HONDA CIVIC SEDAN 2000 Owner's Manual (in English)

I
f You r Engin e Overheat s

4 . I f th e temperatur e gaug e stay s a t
th e re d mark , tur n of f th e engine .
5 . Wai t unti l yo u se e n o mor e sign s
o f stea m or spray , the n ope n th e

hood .

6 . Loo k fo r an y obviou s coolan t leaks ,
suc h a s a spli t radiato r hose .
Everythin g is stil l extremel y hot ,
s o us e caution . I f yo u fin d a leak , i t
mus t b e repaire d befor e yo u
continu e drivin g (se e Emergenc y
Towin g o n pag e 259 ).
7 . I f yo u don' t fin d a n obviou s leak ,
chec k th e coolan t leve l i n th e
radiato r reserv e tan k (se e pag e
147 ). I f th e leve l i s belo w th e
MI N mark , ad d coolan t t o halfwa y
betwee n th e MI N an d MA X marks .
8 . I f ther e wa s n o coolan t i n th e
reserv e tank , yo u ma y als o hav e to
ad d coolan t t o th e radiator . Le t th e
engin e coo l dow n unti l th e pointe r reache
s th e middl e o f th e tempera -
tur e gauge , o r lower , befor e check -
in g th e radiator .
9 . Usin g glove s o r a larg e heav y
cloth , tur n th e radiato r ca p
counterclockwise , withou t pushin g
down , t o th e firs t stop . Thi s
release s an y remainin g pressur e in
th e coolin g system . Afte r th e
pressur e releases , pus h dow n o n
th e ca p an d tur n it unti l i t come s
off . 10.Star
t th e engin e an d se t th e
temperatur e contro l dia l t o
maximum . Ad d coolan t t o th e
radiato r u p to th e bas e o f th e fille r
neck . I f yo u d o no t hav e th e
prope r coolan t mixtur e available ,
yo u ca n ad d plai n water .
Remembe r t o hav e th e coolin g
syste m draine d an d refille d wit h
th e prope r mixtur e a s soo n a s yo u

can .

11.Pu t th e radiato r ca p bac k o n
tightly . Ru n th e engin e an d watc h
th e temperatur e gauge . I f i t goe s
bac k t o th e re d mark , th e engin e
need s repair . (Se e Emergenc y
Towin g o n pag e 25 9 .)
12.I f th e temperatur e stay s normal ,
chec k th e coolan t leve l i n th e
radiato r reserv e tank . I f i t ha s
gon e down , ad d coolan t t o th e
MA X mark . Pu t th e ca p bac k o n

tightly .

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
Removin
g th e radiato r ca p
whil e th e engin e i s ho t ca n
caus e th e coolan t t o spra y out ,
seriousl y scaldin g you .
Alway s le t th e engin e an d
radiato r coo l dow n befor e
removin g th e radiato r cap .

Lo
w Oi l Pressur e Indicato r

LO W OI L PRESSUR E INDICATO R
Thi s indicato r shoul d ligh t whe n th e
ignitio n switc h is O N (II) , an d g o ou t
afte r th e engin e starts . I t shoul d
neve r com e o n whe n th e engin e is
running . I f i t start s flashing , i t
indicate s tha t th e oi l pressur e
droppe d ver y lo w fo r a moment , the n
recovered . I f th e indicato r stay s o n
wit h th e engin e running , i t show s
tha t th e engin e ha s los t oi l pressur e
an d seriou s engin e damag e is
possible . I n eithe r case , yo u shoul d
tak e immediat e action .
Running the engine with low oil

pressure can cause serious mechanical
damage almost immediately. Turn off
the engine as soon as you can safely get

the car stopped.

1 . Safel y pul l of f th e roa d an d shu t
of f th e engine . Tur n o n th e hazar d
warnin g indicators .
2 . Le t th e ca r si t fo r a minute . Ope n
th e hoo d an d chec k th e oi l leve l
(se e pag e 146 ). Althoug h oi l leve l
an d oi l pressur e ar e no t directl y
connected , a n engin e tha t i s ver y
lo w o n oi l ca n los e pressur e durin g
cornerin g an d othe r drivin g

maneuvers .

3 . I f necessary , ad d oi l t o brin g th e
leve l bac k t o th e ful l mar k o n th e
dipstic k (se e pag e 187 ). 4
. Star t th e engin e an d watc h th e oi l
pressur e indicator . I f th e ligh t
doe s no t g o ou t withi n te n seconds ,
tur n of f th e engine . Ther e is a
mechanica l proble m tha t need s t o
b e repaire d befor e yo u ca n
continu e driving . (Se e Emergenc y
Towin g o n pag e 25 9 .)

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

NOTIC
E

Chargin
g Syste m Indicato r

CHARGIN G SYSTE M INDICATO R
Thi s indicato r shoul d com e o n whe n
th e ignitio n switc h is O N (II) , an d g o
ou t afte r th e engin e starts . I f i t
come s o n brightl y whe n th e engin e
i s running , i t indicate s tha t th e
chargin g syste m ha s stoppe d
chargin g th e battery . Immediatel
y tur n of f al l electrica l
accessories : radio , heater , A/C , rea r
defogger , cruis e control , etc . Tr y no t
t o us e othe r electrically-operate d
control s suc h a s th e powe r windows .
Kee p th e engin e runnin g an d tak e
extr a car e no t t o stal l it . Startin g th e
engin e wil l discharg e th e batter y
rapidly . B
y eliminatin g a s muc h o f th e
electrica l loa d a s possible , yo u ca n
driv e severa l mile s (kilometers )
befor e th e batter y is to o discharge d
t o kee p th e engin e running . Driv e to
a servic e statio n o r garag e wher e
yo u ca n ge t technica l assistance .
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Malfunctio
n Indicato r Lam p

MALFUNCTIO N INDICATO R LAM P

Thi s indicato r come s o n fo r a fe w
second s whe n yo u tur n th e ignitio n

switc h O N (II) . I f i t come s o n a t an y

othe r time , i t indicate s on e o f th e

engine' s emission s contro l system s

ma y hav e a problem . Eve n thoug h

yo u ma y fee l n o differenc e in you r

car' s performance , i t ca n reduc e

you r fue l econom y an d caus e you r

ca r t o pu t ou t excessiv e emissions .

Continue d operatio n ma y caus e

seriou s damage .
I
f yo u hav e recentl y refuele d you r
car , th e caus e o f thi s indicato r
comin g o n coul d b e a loos e o r
missin g fue l fil l cap . Chec k th e ca p
an d tighte n it unti l i t click s severa l
times . Replac e th e fue l fil l ca p if i t i s
missing . Tightenin g th e ca p wil l no t
mak e th e indicato r tur n of f
immediately ; i t take s thre e drivin g

trips .

I f th e indicato r remain s o n pas t thre e
drivin g trips , o r th e fue l ca p wa s no t
loos e o r missing , hav e th e ca r
checke d b y th e deale r a s soo n a s
possible . Driv e moderatel y unti l th e
deale r ha s inspecte d th e problem .
Avoi d full-throttl e acceleratio n an d
drivin g a t hig h speed .
Yo u shoul d als o hav e th e deale r
inspec t you r ca r i f thi s indicato r
come s o n repeatedly , eve n thoug h it
ma y tur n of f a s yo u continu e driving .If you keep driving with the
malfunction indicator lamp on, you can
damage your car's emissions controls
and engine. Those repairs may not be
covered by your car's warranties.
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

NOTIC
E

Brak
e Syste m Indicato r

BRAK E SYSTE M INDICATOR *
"U.S . indicato r show n
Th e Brak e Syste m indicato r ligh t
shoul d normall y com e o n onl y whe n
th e parkin g brak e is no t full y

released .

I f i t come s o n a t an y othe r time , i t
indicate s a proble m wit h th e car' s
brak e system . I n mos t cases , th e
proble m is a lo w flui d leve l i n th e
brak e flui d reservoir . Pres s lightl y o n
th e brak e peda l t o se e if i t feel s
normal . I f i t does , chec k th e brak e
flui d leve l th e nex t tim e yo u sto p a t a servic
e statio n (se e pag e 19 8 ) . I f th e
flui d leve l i s low , tak e th e ca r t o you r
deale r an d hav e th e brak e syste m
inspecte d fo r leak s o r wor n brak e

pads .

However , i f th e brak e peda l doe s no t
fee l normal , yo u shoul d tak e
immediat e action . Becaus e o f th e
brak e system' s dual-circui t design , a
proble m in on e par t o f th e syste m
wil l stil l giv e yo u brakin g a t tw o
wheels . Yo u wil l fee l th e brak e peda l
g o dow n muc h farthe r befor e th e ca r
begin s t o slo w down , an d yo u wil l
hav e t o pres s harde r o n th e pedal .
Th e distanc e neede d t o sto p wil l b e
muc h longer .
Slo w dow n b y shiftin g to a lowe r
gear , an d pul l t o th e sid e o f th e roa d
whe n it i s safe . Becaus e o f th e
longe r distanc e neede d t o stop , i t i s
hazardou s t o driv e th e car . Yo u
shoul d hav e it towed , an d repaire d a s
soo n a s possible . (Se e Emergenc yTowin
g o n pag e 25 9 .)
I f yo u mus t driv e th e ca r a shor t
distanc e in thi s condition , driv e
slowl y an d cautiously .

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Closin
g th e Moonroo f

I f th e electri c moto r wil l no t clos e
th e moonroof , d o th e following :
1 . Chec k th e fus e fo r th e moonroo f
moto r (se e pag e 255 ). I f th e fus e
i s blown , replac e it wit h on e o f th e
sam e o r lowe r rating .
2 . Tr y closin g th e moonroof . I f th e
ne w fus e blow s immediatel y o r th e
moonroo f moto r stil l doe s no t
operate , yo u ca n clos e th e
moonroo f manually .
3 . Ge t th e moonroo f wrenc h ou t o f
th e too l ki t i n th e trunk . ROUN
D PLU G
4 . Us e a screwdrive r o r coi n to
remov e th e roun d plu g in th e
cente r o f th e headliner . 5
. Inser t th e moonroo f wrenc h int o
th e socke t behin d thi s plug . Tur n
th e wrenc h unti l th e moonroo f i s

full y closed .

6 . Remov e th e wrench . Replac e th e

roun d plug .

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

SOCKE
T

Fuse
s

Al l th e electrica l circuit s i n you r ca r
hav e fuse s t o protec t the m fro m a
shor t circui t o r overload . Thes e
fuse s ar e locate d i n tw o o r thre e fus e
boxes .
Th e interio r fus e bo x i s underneat h
th e dashboar d o n th e driver' s side .
Remov e th e fus e bo x li d b y swingin g
th e li d dow n an d pullin g it straigh t
ou t o f it s hinges .
TA
B
UNDER-HOOD

Th e under-hoo d fus e bo x is locate d
i n th e engin e compartmen t nex t t o
th e battery . T o ope n it , pus h th e ta b

a s shown .
AB
S FUS E BO X
Car s equippe d wit h AB S hav e a thir d
fus e bo x fo r th e ABS . I t i s i n th e
engin e compartmen t o n th e passen -
ger' s side .
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
INTERIO
R

Fuse
s
Checkin g an d Replacin g Fuse s

I f somethin g electrica l i n you r ca r
stop s working , th e firs t thin g yo u
shoul d chec k fo r i s a blow n fuse .
Determin e fro m th e char t o n page s
25 7 an d 25 8 , o r th e diagra m on th e
fus e bo x lid , whic h fus e o r fuse s
contro l tha t component . Chec k thos e
fuse s first , bu t chec k al l th e fuse s
befor e decidin g tha t a blow n fus e is
no t th e cause . Replac e an y blow n
fuse s an d chec k th e component' s

operation .

1 . Tur n th e ignitio n switc h to LOC K
(0) . Mak e sur e th e headlight s an d
al l othe r accessorie s ar e off .
2 . Remov e th e cove r fro m th e fus e
box .
FUS
E

BLOWN
3 . Chec k eac h o f th e larg e fuse s i n
th e under-hoo d fus e bo x b y
lookin g throug h th e to p a t th e wir e
inside . Removin g thes e fuse s
require s a Phillips-hea d screw -

driver .
FUS
E PULLE R

4 . Chec k th e smalle r fuse s i n th e
under-hoo d fus e bo x an d al l th e
fuse s i n th e interio r fus e bo x b y
pullin g ou t eac h fus e wit h th e fus e
pulle r provide d i n th e interio r fus e
box .

CONTINUED

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Fuse
s

BLOW N
5 . Loo k fo r a burne d wir e insid e th e
fuse . I f i t i s burned , replac e it wit h
on e o f th e spar e fuse s o f th e sam e
ratin g o r lower .
I f yo u canno t driv e th e ca r withou t
fixin g th e problem , an d yo u d o no t
hav e a spar e fuse , tak e a fus e o f th e
sam e ratin g o r a lowe r ratin g fro m
on e o f th e othe r circuits . Mak e sur e
yo u ca n d o withou t tha t circui t
temporaril y (suc h a s th e accessor y
powe r socke t o r radio) . I
f yo u replac e th e blow n fus e wit h a
spar e fus e tha t ha s a lowe r rating , i t
migh t blo w ou t again . Thi s doe s no t

indicat e anythin g wrong . Replac e th e

fus e wit h on e o f th e correc t ratin g a s

soo n a s yo u can .

Replacing a fuse with one that has a higher rating greatly increases the
chances of damaging the electrical
system. If you do not have a replace-
ment fuse with the proper rating for the
circuit, install one with a lower rating.

6 . I f th e replacemen t fus e o f th e
sam e ratin g blow s in a shor t time ,
ther e is probabl y a seriou s
electrica l proble m in you r car .
Leav e th e blow n fus e in tha t
circui t an d hav e you r ca r checke d

b y a qualifie d mechanic .
On U.S. DX Value Package and EX

models

I f th e radi o fus e is removed , th e
audi o syste m wil l disabl e itself . Th e
nex t tim e yo u tur n o n th e radi o yo u wil
l se e " " in th e frequenc y
display . Us e th e Prese t button s t o
ente r th e five-digi t cod e (se e pag e

139 ).

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
NOTIC
E

Fuse
s

INTERIO R FUS E BO X

* :
O n Canadia n model s

CONTINUED
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d