Before adding transmission fluid, make sure that your engine was running when you checked the fluid level. If the transmission fluid level on your Civic is low, you need to add fluid through the dipstick tube. Honda has been developed sophisticated transmissions through years and it is critical that you add the exact type of transmission fluid stipulated by your owner's manual (typically in the back of the manual in a section titled Fluid Capacities.) When adding transmission fluid to your Civic, be sure to add it slowly as the transmission fluid capacity is reached quickly and it is difficult to remove excess fluid if you overfill.
If you are having problems with the transmission in your Civic, such as clunky shifting or hesitation, check the fluid level first - it is amazing how many drivers pay thousands of dollars for transmission work when a half quart of transmission fluid would have fixed the problem.
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