HONDA CIVIC SEDAN 2001 Owner's Manual (in English)

The f luid level should be between
theMINandMAXmarksontheside
of the reservoir. If the level is at or
below the MIN mark, your brake
system needs attention. Have the
brake system inspected f or leaks or
worn brake pads.
Always use genuine Honda DOT 3
brake f luid. If it is not available, you
should use only DOT 3 or DOT 4
f luid, f rom a sealed container, as a
temporary replacement. However,
theuseof anynon-Hondabrakefluid
can cause corrosion and decrease
the lif e of the system. Have the
brake system f lushed and ref illed
with Honda DOT 3 brake f luid as
soon as possible.
Brake f luid marked DOT 5 is not
compatible with your car’s braking
system and can cause extensive
damage.
Check the f luid level in the reser-
voirs monthly. There are up to two
reservoirs, depending on the model.
They are:
Brake f luid reservoir (all models)
Clutch f luid reservoir
(manual transmission only)
The brake f luid should be replaced
accordingtothetimeanddistance
recommendations in the mainte-
nance schedule.
Brake and Clutch Fluid
Maint enance
Brake System
218
M M A
AX
X
M
M I
INN

The f luid should be between the
MIN and MAX marks on the side of
the reservoir. If it is not, add brake
f luid to bring it up to that level. Use
the same f luid specif ied f or the
brake system.
Low f luid level can indicate a leak in
the clutch system. Have this system
inspected as soon as possible.
Brake and Clutch Fluid
Maint enance
Clutch System
219
M MA
AX
X
M
M I
INN

A low power steering f luid level can
indicate a leak in the system. Check
the f luid level f requently and have
the system inspected as soon as
possible.
Always use genuine Honda Power
Steering Fluid. If it is not available,
you may use another power steering
f luid as an emergency replacement.
However, continued use can cause
increased wear and poor steering in
cold weather. Have the power
steering system f lushed and ref illed
with Honda PSF as soon as possible.
You should check the f luid level in
the power steering reservoir at least
once a year. Check the level when
the engine is cold. Look at the side
of the reservoir. The f luid should be
between the UPPER LEVEL and
LOWER LEVEL. If it is below the
LOWER LEVEL, add power steering
f luid to the UPPER LEVEL.
Power Steering
Maint enance220
U UP
PP
PE
ER
R L
LEE V
V E
EL
L
L
LO OW WE ER
R L
LEE V
V E
EL
L
T urning the steering wheel to f ull lef t
or right lock and holding it there can
damage the power steering pump.

The air cleaner element should be
replaced according to the time and
distance recommendations in the
maintenance schedule.Caref ully clean the inside of the
air cleaner housing with a damp
rag.
Place the new air cleaner element
in the air cleaner housing.
The air cleaner element is inside the
air cleaner housing in the engine
compartment.
To replace it:Loosen the seven bolts and
remove the air cleaner housing
cover.
Remove the old air cleaner
element. Reinstall the air cleaner housing
cover, tighten the seven bolts.
1.
3.
2. 4.
5.
Replacement
Maint enance
A ir Cleaner Element
221
A A
I
IRR C
CLLEE A
A N
NE ER
R E
EL
LEE M
M E
EN
NT T
B
BO
OL LTT S
S
B
BO OL LTT S
S

Clean the hood latch assembly with a
mild cleaner, then lubricate it with a
multipurpose grease. Lubricate all
the moving parts, including the pivot.
Follow the time and distance
recommendations in the
Maintenance Schedule. If you are
not sure how to clean and grease the
latch, contact your Honda dealer.
Maint enance
Hood L at ch
222
P PI
IVV O
OT TS
S

The spark plugs in your car should
be replaced according to the time
and distance recommendations in
the maintenance schedule.Disconnect the wire connector
f rom the ignition coil by pushing
on the lock tab and pulling on the
connector. Pull on the plastic
connector, not the wires.
Remove the cover by turning the
two clips one quarter turn
counterclockwise.
Clean up any dirt and oil that have
collected around the ignition coils.
1.
2.
3.
CONT INUED
Maint enance
Spark Plugs
Replacement
223
C CL
LIIPP S
S

Put the new spark plug into the
socket; then screw it into the hole.
Screw it in by hand so you do not
crossthread it.Torque the spark plug. (If you do
not have a torque wrench, tighten
the spark plug two-thirds of a turn
af ter it contacts the cylinder head.)
Tightening torque:
Remove the spark plug with
a f ive-eighths inch (16 mm) spark
plug socket. Use a wrench to remove the nut
holding the ignition coil. Remove
the ignition coil by pulling it
straight out.
4.
5. 6.
7.
Spark Plugs
Maint enance224
13 lbf·ft (18 N·m , 1.8 kgf·m)

´
µSpark Plug Gap:
Push the wire connector onto the
ignition coil. Make sure it locks in
place.
Repeat this procedure f or the
other three spark plugs.
Reinstall the cover. Install the ignition coil. Reinstall
the nut.
NGK:
DENSO:
8.
11. 10. 9.
Maint enance
Spark Plugs
Specif ications:
225
PZFR6F-11
PKJ20CR-M11
0.04 in (1.1 mm)
0
0.1 mm
Tighten the spark plugs caref ully. A
spark plug that is too loose can
overheat and damage the engine.
Overtightening can cause damage to
the threads in the cylinder head.

Check the battery terminals for
corrosion (a white or yellowish
powder). To remove it, cover the
terminals with a solution of baking
soda and water. It will bubble up and
turn brown. When this stops, wash it
of f with plain water. Dry of f the
battery with a cloth or paper towel.
Coat the terminals with grease to
help prevent f uture corrosion.
Check the battery condition by
looking at the test indicator window
on the battery.
The label on the battery explains the
test indicator’s colors.
Check the condition of your car’s
battery monthly. You should check
the color of the test indicator window,
and f or corrosion on the terminals.
Battery posts,
terminals and related accessories
contain lead and lead compounds.
Battery
Maint enance
WARNING:
Wash hands af ter handling.
226
T T E
ES
ST T I
INND DI
ICCA A T
TO
OR R W
WI INND DO
OW W

µ
If the terminals are severely cor-
roded, clean them with baking soda
and water. Then use a wrench to
loosen and remove the cables f rom
the terminals. Always disconnect the
negative ( ) cable f irst and recon-
nect it last. Clean the battery termi-
nals with a terminal cleaning tool or
wire brush. Reconnect and tighten
the cables, then coat the terminals
with grease. If you need to connect the battery to
a charger, disconnect both cables to
prevent damage to the car’s
electrical system.
If your car’s battery is disconnected
or goes dead, the audio system will
disableitself.Thenexttimeyouturn
on the radio you will see ‘‘ ’’
in the f requency display. Use the
Preset buttons to enter the five-digit
code (see page ).157
On EX and Canadian LX models
Battery
Maint enance227
The battery gives off explosive
hydrogen gas during normal
operation.
A spark or flame can cause the
battery to explode with enough
force to kill or seriously hurt you.
Wear protective clothing and a
face shield, or have a skilled
mechanic do the battery
maintenance. Charging the battery with the cables
connected can seriously damage your
car’s electronic controls. Detach the
battery cables bef ore connecting the
battery to a charger.