wheel HONDA CIVIC COUPE 2000 7.G User Guide

Accessorie
s an d Modification s

Modification s
D o no t remov e an y origina l
equipmen t o r modif y you r ca r i n an y
wa y tha t woul d alte r it s desig n o r
operation . Thi s coul d mak e you r ca r
unsaf e an d illega l t o drive .
Fo r example , d o no t mak e an y
modification s tha t woul d chang e th e
rid e heigh t o f you r car , o r instal l
wheel s an d tire s wit h a differen t
overal l diameter .
Suc h modification s ca n adversel y
affec t handling , an d interfer e wit h
th e operatio n o f th e car' s anti-loc k
brake s an d othe r systems . I
n addition , an y modification s tha t
decreas e groun d clearanc e increas e
th e chanc e o f undercarriag e part s
strikin g a curb , spee d bump , o r othe r
raise d object , whic h coul d caus e
you r airbag s t o deploy .
D o no t modif y you r steerin g whee l
o r an y othe r par t o f you r
Supplementa l Restrain t System .
Modification s coul d mak e th e
syste m ineffective . Additiona
l Safet y Precautio n
D o no t attac h o r plac e object s o n th e
airba g covers . An y objec t attache d to
o r place d o n th e cover s marke d "SR S
AIRBAG, " i n th e cente r o f th e
steerin g whee l an d o n to p o f th e
dashboard , coul d interfer e wit h th e
prope r operatio n o f th e airbags . Or ,
i f th e airbag s inflate , th e object s
coul d b e propelle d insid e th e ca r an d
hur t someone .

Befor e Drivin g

Automati
c Transmissio n

Driv e (D3 ) —Thi s positio n i s simila r
t o D4 , excep t onl y th e firs t thre e
gear s ar e selected . Us e D 3 to provid e
engin e brakin g whe n goin g dow n a
stee p hill . D 3 ca n als o kee p th e
transmissio n fro m cyclin g betwee n
thir d an d fourt h gear s i n stop-and-g o
driving .
Fo r faste r acceleratio n whe n i n D 3 o r
D4 , yo u ca n ge t th e transmissio n to
automaticall y downshif t b y pushin g
th e accelerato r peda l t o th e floor .
Th e transmissio n wil l shif t dow n on e
o r tw o gears , dependin g o n you r

speed .
Secon
d (2 ) — To shif t t o Second ,
pres s th e releas e butto n o n th e sid e
o f th e shif t lever . Thi s positio n lock s
th e transmissio n in secon d gear . I t
doe s no t downshif t t o firs t gea r
whe n yo u com e to a stop . Secon d
give s yo u mor e powe r whe n climbing ,
an d increase d engin e brakin g whe n
goin g dow n stee p hills . Us e secon d
gea r whe n startin g ou t o n a slipper y
surfac e o r i n dee p snow . I t wil l hel p
reduc e wheelspin . Engin
e Spee d Limite r

On EX and U.S. LX models

I f yo u excee d th e maximu m spee d
fo r th e gea r yo u ar e in , th e engin e
spee d wil l ente r int o th e tachometer' s
re d zone . I f thi s occurs , yo u ma y fee l
th e engin e cu t i n an d out . Thi s i s
cause d b y a limite r i n th e engine' s
compute r controls . Th e engin e wil l
ru n normall y whe n yo u reduc e th e
RP M belo w th e re d zone .

On U.S. DX and DX Value Package, and

Canadian LX and SE models

I f yo u excee d th e maximu m spee d
fo r th e gea r yo u ar e in , yo u ma y fee l
th e engin e cu t i n an d out . Thi s i s
cause d b y a limite r i n th e engine' s
compute r controls . Th e engin e wil l
ru n normall y whe n yo u reduc e th e
engin e spee d b y upshiftin g o r
slowin g down .

Driving

Parkin
g

Alway s us e th e parkin g brak e whe n
yo u par k you r car . Th e indicato r o n
th e instrumen t pane l show s tha t th e
parkin g brak e is no t full y released ; i t
doe s no t indicat e tha t th e parkin g
brak e is firml y set . Mak e sur e th e
parkin g brak e is se t firml y o r you r
ca r ma y rol l i f i t i s parke d o n a n

incline .

I f you r ca r ha s a n automati c
transmission , se t th e parkin g brak e
befor e yo u pu t th e transmissio n in
Park . Thi s keep s th e ca r fro m
movin g an d puttin g pressur e o n th e
parkin g mechanis m in th e
transmissio n — makin g it easie r t o
mov e th e shif t leve r ou t o f Par k
whe n yo u wan t t o driv e away . I
f th e ca r i s facin g uphill , tur n th e
fron t wheel s awa y fro m th e curb . I f
yo u hav e a manua l transmission , pu t
i t i n firs t gear .
I f th e ca r i s facin g downhill , tur n th e
fron t wheel s towar d th e curb . I f yo u
hav e a manua l transmission , pu t i t i n
revers e gear .
Mak e sur e th e parkin g brak e i s full y
release d befor e drivin g away .
Drivin g wit h th e parkin g brak e
partiall y se t ca n overhea t o r damag e
th e rea r brakes . Parkin
g Tip s Mak
e sur e th e moonroo f an d th e
window s ar e closed .
Tur n of f th e lights .
Plac e an y packages , valuables , etc. ,
i n th e trun k o r tak e the m wit h you .
Loc k th e door s wit h th e ke y o r th e
remot e transmitter . Neve
r par k ove r dr y leaves , tal l
grass , o r othe r flammabl e
materials . Th e thre e wa y catalyti c
converte r get s ver y hot , an d coul d
caus e thes e material s t o catc h o n

fire .

Driving

Th
e Brakin g Syste m

Al l Civic s ar e equippe d wit h fron t
dis c brakes . Th e brake s o n th e rea r
wheel s ar e drum . A powe r assis t
help s reduc e th e effor t neede d o n
th e brak e pedal .
Pu t you r foo t o n th e brak e peda l onl y
whe n yo u inten d t o brake . Restin g
you r foo t o n th e peda l keep s th e
brake s applie d lightly , causin g the m
t o buil d u p heat . Hea t build-u p ca n
reduc e ho w wel l you r brake s work . I t
als o keep s you r brak e light s o n al l
th e time , confusin g driver s behin d

you .
Constan
t applicatio n o f th e brake s
whe n goin g dow n a lon g hil l build s
u p hea t an d reduce s thei r effective -
ness . Us e th e engin e to assis t th e
brake s b y downshiftin g to a lowe r
gea r an d takin g you r foo t of f th e
accelerato r pedal .
Chec k you r brake s afte r drivin g
throug h dee p water . Appl y th e
brake s moderatel y t o se e if the y fee l
normal . I f not , appl y the m gentl y an d
frequentl y unti l the y do . Sinc e a
longe r distanc e is neede d to sto p
wit h we t brakes , b e extr a cautiou s
an d aler t i n you r driving .
Brak
e Wea r Indicator s

Th e fron t dis c brake s o n al l model s
hav e audibl e brak e wea r indicators .
Whe n th e brak e pad s nee d replacing ,
yo u wil l hea r a distinctiv e metalli c
"screeching " soun d whe n yo u appl y
th e brakes . I f yo u d o no t hav e th e
brak e pad s replaced , the y wil l begi n
screechin g al l th e time .
You r brake s ma y sometime s squea l
o r squea k whe n yo u appl y the m
lightly . D o no t confus e thi s wit h th e
brak e wea r indicators . The y mak e a
ver y audibl e "screeching. "

Drivin g

Th
e Brakin g Syste m

Brak e Syste m Desig n
Th e hydrauli c syste m tha t operate s
th e brake s ha s tw o separat e circuits .
Eac h circui t work s diagonall y acros s
th e vehicl e (th e left-fron t brak e is
connecte d wit h th e right-rea r brake ,
etc.) . I f on e circui t shoul d develo p a
problem , yo u wil l stil l hav e brakin g
a t tw o wheels .
Anti-loc
k Brake s

Th e U.S . E X mode l ha s a n Anti-loc k
Brak e Syste m (ABS ) a s standar d
equipment . I t i s optiona l o n Canadia n
E X model .
AB S help s t o preven t th e wheel s
fro m lockin g u p an d skiddin g durin g
har d braking , allowin g yo u t o retai n
steerin g control .
Whe n th e fron t tire s skid , yo u los e
steerin g control ; th e ca r continue s
straigh t ahea d eve n thoug h yo u tur n
th e steerin g wheel . Th e AB S help s t o
preven t lock-u p an d help s yo u retai n
steerin g contro l b y pumpin g th e
brake s rapidly ; muc h faste r tha n a
perso n ca n d o it . Yo
u shoul d neve r pum p th e
brak e pedal , thi s defeat s th e
purpos e o f th e ABS . Le t th e AB S
wor k fo r yo u b y alway s keepin g firm ,
stead y pressur e o n th e brak e peda l
a s yo u stee r awa y fro m th e hazard .
Thi s i s sometime s referre d t o a s

"stomp and steer."

Yo u wil l fee l a pulsatio n in th e brak e
peda l whe n th e AB S activates , an d
yo u ma y hea r som e noise . Thi s i s
normal , i t i s th e AB S rapidl y
pumpin g th e brakes .

CONTINUED

Fron
t

Driving

Drivin
g in Ba d Weather , Towin g a Traile r

Tractio n — Chec k you r tire s
frequentl y fo r wea r an d prope r
pressure . Bot h ar e importan t i n
preventin g "hydroplaning " (los s o f
tractio n o n a we t surface) . I n th e
winter , moun t sno w tire s o n al l fou r
wheel s fo r th e bes t handling .
Watc h roa d condition s carefully ,
the y ca n chang e fro m momen t t o
moment . We t leave s ca n b e a s slip -
per y a s ice . "Clear " road s ca n hav e
patche s o f ice . Drivin g condition s
ca n b e ver y hazardou s whe n th e
outsid e temperatur e is nea r freezing .
Th e roa d surfac e ca n becom e
covere d wit h area s o f wate r puddle s
mixe d wit h area s o f ice , s o you r
tractio n ca n chang e withou t warning .
B e carefu l whe n downshifting . I f
tractio n is low , yo u ca n loc k u p th e
driv e wheel s fo r a momen t an d caus e

a skid .
B
e ver y cautiou s whe n passing , o r
bein g passe d b y othe r vehicles . Th e
spra y fro m large vehicle s reduce s
you r visibility , an d th e win d buffetin g
ca n caus e yo u to los e control .
Towin
g a Traile r

You r vehicl e is no t designe d to to w a
trailer . Attemptin g to d o s o ca n voi d
you r warranties .

Driving

Maintenanc
e

Thi s sectio n explain s wh y i t i s
importan t t o kee p you r ca r wel l
maintaine d an d t o follo w basi c
maintenanc e safet y precautions .
Thi s sectio n als o include s
Maintenanc e Schedule s fo r norma l
drivin g an d sever e drivin g conditions ,
a Maintenanc e Record , an d instruc -
tion s fo r simpl e maintenanc e task s
yo u ma y wan t t o tak e car e o f
yourself .
I f yo u hav e th e skill s an d tool s t o per -
for m mor e comple x maintenanc e
task s o n you r Honda , yo u ma y wan t
t o purchas e th e Servic e Manual . Se e
pag e 27 9 fo r informatio n o n ho w to
obtai n a copy , o r se e you r Hond a

dealer .
Maintenanc
e Safety...................... . 17 4
Importan t Safet y Precautions. . 17 5
Maintenanc e Schedule................. . 17 6

Maintenanc e Record.................... . 18 3

Owne r Maintenanc e Checks....... . 18 5
Flui d Locations.............................. . 18 6

Engin e Oil...................................... . 18 7

Addin g Oil.................................. . 18 7

Recommende d Oil.................... . 18 7
Syntheti c Oil.............................. . 18 8

Additives.................................... . 18 8

Changin g th e Oi l an d Filter..... . 18 9

Coolin g System............................. . 19 1

Addin g Engin e Coolant............ . 19 1
Replacin g Engin e Coolant....... . 19 3
Windshiel d Washers.................... . 19 6

Transmissio n Fluid....................... . 19 7

Automati c

Transmission......................... . 19 7

5-spee d Manua l

Transmission......................... . 19 8

Brak e an d Clutc h Fluid................ . 19 8

Brak e System............................ . 19 9
Clutc h System........................... . 19 9

Powe r Steering.............................. . 20 0

Ai r Cleane r Element..................... . 20 1 Hoo
d Latch.................................... . 20 2
Spar k Plugs.................................... . 20 3

Replacement.............................. . 20 3

Specifications............................ . 20 4

Battery........................................... . 20 5

Wipe r Blades................................. . 20 7
Ai r Conditionin g System.............. . 20 9
Driv e Belts..................................... . 21 0

Timin g Belt.................................... . 21 0

Tires............................................... . 21 1
Inflation...................................... . 21 1

Recommende d Tir e Pressure s

fo r Norma l Driving........... . 21 2

Tir e Pressur e Adjustmen t fo r

Hig h Spee d Driving.......... . 21 2
Inspection.................................. . 21 3
Maintenance.............................. . 21 3
Tir e Rotation............................. . 21 4

Replacin g Tire s an d Wheels... . 21 5

Wheel s an d Tires...................... . 21 6
Winte r Driving.......................... . 21 6

Sno w Tires............................. . 21 6

Tir e Chains............................ . 21 7
Lights............................................. . 21 8
Replacin g Bulbs........................ . 22 0

Storin g You r Car........................... . 22 9

Maintenanc e

Powe
r Steerin g

Yo u shoul d chec k th e flui d leve l i n
th e powe r steerin g reservoi r
monthly . Chec k th e leve l whe n th e
engin e is cold . Loo k a t th e sid e o f
th e reservoir . Th e flui d shoul d b e
betwee n th e UPPE R LEVE L an d
LOWE R LEVEL . I f i t i s belo w th e
LOWE R LEVEL , ad d powe r steerin g
flui d t o th e UPPE R LEVEL .
Always us e Genuin e Hond a Powe r
Steerin g Fluid . I f i t i s no t available ,
yo u ma y us e anothe r powe r steerin g
flui d a s a n emergenc y replacement .
However , continue d us e ca n caus e
increase d wea r an d poo r steerin g in
col d weather . Hav e th e powe r
steerin g syste m flushe d an d refille d
wit h Hond a PS F a s soo n a s possible .A
lo w powe r steerin g flui d leve l ca n
indicat e a lea k in th e system . Chec k
th e flui d leve l frequentl y an d hav e
th e syste m inspecte d a s soo n a s

possible .

Maintenanc e
UPPE
R LEVE L
LOWE R LEVE L
NOTIC
E

Turning the steering wheel to full left

or right lock and holding it there can

damage the power steering pump.

Tire
s

Mak e sur e th e installe r balance s th e
wheel s whe n yo u hav e ne w tire s
installed . Thi s increase s ridin g
comfor t an d tir e life . You r car' s
origina l tire s wer e dynami c o r "spin "
balance d a t th e factory . Fo r bes t
results , hav e th e installe r perfor m a
dynami c balance . Tir
e Rotatio n
T o hel p increas e tir e lif e an d
distribut e wea r mor e evenly , yo u
shoul d hav e th e tire s rotate d ever y
7,50 0 mile s (12,00 0 km) . Mov e th e
tire s t o th e position s show n in th e
char t eac h tim e the y ar e rotated . Whe
n shoppin g fo r replacemen t
tires , yo u ma y fin d tha t som e tire s
ar e "directional. " Thi s mean s the y
ar e designe d to rotat e onl y in on e
direction . I f yo u us e directiona l tires ,
the y shoul d b e rotate d onl y front-to -
back .

Maintenanc e
Fron
t

Front

(Fo r Non-directiona l
Tire s an d Wheels )(Fo
r Directiona l
Tire s an d Wheels )

Tire
s
Replacin g Tire s an d Wheel s
Th e tire s tha t cam e wit h you r ca r
wer e selecte d t o matc h th e perform -
anc e capabilitie s o f th e ca r whil e
providin g th e bes t combinatio n o f
handling , rid e comfort , an d lon g life .
Yo u shoul d replac e the m wit h radia l
tire s o f th e sam e size , loa d range ,
spee d rating , an d maximu m col d tir e
pressur e ratin g (a s show n o n th e
tire' s sidewall) . Mixin g radia l an d
bias-pl y tire s o n you r ca r ca n reduc e
it s brakin g ability , traction , an d
steerin g accuracy .
It i s bes t t o replac e al l fou r tire s a t
th e sam e time . I f tha t i s no t possibl e
o r necessary , the n replac e th e tw o
fron t tire s o r th e tw o rea r tire s a s a
pair . Replacin g jus t on e tir e ca n
seriousl y affec t you r car' s handling .Th
e AB S work s b y comparin g th e
spee d o f th e wheels . Whe n replacin g
tires , us e th e sam e siz e originall y
supplie d wit h th e car . Tir e siz e an d
constructio n ca n affec t whee l spee d
an d ma y caus e th e syste m to wor k in -
consistently .
I f yo u eve r nee d to replac e a wheel ,
mak e sur e th e wheel' s specification s
matc h thos e o f th e origina l whee l
tha t cam e o n you r car . Replacemen t
wheel s ar e availabl e a t you r Hond a

dealer .

Maintenance

Installin
g imprope r tire s o n you r
ca r ca n affec t handlin g an d
stability . Thi s ca n caus e a cras h

i n whic h yo u ca n b e seriousl y

hur t o r killed .

Alway s us e th e siz e an d typ e o f
tire s recommende d in thi s
owner' s manual .