jump start HONDA CIVIC COUPE 1998 Owners Manual

Taking Care of the Unexpected

This section covers the more- common problems that motoristsexperience with their vehicles. It
gives you information about how to safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again. If not, you will also find instructionson getting your vehicle towed. Compact Spare Tire....................... 206
Changing a Flat Tire..................... 207
If Your Engine Won't Start........... 212
Nothing Happens or theStarter Motor OperatesVery Slowly............................. 212
The Starter Operates
Normally.................................213

Jump Starting................................. 213
If Your Engine Overheats............. 215
Low Oil Pressure Indicator.......... 217
Charging System Indicator........... 218
Malfunction Indicator Lamp ........ 219
Brake System Indicator................ 220
Closing the Moonroof................... 221
Fuses............................................... 222
Checking and Replacing........... 223
Emergency Towing....................... 227

Taking Care of the UnexpectedMain Menu 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

If Your Engine Won't Start, Jump Starting

The Starter Operates Normally In this case, the starter motor'sspeed sounds normal, or even faster
than normal, when you turn the ignition switch to START (III), but
the engine does not run.
Are you using the proper startingprocedure? Refer to Starting the
Engine on page 121.
Do you have fuel? Turn the
ignition switch to ON (II) for a
minute and watch the fuel gauge.
The low fuel level warning light may not be working, so you were
not reminded to fill the tank.
There may be an electrical problem, such as no power to the
fuel pump. Check all the fuses (see page 223).
If you find nothing wrong, you will
need a qualified technician to find
the problem. See Emergency Towing on page 227. Jump Starting
If your vehicle's battery has rundown, you may be able to start the
engine by using a booster battery.
Although this seems like a simple procedure, you should take several

precautions.

You cannot start a Honda with anautomatic transmission by pushing
or pulling it. To jump start your vehicle, follow
these directions closely:
1. Open the hood and check the physical condition of the battery(see page 150). In very cold
weather, check the condition of the electrolyte. If it seems slushyor like ice, do not try jump starting
until it thaws.

If a battery sits in extreme cold, the
electrolyte inside can freeze.

Attempting to jump start with a frozen
battery can cause it to rupture.

2. Turn off all the electrical acces- sories: heater, A/C, stereo system,
lights, etc.

Put the transmission in Neutral or

Park and set the parking brake.
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Taking Care of the Unexpected

A battery can explode if you do
not follow the correct procedure,
seriously injuring anyone nearby.
Keep all sparks, open flames,
and smoking materials away
from the battery.
NOTICEMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Jump Starting

3. Connect one jumper cable to the positive (+) terminal on the
booster battery. Connect the other end to the positive (+) terminal
on your Honda's battery. 4. Connect the second jumper cable
to the negative (—) terminal on
the booster battery. Connect theother end to the grounding strap
as shown. Do not connect this
jumper cable to any other part of the engine.
5. If the booster battery is in another vehicle, have an assistant startthat vehicle and run it at a fast idle. 6. Start your vehicle. If the starter
motor still operates slowly, check
the jumper cable connections to make sure they have good metal-
to-metal contact.
7. Once your vehicle is running, disconnect the negative cable from
your vehicle, then from the booster battery. Disconnect the
positive cable from your vehicle,
then the booster battery.

Taking Care of the Unexpected
BOOSTER BATTERYMain 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
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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
Head Restraints............................... 75
Heating and Cooling........................ 86 High Altitude, Starting at.............. 121
High-Low Beam Switch .................. 59
High-mount Brake Light............... 194
Hood, Opening the ........................ 110
Horn................................................... 58
Hot Coolant, Warning about........ 159
Hydraulic Clutch............................ 167
Hydroplaning.................................. 139
Identification Number, Vehicle.... 230
If Your Car Has to be Towed....... 227
Ignition
Keys............................................... 67

Switch............................................ 67

Timing Contro l
System............. 241
Important Safety Precautions .......... 4
Indicator Lights, Instrument
Panel..............................................51

Infant Restraint................................ 27
Inflation, Proper Tire .................... 179 High Speed Driving................... 236
Normal Driving.......................... 179
Inside Mirror.................................... 79

Inspection, Tire.............................. 181

Instrument Panel............................. 50

Instrument Panel Brightness......... 60

Interior Cleaning............................ 202

Interior Light.................................... 84

Introduction......................................... i

Jacking up the Car......................... 208

Jack, Tire........................................ 207

Jump Starting................................. 213

Keys................................................... 67
Label, Certification........................ 230
Lane Change, Signaling.................. 60
Lap Belt............................................. 41
Lap/Shoulder Belts......................... 40
Leaking of Exhaust into Car.......... 47 Lights
Bulb Replacement..................... 189
Indicator........................................ 51 Parking.......................................... 59
Turn Signal................................... 60
LOCK (Ignition Key Position)....... 68

Locks
Anti-theft Steering Column........ 68Fuel Fill Door............................. 109
Power Door.................................. 69

Trunk............................................ 73

Low Coolant Level......................... 112
Low Fuel Indicator .......................... 54

Lower Gear, Downshifting to a.... 122

Low Oil Pressure Indicator.... 53,
217

Lubricant Specification s
Chart.... 233

Luggage.......................................... 116

Maintenance................................... 141
Owner Maintenance Checks.... 153

Record.................................. 151-152

Required Indicator....................... 57

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