catalytic converter HONDA CIVIC COUPE 1999 Owners Manual

Parking

Always use the parking brake when
you park your car. The indicator on the instrument panel shows that theparking brake is not fully released; it
does not indicate that the parking
brake is firmly set. Make sure the parking brake is set firmly or your
car may roll if it is parked on an
incline.

If your car has an automatic
transmission, set the parking brake
before you put the transmission inPark. This keeps the car from
moving and putting pressure on the
parking mechanism in the
transmission — making it easier to
move the shift lever out of Park
when you want to drive away. If the car is facing uphill, turn the
front wheels away from the curb. If
you have a manual transmission, put it in first gear.
If the car is facing downhill, turn the
front wheels toward the curb. If you
have a manual transmission, put it in reverse gear.
Make sure the parking brake is fully
released before driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or damage
the rear brakes. Parking Tips Make sure the moonroof and the
windows are closed. Turn off the lights.
Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the trunk or take them with you. Lock the doors with the key or the
remote transmitter.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other flammable materials. The three way catalytic
converter gets very hot, and could
cause these materials to catch on

fire.

DrivingMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Technical Information

The diagrams in this section give you the dimensions and capacities of
your Honda, and the locations of the identification numbers. The expla-
nations of several electronic and
mechanical systems on your Honda
are for the more technically-oriented
owner. Identification Numbers................. 244
Specifications................................. 246
Tire Information............................ 249 Tire Size Designation................ 249
Wheel Size Designation............ 249
Tire Speed Ratings.................... 249
Tire Pressure Adjustment For High Speed Driving............... 250
DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 250
Treadwear.............................. 250
Traction.................................. 251Temperature.......................... 251
Oxygenated Fuels.......................... 252
Driving in Foreign Countries....... 253 Emissions Controls........................ 254
The Clean Air Act...................... 254Crankcase Emissions Control System..................................... 254
Evaporative Emissions Control System..................................... 254
Onboard Refueling Vapor Recovery................................. 254
Exhaust Emissions Controls.... 255 PGM-FI System..................... 255
Ignition Timing ControlSystem................................. 255
Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) System.................... 255
Three Way Catalytic Converter............................ 255
Replacement Parts..................... 255
Three Way Catalytic Converter... 256

Technical InformationMain Menu s t

Driving in Foreign Countries

Technical Information

If you are planning to take your
Honda outside the U.S. or Canada,
contact the tourist bureaus in the
areas you will be traveling in to find
out about the availability of unleaded
gasoline with the proper octane
rating.

If unleaded gasoline is not available,
be aware that using leaded gasoline in your Honda will affect perfor-
mance and fuel mileage, and damage
its emissions controls. It will no
longer comply with U.S. andCanadian emissions regulations, and
will be illegal to operate in North
America. To bring your car back into compliance will require the replace-
ment of several components, such as
the oxygen sensors and the three
way catalytic converter. These re- placements are not covered under
warranty.Main Menu Table of Contents s t

Emissions Controls

Exhaust Emissions Controls
The exhaust emissions controls include three systems: PGM-FI,
Ignition Timing Control and Three
Way Catalytic Converter. These three systems work together tocontrol the engine's combustion and
minimize the amount of HC, CO, and
NOx that comes out the tailpipe. Theexhaust emissions control systems
are separate from the crankcase and
evaporative emissions control
systems.

PGM-FI System

The PGM-FI System uses sequential multiport fuel injection.
It has three subsystems: Air Intake,Engine Control, and Fuel Control.
The Engine Control Module (ECM)/ Powertrain Control Module (PCM)/
Transmission Control Module (TCM-HX model only) uses various
sensors to determine how much air
is going into the engine. It then controls how much fuel to inject under all operating conditions.
Ignition Timing Control System
This system constantly adjusts the ignition timing, reducing the amountof HC, CO and NOx produced.
Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) System
Only on HX model

The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system takes some of the
exhaust gas and routes it back into
the intake manifold. Adding exhaust
gas to the air/fuel mixture reduces
the amount of NOx produced when
the fuel is burned.
Three Way Catalytic Converter
The three way catalytic converter is in the exhaust system. Throughchemical reactions, it converts HC,
CO, and NOx in the engine's exhaust
to carbon dioxide (CO 2), dinitrogen
(N2), and water vapor. Replacement Parts
The emissions control systems are designed and certified to work to-
gether in reducing emissions to
levels that comply with the Clean Air
Act. To make sure the emissions remain low, you should use only new Genuine Acura replacement parts or
their equivalent for repairs. Using lower quality parts may increase the
emissions from your car.
The emissions control systems are covered by warranties separate from
the rest of your car. Read your
warranty manual for more informa- tion.

Technical InformationMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Three Way Catalytic Converter

The three way catalytic converter contains precious metals that serve
as catalysts, promoting chemical
reactions to convert the exhaust
gasses without affecting the metals.
The catalytic converter is referred to as a three-way catalyst, since it actson HC, CO, and NOx. A replacement
unit must be an original Honda part or its equivalent.
The three way catalytic converter must operate at a high temperature
for the chemical reactions to take place. It can set on fire any com-
bustible materials that come near it. Park your car away from high grass, dry leaves, or other flammables.
(U.S.: EX and Si, Canada: Si and SiR)

A defective three way catalytic converter contributes to air pollution,
and can impair your engine's per-
formance. Follow these guidelines to
protect your car's three way catalyticconverter.
Always use unleaded gasoline.Even a small amount of leaded
gasoline can contaminate the catalyst metals, making the three
way catalytic converter ineffective.
(U.S.: DX, HX, Canada: DX)

Keep the engine tuned-up.
Have your car diagnosed and
repaired if it is misfiring, back-
firing, stalling, or otherwise notrunning properly.

Technical Information
THREE WAY CATALYTIC CONVERTER
THREE WAY CATALYTIC CONVERTERMain Menu Table of Contents 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