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

2001 Civic Sedan Online Reference Owner's Manual
Use these links (and links throughout this ma nual) to navigate through this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.helminc.com.
If you have a Civic GX refer to Civic Sedan GX Owner’s Manual Supplement
for additional information.
Contents
Introduction ........................................................................\
............................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safety ........................................................................\
.................................................. ii
Your Car at a Glance ........................................................................\
.............................................................. 2
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
............................................... 5
Proper use and care of your car's seat belts, and Supplemental Restraint System.
Instruments and Controls ........................................................................\
................................................... 57
Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
............................... 105
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features.
Before Driving ........................................................................\
.....................................................................159
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new car, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving........................................................................\
...................................................... .............................173
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, plus towing a trailer.
Maintenanc e........................................................................\
.........................................................................191
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your car to the dealer.
Appearance Care........................................................................\
.................................................................253
Tips on cleaning and protecting your car. Things to look for if your car ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpected........................................................................\
.......................................261
This section covers several problems motorists someti mes experience, and how to handle them.
Technical Information........................................................................\
...................................................... .289
ID numbers, dimensions, capaciti es, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)......................................................................303
A summary of the warranties covering your new Honda, and how to contact us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)........................................................................\
...................................... .309
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index ........................................................................\
......................................................................................... I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need wh en you pull up to the fuel pump.
Owner's Identification Form

This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
5-speed manual and automatic
transmissions. It also includes impor-
tant inf ormation on parking your car,
and the braking system.........................
Preparing to Drive .174
.......................
Starting the Engine .175
Starting in Cold Weather ....................
at High Altitude .175
....
5-speed Manual Transmission . 176
.....
Recommended Shif t Points . 177
..............
Engine Speed Limiter . 177
..............
Automatic Transmission . 178
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 178
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 179
..............
Engine Speed Limiter . 181
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 182
...........................................
Parking .183
..............................
Parking Tips .183
.....................
The Braking System .184
.............
Brake Wear Indicators . 184
...............
Brake System Design . 185
.......................
Anti-lock Brakes .185
Important Saf ety .........................
Reminders .186
........................
ABS Indicator .187
...............
Driving in Bad Weather . 188
...........................
Towing a Trailer .189
Driving
Driving173

If the engine does not start within
15 seconds, or starts but stalls
right away, repeat step 4 with the
accelerator pedal pressed half-way
down. If the engine starts, release
pressure on the accelerator pedal
so the engine does not race.
If the engine still does not start,
press the accelerator pedal all the
way down and hold it there while
starting in order to clear f looding.
As bef ore, keep the ignition key in
the START (III) position f or no
more than 15 seconds. Return to
step 5 if the engine does not start.
If it starts, lif t your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal so the engine
does not race.
Apply the parking brake.
In cold weather, turn of f all
electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery.
Push the clutch pedal down all the
way. START (III) does not
f unction unless the clutch pedal is
depressed.
Make sure the shif t lever is in
Park. Press on the brake pedal.
Without touching the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition key to the
START (III) position. If the engine
does not start right away, do not
hold the key in START (III) f or
more than 15 seconds at a time.
Pause f or at least 10 seconds
bef ore trying again.
An engine is harder to start in cold
weather. The thinner air f ound at
high altitude above 8,000 f eet (2,400 meters) adds to the problem.
Use the f ollowing procedure:
Turn of f all electrical accessories
to reduce the drain on the battery.
Push the accelerator pedal half-
way to the f loor and hold it there
while starting the engine. Do not
hold the ignition key in START
(III) f or more than 15 seconds.
When the engine starts, release
the accelerator pedal gradually as
the engine speeds up and smooths
out.
If the engine fails to start in step 2,
push the accelerator pedal to the
f loor and hold it there while you
try to start the engine for no more
than 15 seconds. If the engine
does not start, return to step 2.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
1.
2.
3.
Manual Transmission:
Automatic Transmission:
Starting the Engine
Driving
Starting in Cold Weather at High
A ltitude (A bove 8,000 f eet/
2,400 meters)
175

The manual transmission is syn-
chronizedinallforwardgearsfor
smooth operation. It has a lockout so
you cannot shift directly from Fifth
to Reverse. When shif ting up or
down,makesureyoupushtheclutch
pedal down all the way, shift to the
next gear, and let the pedal up
gradually. When you are not shif ting,
do not rest your f oot on the clutch
pedal. This can cause your clutch to
wear out faster.Come to a full stop before you shift
into Reverse. You can damage the
transmission by trying to shift into
Reverse with the car moving. Push
down the clutch pedal, and pause f or
a f ew seconds bef ore shif ting into
Reverse, or shif t into one of the
f orward gears f or a moment. This
stops the gears so they won’t ‘‘grind.’’
When slowing down, you can get
extra braking f rom the engine by
shifting to a lower gear. This extra
braking can help you maintain a safe
speed and prevent your brakes f rom
overheating while going down a
steep hill. Bef ore downshif ting,
make sure the vehicle speed is low
enough that you will not activate the
engine speed limiter in the lower
gear. On EX and LX models, make
sure the engine speed will not go into
the tachometer’s red zone in the
lower gear bef ore downshif ting.
5-speed Manual T ransmission
Driving176
Rapid slowing or speeding-up
can cause loss of control on
slippery surfaces. If you crash,
you can be injured.
Use extra care when driving on
slippery surfaces.

µMake sure the moonroof and the
windows are closed.
Make sure the parking brake is f ully
released bef ore driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or damage
the rear brakes. Turn of f the lights.
Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the trunk or take them with you.
Lockthedoorswiththekeyorthe
remote transmitter.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other f lammable
materials. The three way catalytic
converter gets very hot, and could
cause these materials to catch on
fire.
Always use the parking brake when
you park your car. The indicator on
the instrument panel shows that the
parking brake is not f ully released; it
does not indicate that the parking
brakeisfirmlyset.Makesurethe
parking brake is set f irmly or your
car may roll if it is parked on an
incline.
If your car has an automatic
transmission, set the parking brake
bef ore you put the transmission in
Park.Thiskeepsthecarfrom
moving and putting pressure on the
parking mechanism in the
transmission making it easier to
move the shift lever out of Park
when you want to drive away. If the car is f acing uphill, turn the
f ront wheels away f rom the curb. If
you have a manual transmission, put
it in f irst gear.
If the car is f acing downhill, turn the
f ront wheels toward the curb. If you
have a manual transmission, put it in
reverse gear.
Parking
Parking T ips
Driving183

This section also includes
Maintenance Schedules f or normal
driving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions f or simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself .
If you have the skills and tools to per-
f orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your Honda, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your Honda
dealer. This section explains why it is
important to keep your car well
maintained and to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.......................
Maintenance Saf ety .192
.
Important Safety Precautions . 193
.................
Maintenance Schedule . 194....................
Maintenance Record .201
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 203
..............................
Fluid Locations .204
......................................
Engine Oil .205
..................................
Adding Oil .205
....................
Recommended Oil .205
..............................
Synthetic Oil .205
....................................
Additives .205
.....
Changing the Oil and Filter . 207
.............................
Cooling System .209
............
Adding Engine Coolant . 209
.......
Replacing Engine Coolant . 211
....................
Windshield Washers .215
.......................
Transmission Fluid .216
Automatic .........................
Transmission .216
5-speed Manual .........................
Transmission .217
................
Brake and Clutch Fluid . 218
............................
Brake System .218
...........................
Clutch System .219
..............................
Power Steering .220
.....................
Air Cleaner Element .221
....................................
Hood Latch .222
....................................
Spark Plugs .223
..............................
Replacement .223 ............................
Specif ications .225
...........................................
Battery .226
.................................
Wiper Blades .228
..............
Air Conditioning System . 230
.................
Air Conditioning Filter . 231
.....................................
Drive Belts .233
....................................
Timing Belt .233
...............................................
Tires .234
......................................
Inf lation .234
Recommended Tire Pressures ...........
f or Normal Driving . 235
Tire Pressure Adjustment f or ..........
High Speed Driving . 235
..................................
Inspection .236
..............................
Maintenance .236
.............................
Tire Rotation .237
...
Replacing Tires and Wheels . 238
......................
Wheels and Tires .239
..........................
Winter Driving .239
.............................
Snow Tires .239
...................
Traction Devices . 240
.............................................
Lights .241
.....................
Headlight Aiming .243
........................
Replacing Bulbs .243
...........................
Storing Your Car .251
309
Maintenance
Maint enance191

Tightening torque: When the coolant stops draining,
tightenthedrainpluginthe
bottom of the radiator. Apply non-
hardening sealant to the drain bolt
threads, put a new washer on the
drain bolt, and reinstall the drain
bolt in the engine block. Tighten it
securely.Pour genuine Honda All Season
Antif reeze/Coolant Type 2 into
the radiator up to the base of the
f iller neck. This coolant is a
mixture of 50 percent antif reeze
and 50 percent water. Pre-mixing
is not required.The cooling system capacity is:
10.
11.
CONT INUED
With 5-speed manual transmission:With automatic transmission:
Cooling Syst em
Maint enance213
F FIILLL LEE R
R N
NEEC
CK K
F
Fi illll u
u p
p t
too h
he
erree
58 lbf·ft (78 N·m , 8.0 kgf·m) 1.03 US gal (3.9
, 0.86 Imp gal)
1.00 US gal (3.8
, 0.84 Imp gal)

If Honda MTF is not available, you
may use an API service SG, SH or SJ
grade motor oil with a viscosity of
SAE 10W-30 or 10W-40 as a
temporary replacement. An SG
grade is pref erred, but an SH or SJ
grade may be used if SG is not
available. However, motor oil does
not contain the proper additives and
continued use can cause stif f er
shif ting. Replace as soon as it is
convenient.
The transmission should be drained
and ref illed with new f luid according
to the time and distance recommen-
dations in the maintenance schedule.
Check the f luid level with the
transmission at normal operating
temperature and the car sitting on
level ground. Remove the
transmission f iller bolt and caref ully
f eel inside the bolt hole with your
f inger. The f luid level should be up
to the edge of the bolt hole. If it is
not, add genuine Honda Manual
Transmission Fluid (MTF) until it
starts to run out of the hole. Reinstall
the f iller bolt and tighten it securely.
Insert the dipstick all the way back
into the transmission securely as
shown in the illustration.
The transmission should be drained
and ref illed with new f luid according
to the time and distance recommen-
dations in the maintenance schedule. 6.
T ransmission Fluid
Maint enance
5-speed Manual Transmission
217
F FI ILLL LEE R
R B
BOOL LTT
C
Co or
rrreec ctt L
Leevveell

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

Block the rear wheels.
Fill the f uel tank.
Change the engine oil and f ilter
(see page ).
Wash and dry the exterior
completely.
Cleantheinterior.Makesurethe
carpeting, floor mats, etc. are
completely dry.
Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in Reverse
(5-speed manual) or Park
(automatic).
If you need to park your car f or an
extended period (more than one
month), there are several things you
should do to prepare it f or storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to
get your car back on the road. If
possible, store your car indoors.
If the car is to be stored for a
longer period, it should be
supported on jackstands so the
tires are of f the ground.
Leave one window open slightly (if
the car is being stored indoors).
Disconnect the battery.
Support the f ront wiper blade
arms with a f olded towel or rag so
they do not touch the windshield.
To minimize sticking, apply a
silicone spray lubricant to all door
and trunk seals. Also, apply a
vehiclebodywaxtothepainted
surfaces that mate with the door
and trunk seals.Coverthecarwitha‘‘breathable’’
cover, one made f rom a porous
material such as cotton.
Nonporous materials, such as
plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint.
If possible, run the engine f or a
while periodically (pref erably once
amonth).
If you store your car f or 12 months
or longer, have your Honda dealer
perf orm the inspections called f or in
the24monthsmaintenanceschedule
(Normal Conditions) as soon as you
take it out of storage (see page ).
The replacements called f or in the
maintenance schedule are not
needed unless the car has actually
reached that time or mileage.
207
196
Maint enance
St oring Your Car
251