maintenance HONDA CIVIC COUPE 1998 Owners Manual

1998 Civic Coupe Online Reference Owner's Manual
Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through\
this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.h\
elminc.com.

Contents

Introduction ........................................................................\
........................ .........................................
i


A Few Words About Safety........................................................................\
.........................................ii
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
......................................3
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restr\
aint System.
Instruments and Controls........................................................................\
.........................................49
Instrume nt panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
...................... 85
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
......................................................... 107
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
..................................................................... 119
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
.............................................................141
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take you r vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Care........................................................................\
......................................................199
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your\
vehicle ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpected........................................................................\
..............................205
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, an d how to handle them.
Technical Information........................................................................\
.............................................229
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................243
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)........................................................................\
..............................249
How to order manuals and other technical literature.

Index........................................................................\
............................................................................. I
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump. Service Information Summary Owner's Identification

Introduction
Congratulations ! Your selection of a 1998 Honda Civic was a wise
investment. It will give you years of driving pleasure.
One of the best ways to enhance the enjoyment of your new Honda is to
read this manual. In it, you will learn how to operate its driving controls and convenience items. Afterwards, keep this owner's manual in your vehicle so
you can refer to it at any time.
Several warranties protect your new Honda. Read the warranty booklet
thoroughly so you understand the coverages and are aware of your rights and responsibilities.
Maintaining your vehicle according to the schedules given in this manual
helps to keep your driving trouble-free while it preserves your investment.
When your vehicle needs maintenance, keep in mind that your Honda dealer's staff is specially trained in servicing the many systems unique to
your Honda. Your Honda dealer is dedicated to your satisfaction and will be pleased to answer any questions and concerns. As you read this manual, you will
find information that is preceded by symbol. This
information is intended to help you
avoid damage to your Honda, other
properly, or the environment.
NOTICE

aMain Menu s t

Driver and Passenger Safety

This section gives you important
information about how to protect

yourself and your passengers. It
shows you how to use seat belts

properly. It explains your Supple-
mental Restraint System. And it tells

you how to properly restrain infants
and children in your vehicle.

Important Safety Precautions .......... 4

Your Vehicle's Safety Features........ 5
Seat Belts........................................ 6
Airbags............................................ 7

Seats & Seat-Backs........................ 8

Head Restraints............................. 8

Door Locks..................................... 9

Pre-Drive Safety Checklist........... 9

Protecting Adults............................. 10

1. Close and Lock the Doors...... 10
2. Adjust the Front Seats............ 10
3. Adjust the Seat-Backs............. 11
4. Adjust the Head Restraints.... 12 5. Fasten and Position the Seat
Belts...................................... 13

6. Adjust the Steering Wheel..... 16
7. Maintain a Proper Sitting

Position................................. 16

Advice for Pregnant Women...... 17
Additional Safety Precautions.... 17
Pretecting Children......................... 19 All Children Must Be Restrained................................ 19
Children Should Sit in the Back

Seat............................................20

The Passenger's Airbag Poses Serious Risks to Children....... 20
If You Must Drive With Several Children.................................... 21 If A Child Requires Close
Attention................................... 22
Additional Safety Precaution...... 22
General Guidelines for Using Child Seats................................ 23
Protecting Infants........................ 27
Protecting Small Children.......... 31
Protecting Larger Children........ 35
Using Child Seats with
Tethers......................................38

Additional Information About Your
Seat Belts.................................. 40

Seat Belt System Components... 40
Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 40
Lap Belt......................................... 41
Seat Belt Maintenance................ 42
Additional Information About Your
SRS............................................ 43

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

How Your Airbags Work............ 43

How Your SRS Indicator Light
Works........................................45

SRS Service................................... 45

Additional Safety Precautions.... 46

Carbon Monoxide Hazard.............. 47

Safety Labels.................................... 48

Driver and Passenger SafetyMain Menu s t

Important Safety Precautions
You'll find many safety recommendations throughout thissection, and throughout this manual.
Following are a few
recommendations we consider most important.

Always Wear Your Seat Belt

A seat belt is your best protection in all types of collisions. Airbags
supplement seat belts, but airbags
are designed to inflate only in a
severe frontal collision. So even with
airbags, make sure you and your
passengers always wear your seat
belts, and wear them properly. (See
page 13.)
Restrain All Children Children are safest when they are
properly restrained in the back seat,
not the front seat. A child who is too small for a seat belt must be properly
restrained in a child safety seat. (See
page 19.) Be Aware of Airbag Hazards
While airbags save lives, they can cause serious or fatal injuries to
occupants who sit too close to them,or are not properly restrained.
Infants, young children, and short
adults are at the greatest risk. Besure to follow all instructions and
warnings in this manual. (See page 5.)

Don't Drink and Drive

Alcohol and driving don't mix. Even one drink can reduce your ability to
respond to changing conditions. Reaction time gets worse with every
additional drink. So don't drink and
drive, and don't let your friends drink
and drive, either. Control Your Speed
Excessive speed is a major factor in
crash injuries and deaths, Generally,
the higher the speed the greater the
risk, but serious accidents can also occur at lower speeds. Never drive
faster than is safe for current conditions, regardless of the
maximum speed posted.
Keep Your Vehicle in Safe
Condition
Having a
tire blowout or a
mechanical failure can be extremely
hazardous. To reduce the possibility of such problems, check your tire
pressures and condition frequently, and perform all regularly scheduled
maintenance. (See page 146.)

Driver and Passenger SafetyMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts
Seat Belt Maintenance
For safety, you should check the
condition of your seat belts regularly.
Pull each belt out fully and look for
frays, cuts, burns, and wear. Check that the latches work smoothly and
that the lap/shoulder belts retract
easily. Any belt not in good condition or not working properly will not
provide good protection and should
be replaced as soon as possible.
U.S. Owners
Honda provides a lifetime warranty
on seat belts. Honda will repair or
replace any seat belt component that
fails to function properly during normal use.
Pleas
e
see your Honda Warranty

Information booklet fo
r details.If a seat belt is worn during a crash,
you should have your dealer inspect
the belt, and replace it if necessary.
A belt that has been worn during a crash may not provide the same level
of protection in a subsequent crash.
The dealer should also inspect the anchors for damage and replace
them if needed.
For information on how to clean your

sea
t
belts, see page 202.

Driver and
Passenger Safety
Not checking or maintaining
seat belts can result in serious injury or death if the seat belts
do not work properly when needed.
Check your seat belts regularly
and have any problem
corrected as soon as possible.Main Menu Table of Contents s t

Additional Information About Your SRS
How Your SRS Indicator Light
Works The purpose of the SRSindicator light is to alert
you to a potential problem with your Supplemental Restraint System.
When you turn the ignition ON (II), this indicator will light up briefly
then go out. This tells you that thesystem is working properly.
However, if the light comes on at any
other time, you should have yoursystem checked by your dealer. For

example:
If the SRS indicator light does not
come on after you turn the ignition
ON (II). If the light stays on after the

engine starts. If the light comes on or flashes on
and off while you drive.
If you see any of these indications,
your airbags may not deploy when you need them. See your Honda dealer as soon as possible. SRS Service
Your Supplemental Restraint System is virtually maintenance-free, and
there are no parts you can safelyservice. However, you must have
your vehicle serviced if:
Your airbags ever inflate. The

airbags and

the control unit must
be replaced. Do not try to remove or replace the airbags yourself.
This must be done by a Honda dealer or a knowledgeable body
shop.
The SRS indicator light alerts you

to a problem. Take your vehicle to
an authorized Honda dealer as soon as possible. If you ignore this
indication, the airbags might not
inflate when you need them.

Driver and Passenger Safety

SRS

Ignoring the SRS indicator light
can result in serious injury or death if the airbags do notinflate when needed.
Have your vehicle checked by a
dealer as soon as possible if
the SRS light alerts you to a potential problem.Main Menu Table of Contents s t

Instruments and Controls

This section gives information about the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of

your Honda. All the essential
controls are within easy reach.
Control Locations............................ 50

Indicator Lights................................ 51
Gauges.............................................. 55
Speedometer................................ 55

Tachometer.................................. 55 Odometer...................................... 55
Trip Meter.................................... 55 Fuel Gauge................................... 56
Temperature Gauge.................... 56
Maintenance Required
Indicator.................................... 57

Controls Near the Steering

Wheel........................................58

Headlights.................................... 59
Daytime Running Lights............. 59
Instrument Panel Brightness..... 60
Turn Signals................................. 60
Windshield Wipers...................... 61
Windshield Washers................... 61
Hazard Warning........................... 62

Rear Window Defogger.............. 62

Steering Wheel Adjustment....... 63

Steering Wheel Controls ................ 64
Cruise Control.............................. 64
Keys and Locks................................ 67
Keys...............................................67
Ignition Switch............................. 67

Door Locks................................... 68

Power Door Locks....................... 69

Remote Transmitter.................... 70

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

Seat Adjustments............................. 74
Front Seat Adjustments.............. 74
Rear Seat Access......................... 75

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

Folding Rear Seat............................ 76

Power Windows............................... 77

Moonroof.......................................... 79

Mirrors.............................................. 79
Adjusting the Power Mirrors..... 80

Parking Brake.................................. 80
Glove Box......................................... 81
Beverage Holder.............................. 82
Accessory Power Socket................ 83
Ashtrays............................................ 83

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

Instruments and ControlsMain Menu s t

Gauges

U.S.: EX Instrument panel

Speedometer
U.S. Models
This shows your speed in miles per hour (mph). The smaller innernumbers are the speed in kilometers
per hour (km/h). Canadian Models
This shows your speed in kilometers per hour (km/h). The smaller inner
numbers are the speed in miles per
hour (mph). Tachometer

On HX and EX models in the U.S., and
Si model in Canada

The tachometer shows the engine speed in revolutions per minute(rpm). To protect the engine from
damage, never drive with the
tachometer needle in the red zone. Odometer
The odometer shows the total dis- tance your vehicle has been driven.
It measures miles in U.S. models and
kilometers in Canadian models.It is illegal under federal law (in the
U.S.) and provincial regulations (in Canada) to disconnect, reset, or alter
the odometer with the intent to change the number of miles or
kilometers indicated.

Trip Meter

This meter shows the number of miles (U.S.) or kilometers (Canada)driven since you last reset it. To
reset it, push the trip meter reset
button.
Instruments and Controls
TACHOMETER
TRIP METER
SPEEDOMETER

FUEL GAUGE
ODOMETER MAINTENANCE
REQUIRED INDICATOR TRIP METER
RESET BUTTON TEMPERATURE
GAUGEMain Menu Table of Contents s t

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

Gauges

Maintenance Required Indicator

U.S. Models

This indicator reminds you that it is nearing 7,500 miles (12,000 km)since the last scheduled maintenance.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedules
for Normal and Severe Driving
Conditions on pages 146 — 150.
When the distance driven since the
last scheduled maintenance nears 7,500 miles (12,000 km), the
indicator will turn yellow. If you
exceed 7,500 miles (12,000 km), the
indicator will turn red.
Your dealer will reset the indicator when he performs the scheduledmaintenance. If someone else
performs the maintenance, reset theindicator by inserting your key in theslot beside the indicator.
Instruments and Controls
SLOT

INDICATORMain Menu Table of Contents s t