HONDA CIVIC COUPE 1998 Owners Manual

Automatic Transmission (CVT)

Continuously Variable
Transmission (CVT)
On HX model

Honda's Continuously Variable
automatic transmission's unique design provides a smooth, constant
flow of power. It is electronically controlled for more precise operation
and better fuel economy. Shift Lever Position Indicator
This indicator on the instrument panel shows which position the shift
lever is in.
The "D" indicator comes on for a few seconds when you turn theignition switch ON (II). If it flashes
while driving (in any shift position), it indicates a possible problem in the
transmission. Avoid rapid accelera-
tion and have the transmissionchecked by an authorized Honda
dealer as soon as possible. Shift Lever Positions
The shift lever has six positions. It must be in Park or Neutral to start
the engine. When you are stopped in D, S, L, N or R, press firmly on the
brake pedal and keep your foot off the accelerator pedal.

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Automatic Transmission (CVT)

Park (P) — This position mechani-
cally locks the transmission. Use
Park whenever you are turning off orstarting the engine. To shift out of
Park, you must press on the brake
pedal, have your foot off the accelera-
tor pedal, and press the release
button on the side of the shift lever. If you have done all of the above andstill cannot move the lever out of
Park, see Shift Lock Release on page
108.

You must also press the releasebutton to shift into Park. To avoid
transmission damage, come to a
complete stop before shifting intoPark. The shift lever must be in Park
before you can remove the key from
the ignition switch.

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Automatic Transmission (CVT)

Reverse (R) — To shift from Re-
verse to Park, see the explanation under Park. To shift to Reverse fromNeutral, come to a complete stop
first. Press the release button before shifting into Reverse from Neutral.
Neutral (N) — Use Neutral if you need to restart a stalled engine, or if
it is necessary to stop briefly with
the engine idling. Always shift to Park position if you need to leave the
vehicle for any reason. Press on the brake pedal when you are moving
the shift lever from Neutral toanother position. Drive (D) — Use this position for
your normal driving. The transmis- sion automatically adjusts to keep
the engine at the best speed for driving conditions. To help the
engine warm up faster, the transmis-
sion will select ratios that allow the
engine to run at higher speeds when

it is cold.
Second (S) — Selecting Second
shifts the transmission into a lower
range of ratios for better accelera-
tion and increased engine braking. Use Second when you are goingdown a steep hill, or in stop-and-go
driving.
Low (L) — To shift to Low, press
the release button on the side of the shift lever. Use Low to get more
power when climbing, and for
maximum engine braking when
going down steep hills.
For faster acceleration when in D, S
or L, the transmission will
automatically "kick down" to a lower
range of ratios by pushing the accelerator pedal to the floor.

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Automatic Transmission (CVT)

Maximum Speeds
The CVT shifts automatically to maintain proper engine speed in anyshift position.
When the vehicle reaches the maximum speed in any shift position,
you may feel the engine cut in and out. This is caused by a limiter (112
mph, 180 km/h) in the engine's
computer controls. The engine will
run normally when you reduce thespeed below the maximum.

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Parking

Always use the parking brake when you park your vehicle. The indicator on the instrument panel shows that
the parking brake is not fully
released; it does not indicate that the
parking brake is firmly set. Make sure the parking brake is set firmly
or your vehicle may roll if it is
parked on an incline.
If your vehicle has an automatic
transmission, set the parking brake
before you put the transmission in Park. This keeps the vehicle from
moving and putting pressure on the
parking mechanism in the
transmission — making it easier to move the shift lever out of Park
when you want to drive away. If the vehicle is facing uphill, turn
the front wheels away from the curb.
If you have a manual transmission,
put it in first gear.
If the vehicle is facing downhill, turn
the front wheels toward the curb. If
you have a manual transmission, put it in reverse gear.
Make sure the parking brake is fully
released before driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or damage
the rear brakes. Parking Tips Make sure the moonroof and the
windows are closed. Turn off the lights.
Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the trunk or take them with you. Lock the doors with the key or the
remote transmitter. Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other flammable materials. The three way catalytic
converter gets very hot, and could
cause these materials to catch on

fire.

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The Braking System

All Civics are equipped with front disc brakes. The brakes on the rear
wheels are drum. A power assist
helps reduce the effort needed on
the brake pedal.
Put your foot on the brake pedal only
when you intend to brake. Resting
your foot on the pedal keeps the
brakes applied lightly, causing them to build up heat. Heat build-up can
reduce how well your brakes work. It
also keeps your brake lights on all
the time, confusing drivers behind

you.
Constant application of the brakes
when going down a long hill builds up heat and reduces their effective-
ness. Use the engine to assist the
brakes by downshifting to a lower
gear and taking your foot off the accelerator pedal.
Check your brakes after driving
through deep water. Apply the
brakes moderately to see if they feel normal. If not, apply them gently and
frequently until they do. Since a
longer distance is needed to stop
with wet brakes, be extra cautious and alert in your driving. Brake Wear Indicators
The front disc brakes on all vehicles have audible brake wear indicators.
When the brake pads need replacing, you will hear a distinctive metallic "screeching" sound when you apply
the brakes. If you do not have the
brake pads replaced, they will begin screeching all the time.
Your brakes may sometimes squeal or squeak when you apply them
lightly. Do not confuse this with the
brake wear indicators. They make a
very audible "screeching".

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The Braking System

Brake System Design
The hydraulic system that operates the brakes has two separate circuits.Each circuit works diagonally across
the vehicle (the left-front brake is connected with the right-rear brake,
etc.). If one circuit should develop a
problem, you will still have brakingat two wheels.
Anti-lock Brakes

(Optional)

ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) helps to prevent the wheels from locking
up and skidding during hard braking,allowing you to retain steering
control. When the front tires skid, you lose
steering control; the vehicle
continues straight ahead even
though you turn the steering wheel.
The ABS helps to prevent lock-up and helps you retain steering control
by pumping the brakes rapidly; much
faster than a person can do it.
You should never pump the brake pedal, this defeats thepurpose of the ABS. Let the ABS
work for you by always keeping firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal
as you steer away from the hazard.
This is sometimes referred to as
"stomp and steer."

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Driving

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The Braking System

You will feel a pulsation in the brakepedal when the ABS activates, and
you may hear some noise. This is normal, it is the ABS rapidly
pumping the brakes.
Activation varies with the amount of traction your tires have. On drypavement, you will need to press on
the brake pedal very hard before you activate the ABS. However, you may
feel the ABS activate immediately if
you are trying to stop on snow or ice.
Important Safety Reminders

ABS does not reduce the time or distance it takes to stop the
vehicle, it only helps with steering control during braking. You shouldalways maintain a safe following
distance from other vehicles.
ABS will not prevent a skid that results from changing direction
abruptly, such as trying to take acorner too fast or making a sudden
lane change. Always drive at a safe,
prudent speed for the road and
weather conditions.
ABS cannot prevent a loss of stability. Always steer moderately
when you are braking hard. Severe or sharp steering wheel movement
can still cause your vehicle to veer
into oncoming traffic or off the road. A vehicle with ABS may require a
longer distance to stop on loose or
uneven surfaces, such as gravel orsnow, than a vehicle without anti-
lock. Slow down and allow a greater distance between vehicles under
those conditions.

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The Braking System

ABS Indicator

The ABS is self-checking. It also checks itself whenever you use the
brakes.
If anything goes wrong, the ABS
indicator on the instrument panel comes on (see page 53). This means
the anti-lock function of the braking system has shut down. The brakesstill work like a conventional system
without anti-lock, providing normal stopping ability. You should have the dealer inspect your vehicle as soon
as possible if this light stays on after
you start the engine, or comes on
while driving.

Driving

ABS INDICATOR*

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Driving in Bad Weather

Rain, fog, and snow conditions re-
quire a different driving technique
because of reduced traction and
visibility. Keep your vehicle well- maintained and exercise greater
caution when you need to drive in
bad weather. The cruise control should not be used in these condi-
tions. Driving Technique — Always drive
slower than you would in dry
weather. It takes your vehicle longer
to react, even in conditions that may seem just barely damp. Apply
smooth, even pressure to all the
controls. Abrupt steering wheel
movements or sudden, hard appli-
cation of the brakes can cause loss of
control in wet weather. Be extra
cautious for the first few miles (kilometers) of driving while you
adjust to the change in driving
conditions. This is especially true in snow. A person can forget some
snow-driving techniques during the
summer months. Practice is needed
to relearn those skills.
Exercise extra caution when driving
in rain after a long dry spell. After
months of dry weather, the first
rains bring oil to the surface of the
roadway, making it slippery. Visibility — Being able to see
clearly in all directions and being
visible to other drivers are important in all weather conditions. This ismore difficult in bad weather. To beseen more clearly during daylight
hours, turn on your headlights.
Inspect your windshield wipers and
washers frequently. Keep the wind- shield washer reservoir full of the
proper fluid. Have the windshield
wiper blades replaced if they start to streak the windshield or leave parts
unwiped. Use the defrosters and air
conditioning to keep the windows
from fogging up on the inside (see

page 91).

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