Engine: Service and Repair

1. Disconnect ground cable from battery, then the positive cable.
2. Mark position of hood hinges, disconnect washer hoses, then remove hood.
3. Remove engine and wheel well splash shields.
4. Drain engine oil, then reinstall drain plug using new sealing washer.
5. Drain radiator coolant into suitable container.
6. Drain transaxle lubricant into suitable container, then reinstall drain plug with new washer and torque to 29 ft. lbs.
7. Remove entire air cleaner assembly.
8. Disconnect engine compartment sub-harness connector located near right front shock tower.
9. Remove engine secondary ground cable located on valve cover.
10. Disconnect brake booster vacuum hose, then on models equipped with A/C, disconnect idle control solenoid valve.

Fig. 1 Control Box No. 1.:

11. Disconnect control box No. 1 connector, Fig. 1, then lift control box off the mounting bracket and allow it to hang near engine.
12. Disconnect purge control solenoid valve vacuum hose from charcoal canister.
13. On California and high altitude models, remove air jet controller and Nos. 2 and 3 control boxes if necessary, located near left front shock tower.
14. On 1985 models with power steering, remove power steering mount bolts and V-belt from power steering pump, then without disconnecting hose, pull pump away from its mounting bracket.
15. On all models, remove battery and battery tray.
16. Remove throttle cable from carburetor. To prevent kinking, do not bend throttle cable while removing it. If cable should become kinked, replace it.
17. Remove fuel hoses from fuel pump, then remove fuel pump and cover.
18. Disconnect spark plug wires, then remove distributor assembly.
19. Mark heater hoses to ensure correct assembly, then remove heater and radiator hoses. Do not disconnect heater valve cable.
20. On vehicles equipped with manual transaxle, proceed as follows:
a. Loosen clutch cable adjusting nut, then disconnect clutch cable from release arm.
b. Disconnect transmission ground cable, then the shift lever torque rod from clutch housing.
c. Slide shift lever coupler spring pin retainer aside, then using a suitable 8 mm punch, drive out shift lever coupler retaining spring pin and remove linkage.
21. On vehicles equipped with automatic transaxle, proceed as follows:
a. Disconnect transaxle oil cooler hoses from transaxle and allow to drain. Position hoses aside.
b. Remove center console, then position shift lever in Reverse and remove lock pin from end of shift cable.
c. Working underneath vehicle, remove cable mounting bolts from shift cable holder and cable guide.
d. Remove throttle control cable.
22. On all models, remove cable clip from speedometer cable holder, then the speedometer cable. Do not remove speedometer cable holder as drive gear may fall into transaxle housing.
23. Remove exhaust header pipe.
24. Remove right and left side ball joints, then pry right and left side CV joints out of transaxle.
25. Attach suitable hoist to engine, then raise engine slightly to remove load on engine mounts.
26. Remove rear transaxle mount bracket, then remove transaxle mount transaxle mount bolts.
27. Remove engine side mount bolt.
28. On vehicles equipped with A/C, proceed as follows:
a. Loosen A/C belt, then remove compressor mounting bolts and lift compressor from mounting bracket with hoses attached and wire it aside.
b. Remove compressor lower mounting bracket.
29. On all models, remove alternator belt and alternator.
30. Ensure all connections which would restrict engine removal are removed.
31. Lift engine and transaxle assembly approximately six inches, then repeat step 30.
32. Remove engine and transaxle assembly. After engine removal, coat all machined surfaces with clean engine oil or grease to prevent rust and corrosion. Tie plastic bags over driveshaft ends.

Fig. 2 Engine mount torque sequence. 1984-87 Civic:

33. Reverse procedure to install, noting the following:
a. Tighten engine mount bolts in 2 steps using sequence shown in Fig. 2. When tightening engine mounts, ensure bushings are not twisted or offset. Failure to tighten mounts in proper sequence may cause excessive vibration.
b. When installing driveshafts, use new spring clips and ensure driveshafts click into groove in differential.
c. After refilling cooling system, loosen bleed bolt located on upper radiator hose outlet. Start engine. Tighten bleed bolt when cooling system trapped air has escaped and coolant begins to flow.
d. Adjust all control cables to carburetor and transaxle as necessary.