headlights HONDA CIVIC COUPE 1998 User Guide

If Your Engine Won't Start

Diagnosing why your engine won't
start falls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
key to START (III):
You hear nothing, or almostnothing. 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
faster than normal, but the engine does not start up and run. Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
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.
If you have a manual transmission,
the clutch pedal must be pushed
all the way to the floor 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

Jump Starting on page 213.
Turn the ignition switch to START
(III). If the headlights do not dim,
check the condition of the fuses. If
the fuses are OK, there is proba-
bly something wrong with the
electrical circuit for the ignition switch or starter motor. You will
need a qualified technician to determine the problem. (See
Emergency Towing on page 227).

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 173). You can
then try jump starting the vehicle
from a booster battery (see page 213).
Taking Care of the UnexpectedMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Fuses

Vehicles equipped with ABS have a third fuse box for the ABS. It is in
the engine compartment on the
passenger's side.
Checking and Replacing Fuses

If something electrical in your
vehicle stops working, the first thing
you should check for is a blown fuse. Determine from the chart on pages 198 and 199, or the diagram on the
fuse box lid, which fuse or fuses control that component. Check those
fuses first, but check all the fuses
before deciding that a blown fuse is not the cause. Replace any blown
fuses and check the component's
operation.

1. Turn the ignition switch to LOCK (0). Make sure the headlights and
all other accessories are off.
2. Remove the cover from the fuse box. 3. Check each of the large fuses in
the under-hood fuse box bylooking through the top at the wire
inside. Removing these fuses
requires a Phillips-head screw-
driver.

CONTINUED

Taking Care of the Unexpected

ABS FUSE BOX
FUSE
BLOWNMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Index

Accessories and Modifications.... 114 Accessories................................. 114
Additional Safety Precaution.... 115Modifications............................. 115
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key Position)........................................ 68
Accessory Power Socket................ 83
Adding Automatic Transmission
Fluid........................................ 164
Brake Fluid................................. 167 Clutch Fluid................................ 167
Engine Coolant........................... 159
Engine Oil................................... 155
Manual Transmission Fluid..... 166Power Steering Fluid................. 168
Windshield Washer Fluid......... 164
Additional Information About Your Seat Belts........................ 40
Lap Belt......................................... 41
Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 40
Seat Belt Maintenance................ 42
Seat Belt System Components... 40 Additional Information About

Your SRS................................... 43

Additional Safety Precautions.... 46 How Your Airbags Work............ 43
How Your SRS Indicator
Works........................................ 45

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

Additives, Engine Oil..................... 156

Adjustments
Headlights.................................. 188

Head Restraints........................... 75

Mirrors.......................................... 79

Seats.............................................. 74

Steering Wheel............................ 63

Airbag (SRS)...................................... 7

Air Cleaner Element...................... 169
Air Conditioning............................... 86 Maintenance............................... 177
Usage............................................. 86
Air Outlets (Vents).......................... 88
Air Pressure, Tires........................ 180 High Speed Driving................... 236
Normal Driving.......................... 180
Alcohol in Gasoline........................ 238
Antifreeze....................................... 159
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)

Indicator Light.....................
53, 137

Operation.................................... 13 6

Anti-thef
t Steering Column

Lock...............................................68

Appearance Care........................... 199
Ashtrays (Optional)......................... 83
Audio System................................... 94
Automatic Speed Control................ 64
Automatic Transmission............... 124
Capacity, Fluid........................... 233

Checking Fluid Level................ 164

Shifting........................................ 125

Shift Lever Position Indicator.. 124
Shift Lever Positions................. 125
Shift Lock Release..................... 128
Battery Charging SystemIndicator............................ 53,

218

Jump Starting............................ .
213
Maintenance............................... 173
Specifications............................. 234
CONTINUEDMain Menu s t

Index

Before Driving............................... 107

Belts, Seat........................................... 6

Beverage Holder.............................. 82
Body Repair.................................... 200

Brakes

Anti-lock System (ABS)............ 135Break-in, New Linings .............. 108
Fluid............................................ 166Light, Burned-out...................... 192

Parking..........................................80

System Indicator.......................... 53
Wear Indicators......................... 134
Brakes, ABS Operation.................................... 134
System Indicator..................
53, 13 7

Braking System............................. .
134
Break-in, New Car......................... 108
Brightness Control, Instruments... 60
Brights, Headlights......................... 59
Bulb Replacement Back-up Lights........................... 193
Brake Lights............................... 192
Front Parking Lights................. 191
Front Side Marker Lights......... 191
Headlights.................................. 189
High-mount Brake Light.......... 194 Interior Light.............................. 195
License Plate Lights.................. 194
Rear Side Marker Lights.......... 193
Specifications............................. 234
Trunk Light................................ 196
Turn Signal Lights..................... 191
Bulbs, Halogen............................... 185

Cables, Jump Starting With.......... 213

Capacities Chart............................. 233 Carbon Monoxide Hazard.............. 47

Carrying Cargo.............................. 116

Cassette Player
Care............................................. 102

Operation.................................... 100

CAUTION, Explanation of............... ii
CD Changer.................................... 103
CD Player........................................ 103

Certification Label......................... 230

Chains............................................. 185

Change Oil
How to......................................... 157

When to....................................... 146

Changing a Flat Tire..................... 207 Changing Engine Coolant............. 161
Charging System Indicator .... 53,

218

Checking
Automatic Transmissio
n

Fluid........................................ 164

Battery Condition...................... 173

Brake Fluid................................. 167
Clutch Fluid................................ 167

Drive Belts.................................. 178
Engine Coolant........................... 112

Engine Oil..............................

111

Fuses........................................... 22 2

Manua
l Transmission Fluid..... 166
Power Steering Fluid................. 168
Checklist, Before Driving............. 120
Cleaner, Air.................................... 169
Cleaning Exterior....................................... 200
Interior........................................ 202

Seat Belts.................................... 202

Vinyl............................................202

Windows..................................... 203
Clock, Setting the............................ 99

Clutch Fluid.................................... 167

CO in the Exhaust......................... 240
Cold Weather, Starting in............. 121Main Menu s t

Index

Compact Spare............................... 206

Consumer Information*................ 244

Controls, Instruments and.............. 49

Coolant
Adding......................................... 155
Checking..................................... 112

Proper Solution.......................... 159

Replacing.................................... 161

Temperature Gauge.................... 56

Corrosion Protection..................... 203

Crankcase Emissions Control
System......................................... 240

Cruise Control Operation............... 64
Customer Relations Office........... 244

DANGER, Explanation of................. ii

Dashboard........................................ 50
Daytime Running Lights................. 59

Dead Battery, What to Do............ 213

Defects, Reporting Safety............. 248

Defog and Defrost........................... 91

Defogger, Rear Window................. 62
Defrosting the Windows................. 91
DEXRON
®
III Automatic
Transmission Fluid.................... 165
Dimensions..................................... 232
Dimming the Headlights................ 59
Dipstick Automatic Transmission........... 165
Engine Oil................................... 112

Directional Signals........................... 60

Disabled, Towing Your Car If...... 227

Disc Brake Wear Indicators......... 134
Disposal of Used Oil...................... 158

Doors
Locking and Unlocking............... 68
Power Door Locks....................... 69
DOT Tire Quality Grading........... 236
Downshifting, 5-speed Manual Transmission.............................. 122
Driver and Passeneer Safety............ 3
Drive Belts.................................... 178

Driving............................................ 119
Economy..................................... 113
In Bad Weather.......................... 138
In Foreign Countries................. 239
Economy, Fuel............................... 113

Emergencies on the Road............. 205
Battery, Jump Starting.............. 213
Brake System Indicator............ 220Changing a Flat Tire................. 207
Charging System Indicator ...... 218
Checking the Fuses................... 223
Low Oil Pressure Indicator...... 217
Malfunction Indicator Lamp .... 219
Manually Closing Moonroof.... 219Overheated Engine................... 211
Emergency Brake............................ 80 Emergency Flashers....................... 62
Emissions Controls........................ 240

Engine
Coolant Temperature Gauge ..... 56
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp.................................
54, 219

Oil Pressur e
Indicator......... 53,

217

Oil, Wha
t
Kind to Use............... 155
Overheating................................ 215
Specifications............................. 232

CONTINUEDMain Menu s t

Index

Ethanol in Gasoline ....................... 238

Evaporative Emissions Controls.. 240

Exhaust Fumes................................ 47

Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
Belts by.........................................17

Exterior, Cleaning the................... 200

Fabric, Cleaning............................. 202

Fan, Interior...................................... 86

Features, Comfort and Convenience................................. 85
Filling the Fuel Tank..................... 109
Filters
Air................................................169

Oil................................................ 157

5-speed Manual Transmission
Checking Fluid Level................ 166

Shifting the................................. 122

Flashers, Hazard Warning.............. 62
Flat Tire, Changing a.................... 207

Fluids
Automatic Transmission........... 164
Brake...........................................167
Clutch..........................................167
Manual Transmission............... 166

Power Steering........................... 168
Windshield Washer................... 164
FM Stereo Radio
Reception...................................... 94

Folding Rear Seat............................ 76
Foreign Countries, Driving in...... 239
Four-way Flashers........................... 62

Front End, Towing by
Emergency Wrecker................. 227

Fuel..................................................108
Fill Door and Cap....................... 109
Gauge............................................ 56

Octane Requirement................. 108
Oxygenated................................ 238

Reserve Indicator......................... 54

Tank, Filling the......................... 109

Fuses, Checking the...................... 222

Gas Mileage, Improving................ 113
Gasohol........................................... 238

Gasoline.......................................... 108
Fuel Reserve Indicator................ 54
Gauge............................................ 56
Octane Requirement................. 108

Tank, Filling the......................... 109

Gas Station Procedures................. 109

Gauges
Engine Coolant Temperature .... 56

Fuel................................................ 56

Gearshift Lever Positions Automatic Transmission........... 1255-speed Manual Transmission.......................... 122
Glass Cleaning............................... 203
Glove Box......................................... 8 1
Haloge n Headligh t
Bulbs.............. 189
Hazard Warning Flashers............... 62
Headlights
Aiming......................................... 188
Daytime Running Lights............. 59
High Beam Indicator................... 54
High Beams, Turning on............ 59
Low Beams, Turning on............. 59 Reminder Beeper......................... 59
Replacing Halogen Bulbs ......... 189

Turning on....................................

59Main Menu s t