wheel HONDA CIVIC COUPE 1999 Service Manual

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

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.

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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

6. Turn the jack's end bracket
counterclockwise to loosen it, then
remove the jack. 7. Loosen the four wheel nuts 1/2
turn with the wheel wrench. 8. Locate the jacking point nearest
the tire you need to change. It ispointed to by an arrow molded into
the underside of the body. Place
the jack under the jacking point.
Turn the end bracket clockwise until the top of the jack contacts
the jacking point. Make sure the
jacking point tab is resting in the
jack notch.

Taking Care of the Unexpected

JACK

WHEEL WRENCH JACKING
POINTMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Changing a Flat Tire

9. Use the extension and wheel wrench as shown to raise the
vehicle until the flat tire is off the
ground.

10.Remove the wheel nuts and flat tire. Temporarily place the flat tireon the ground with the outside
surface of the wheel facing up.
You could scratch the wheel if you put it face down.
On DX and EX models in the U.S., and
DX and Si models in Canada

Do not attempt to forcibly pry the
wheel cover off with a screwdriver or other tool. The wheel cover cannot
be removed without first removing
the wheel nuts. 11.Before mounting the spare tire,
wipe any dirt off the mountingsurface of the wheel and hub with
a clean cloth. Wipe the hubcarefully, it may be hot from
driving.

CONTINUED

Taking Care of the Unexpected
WHEEL WRENCH EXTENSION

BRAKE HU BMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Changing a Flat Tire

12.Put on the spare tire. Put the wheel nuts back on finger-tight,then tighten them in a crisscross
pattern with the wheel wrench
until the wheel is firmly against
the hub. Do not try to tighten
them fully.
13.Lower the car to the ground and
remove the jack.
14.Tighten the wheel nuts securely in
the same crisscross pattern. Have
the wheel nut torque checked at
the nearest automotive service
facility.
Tighten the wheel nuts to: 80 lbf.ft (108 N.m,11 kgf.m)
Taking Care of the UnexpectedMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Changing a Flat Tire

15. Remove the wheel cover or center
cap.

Place the flat tire face down in the

trunk well.
16.Remove the spacer cone from the wing bolt, turn it over, and put it
back on the bolt.
17.Secure the flat tire by screwing the wing bolt back into its hole. 18.Store the jack in the trunk with the
end bracket on the left side. Turn
the jack's end bracket to lock it in
place. Store the tool kit.
19. Store the wheel cover or center cap in the trunk. Make sure it does
not get scratched or damaged.
20. Lower the trunk floor, then close the trunk lid.
Taking Care of the Unexpected
WING BOLT

SPACER
CONE

Loose items can fly around the

interior in a crash and could

seriously injure the occupants.

Store the wheel, jack and tools

securely before driving.Main 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

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Emergency Towing

plugged into the accessory powersocket are turned off so they do not
run down the battery.
Trying to lift or tow your vehicle by
the bumpers will cause serious
damage. The bumpers are not designed to support the vehicle's

weight.

Taking Care of the Unexpected

The steering system can be
damaged if the steering wheel is locked. Leave the ignition switch in
Accessory (I), and make sure the steering wheel turns freely before
you begin towing.
NOTICE
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