service HONDA CIVIC COUPE 1999 Owner's Manual

Charging System Indicator

This indicator should come on when
the ignition switch is ON (II), and go out after the engine starts. If it
comes on brightly when the engine is running, it indicates that thecharging system has stopped
charging the battery. Immediately turn off all electrical
accessories: radio, heater, A/C, rear
defogger, cruise control, etc. Try not
to use other electrically-operated controls such as the power windows.
Keep the engine running and takeextra care not to stall it. Starting the
engine will discharge the battery
rapidly. By eliminating as much of the
electrical load as possible, you can
drive several miles (kilometers)
before the battery is too discharged
to keep the engine running. Drive to a service station or garage where
you can get technical assistance.
Taking Care of the Unexpected
CHARGING SYSTEM INDICATORMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Brake System Indicator
The Brake System indicator light
should normally come on only when
the parking brake is not fully

released.

If it comes on at any other time, it
indicates a problem with the car's
brake system. In most cases, the problem is a low fluid level in the
brake fluid reservoir. Press lightly on
the brake pedal to see if it feels normal. If it does, check the brake
fluid level the next time you stop at a service station (see page 182). If the
fluid level is low, take the car to your
dealer and have the brake system
inspected for leaks or worn brake

pads.

However, if the brake pedal does not
feel normal, you should take immediate action. Because of the
brake system's dual-circuit design, a problem in one part of the system
will still give you braking at two wheels. You will feel the brake pedal
go down much farther before the car
begins to slow down, and you will have to press harder on the pedal.
The distance needed to stop will be much longer.
Slow down by shifting to a lower
gear, and pull to the side of the road
when it is safe. Because of the longer distance needed to stop, it is
hazardous to drive the car. Youshould have it towed, and repaired as
soon as possible. (See Emergency Towing on page 241.)
If you must drive the car a short distance in this condition, drive
slowly and cautiously.

Taking Care of the Unexpected
BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR*

* U.S. indicator shownMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Emergency Towing

If your vehicle needs to be towed,
call a professional towing service or, if you belong to one, an
organization that provides roadside
assistance. Never tow your vehicle
behind another vehicle with just a rope or chain. It is very dangerous.
There are three popular types of
professional towing equipment.
Flat-bed Equipment — The operator loads your vehicle on the back of a
truck. This is the best way to
transport your Honda.
Wheel-Lift Equipment — The tow
truck uses two pivoting arms that
go under the tires (front or rear) and
lift them off the ground. The other
two tires remain on the ground. This is an acceptable way to tow
your Honda.
Sling-type Equipment — The tow truck uses metal cables with hooks on the ends. These hooks go around
parts of the frame or suspension and
the cables lift that end of the vehicle
off the ground. Your vehicle's suspension and body can beseriously damaged. This method of

towing is unacceptable.

If your Honda cannot be transported

by flat-bed, it should be towed by

wheel-lift equipment with the front

wheels off the ground. If due to
damage, your vehicle must be towed with the front wheels on the ground,
do the following.
5-speed Manual Transmission Release the parking brake.
Shift the transmission to Neutral.
Automatic Transmission Release the parking brake.
Start the engine.
Shift to D4, then to N.
Turn off the engine. Improper towing preparation will
damage the transmission. Followthe above procedure exactly. If youcannot shift the transmission or
start the engine (automatictransmission), your vehicle must be
transported with the front wheels
off the ground.
With the front wheels on the ground, it is best to tow the vehicleno farther than 50 miles (80 km),
and keep the speed below 35 mph
(55 km/h).
If you decide to tow your vehicle
with all four wheels on the ground,
make sure you use a properly-
designed and attached tow bar. Prepare the vehicle for towing as
described above, and leave theignition switch in Accessory (I) so
the steering wheel does not lock.
Make sure the radio and any items
Taking Care of the Unexpected

NOTICEMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Tire Information
Tire Pressure Adjustment For High Speed Driving
Honda strongly recommends that
you not drive faster than posted speed limits and conditions allow. If
you decide it is safe to drive at high speeds, be sure to adjust the cold tire
pressures as shown below. If you do
not adjust the tire pressure, exces- sive heat can build up and causesudden tire failure.

Be sure to readjust the pressure for

normal driving speeds. You should

wait until the tires are cold before adjusting the tire pressure (see page
196).

DOT Tire Quality Grading
(U.S. Vehicles)

The tires on your car meet all U.S. Federal Safety Requirements. All
tires are also graded for treadwear,
traction, and temperature perform-
ance according to Department of
Transportation (DOT) standards.
The following explains these gradings.
Treadwear

The treadwear grade is a compara- tive rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlledconditions on a specified government
test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and one
half (1-1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100. The relative performance of
tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits, service practices, and differences in
road characteristics and climate.

Technical InformationMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Oxygenated Fuels

Some conventional gasolines are

being blended with alcohol or an
ether compound. These gasolines

are collectively referred to as

oxygenated fuels. To meet clean air
standards, some areas of the United

States and Canada use oxygenated

fuels to help reduce emissions.

If you use an oxygenated fuel, be
sure it is unleaded and meets the

minimum octane rating requirement.

Before using an oxygenated fuel, try

to confirm the fuel's contents. Some
states/provinces require this

information to be posted on the

pump.
The following are the U.S. EPA and
Canada CGSB approved percentages
of oxygenates:
ETHANOL (ethyl or grain alcohol)
You may use gasoline containing up to 10 percent ethanol by volume. Gasoline containing ethanol may be
marketed under the name "Gasohol."
MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether)
You may use gasoline containing up to 15 percent MTBE by volume.
METHANOL (methyl or wood
alcohol)

You may use gasoline containing up to 5 percent methanol by volume as
long as it also contains cosolventsand corrosion inhibitors to protect
the fuel system. Gasoline containing
more than 5 percent methanol by
volume may cause starting and/or performance problems. It may alsodamage metal, rubber and plastic
parts of your fuel system. If you notice any undesirable

operating symptoms, try another

service station or switch to another
brand of gasoline.
Fuel system damage or performance
problems resulting from the use of
an oxygenated fuel containing more

than the percentages of oxygenates
given above are not covered under

warranty.

Technical InformationMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Customer Relations Information
Honda dealership personnel are
trained professionals. They should
be able to answer all your questions. If you encounter a problem that yourdealership does not solve to your
satisfaction, please discuss it with
the dealership's management. The
Service Manager or General
Manager can help. Almost all
problems are solved in this way. If you are dissatisfied with the
decision made by the dealership's
management, contact your Honda
Customer Relations Zone Office.
Refer to the U.S. and Canadian Zone Office maps on the following pages.
When you call or write, please give

us this information:

Vehicle Identification Number
(see page 244)
Name and address of the dealer
who services your car Date of purchase
Mileage on your car
Your name, address, and tele- phone number
A detailed description of the problem
Name of the dealer who sold the
car to you

Warranty and Customer RelationsMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Index

Reclining the Seat Backs................ 76 Recommended Shift Speeds ........ 138

Reminder Lights.............................. 53

Remote Transmitter........................ 72
Replacement Information Air Cleaner Element.................. 185Coolant........................................ 177
Engine Oil and Filter................. 173

Fuses........................................... 236

Light Bulbs................................. 202
Schedule..................................... 160

Spark Plugs................................. 187

Timing Belt................................. 194

Tires............................................ 195
Wiper Blades.............................. 191
Replacing Seat Belts After a Crash............................................. 44

Reserve Tank, Engine Coolant.... 128

Restraint Child................................ 21
Reverse Gear Position................... 143
Rotation, Tire................................. 198

Safety Belts......................................... 8

Safety Defects, Reporting* .......... 262
Safety Features.................................. 7
Airbags............................................ 9Door Locks................................... 11
Head Restraints........................... 10
Seat Belts........................................ 8
Seats & Seat-Backs...................... 10

Safety Labels, Location of.............. 50
Safety Messages................................ii
Seat Belt, Additional Information.. 42 Lap Belt.........................................43
Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 42
Seat Belt Maintenance................ 44
Seat Belt System Components... 42

Seat Belts............................................ 8
Cleaning...................................... 216
Maintenance................................. 44
Reminder Light and Beeper....... 54
System Components.................... 42
Tether Attachment Points.......... 40 Use During Pregnancy................ 19
Seats, Adjusting the......................... 76
Serial Number................................ 244
Service Intervals............................ 160
Service Manual* ............................ 263
Service Station Procedures.......... 125
Setting the Clock............................. 99 Shifting
The Automatic Transmission .. 140
The 5-speed Manual Transmission.......................... 138
Shift Lever Position Indicator...... 140
Shift Lock Release......................... 144
Side Marker Lights, Bulb
Replacement in.......................... 205

Signaling Turns................................ 62

Snow Tires...................................... 200

Solvent-type Cleaners.................... 214
Sound System................................... 96
Spare Tire Inflating....................................... 195Specifications............................. 248
Spark Plugs, Replacing................. 187
Specifications Charts..................... 246
Speed Control................................... 66
Speedometer.................................... 57
CONTINUEDMain Menu s t

Index

SRS, Additional Information........... 45

Additional Safety Precautions.... 48
How Your Airbags Work............ 45

How Your SRS Indicator
Works........................................ 47
SRS Components......................... 45
SRS Service................................... 47

SRS Indicator.............................. 47, 54

START (Ignition Key Position)..... 70 Starting the Engine........................ 137 In Cold Weather at HighAltitude................................... 137
With a Dead Battery................. 227
Steam Coming from Engine......... 229

Steering Wheel
Adjustment................................... 65
Anti-theft Column Lock.............. 70
Stereo Sound System ...................... 96
Storing Your Car............................ 211
Supplemental Restraint System..... 45 Servicing....................................... 47

SRS Indicator.......................... 47, 54

System Components.................... 45

Synthetic Oil................................... 172 Tachometer...................................... 57
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in....... 206
Taking Care of the Unexpected .. 219
Tape Player..................................... 115
Technical Descriptions Driving In Foreign Countries... 253
Emissions Control Systems...... 254
Oxygenated Fuels...................... 252
Three Way Catalytic Converter................................ 256
Tire Information........................ 249
Temperature Gauge........................ 58
Tether Attachment Points.............. 40
Three Way Catalytic Converter... 256

Time, Setting the............................. 99
Timing Belt..................................... 194
Tire Chains..................................... 201
Tire, How to Change a Flat.......... 221 Tires................................................ 195 Air Pressure............................... 195Checking Wear.......................... 197
Compact Spare........................... 220
DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 250
Inflation....................................... 195 Inspection................................... 197
Maintenance............................... 197
Replacing.................................... 199
Rotating....................................... 198
Snow............................................ 200 Specifications............................. 248
Technical Information.............. 249
Technical Information................... 243 Tools,Tire Changing.................... 221
Towing A Trailer...................................... 155Emergency Wrecker................. 241
Transmission Checking Fluid Level,Automatic............................... 180
Checking Fluid Level,
Manual....................................182

Fluid Selection............................ 180
Identification Number............... 245
Shifting the Automatic..............140
Shifting the Manual................... 138
Treadwear...................................... 250
Trip Meter........................................ 57

Trunk................................................. 75
Opening......................................... 75

Open Monitor Light.................... 56Main Menu s t

Service Information Summary

Gasoline:

U.S.: EX, DX, HX, Canada: DX, Si
Unleaded gasoline, pump octane

number of 86 or higher.

U.S.: Si, Canada: SiR

Premium unleaded gasoline,
pump octane number of 91 or

higher.

Fuel Tank Capacity:
11.9 US gal (45 l,9.9 Imp gal)
Recommended Engine Oil:
API Service SJ "Energy Conserving" oil, SAE 5W-30
viscosity (see page 155 ).
DX: 3.8 US qt (3.6 l,3.2 Imp qt)

U.S.:HX, EX, Canada: Si
3.5 US qt (3.3 l,2.9 Imp qt)
U.S.: Si, Canada: SiR 4.2 US qt (4.0 l,3.5 Imp qt) Automatic Transmission Fluid:
Honda Premium Formula Auto-
matic Transmission Fluid (ATF)

HX model (CVT) only:

Use Honda CVT Fluid only
5-speed Manual Transmission
Fluid:

Honda Manual TransmissionFluid preferred, or an API service

SG, SH or SJ, SAE 10W-30 or
10W-40 motor oil as a temporary
replacement (see page 166).
Capacity (including differential): U.S.: DX, EX and HX, Canada: DX
and Si
1.9 US qt (1.8 l,1.6 Imp qt)
U.S.: Si, Canada: SiR
2.3 US qt (2.2 l,1.9 lmp qt)
Power Steering Fluid:
Genuine Honda Power Steering Fluid preferred, or another brand
of power steering fluid as a
temporary replacement. Do not

use ATF (see page 184).

Brake Fluid:
Genuine Honda DOT 3 Brake Fluidpreferred, or a DOT 3 or DOT 4
brake fluid as a temporary
replacement (see page 183).
Tire Pressure (measured cold): U.S.: DX, EX and HX, Canada: DX
and Si
Front:
30 psi (210 kPa, 2.1 kgf/cm2)

Rear:

29 psi (200 kPa , 2.0 kgf/cm2)

U.S.: Si, Canada: SiR
Front:
35 psi (240 kPa , 2.4 kgf/cm2)

Rear:
33 psi (230 kPa , 2.3 kgf/cm2)

Spare Tire Pressure:
60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm2)Main Menu s t