engine HONDA CIVIC SEDAN 2000 (in English) User Guide

Startin
g th e Engin e

1 . Appl y th e parkin g brake .

2 . I n col d weather , tur n of f al l

electrica l accessorie s t o reduc e

th e drai n o n th e battery .

3 . Manual Transmission:

Pus h th e clutc h peda l dow n al l th e
way . STAR T (III ) doe s no t
functio n unles s th e clutc h peda l i s

depressed .

Automatic Transmission:
Mak e sur e th e shif t leve r i s in
Park . Pres s o n th e brak e pedal .

4 . Withou t touchin g th e accelerato r

pedal , tur n th e ignitio n ke y to th e
STAR T (III ) position . I f th e engin e
doe s no t star t righ t away , d o no t
hol d th e ke y in STAR T (III ) fo r
mor e tha n 1 5 second s a t a time .
Paus e fo r a t leas t 1 0 second s

befor e tryin g again .
5
. I f th e engin e doe s no t star t withi n
1 5 seconds , o r start s bu t stall s
righ t away , repea t ste p 4 wit h th e
accelerato r peda l presse d half-wa y
down . I f th e engin e starts , releas e
pressur e o n th e accelerato r peda l
s o th e engin e doe s no t race .
6 . I f th e engin e stil l doe s no t start ,
pres s th e accelerato r peda l al l th e
wa y dow n an d hol d it ther e whil e
startin g in orde r t o clea r flooding .
A s before , kee p th e ignitio n ke y in
th e STAR T (III ) positio n fo r n o
mor e tha n 1 5 seconds . Retur n to
ste p 5 if th e engin e doe s no t start .
I f i t starts , lif t you r foo t of f th e
accelerato r peda l s o th e engin e
doe s no t race .

Startin g in Col d Weathe r a t Hig h
Altitude (Above 8,000 feet/

2,40 0 meters )

A n
engin
e is harde r t o star t i n col d
weather . Th e thinne r ai r foun d a t
hig h altitud e abov e 8,00 0 fee t (2,40 0 meters
) add s t o th e problem .
Us e th e followin g procedure :
1 . Tur n of f al l electrica l accessorie s
t o reduc e th e drai n o n th e battery .
2 . Pus h th e accelerato r peda l half -
wa y t o th e floo r an d hol d it ther e
whil e startin g th e engine . D o no t
hol d th e ignitio n ke y in STAR T
(III ) fo r mor e tha n 1 5 seconds .
Whe n th e engin e starts , releas e
th e accelerato r peda l graduall y a s
th e engin e speed s u p an d smooth s
out .
3 . I f th e engin e fail s t o star t i n ste p 2 ,
pus h th e accelerato r peda l t o th e
floo r an d hol d it ther e whil e yo u
tr y t o star t th e engin e fo r n o mor e
tha n 1 5 seconds . I f th e engin e
doe s no t start , retur n to ste p 2 .

Drivin g

5-spee
d Manua l Transmissio n

Recommende d Shif t Point s
Driv e i n th e highes t gea r tha t let s
th e engin e ru n an d accelerat e
smoothly . Thi s wil l giv e yo u th e bes t
fue l econom y an d effectiv e emis -
sion s control . Th e followin g shif t
point s ar e recommended : 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 .
Befor e downshifting , mak e sur e th e
engin e wil l no t g o int o th e
tachometer' s re d zon e i n th e lowe r

gear .
On U.S. DX, 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.
Befor e downshifting , mak e sur e th e
vehicl e spee d i s lo w enoug h tha t yo u
wil l no t activat e th e engin e spee d
limite r i n th e lowe r gear .

Drivin g

Automati
c Transmissio n

Shif t Leve r Position s
Th e shif t leve r ha s si x positions . I t
mus t b e in Par k o r Neutra l t o star t
th e engine . Whe n yo u ar e stoppe d in
D4 , D3 , 2 , N or R , pres s firml y o n th e
brak e pedal , an d kee p you r foo t of f
th e accelerato r pedal . Par
k (P ) — Thi s positio n mechani -
call y lock s th e transmission . Us e
Par k wheneve r yo u ar e turnin g of f o r
startin g th e engine . T o shif t ou t o f
Park , yo u mus t pres s o n th e brak e
peda l an d hav e you r foo t of f th e
accelerato r pedal . Pres s th e releas e
butto n o n th e sid e o f th e shif t leve r
t o mov e it .

CONTINUED

Drivin g

RELEAS
E

BUTTO N

SHIF T LEVE R

Automati
c Transmissio n

I f yo u hav e don e al l o f th e abov e an d
stil l canno t mov e th e leve r ou t o f
Park , se e Shif t Loc k Releas e o n pag e

164 .

Yo u mus t als o pres s th e releas e
butto n t o shif t int o Park . T o avoi d
transmissio n damage , com e to a
complet e sto p befor e shiftin g int o
Park . Th e shif t leve r mus t b e in Par k
befor e yo u ca n remov e th e ke y fro m
th e ignitio n switch . Revers
e (R ) — To shif t t o Revers e
fro m Park , se e th e explanatio n unde r
Park . T o shif t t o Revers e fro m
Neutral , com e t o a complet e sto p an d
the n shift . Pres s th e releas e butto n
befor e shiftin g int o Revers e fro m
Neutral .
Neutra l (N ) — Us e Neutra l i f yo u
nee d t o restar t a stalle d engine , o r i f
i t i s necessar y t o sto p briefl y wit h
th e engin e idling . Shif t t o Par k posi -
tio n if yo u nee d t o leav e th e ca r fo r
an y reason . Pres s o n th e brak e peda l
whe n yo u ar e movin g th e shif t leve r
fro m Neutra l t o anothe r gear . Driv
e (D4 ) — Us e thi s positio n fo r
you r norma l driving . Th e transmis -
sio n automaticall y select s a suitabl e
gea r fo r you r spee d an d acceleration .
Yo u ma y notic e th e transmissio n
shiftin g u p a t highe r speed s whe n
th e engin e is cold . Thi s help s th e
engin e war m up faster .

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

Automati
c Transmissio n

Shif t Loc k Releas e
Thi s allow s yo u t o mov e th e shif t
leve r ou t o f Par k i f th e norma l
metho d o f pushin g o n th e brak e
peda l an d pressin g th e releas e
butto n doe s no t work .
1 . Se t th e Parkin g brake .
2 . Remov e th e ke y fro m th e ignitio n

switch .

3 . Pu t a clot h o n th e edg e o f th e Shif t
Loc k Releas e slo t cove r nex t t o
th e shif t lever .
Us e a smal l flat-tippe d screwdrive r
o r smal l meta l plat e (neithe r ar e
include d in th e too l kit ) t o remov e
th e cover . Carefull y pr y of f th e
edg e o f th e cover . 4
. Inser t th e ke y i n th e Shif t Loc k
Releas e slot .
5 . Pus h dow n o n th e ke y whil e yo u
pres s th e releas e butto n o n th e
shif t leve r an d mov e th e shif t leve r
ou t o f Par k t o Neutral . 6
. Remov e th e ke y fro m th e Shif t
Loc k Releas e slot , the n reinstal l
th e cover . Mak e sur e th e notc h o n
th e cove r i s o n th e lef t side .
Depres s th e brak e peda l an d
restar t th e engine .
I f yo u nee d t o us e th e Shif t Loc k
Release , i t mean s you r ca r i s
developin g a problem . Hav e th e ca r
checke d b y you r Hond a dealer .

Drivin g
RELEAS
E BUTTO N
SHIF T LOC K
RELEAS E SLO T

Th
e Brakin g Syste m
Drivin g

ABS Indicator

Th e AB S is self-checking . I f anythin g
goe s wrong , th e AB S indicato r o n
th e instrumen t pane l come s o n (se e
pag e 55 ), Thi s mean s th e anti-loc k
functio n o f th e brakin g syste m ha s
shu t down . Th e brake s stil l wor k lik e
a conventiona l syste m withou t anti -
lock , providin g norma l stoppin g
ability . Yo u shoul d hav e th e deale r
inspec t you r ca r a s soo n a s possibl e
i f thi s ligh t stay s o n afte r yo u star t
th e engine , o r come s o n whil e

driving .

AB
S

INDICATOR *

*U.S . indicato r show n

Maintenanc
e Safet y

Importan t Safet y Precaution s
Befor e yo u begi n an y maintenance ,
mak e sur e you r ca r i s parke d o n
leve l groun d an d tha t th e parkin g
brak e is set . Also , b e sur e th e engin e
i s off . Thi s wil l hel p t o eliminat e
severa l potentia l hazards :
Carbo n monoxid e poisonin g
fro m engin e exhaust . B e sur e
ther e is adequat e ventilatio n
wheneve r yo u operat e th e engine .
Burns from ho t parts . Le t th e

engin e an d
exhaus
t syste m coo l
befor e touchin g an y parts .

Injury from moving parts. Do

no t ru n
th
e engin e unles s in -
structe d to d o so . Rea
d th e instruction s befor e yo u
begin , an d mak e sur e yo u hav e th e
tool s an d skill s required .
T o reduc e th e possibilit y o f fir e o r
explosion , b e carefu l whe n workin g
aroun d gasolin e o r batteries . Us e a
commerciall y availabl e degrease r o r
part s cleaner , no t gasoline , t o clea n
parts . Kee p cigarettes , sparks , an d
flame s awa y fro m th e batter y an d al l
fuel-relate d parts .
Yo u shoul d wea r ey e protectio n an d
protectiv e clothin g whe n workin g
nea r th e batter y o r whe n usin g
compresse d air .
Maintenance

Maintenanc
e Schedul e

Th e Maintenanc e Schedul e specifie s
ho w ofte n yo u shoul d hav e you r ca r
service d an d wha t thing s nee d
attention . I t i s essentia l tha t yo u hav e
you r ca r service d a s schedule d to
retai n it s hig h leve l o f safety ,
dependability , an d emission s contro l
performance .
Th
e service s an d tim e o r distanc e
interval s show n in th e maintenanc e
schedul e assum e yo u wil l us e you r
ca r a s normal transportatio n fo r
passenger s an d thei r possessions .
Yo u shoul d als o follo w thes e

recommendations :

Avoi d exceedin g you r car' s loa d
limit . Thi s put s exces s stres s o n
th e engine , brakes , an d man y
othe r part s o f you r car . Th e loa d
limi t i s show n o n th e labe l o n th e
driver' s doorjamb .
Operat e you r ca r o n reasonabl e
road s withi n th e lega l spee d limit .
Driv e you r ca r regularl y ove r a
distanc e o f severa l mile s
(kilometers) . Alway
s us e unleade d gasolin e wit h
th e prope r octan e ratin g (se e pag e

142 ). Whic
h Schedul e t o Follow :
Servic e you r ca r accordin g t o th e
tim e an d mileag e period s o n on e o f
th e Maintenanc e Schedule s o n th e
followin g pages . Selec t th e schedul e
fo r "Sever e Conditions " i f mos t o f
you r drivin g is don e unde r on e o r
mor e o f th e condition s liste d o n tha t
page . Otherwise , follo w th e schedul e
fo r "Norma l Conditions. "

Maintenanc e

Engin
e Oi l

Addin g Oi l
T o ad d oil , unscre w an d remov e th e
engin e oi l fil l ca p o n to p o f th e valv e
cover . Pou r i n th e oil , an d instal l th e
engin e oi l fil l cap . Tighte n it securely .
Wai t a fe w minute s an d rechec k th e
oi l level . D o no t fil l abov e th e uppe r
mark ; yo u coul d damag e th e engine .Recommende
d Oi l
Oi l i s a majo r contributo r t o you r
engine' s performanc e an d longevity .
Alway s us e a premium-grad e deter -
gen t oil . I t i s highl y recommende d
tha t yo u us e Genuin e Hond a Moto r
Oi l i n you r vehicl e fo r a s lon g a s yo u
ow n it .
Yo u ca n determin e a n oil' s SA E
viscosit y an d Servic e Classificatio n
fro m th e AP I Servic e labe l o n th e oi l
container .
A fuel-efficien t oi l i s recommende d
fo r you r Honda . Thi s is show n o n th e
AP I Servic e labe l b y th e word s
"Energ y Conserving. " Thi s oi l i s
formulate d t o hel p you r engin e us e
les s fuel . Th
e AP I Servic e labe l als o tell s yo u
th e servic e classificatio n o f th e oil .
Alway s us e a n oi l tha t i s labele d "AP I

Servic e SJ. " Thi s servic e ratin g ma y

includ e othe r classifications , suc h a s

CD . Thes e additiona l classification s

ar e no t a problem , a s lon g a s th e

labe l als o carrie s th e S J classification .

AP I SERVIC E LABE L

CONTINUED

Maintenanc e

ENGIN
E OI L
FIL L CA P