clutch HONDA CIVIC COUPE 1998 Owners Manual

Steering Wheel Controls

3. Press and hold the SET/decel
button on the steering wheel until
the CRUISE CONTROL light on

the instrument panel comes on.

This shows the system is now
activated.

The cruise control may not hold
the set speed when you are going

up and down hills.
Changing the Set Speed

You can increase the set cruising speed in either of two ways:
Press and hold the RESUME/
accel button. The vehicle will
accelerate slowly. When you reach
the desired cruising speed, release
the button. Push on the accelerator pedal. Ac-
celerate to the desired cruising speed and press the SET/decel

button.
You can decrease the set cruising
speed in either of two ways:
Press and hold the SET/decel
button. The vehicle will decelerate. Release the button when you
reach the desired speed.
Tap the brake or clutch pedal lightly with your foot. The
CRUISE CONTROL light on the
instrument panel will go out.
When the vehicle slows to the desired speed, press the SET/
decel button. The vehicle will then
maintain the desired speed.
CONTINUED

Instruments and Controls

RESUME/

accel

SET/decelMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Steering Wheel Controls

Even with the cruise control turned
on, you can still use the accelerator

pedal to speed up for passing. After

completing the pass, take your foot
off the accelerator pedal. The vehicle

will return to the set cruising speed.

Resting your foot on the brake or
clutch pedal will cause the cruise

control to cancel.
Cancelling the Cruise Control

You can cancel the cruise control in any of these ways:
Tap the brake or clutch pedal.Press the SET/decel and RE-
SUME/accel buttons at the same

time.
Press the Cruise Control Master

Switch.

When you tap the brake or clutch pedal, or press the SET and RE-SUME buttons at the same time, theCRUISE CONTROL light on the
instrument panel will go out and the
vehicle will begin to slow down. You can use the accelerator pedal in the

normal way.

If you use the brake or clutch pedal
to cancel cruise control, the system
remembers the previously-set cruising speed. To return to that speed, accelerate to above 25 mph
(40 km/h) and press the RESUME/
accel button until the CRUISE CON-
TROL light comes on. The vehicle will accelerate to the same cruising
speed as before.

If you cancel cruise control by
pressing the SET and RESUME
buttons at the same time, the
previously-set cruising speed is erased. To use the cruise control,
accelerate to the desired cruisingspeed and press the SET/decel

button.

Pressing the Cruise Control MasterSwitch turns the system completely
off and erases the previous cruising
speed from memory. To use the

system again, refer to Using the
Cruise Control.

Instruments and ControlsMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Starting the Engine

1. Apply the parking brake.

2. In cold weather, turn off all electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery.

3. Manual Transmission:
Push the clutch pedal down all the

way. START (III) does not

function unless the clutch pedal is
depressed.

Automatic Transmission (Including
CVT):

Make sure the shift lever is in Park. Press on the brake pedal.

4. Without touching the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition key to the
START (III) position. If the enginedoes not start right away, do not
hold the key in START (III) for
more than 15 seconds at a time.
Pause for at least 10 seconds

before trying again.
5. If the engine does not start within
15 seconds, or starts but stalls
right away, repeat step 4 with the accelerator pedal pressed half-way
down. If the engine starts, release
pressure on the accelerator pedal so the engine does not race.
6. If the engine still does not start, press the accelerator pedal all the
way down and hold it there while starting in order to clear flooding.
As before, keep the ignition key in the START (III) position for no
more than 15 seconds. Return to step 5 if the engine does not start.
If it starts, lift your foot off theaccelerator pedal so the enginedoes not race.

Starting in Cold Weather at High
Altitud
e (Above 8,000 feet/
2,40
0 meters)

An engine is harder to start in cold
weather. The thinner air found athigh altitude above 8,000 feet (2,400 meters) adds to the problem.
Use the following procedure:
1. Turn off all electrical accessories to reduce the drain on the battery.
2. Push the accelerator pedal half- way to the floor and hold it there
while starting the engine. Do not
hold the ignition key in START(III) for more than 15 seconds.
When the engine starts, release the accelerator pedal gradually as

th
e
engine speeds up and smooths

out.
3. I
f the engine fails to start in step 2,
push the accelerator pedal to the
floor and hold it there while you
try to start the engine for no more
than 15 seconds. If the engine does not start, return to step 2.

DrivingMain Menu Table of Contents s t

5-speed Manual Transmission

The manual transmission is syn- chronized in all forward gears for
smooth operation. It has a lockout so
you cannot shift directly from Fifth to Reverse. When shifting up ordown, make sure you push the clutch
pedal down all the way, shift to the next gear, and let the pedal up
gradually. When you are not shifting, do not rest your foot on the clutch
pedal. This can cause your clutch to
wear out faster. Come to a full stop before you shift
into Reverse. You can damage the
transmission by trying to shift into Reverse with the vehicle moving.
Push down the clutch pedal, and
pause for a few seconds before shifting into Reverse, or shift into
one of the forward gears for a
moment. This stops the gears so
they won't "grind".
When slowing down, you can get extra braking from the engine by
shifting to a lower gear. This extra
braking can help you maintain a safe speed and prevent your brakes from
overheating while going down a steep hill. Before downshifting,
make sure engine speed will not go
into the tachometer's red zone in the
lower gear. Refer to the Maximum
Allowable Speeds chart. Recommended Shift Points
Drive in the highest gear that lets
the engine run and accelerate
smoothly. This will give you the best
fuel economy and effective emis- sions control. The following shift
points are recommended:
Driving
Rapid slowing or speeding-up
can cause loss of control on
slippery surfaces. If you crash,
you can be injured.
Use extra care when driving on
slippery surfaces.Main Menu Table of Contents s t

Maintenance

This section explains why it is important to keep your vehicle well
maintained and to follow basic
maintenance safety precautions.
This section also includes Maintenance Schedules for normaldriving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions for simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of yourself.
If you have the skills and tools to per-
form more complex maintenance tasks on your Honda, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See
page 219 for information on how to obtain a copy, or see your Honda

dealer.
Maintenance Safety....................... 142
Important Safety Precautions.. 143

Maintenance Schedule.................. 144

Maintenance Record..................... 151
Owner Maintenance Checks........ 153

Fluid Locations............................... 154

Engine Oil....................................... 155 Adding Oil................................... 155Recommended Oil..................... 155Synthetic Oil............................... 156

Additives..................................... 156
Changing the Oil and Filter...... 157

Cooling System.............................. 159
Adding Engine Coolant............. 159Replacing Engine Coolant........ 161

Windshield Washers..................... 164

Transmission Fluid........................ 164
Automatic
Transmission.......................... 164

5-speed Manual
Transmission.......................... 166

Brake and Clutch Fluid................. 166
Brake System............................. 167Clutch System............................ 167

Power Steering............................... 168

Air Cleaner Element...................... 169 Spark Plugs..................................... 171

Replacement............................... 171

Specifications............................. 172

Battery............................................ 173

Wiper Blades.................................. 175
Air Conditioning System............... 177 Drive Belts...................................... 178

Timing Belt..................................... 178

Tires................................................ 179 Inflation....................................... 179
Recommended Tire Pressures
for Normal Driving............ 180
Inspection................................... 181
Maintenance............................... 181
Tire Rotation.............................. 182
Replacing Tires and Wheels ....
183

Wheels an d
Tires....................... 184
Winter Driving........................... 184 Snow Tires.............................. 184
Tire Chains............................. 185
Lights.............................................. 186 Headlight Aiming...................... 188
Replacing Bulbs......................... 189

Storing Your Vehicle..................... 197

MaintenanceMain Menu s t

Fluid Locations

AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSIONFLUID DIPSTICK

(Yellow loop)

(Including CVT)
COOLANT
RESERVOIR
BRAKE FLUID
(Gray cap)
CLUTCH FLUID
(5-speed Manual

Transmission only)
(Gray cap)
ENGINE OIL
FILL CAP
POWER STEERING
FLUID (Red cap)
WASHER FLUID (Blue cap)
ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK

(Orange loop)

MaintenanceMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Transmission Fluid, Brake and Clutch Fluid

5-speed Manual Transmission
Check the fluid level with the
transmission at normal operating
temperature and the vehicle sitting
on level ground. Remove the
transmission filler bolt and carefully
feel inside the bolt hole with your
finger. The fluid level should be up to the edge of the bolt hole. If it is
not, add Genuine Honda Manual
Transmission Fluid (MTF) until it starts to run out of the hole. Reinstall
the filler bolt and tighten it securely. If Honda MTF is not available, you
may use an API service SG, SH or SJ
grade motor oil with a viscosity of SAE 10W-30 or 10W-40 as a
temporary replacement. An SG
grade is preferred, but an SH or SJ grade may be used if SG is not
available. However, motor oil does
not contain the proper additives and
continued use can cause stiffershifting. Replace as soon as
convenient.
The transmission should be drained and refilled with new fluid according
to the time and distance recommen- dations in the maintenance schedule. Brake and Clutch Fluid
Check the fluid level in the reser-
voirs monthly. There are one or two reservoirs, depending on model.
They are:
Brake fluid reservoir (all models)Clutch fluid reservoir (manual transmission only)
The brake fluid in the brake system should be replaced according to the
time and distance recommendations in the maintenance schedule.

Maintenance

FILLER BOLT
Correct levelMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Brake and Clutch Fluid

Always use Genuine Honda DOT 3 brake fluid. If it is not available, you should use only DOT 3 or DOT 4
fluid, from a sealed container, as a
temporary replacement. However,
the use of any non-Honda brake fluid
can cause corrosion and decrease
the life of the system. Have the
brake system flushed and refilled
with Honda DOT 3 brake fluid as soon as possible.
Brake fluid marked DOT 5 is not
compatible with your vehicle's
braking system and can cause extensive damage. Brake System
The fluid level should be between the MIN and MAX marks on the sideof the reservoir. If the level is at or
below the MIN mark, your brake system needs attention. Have the
brake system inspected for leaks or
worn brake pads.
Clutch System

The fluid should be between the MIN and MAX marks on the side of
the reservoir. If it is not, add brake
fluid to bring it up to that level. Use the same fluid specified for the
brake system.
Low fluid level can indicate a leak in
the clutch system. Have this system
inspected as soon as possible.

Maintenance

MAX
MIN MAX
MINMain Menu Table of Contents s t

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

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