coolant HONDA CIVIC COUPE 1998 Owners Manual

Gauges

U.S.: EX Instrument panel
Fuel Gauge
This shows how much fuel you have. It is most accurate when the vehicle
is on level ground. It may show slightly more or less than the actual
amount when you are driving on
curvy or hilly roads. The gauge stays at the same fuel
level reading after you turn off the
ignition. When you add fuel, the
gauge slowly changes to the new
reading after you turn the ignitionswitch back ON (II). Temperature Gauge
This shows the temperature of the engine's coolant. During normaloperation, the pointer should rise
from the bottom white mark to about the middle of the gauge. In severedriving conditions, such as very hot
weather or a long period of uphill driving, the pointer may rise to the
upper blue zone. If it reaches the red (Hot) mark, pull safely to the side of
the road. Turn to page 215 for instructions and precautions on
checking the engine's cooling
system.

Instruments and Controls

TEMPERATURE
GAUGE TRIP METER

SPEEDOMETER
FUEL GAUGE
ODOMETER
MAINTENANCE
REQUIRED INDICATOR
TRIP METER
RESET BUTTONMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Heating and Cooling

Vent Controls
You can adjust the direction of the air coming from the dashboard vents
by moving the tab in the center of
each vent up-and-down and side-to-

side.
The vents in the corners of the
dashboard can be opened and closed
with the dials next to them. How to Use the System
This section covers how to set up the system controls for ventilation,
heating, cooling, dehumidifying, and defrosting.
The engine must be running for the heater and air conditioning to
generate hot and cold air. The heater uses engine coolant to warm the air.
If the engine is cold, it will be several
minutes before you feel warm air
coming from the system.
The air conditioning does not rely on engine temperature.
Comfort and Convenience Features
CENTER VENT
SIDE VENT
Open

CloseMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Heating and Cooling

To Cool with A/C

1. Turn on the A/C by pressing the button. The light in the buttonshould come on.
2. Make sure the temperature control lever is all the way to the

left.
3. Select
4. If the outside air is humid, select Recirculation mode. If the outside
air is dry, select Fresh Air mode.
5. Set the fan to the desired speed.
If the interior is very warm from
being parked in the sun, you can cool it down more rapidly by setting up
the controls this way:
1. Start the engine.
2. Turn on the A/C by pressing the button. Make sure the tempera-
ture control lever is all the way to
the left.
3. Set the fan to maximum speed.
4. Open the windows partially. Select and Fresh Air mode. When the interior has cooled down
to a more comfortable temperature,close the windows and set the
controls as described for normal

cooling.
Air conditioning places an extra load
on the engine. Watch the engine
coolant temperature gauge (see page 56) when driving in stop-and-go
traffic or climbing a long, steep hill. If it moves near the red zone, turn
off the A/C until the gauge reads
normally.
Comfort and Convenience Features MODE BUTTONS


RECIRCULATION

BUTTON AIR CONDITIONING
BUTTON

TEMPERATURE CONTROL LEVER
FAN CONTROL

LEVERMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Heating and Cooling

These settings direct all the air flow to the defroster vents at the base of
the windshield and the side windowdefroster vents. The air flow will get
warmer and clear the windows faster as the engine warms up. You can
close the side vents with the dial
beside each vent. This will send
more warm air to the windshield defroster vents.
For safety, make sure you have a
clear view through all the windows
before driving away. To Turn Everything Off
To shut off the system temporarily, slide the fan speed and temperature
control levers all the way to the left.
You should shut the system completely off only for the first few
minutes of driving in cold weather,
until the engine coolant warms upenough to operate the heater. Keep
the fan on at all other times so stale air does not build up in the interior.

Comfort and Convenience FeaturesMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Before Driving

Before you begin driving your Honda,
you should know what gasoline to use, and how to check the levels of
important fluids. You also need to
know how to properly store luggage or packages. The information in this
section will help you. If you plan to
add any accessories to your vehicle,
please read the information in this section first.
Break-in Period.............................. 108

Gasoline.......................................... 108

Service Station Procedures .......... 109 Filling the Fuel Tank................. 109Opening the Hood..................... 110

Oil Check................................ 111

Engine Coolant Check.......... 112
Fuel Economy................................ 113 Vehicle Condition...................... 113Driving Habits............................ 113
Accessories and Modifications.... 114 Carrying Cargo.............................. 116

Before DrivingMain Menu s t

Service Station Procedures

4. Remove the dipstick again and check the level. It should be
between the upper and lower marks.
If it is near or below the lower mark, see Adding Oil on page 155. Engine Coolant Check
Look at the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Make sure it is
between the MAX and MIN lines. If it is below the MIN line, see Adding
Engine Coolant on page 159 for
information on adding the proper

coolant.
Refer to Owner Maintenance
Checks on page 153 for information
on checking other items in your

Honda.

Before Driving
UPPER MARK
LOWER MARK

RESERVE

TANK

MAX
MINMain 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

Owner Maintenance Checks
You should check the following
items at the specified intervals.


If
you are
unsure of how to perform
any check, turn to the
page given.
Engine oil level

— Check every
time you
fill the fuel tank. See

page 111.

Engine coolant level

— Check the
radiator reserve
tank every time
you fill the fuel tank. See page 112.
Windshield washer fluid

— Check
the level
in the reservoir monthly.
If weather conditions cause you to
use the washers frequently, check
the reservoir each time you stop
for fuel. See page 164.
Automatic transmission

— Check
the flui d
level monthly. See page

164.

Brakes — Check the fluid level
monthly. Se e
page 167.
Tires
— Check the tire pressure
monthly. Examin e
the tread for
wear and foreign objects. See page 180.
Lights — Check the operation of
the headlights ,
parking lights,
taillights, high-mount brake light,
turn signals, brake lights, and
license plate lights monthly. See
page 187.

MaintenanceMain Menu Table of Contents 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

Cooling System

Adding Engine Coolant

If the coolant level in the reserve
tank is at or below the MIN line, add coolant to bring it up to the MAX line.
Inspect the cooling system for leaks.
This coolant should always be a mixture of 50 percent antifreeze and50 percent water. Never add straight
antifreeze or plain water. Always use Genuine Honda
antifreeze/coolant. If it is notavailable, you may use another
major-brand non-silicate coolant as a
temporary replacement. Make sure it is a high-quality coolant
recommended for aluminum engines.
However, continued use of any non-Honda coolant can result in
corrosion, causing the coolingsystem to malfunction or fail. Have
the cooling system flushed and
refilled with Honda antifreeze/ coolant as soon as possible.
If the reserve tank is completelyempty, you should also check the
coolant level in the radiator.

CONTINUED

RESERVE TANK

Maintenance

Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.Main Menu Table of Contents s t