HONDA CIVIC COUPE 1999 Owners Manual

Storing Your Car

If you need to park your car for an

extended period (more than one

month), there are several things you
should do to prepare it for storage.

Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to

get your car back on the road. If possible, store your car indoors.

Fill the fuel tank.
Change the engine oil and filter
(see page 173).

Wash and dry the exterior
completely.

Clean the interior. Make sure the

carpeting, floor mats, etc. are

completely dry.
Leave the parking brake off. Put

the transmission in Reverse (5-
speed manual) or Park
(automatic). Block the rear wheels.
If the car is to be stored for a
longer period, it should be supported on jackstands so the
tires are off the ground.
Leave one window open slightly (if
the car is being stored indoors).
Disconnect the battery.
Support the front wiper blade
arms with a folded towel or rag so
they do not touch the windshield.
To minimize sticking, apply a silicone spray lubricant to all door
and trunk seals. Also, apply a
vehicle body wax to the painted surfaces that mate with the door
and trunk seals. Cover the car with a "breathable"
cover, one made from a porous
material such as cotton.
Nonporous materials, such as
plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint.
If possible, run the engine for a
while periodically (preferably once a month).
If you store your car for 12 months
or longer, have your Acura dealer
perform the inspections called for in the 24 months/30,000 miles (48,000
km) maintenance schedule as soos as you take it out of storage (see
page 162). The replacements called
for in the maintenance schedule are not needed unless the car has
actually reached that time or mileage.

MaintenanceMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Appearance Care

Regular cleaning and polishing of
your Honda helps to keep it "new" looking. This section gives you hintson how to clean your car and
preserve its appearance: the paint,
brightwork, wheels and interior. Also included are several things you can
do to help prevent corrosion.
Exterior Care.................................. 214 Washing...................................... 214
Waxing........................................ 214
Aluminum Wheels..................... 215Paint Touch-up........................... 215
Interior Care................................... 216 Carpeting.................................... 216
Fabric.......................................... 216

Vinyl............................................ 216
Seat Belts.................................... 216
Windows..................................... 217
Air Fresheners........................... 217
Corrosion Protection..................... 217
Body Repairs..................................218
Appearance CareMain Menu s t

Exterior Care

Washing Frequent washing helps preserve
your car's beauty. Dirt and grit can scratch the paint, while tree sap and
bird droppings can permanently ruin
the finish.
Wash your car in a shady area, not in direct sunlight. If the car is parked in
the sun, move it into the shade and
let the exterior cool down before you start.
Only use the solvents and cleaners
recommended in this Owner's Manual.

Chemical solvents and strong cleaners
can damage the paint, metal, and
plastic on your car.

Rinse the car thoroughly with cool
water to remove loose dirt. Fill a bucket with cool water. Mix
in a mild detergent, such as
dishwashing liquid or a product
made especially for car washing.
Wash the car using the water and detergent solution and a soft-
bristle brush, sponge, or soft cloth. Start at the top and work your way
down. Rinse frequently.
Check the body for road tar, tree
sap, etc. Remove these stains with
tar remover or turpentine. Rinse it off immediately so it does not
harm the finish. Remember to re-
wax these areas, even if the rest of
the car does not need waxing.
When you have washed and rinsed the whole exterior, dry it with achamois or soft towel. Letting it
air-dry will cause dulling and water
spots.
As you dry the car, inspect it for
chips and scratches that could allow
corrosion to start. Repair them with
touch-up paint (see page 201).
Waxing Always wash and dry the whole car before waxing it. You should wax
your car, including the metal trim,
whenever water sits on the surface in large patches. It should form into
beads or droplets after waxing.
You should use a quality liquid or paste wax. Apply it according to the
instructions on the container. In
general, there are two types of
products:
Waxes — A wax coats the finish and protects it from damage by exposure
to sunlight, air pollution, etc. Youshould use a wax on your Honda
when it is new.

Appearance Care

NOTICEMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Exterior CarePolishes — Polishes and cleaner/
waxes can
restore the shine to paint
that has oxidized and lost some of its shine. They normally contain mild
abrasives and solvents that remove
the top layer of the finish. You should use a polish on your Honda if
the finish does not have its original shine after using a wax.
Cleaning tar, insects, etc. with
removers also takes off the wax. Remember to re-wax those areas,
even if the rest of the car does not

need waxing.
Aluminum Wheels

(U.S.: HX, Si models, Canada: SiR model)
Clean your Honda's aluminum alloy
wheels as you do the rest of the exterior. Wash them with the same
solution, and rinse them thoroughly.
The wheels have a protective clear- coat that keeps the aluminum fromcorroding and tarnishing. Using
harsh chemicals, including some commercial wheel cleaners, or stiff
brushes can damage this clear-coat. Only use a mild detergent and soft
brush or sponge to clean the wheels.
Paint Touch-up

Your dealer has touch-up paint to match your car's color. The color
code is printed on a sticker on the
driver's doorjamb. Take this code to
your dealer so you are sure to get
the correct color.
Inspect your car frequently for chips
or scratches in the paint. Repair
them right away to prevent corrosionof the metal underneath. Use the
touch-up paint only on small chips and scratches. More extensive paint
damage should be repaired by a
professional.

Appearance CareMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Interior Care

Carpeting

Vacuum the carpeting frequently to remove dirt. Ground-in dirt will make
the carpet wear out faster.Periodically shampoo the carpet to
keep it looking new. Use one of the foam-type carpet cleaners on themarket. Follow the instructions that
come with the cleaner, applying it
with a sponge or soft brush. Keep the carpeting as dry as possible by
not adding water to the foam.
Fabric
Vacuum dirt and dust out of the material frequently. For general
cleaning, use a solution of mild soap
and lukewarm water, letting it air dry.
To clean off stubborn spots, use a commercially-available fabric cleaner.
Test it on a hidden area of the fabric first, to make sure it does not bleachor stain the fabric. Follow the
instructions that come with the
cleaner.
Vinyl

Remove dirt and dust with a vacuum
cleaner. Wipe the vinyl with a soft
cloth dampened in a solution of mildsoap and water. Use the samesolution with a soft-bristle brush on
more difficult spots. You can also use
commercially-available spray or
foam-type vinyl cleaners.
Seat BeltsIf your seat belts get dirty, you can
use a soft brush with a mixture of
mild soap and warm water to clean
them. Do not use bleach, dye, or cleaning solvents. They can weaken
the belt material. Let the belts air-
dry before you use the car. Dirt build-up in the loops of the seat
belt anchors can cause the belts to
retract slowly. Wipe the insides of
the loops with a clean cloth dampened in mild soap and warm
water or isopropyl alcohol.
Appearance Care
LOOPMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Interior Care, Corrosion Protection

Windows
Clean the windows, inside and out,

with a commercially-available glass
cleaner. You can also use a mixture
of one part white vinegar to ten parts
water. This will remove the haze that builds up on the inside of the
windows. Use a soft cloth or paper towels to clean all glass and clear

plastic surfaces.

The rear window defogger wires are
bonded to the inside of the glass. Wiping vigorously up-and-down can
dislodge and break the defogger wires. When cleaning the rear window, use
gentle pressure and wipe side-to-side. Air Fresheners
If you want to use an air freshener/deodorizer in the interior of your car,
it is best to use a solid type. Some
liquid air fresheners contain chemi- cals that may cause parts of the
interior trim and fabric to crack ordiscolor.
If you use a liquid air freshener,
make sure you fasten it securely so it does not spill as you drive.
Corrosion Protection

Two factors normally contribute to causing corrosion in your car:
1. Moisture trapped in body cavities. Dirt and road salt that collects in
hollows on the underside of thecar stays damp, promoting
corrosion in that area.
2. Removal of paint and protective coatings from the exterior and
underside of the car.
Many corrosion-preventive measures are built into your Honda. You can
help keep your car from corroding by performing some simple periodic
maintenance:

Repair chips and scratches in the
paint as soon as you discover them.

CONTINUED

Appearance Care

NOTICEMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Corrosion Protection, Body Repairs

Inspect and clean out the drain
holes in the bottom of the doors and body.
Check the floor coverings for
dampness. Carpeting and floor
mats may remain damp for a long
time, especially in winter. This dampness can eventually cause
the floor panels to corrode.
Use a high-pressure spray to clean
the underside of your car. This is especially important in areas that
use road salt in winter. It is also a
good idea in humid climates and
areas subject to salt air. Cars
equipped with ABS have a sensor and wiring at each wheel. Be
careful not to damage them.
Have the corrosion-preventive
coatings on the underside of your
car inspected and repaired
periodically. Body Repairs

Body repairs can affect your car's
resistance to corrosion. If your car
needs repairs after a collision, pay
close attention to the parts used in
the repair and the quality of the
work.
Make sure the repair facility usesGenuine Honda replacement body
parts. Some companies make sheet metal pieces that seem to duplicate
the original Honda body parts, but
are actually inferior in fit, finish, and
corrosion resistance. Once installed,
they do not give the same high-quality appearance.
When reporting your collision to the
insurance company, tell them you
want Genuine Honda parts used in the repair. Although most insurers
recognize the quality of originalparts, some may try to specify that
the repairs be done with other available parts. You should investi-
gate this before any repairs are

begun.

Take your car to your authorized Honda dealer for inspection after the
repairs are completed. Your dealer
can make sure that quality materials
were used, and that corrosion- preventive coatings were applied to
all repaired and replaced parts.

Appearance CareMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Taking Care of the Unexpected
This section covers the more- common problems that motorists
experience 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 instructions
on getting your car towed. Compact Spare Tire....................... 220
Changing a Flat Tire..................... 221
If Your Engine Won't Start........... 226
Nothing Happens or theStarter Motor OperatesVery Slowly............................. 226
The Starter Operates Normally................................. 227
Jump Starting................................. 227 If Your Engine Overheats............. 229
Low Oil Pressure Indicator.......... 231Charging System Indicator........... 232
Malfunction Indicator Lamp ........ 233
Brake System Indicator................ 234 Closing the Moonroof................... 235
Fuses............................................... 236 Checking and Replacing........... 237
Emergency Towing....................... 241

Taking Care of the UnexpectedMain Menu s t

Compact Spare Tire

Your car has a compact spare tire that takes up less space. Use thisspare tire as a temporary replace-
ment only. Get your regular tire
repaired or replaced and put back on
your car as soon as you can.
Check the inflation pressure of the
compact spare tire every time you
check the other tires. It should be
inflated to: 60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm2)
Follow these precautions whenever

you are using the compact spare tire:

Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)

under any circumstances.

This tire gives a harsher ride and
less traction on some road sur-

faces than the regular tire. Use

greater caution while driving on

this tire.

Do not mount snow chains on the

compact spare.

The wheel of the folding spare tire is designed especially to fit your
car. Do not use your spare tire on

another car unless it is the same

make and model.
The compact spare tire has a shorter
tread life than a regular tire. Replace
it when you can see the tread wear
indicator bars. The replacementshould be the same size and design
tire, mounted on the same wheel.
The compact spare tire is not designed to be mounted on a regular
wheel, and the compact wheel is not designed for mounting a regular tire.
Taking Care of the Unexpected INDICATOR LOCATION MARK
TREAD WEAR INDICATOR BARMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Changing a Flat Tire
If you have a flat tire while driving, stop in a safe place to change it.
Stopping in traffic or on the shoulder
of a busy road is dangerous. Drive slowly along the shoulder until you
get to an exit or an area to stop that is far away from the traffic lanes.
1. Park the car on firm, level, non-slippery ground away from traffic.
Put the transmission in Park.
Apply the parking brake.
2. Turn on the hazard warning lights and turn the ignition switch to
LOCK (0). Have all the
passengers get out of the car while
you change the tire. 3. Open the trunk. Raise the trunk
floor by lifting up on the back edge.
4. Take the tool kit out of the trunk. 5. Unscrew the wing bolt and take the spare tire out of the trunk.

CONTINUED

Taking Care of the Unexpected

SPARE TIRE
TRUNK FLOOR
JACK
TOOL KIT

The car can easily roll off the

jack, seriously injuring anyone
underneath.

Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and never get under the car when it
is supported only by the jack.Main Menu Table of Contents s t