODE/
POSTAL CODE

V. I. N.

DELIVERY DATE
DEALER NAME

ADDRESS
(Date sold to original retail purchaser)

DEALER NO.
STREET

CITY

OWNER'S SIGNATURE
DEALER'S SIGNATURE STATE/PROVINCE
ZIP CODE/
POSTAL CODE
This Owner's Manual should be considered
a permanent part of the car, and should
remain
with
the car when it is
sold.

The information and specifications included in this publication were in effect at the time
of approval for printing. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. reserves the right, however, to
discontinue or change specifications or
design at any time without notice and
with out incurring any obligation whatsoever.Main Menu s t Main Menu s t

Introduction
Congratulations ! Your selection of a 1998 Honda Civic was a wise
investment. It will give you years of driving pleasure.
One of the best ways to enhance the enjoyment of your new Honda is to
read this manual. In it, you will learn how to operate its driving controls and convenience items. Afterwards, keep this owner's manual in your vehicle so
you can refer to it at any time.
Several warranties protect your new Honda. Read the warranty booklet
thoroughly so you understand the coverages and are aware of your rights and responsibilities.
Maintaining your vehicle according to the schedules given in this manual
helps to keep your driving trouble-free while it preserves your investment.
When your vehicle needs maintenance, keep in mind that your Honda dealer's staff is specially trained in servicing the many systems unique to
your Honda. Your Honda dealer is dedicated to your satisfaction and will be pleased to answer any questions and concerns. As you read this manual, you will
find information that is preceded by symbol. This
information is intended to help you
avoid damage to your Honda, other
properly, or the environment.
NOTICE

aMain Menu s t

A Few Words About Safety
Your safety, and the safety of others, is very important. And operating this
vehicle safely is an important responsibility.
To help you make informed decisions about safety, we have
provided operating procedures and other information on labels and in
this manual. This information alerts
you to potential hazards that could hurt you or others.
Of course, it is not practical or
possible to warn you about all the
hazards associated with operating or maintaining your vehicle. You must
use your own good judgement. You will find this important safety information in a variety of forms,
including: Safety Labels — on the vehicle.
Safety Messages — preceded by a safety alert symbol and one of
three signal words: DANGER, WARNING, or CAUTION.

These signal words mean:

You WILL be KILLED or SERIOUSLYHURT if you don't follow instructions.
You CAN be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if you don't follow instructions.
You CAN be HURT if you don't follow instructions. Safety Headings — such as Important Safety Reminders or Important
Safety Precautions. Safety Section — such as Driver and Passenger Safety.
Instructions — how to use this vehicle correctly and safely.
This entire book is filled with important safety information — please read it carefully.Main Menu s t

Driver and Passenger Safety

This section gives you important
information about how to protect

yourself and your passengers. It
shows you how to use seat belts

properly. It explains your Supple-
mental Restraint System. And it tells

you how to properly restrain infants
and children in your vehicle.

Important Safety Precautions .......... 4

Your Vehicle's Safety Features........ 5
Seat Belts........................................ 6
Airbags............................................ 7

Seats & Seat-Backs........................ 8

Head Restraints............................. 8

Door Locks..................................... 9

Pre-Drive Safety Checklist........... 9

Protecting Adults............................. 10

1. Close and Lock the Doors...... 10
2. Adjust the Front Seats............ 10
3. Adjust the Seat-Backs............. 11
4. Adjust the Head Restraints.... 12 5. Fasten and Position the Seat
Belts...................................... 13

6. Adjust the Steering Wheel..... 16
7. Maintain a Proper Sitting

Position................................. 16

Advice for Pregnant Women...... 17
Additional Safety Precautions.... 17
Pretecting Children......................... 19 All Children Must Be Restrained................................ 19
Children Should Sit in the Back

Seat............................................20

The Passenger's Airbag Poses Serious Risks to Children....... 20
If You Must Drive With Several Children.................................... 21 If A Child Requires Close
Attention................................... 22
Additional Safety Precaution...... 22
General Guidelines for Using Child Seats................................ 23
Protecting Infants........................ 27
Protecting Small Children.......... 31
Protecting Larger Children........ 35
Using Child Seats with
Tethers......................................38

Additional Information About Your
Seat Belts.................................. 40

Seat Belt System Components... 40
Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 40
Lap Belt......................................... 41
Seat Belt Maintenance................ 42
Additional Information About Your
SRS............................................ 43

SRS Components......................... 43

How Your Airbags Work............ 43

How Your SRS Indicator Light
Works........................................45

SRS Service................................... 45

Additional Safety Precautions.... 46

Carbon Monoxide Hazard.............. 47

Safety Labels.................................... 48

Driver and Passenger SafetyMain Menu s t

Important Safety Precautions
You'll find many safety recommendations throughout thissection, and throughout this manual.
Following are a few
recommendations we consider most important.

Always Wear Your Seat Belt

A seat belt is your best protection in all types of collisions. Airbags
supplement seat belts, but airbags
are designed to inflate only in a
severe frontal collision. So even with
airbags, make sure you and your
passengers always wear your seat
belts, and wear them properly. (See
page 13.)
Restrain All Children Children are safest when they are
properly restrained in the back seat,
not the front seat. A child who is too small for a seat belt must be properly
restrained in a child safety seat. (See
page 19.) Be Aware of Airbag Hazards
While airbags save lives, they can cause serious or fatal injuries to
occupants who sit too close to them,or are not properly restrained.
Infants, young children, and short
adults are at the greatest risk. Besure to follow all instructions and
warnings in this manual. (See page 5.)

Don't Drink and Drive

Alcohol and driving don't mix. Even one drink can reduce your ability to
respond to changing conditions. Reaction time gets worse with every
additional drink. So don't drink and
drive, and don't let your friends drink
and drive, either. Control Your Speed
Excessive speed is a major factor in
crash injuries and deaths, Generally,
the higher the speed the greater the
risk, but serious accidents can also occur at lower speeds. Never drive
faster than is safe for current conditions, regardless of the
maximum speed posted.
Keep Your Vehicle in Safe
Condition
Having a
tire blowout or a
mechanical failure can be extremely
hazardous. To reduce the possibility of such problems, check your tire
pressures and condition frequently, and perform all regularly scheduled
maintenance. (See page 146.)

Driver and Passenger SafetyMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Your Vehicle's Safety Features

Your vehicle is equipped with many
features that work together toprotect you and your passengersduring a crash.
Some safety features do not requireany action on your part. These
include a strong steel framework
that forms a safety cage around the
passenger compartment; front and rear crush zones that are designed to
crumple and absorb energy during a
crash; and a collapsible steering

column.

These safety features are designed to reduce the severity of injuries in a
crash. However, you and your
passengers can't take full advantage of these safety features unless you
remain sitting in a proper position

and always wear your seat belts

properly. In fact, some safety
features can contribute to injuries if they are not used properly.
Driver and Passenger Safety

(3)
(1)(4)
(8)
(5)(7)
(6)

(1) Safety Cage (2) Crush Zones
(3) Seats & Seats-Backs (4) Head Restraints
(5) Collapsible Steering Column (6) Seat Belts
(7) Airbags (8) Door Locks

(2)Main Menu Table of Contents s t

Your Vehicle's Safety Features
Seat Belts
For your safety, and the safety of
your passengers, your vehicle is equipped with seat belts in all seating
positions.
Your seat belt system alsoincludes a light on the
instrument panel to remind you and
your passengers to fasten your seat belts.

Why Wear Seat Belts

Seat belts are the single most
effective safety device for adults and
larger children. (Infants and smaller
children must be properly restrained
in child seats.)
Not wearing a seat belt properly
increases the chance of serious
injury or death in a crash, even
though your vehicle has airbags. In addition, most states and all
Canadian provinces require you to
wear seat belts.
When properly worn, seat belts: Keep you connected to the vehicle
so you can take advantage of the
vehicle's built-in safety features. Help protect you in almost every
type of crash, including side and
rear impacts and rollovers. (Your
airbags can only be helpful in severe frontal collisions.)
Help keep you from being thrown
against the inside of the car and
against other occupants.
Keep you from being thrown
outside of the car. Help keep you in a good position
should the airbags ever deploy. A
good position reduces the risk of injury from an inflating airbag, and
allows you to get the best
advantage from the airbag.
Of course, seat belts cannot
completely protect you in every
crash. But in most cases, seat belts
can reduce your risk of serious
injury.

What you should do: Always wear

your sea t
belt, and make sure you
wear it properly.

Driver and Passenger Safety
Not wearing a seat belt properly
increases the chance of serious
injury or death in a crash, even
if you have airbags.
Be sure you and your
passengers always wear seat
belts and wear them properly.Main Menu Table of Contents s t

Your Vehicle's Safety Features

Airbags

Your vehicle has a SupplementalRestraint System (SRS) with frontal
airbags to help protect the driver and
a front seat passenger.
This system also includesan indicator light on the
instrument panel to alert you to a
possible problem with the system. Following are the most important
things you need to know about your

airbags.
Airbags do not replace seat belts.
They supplement seat belts by providing extra protection for the
heads and chests of front seat

occupants.
Airbags offer no protection in side
impacts, rear impacts, rollovers,or minor or moderate collisions.
Airbags are designed to deploy only during a severe frontal
collision (such as a 25 mph [40
km/h] crash into a parked car of similar size and weight). Airbags can pose serious hazards.
To do their job, airbags must inflate with tremendous force andspeed. So while airbags save lives,
they can cause serious injuries to adults and larger children who are
not wearing seat belts, are not wearing them properly, are sitting
too close to the airbag, or are notsitting in a good position. Infants
and small children are at an even
greater risk of injury or death.

What you should do: Always wear

your seat belt properly and sit upright and as far back as possible
from the steering wheel or
dashboard.

Driver and Passenger Safety
SRSMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Your Vehicle's Safety Features
Seats & Seat-Backs
Your vehicle seats are designed to
keep you in a comfortable, upright
position so you can take full advantage of the protection offered
by seat belts and the seats' energy
absorbing materials.
How you adjust your seats and seat-
backs can also affect your safety. For example, sitting too close to the
steering wheel or dashboard
increases your risk of being injured
by striking the inside of the vehicle or being injured by an inflating

airbag.

Reclining a seat-back too far makes
your seat belt less effective and increases your chance of sliding
under the seat belt and being seriously injured in a crash. What you should do: Move the front
seats as far back as practical, and
keep adjustable seat-backs in an upright position whenever the
vehicle is moving.
Head Restraints
Head restraints can help protect you
from whiplash and other injuries. Formaximum protection, the back of
your head should rest against the center of the head restraint.

Driver and Passenger SafetyMain Menu Table of Contents s t