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

Parkin
g Brak e

T o appl y th e parkin g brake , pul l th e
leve r u p fully . T o releas e it , pul l u p
slightly , pus h th e button , an d lowe r
th e lever . Th e parkin g brak e ligh t o n
th e instrumen t pane l shoul d g o ou t
whe n th e parkin g brak e is full y
release d (se e pag e 55 ). Driving the car with the parking brake
applied can damage the rear brakes
and axles.

Instruments an d Control s

PARKIN
G BRAK E LEVE R NOTIC
E

Drivin
g

Thi s sectio n give s yo u tip s o n
startin g th e engin e unde r variou s
conditions , an d ho w to operat e th e
5-spee d manua l an d automati c
transmissions . I t als o include s impor -
tan t informatio n o n parkin g you r car ,
an d th e brakin g system . Preparin
g to Drive........................ . 15 6
Startin g th e Engine....................... . 15 7
Startin g i n Col d Weathe r
a t Hig h Altitud e .................... . 15 7
5-spee d Manua l Transmission.... . 15 8
Recommende d Shif t Points..... . 15 9
Engin e Spee d Limiter.............. . 15 9
Automati c Transmission.............. . 16 0
Shif t Leve r Positio n Indicator. . 16 0
Shif t Leve r Positions................ . 16 1
Engin e Spee d Limite r .............. . 16 3
Shif t Loc k Release.................... . 16 4
Parking........................................... . 16 5
Parkin g Tips.............................. . 16 5
Th e Brakin g System..................... . 16 6
Brak e Wea r Indicators............. . 16 6
Brak e Syste m Design............... . 16 7
Anti-loc k Brakes....................... . 16 7
Importan t Safet y
Reminders......................... . 16 8
AB S Indicator........................ . 16 9
Drivin g in Ba d Weather............... . 17 0
Towin g a Trailer........................... . 17 1

Drivin g

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

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

Inde
x

Belts , Seat.................................... . 8 , 4 2
Beverag e Holder............................. . 8 6
Bod y Repairs................................. . 23 6

Brake s

Anti-loc k Syste m (ABS)........... . 16 7
Break-in , Ne w Lining s ............. . 14 2

Fluid........................................... . 19 8

Light , Burned-out..................... . 22 3

Parking......................................... . 8 5

Syste m Indicator................. . 55 , 25 2
Wea r Indicators........................ . 16 6
Brakes , AB S
Operation................................... . 16 7
Syste m Indicator................. .55, 16 9
Brakin g System............................. . 16 6
Break-in , Ne w Car........................ . 14 2
Brightnes s Control , Instruments.. . 6 2
Brights , Headlights........................ . 6 1
Bul b Replacemen t
Back-u p Lights.......................... . 22 4
Brak e Lights.............................. . 22 3
Ceilin g Light.............................. . 22 7
Fron t Parkin g Lights................ . 22 1
Fron t Sid e Marke r Lights........ . 22 1
Headlights................................. . 22 0
High-moun t Brak e Light......... . 22 5 Licens
e Plat e Lights................. . 22 6

Rea r Sid e Marke r Lights......... . 22 3

Specifications............................ . 26 5
Spotlights................................... . 22 7

Trun k Light............................... . 22 8

Tur n Signa l Lights.................... . 22 1
Bulbs , Halogen.............................. . 22 0

Cables , Jum p Startin g With......... . 24 6

Capacitie s Chart............................ . 26 4

Carbo n Monoxid e Hazard............. . 4 9

Carryin g Cargo............................. . 15 1

Cassett e Playe r

Care............................................ . 13 8

Operation................... .
102, 113, 135

CAUTION , Explanatio n
of..............
. i i
C D Changer.................. .104 , 117 , 13 1

C D Player...................... .104 , 117 ,

129

Ceilin g Light.................................... .
8
8
Certificatio n Label........................ . 26 2

Chains............................................ . 21 7

Chang e Oi l

Ho w to........................................ . 18 9

Whe n to...................................... . 17 8
Changin
g a Fla t Tire.................... . 23 9
Changin g Engin e Coolant............ . 19 3
Chargin g Syste m Indicato r ... . 55 , 25 0

Checkin g

Automati c Transmissio n

Fluid....................................... . 19 7

Batter y Condition..................... . 20 5

Brak e Fluid................................ . 19 8

Clutc h Fluid............................... . 19 9

Driv e Belts................................. . 21 0
Engin e Coolant.......................... . 14 7

Engin e Oil.................................. . 14 6

Fuses.......................................... . 25 5
Manua l Transmissio n Fluid.... . 19 8
Powe r Steerin g Fluid................ . 20 0
Checklist , Befor e Driving............ . 15 6
Chil d Safety..................................... . 2 1
Childproo f Doo r Locks.................. . 7 5
Cleane r Element , Air.................... . 20 1

Cleanin g

Exterior...................................... . 23 2
Interior....................................... . 23 4
Sea t Belts................................... . 23 4

Vinyl........................................... . 23 4

Windows.................................... . 23 5
Clock , Settin g the......... . 101 , 112 , 12 6