oil HONDA CIVIC COUPE 1998 Owners Manual
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: HONDA, Model Year: 1998, Model line: CIVIC COUPE, Model: HONDA CIVIC COUPE 1998Pages: 251, PDF Size: 2.04 MB
Page 49 of 251

Carbon Monoxide Hazard
Your vehicle's exhaust contains carbon monoxide gas. You should
have no problem with carbon
monoxide entering the vehicle in
normal driving if you maintain your
vehicle properly.
Have the exhaust system inspected
for leaks whenever:
The vehicle is raised for an oilchange.
You notice a change in the sound of the exhaust. The vehicle was in an accident
that may have damaged the under-
side.
High levels of carbon monoxide can
collect rapidly in enclosed areas,
such as a garage. Do not run the
engine with the garage door closed.
Even with the door open, run the
engine only long enough to move the
vehicle out of the garage. With the trunk lid open, air flow can
pull exhaust gas into your vehicle'sinterior and create a hazardous
condition. If you must drive with the
trunk lid open, open all the windows and set the heating and coolingsystem as shown below.
If you must sit in your parked vehicle,
even in an unconfined area, with the
engine running, adjust the heating and cooling system as follows:
1. Select the Fresh Air mode. 2. Select the mode.
3. Turn the fan on high speed.
4. Set the temperature control to a comfortable setting.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.
Breathing it can cause
unconsciousness and even kill
you.
Avoid any enclosed areas oractivities that expose you to
carbon monoxide.Main Menu Table of Contents s t
Page 53 of 251

Indicator Lights
The instrument panel has many indicators to give you important
information about your vehicle.
Lamp Check
These indicator lights come on when
you turn the ignition switch ON (II), allowing you to see that they are
working:
SRS Indicator
Malfunction Indicator LampCharging System Indicator
Low Oil Pressure Indicator
Anti-lock Brake System Indicator
Seat Belt Reminder Light
D4 Lamp
If an indicator does not light during
this test, it cannot alert you if that system develops a problem. Have the
dealer check your vehicle for
burned-out bulbs or other problems.
* The U.S. instrument panel is
shown. Differences for the Canadian
model are noted in the text.
Instruments and Controls
U.S.: EX Instrument panel
CHARGING SYSTEM
INDICATOR
MALFUNCTION
INDICATOR LAMP
LOW OIL
PRESSURE
INDICATOR
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM INDICATOR CRUISE CONTROL
INDICATOR HIGH BEAM
INDICATOR
ANTI-LOCK BRAKESYSTEM INDICATOR* SEAT BELT
REMINDER LIGHT
LOW FUEL INDICATOR
PARKING BRAKE AND
BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR*
TRUNK-OPENINDICATORMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Page 54 of 251

Indicator Lights
* Differences in the indicators for Canadian models are noted in the text.
Seat Belt Reminder Light
This indicator lights when you turn the ignition switch ON (II). It is areminder to you and your passengers
to protect yourselves by fastening
the seat belts. A beeper also sounds if you have not fastened your seat
belt.
If you do not fasten your seat belt,
the beeper will stop after a few seconds but the light stays on until
you do. Both the light and the beeper stay off if you fasten your seat belt
before turning on the ignition.
Supplemental Restraint
System Indicator
This indicator lights when you turn the ignition switch ON (II). If it
comes on at any other time, it
indicates a problem in the
supplemental restraint system. For
complete information, see page 45.
Instruments and Controls
SRS
U.S.: EX Instrument panel
PARKING BRAKE AND BRAKE
SYSTEM INDICATOR*
HIGH BEAM INDICATOR
CHARGING SYSTEM
INDICATOR
TRUNK-OPEN
INDICATOR
LOW FUEL INDICATOR
LOW OIL
PRESSURE
INDICATOR
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM INDICATOR
MALFUNCTION
INDICATOR LAMP
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE
SYSTEM INDICATOR
(Canadian indicator shown)
SEAT BELT
REMINDER LIGHTMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Page 55 of 251

Indicator Lights
Parking Brake and Brake
System
Indicator
This light has two functions:
1. It lights as a reminder that you have not released the parking
brake. Driving with the parking
brake applied can damage the brakes and tires.
2. If it remains lit after you release the parking brake, or comes on
while driving, it can indicate a problem in the brake system. Forcomplete information, see page
220.
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
See page 219.
Anti-lock Brake
System (ABS)
Indicator
Only on cars equipped with ABS (see
page 137)
This light normally comes on for a few seconds when you turn theignition switch ON (II), and when
the ignition switch is turned toSTART (III). If this light comes on at
any other time, there is a problem in
the ABS. If this happens, take the
vehicle to your dealer to have it checked. With the light on, your
vehicle still has normal braking ability but no anti-lock.
Instruments and Controls
Charging System Indicator
If this light comes on when the engine is running, the battery is not
being charged. For complete
information
,
see page 218.
Low Oil
Pressure
Indicator
The engine can be severely damaged if this light flashes or stays on when
the engine is running. For complete information, see page 217. High Beam Indicator
This light comes on with the high beam headlights. See page 59 forinformation on the headlight
controls.
On Canadian models, this indicator
comes on with reduced brightness
when the Daytime Running Lights (DRL) are on (see page 59).
ABS
U.S.
Canada
U.S.
CanadaMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Page 109 of 251

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
Page 113 of 251

Service Station Procedures
Oil Check
Check the engine oil level every time
you fill the vehicle with fuel. Wait a few minutes after turning the engine off before you check the oil.
1. Remove the dipstick (orange
handle).
2. Wipe the dipstick with a clean
cloth or paper towel. 3. Insert it all the way back in its tube.
CONTINUED
Before Driving
DIPSTICKMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Page 114 of 251

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
Page 140 of 251

Driving in Bad Weather
Rain, fog, and snow conditions re-
quire a different driving technique
because of reduced traction and
visibility. Keep your vehicle well- maintained and exercise greater
caution when you need to drive in
bad weather. The cruise control should not be used in these condi-
tions. Driving Technique — Always drive
slower than you would in dry
weather. It takes your vehicle longer
to react, even in conditions that may seem just barely damp. Apply
smooth, even pressure to all the
controls. Abrupt steering wheel
movements or sudden, hard appli-
cation of the brakes can cause loss of
control in wet weather. Be extra
cautious for the first few miles (kilometers) of driving while you
adjust to the change in driving
conditions. This is especially true in snow. A person can forget some
snow-driving techniques during the
summer months. Practice is needed
to relearn those skills.
Exercise extra caution when driving
in rain after a long dry spell. After
months of dry weather, the first
rains bring oil to the surface of the
roadway, making it slippery. Visibility — Being able to see
clearly in all directions and being
visible to other drivers are important in all weather conditions. This ismore difficult in bad weather. To beseen more clearly during daylight
hours, turn on your headlights.
Inspect your windshield wipers and
washers frequently. Keep the wind- shield washer reservoir full of the
proper fluid. Have the windshield
wiper blades replaced if they start to streak the windshield or leave parts
unwiped. Use the defrosters and air
conditioning to keep the windows
from fogging up on the inside (see
page 91).
DrivingMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Page 142 of 251

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
Page 143 of 251

Maintenance Safety
Regularly maintaining your vehicle is
the best way to protect your
investment. Proper maintenance is essential to your safety and the
safety of your passengers. It will also
reward you with more economical,
trouble-free driving and help reduce
air pollution. This section includes instructions for
simple maintenance tasks, such as
checking and adding oil. Any service
items not detailed in this section should be performed by a Honda
technician or other qualified mechanic. Some of the most important safety
precautions are given here. However,
we cannot warn you of every conceivable hazard that can arise in
performing maintenance. Only youcan decide whether or not you
should perform a given task.
Maintenance
Improperly maintaining this
vehicle or failing to correct a problem before driving can
cause a crash in which you can be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the inspection and maintenancerecommendations and
schedules in this owner's manual. Failure to properly follow
maintenance instructions and
precautions can cause you to
be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the procedures and precautions in this owner'smanual.Main Menu Table of Contents s t