warning HONDA CIVIC HYBRID 2009 8.G User Guide
Page 95 of 384
To change the seat-back angle of the
f ront seat, pull up the lever on the
outside of the seat bottom.
Once a seat is adjusted correctly,
rock it back and f orth to make sure it
is locked in position.The height of your driver’s seat is
adjustable. To raise the seat,
repeatedly pull up the lever on the
outside of the seat cushion. To lower
the seat, push the lever down
repeatedly.Your vehicle is equipped with head
restraints in all seating positions to
help protect you and your
passengers f rom whiplash and other
injuries.
See pagef or important saf ety
inf ormation and a warning aboutimproperly positioning head restraints. 13
Driver’s Seat Height Adjustment Head Restraints
Seats
92
\f—\f—
y\fy
(#\fy\f\fy
2009 Civic Hybrid
Page 324 of 384
µ
Check the condition of the 12 volt
battery monthly by looking at the
test indicator window. The label on
the battery explains the test
indicator’s colors.
If your vehicle’s 12 volt battery is
disconnected or goes dead, the IMA
battery level gauge reading will not
be correct the next time you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. It will show less than the
actual level temporarily. It will show
the correct level af ter you drive f or
at least 30 minutes.
Check the terminals f or 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 off the battery with a
cloth or paper towel. Coat the
terminals with grease to help prevent
f urther corrosion.
If additional battery maintenance is
needed, see your dealer or a
qualif ied technician.
Battery posts,
terminals, and related accessories
contain lead and lead compounds.
If you need to connect the battery to
a charger, disconnect both cables to
prevent damaging your vehicle’s
electrical system. Always disconnect
the negative ( ) cable first, and
reconnect it last.
WARNING:
Wash your hands af ter handling.
Checking the 12 Volt Battery
Maint enance
321
TEST INDICATOR WINDOW
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
technician do the battery
maintenance.
——
y
y
(#yy
2009 Civic Hybrid
Page 328 of 384
CONT INUED
If you have a f lat tire while driving,
stop in a saf e place to change it.
Drive slowly along the shoulder until
you get to an exit or an area to stop
that is far away from the traffic lanes.
Park the vehicle on f irm, level, and
non-slippery ground. Put the
transmission in Park. Apply the
parking brake.
Open the trunk. Raise the trunk
f loor by lif ting up on the back edge.
Turn on the hazard warning lights,
and turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK (0) position. Have all
passengers get out of the vehicle
while you change the tire.
Take the tool case out of the spare
tire.
Unscrew the wing bolt and take
the spare tire out of its well.
5.
4.
3.
2.
1.
Changing a Flat Tire
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
325
JACK
SPARE TIRETRUNK FLOOR
TOOL CASE
The vehicle can easily roll off
the jack, seriously injuring
anyone underneath.
Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and
never get under the vehicle
when it is supported only by the
jack.
——
y
y
(#yy
2009 Civic Hybrid
Page 336 of 384
The reading on the vehicle’s
temperature gauge should stay in
the midrange. If it climbs to the red
mark, you should determine the
reason (hot day, driving up a steep
hill, etc.).
When the current f uel mileage is
shownonthedisplay,the
temperature gauge will interrupt on
the display and blink for several
times if the coolant temperature
rises to 224°F (118°C) or more. At
the same time, the beeper sounds
once.
If your vehicle overheats, you should
take immediate action. The only
indicationmaybethetemperature
gauge climbing to or above the red
mark. Or you may see steam or
spray coming f rom under the hood.
If you see steam and/or spray
coming f rom under the hood, turn
of f the engine. Wait until you see
no more signs of steam or spray,
then open the hood.
If you do not see steam or spray,
leave the engine running, and
watch the temperature gauge. If
the high heat is due to overloading,
the engine should start to cool
down almost immediately. If it
does, wait until the temperature
gauge reading comes down to the
midpoint, then continue driving.
If the temperature gauge stays at
the red mark, turn of f the engine.
Saf ely pull to the side of the road.
Put the transmission in Park, and
set the parking brake. Turn of f all
accessories, and turn on the
hazard warning lights.
1.
2.
3.
4.
CONT INUED
If theEngineOverheats
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
333
Steam and spray from an
overheated engine can
seriously scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out.
Driving with the temperature gauge
reading at the red mark can cause
serious damage to your engine.
——
y
y
(#yy
2009 Civic Hybrid
Page 338 of 384
If necessary, add oil to bring the
level back to the full mark on the
dipstick (see page ).The engine running generates the oil
pressure. When the Auto Idle Stop is
activated, the engine is stopped, the
oil pressure is dropped, and the low
oil pressure indicator does not come
on.
Saf ely pull of f the road, and shut
of f the engine. Turn on the hazard
warning lights.
Let the vehicle sit f or a minute.
Open the hood, and check the oil
level (see page ). An engine
very low on oil can lose pressure
during cornering and other driving
maneuvers.
Start the engine and watch the oil
pressure indicator. If it does not go
out within 10 seconds, turn of f the
engine. There is a mechanical
problem that needs to be repaired
bef ore you can continue driving
(see
on page
).
This indicator should never
come on when the engine is
running. If it starts f lashing or stays
on, the oil pressure has dropped very
low or lost pressure. Serious engine
damage is possible, and you should
take immediate action. 1.
2.
3.
4.257
297
345
L ow Oil Pressure Indicator
Emergency T owing
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed
335
Running the engine with low oil
pressure can cause serious mechanical
damage almost immediately. Turn of f
the engine as soon as you can saf ely get
the vehicle stopped.
——
y
y
(#yy
2009 Civic Hybrid
Page 355 of 384
Quality grades can be f ound where
applicable on the tire sidewall
between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For
example:
All passenger car tires must conf orm
to Federal Saf ety Requirements in
addition to these grades.The traction grades, f rom highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. Those
grades represent the tire’s ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on
specif ied government test surf aces
of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction
perf ormance.
Warning: The traction grade
assignedtothistireisbasedon
straight-ahead braking traction tests,
and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak
traction characteristics.
The tires on your vehicle meet all
U.S. Federal Saf ety Requirements.
All tires are also graded f or
treadwear, traction, and temperature
perf ormance according to
Department of Transportation
(DOT) standards. The f ollowing
explains these gradings.
The treadwear grade is a compara-
tive rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specif ied government
test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and one-
half (1 1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded
100. The relative perf ormance of
tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may
depart signif icantly f rom the norm
due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and dif f erences in
road characteristics and climate.
Unif orm T ire Quality Grading
T readwear 200
Traction AA
Temperature A T readwear
T raction
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
352
\f—\f—
y
\f
y
(#\fy\fy
2009 Civic Hybrid
Page 356 of 384
The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B, and C, representing the
tire’s resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled
conditions on a specif ied indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high
temperature can cause the material
of the tire to degenerate and reduce
tire life, and excessive temperature
can lead to sudden tire f ailure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of
perf ormance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federal
Motor Vehicle Saf ety Standard No.
109. Grades B and A represent
higher levels of perf ormance on the
laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.Warning: The temperature grade f or
this tire is established f or a tire that
is properly inf lated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinf lation, or excessive loading,
either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible
tire f ailure.
The tires that came on your vehicle
have a number of markings. Those
you should be aware of are described
below.
CONT INUED
Temperature
Tire L abeling
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles), Tire L abeling
Technical Inf ormation
353
(4) (3) (2)(1)
(1)
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
TIRE LABELING EXAMPLE
Tire Size
Maximum Tire Pressure
Maximum Tire Load
Tire Identification Number (TIN)
\f—\f—
y
\f
y
(#\fy\fy
2009 Civic Hybrid
Page 374 of 384
Î
CONT INUED
........
DOT Tire Quality Grading .352
...........
Driver and Passenger Safety .5
...........................................
Driving .269
....................................
Economy .259
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter .312
..............................
Economy, Fuel .259
............
Emergencies on the Road .323
.............
Battery, Jump Starting .331
...........
Brake System Indicator .338
................
Changing a Flat Tire .325
.....
Charging System Indicator .337
..................
Checking the Fuses .340
Low Oil Pressure
...........................
Indicator .62,335
Malf unction Indicator ................................
Lamp .62,337
..................
Overheated Engine .333
...........................
Emergency Brake .99
......................
Emergency Flashers .76
......................
Emergency Towing .345
............
Emergency Trunk Opener .88
.......................
Emissions Controls .357
........................
Emissions Testing .360Engine
....
Coolant Temperature Gauge .66
..............
Engine Speed Limiter .274
Malf unction Indicator
................................
Lamp .62,337
........
Oil Pressure Indicator .62,335
..............
Oil, What Kind to Use .297
...............................
Overheating .333
............................
Specif ications .350
.......................................
Starting .271
.
Evaporative Emissions Controls .357
...............................
Exhaust Fumes .52
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat ........................................
Belts by .16
...............
Gas Mileage, Improving .259
..........................................
Gasohol .254
...................................
Fan, Interior .105
.........................................
Features .103
....................
Filling the Fuel Tank .255
Filters
.........................
Dust and Pollen .312
...............................................
Oil .298
.............
Flashers, Hazard Warning .76
...................
Flat Tire, Changing a .325 Fluids
..........
Automatic Transmission .303
..........................................
Brake .304
..................
Windshield Washer .302
FM Stereo Radio ...................................
Reception .204
..........................
Four-way Flashers .76
..............................
Front Airbags .9,21
.................................................
Fuel .254
......................
Fill Door and Cap .255
...........................................
Gauge .66
................
Octane Requirement .254
...............................
Oxygenated .254
........................
Reserve Indicator .61
........................
Tank, Filling the .255
.....................
Fuses, Checking the .340
Index
F
E
G
INDEX
III
\f—\f—
y
\f
\fy
(#\fy\fy
2009 Civic Hybrid
Page 375 of 384
.........................................
Gasoline .254
...............
Fuel Reserve Indicator .61
...........................................
Gauge .66
................
Octane Requirement .254
........................
Tank, Filling the .255
................
Gas Station Procedures .255
Gauges
...
Engine Coolant Temperature .66
...............................................
Fuel .67
............
Gearshif t Lever Positions .272
..........
Automatic Transmission .272
......................................
Glove Box .101
.............
Halogen Headlight Bulbs .305
..............
Hazard Warning Flashers .76
Headlights
........................................
Aiming .305
............
Daytime Running Lights .75
..................
High Beam Indicator .60
........................
Reminder Beeper .74
........
Replacing Halogen Bulbs .305
...................................
Turning on .74
..............................
Head Restraints .92
...............................
Heated Mirrors .99...................................
Heaters, Seat .96
.............
High Altitude, Starting at .271
.................
High-Low Beam Switch .74
.......................
Hood, Opening the .256
..................................................
Horn .72
...
Identif ication Number, Vehicle .348
Ignition
..............................................
Keys .78
...........................................
Switch .80
............
Timing Control System .358
.........
Important Safety Precautions .6
.........
Indicators, Instrument Panel .58
...............................
Inf ant Restraint .39
Inf ant Seats ......
LATCH Anchorage System .43
...........................
Lower Anchors .43
...........................
Tether Anchors .47
.....
Inf lation, Recommended Tire .316
...................................
Pressures .316
........................
Inf ormation Display .65
...................................
Inside Mirror .98
.............................
Inspection, Tire .317
............................
Instrument Panel .57................
Instrument Panel Lights .58
........
Instrument Panel Brightness .75
...............................
Interior Lights .102
........................................
Introduction .i
.......................................
iPod
.130,183
.................
Jacking up the Vehicle .326
.......................................
Jack, Tire .325
................................
Jump Starting .331
..................................................
Keys .78
.......................
Label, Certif ication .348
.................
Lane Change, Signaling .74
..................
Lap/Shoulder Belts .14,18
...........
LATCH Anchorage System .43
Index
I
H J
K
L
IV
——
y
y
(#yy
2009 Civic Hybrid
Page 379 of 384
TransmissionChecking Fluid Level, ..............................
Automatic .303
..................
Fluid Selection .303,304
..............
Identif ication Number .388
.............
Shif ting the Automatic .273
.....................................
Treadwear .352
.......................................
Trip Meter .67
................................................
Trunk .88
........................................
Opening .88
...................
Open Monitor Light .60
....................................
Turn Signals .74
Unexpected, Taking Care ..........................................
of the .323
....
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading .362
........................
Unleaded Gasoline .254
......................
USB Adapter Cable .185
.
USB Flash Memory Device .142,196
.......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of .299
................................
Vanity Mirror .100.................
Vehicle Capacity Load .265
......................
Vehicle Dimensions .350
....
Vehicle Identif ication Number .349
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA
)
....................................
System .285
...
VSA Activation Indicator .64,285
.........................
VSA Of f Switch .286
........
VSA System Indicator .64,285
.............................
Vehicle Storage .322
.....................................
Ventilation .106
.................................................
VIN .348
..................................
Viscosity, Oil .297
............
WARNING, Explanation of .iii
.........
Warning Labels, Location of .53
....................
Warranty Coverages .365
Washer, Windshield ........
Checking the Fluid Level .302
.......................................
Indicator .61
.....................................
Operation .73
Wheels ...............
Adjusting the Steering .77
............
Alignment and Balance .318
.....................................
Cleaning .320..........................
Compact Spare .324
...............................
Nut Wrench .325
Windows ..................
Operating the Power .97
...........................
Rear, Def ogger .76
Windshield .......................................
Cleaning .73
...................................
Def roster .108
.......................................
Washers .73
Wipers, Windshield .......................
Changing Blades .312
.....................................
Operation .73
....................................
Worn Tires .317
.....
Wrecker, Emergency Towing .345
Index
V W
U
VIII
——yy
(#y
y
2009 Civic Hybrid