HONDA CR-Z 2011 1.G Owners Manual

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Driving
This chapter describes driving, refueling, and information on items such as accessories.
191
Before Driving
Driving Preparation ................................. 192
Maximum Load Limit .............................. 194
Towing a Trailer Towing Your Vehicle .............................. 196
When Driving Starting the Engine ................................. 197
Precautions While Driving ....................... 200
Automatic Transmission (CVT) ................ 201Shifting (Automatic Transmission - CVT) .202
Shifting (Manual Transmission) ............... 207
3-Mode Drive System ............................. 210
Cruise Control ........................................ 211 VSA
®
(Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC
(Electronic Stability Control), System ....... 214TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) .216
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) -
Required Federal Explanation .................. 217
Braking Brake System .......................................... 219
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) .................. 221
Brake Assist System ................................ 222
Parking Your Vehicle When Stopped ....................................... 223Auto Idle Stop (Automatic Transmission -
CVT) ....................................................... 224 Auto Idle Stop (Manual Transmission) ..... 227
Parking ................................................... 230
Refueling Fuel Information ..................................... 231
How to Refuel ........................................ 232
Fuel Economy Improving Fuel Economy ........................ 234
Accessories and Modifications Accessories ............................................. 235
Modifications ......................................... 235
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Driving
Before Driving
Driving Preparation
Check the following items before you start driving.Check Items Before Getting In the Vehicle

■
Make sure there is no obstruction on the windows, door mirrors, exterior lights,

•
or other parts of the vehicle.
Remove any frost, snow, or ice.
Remove any snow on the roof, as this can slip down and obstruct your field of
vision while driving. When frozen hard, remove ice once it has softened.
When removing ice from around the wheels, be sure not to damage the wheel or wheel components.
Make sure the hood is securely closed.

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If the hood opens while driving, your front view will be blocked.
Make sure the tires are in good condition.

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Check air pressures, and check for damage and excessive wear.
Checking and Maintaining Tires P.269
Make sure there is no person or object behind or around the vehicle.

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There are blind spots from the inside.
Check Items in the Compartment

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Store or secure all items on board properly.

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Carrying too much cargo, or improperly storing it, can affect your vehicle’s
handling, stability, stopping distance, and tires, and make it unsafe.
Maximum Load Limit P.194
Do not pile items higher than the seat height.

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They can block your view and may be thrown forward in the event of sudden
braking.
Check Items Before Getting On the Vehicle
NOTICE If the doors are frozen shut, use warm water around the door edges to melt any ice. Do not try to force them open, as this can damage the rubber trim around the doors. When done, wipe dry to avoid further freezing. Do not pour warm water into the key cylinder. You will be unable to insert key if the hole freezes.
Check Items in the Compartment
The headlight aim is set by the factory, and typically does not need to be adjusted. However, if you regularly carry heavy items in the cargo area, have the aiming readjusted at your dealer or by a qualiied technician.
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Driving
Before Driving Driving Preparation
Do not place anything in the seat footwells. Make sure to secure the floor mats.

•
An object or unsecured floor mat can interfere with your brake and
accelerator pedal operation while driving.
If you have any animals on board, do not let them move around in the vehicle.

•
They may interfere with driving and a crash could occur.
Securely close and lock both doors and the hatch.

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Locking and Unlocking the Doors from Inside P.102
Adjust your seating position properly.

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Adjusting the Seats P.119
Adjust the mirrors and steering wheel properly for your driving.

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Adjust them while sitting in the proper driving position.
Adjusting the Mirrors P.118
Steering Wheel Adjustments P.117
Be sure items placed on the floor behind the driver’s and passenger’s seats

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cannot roll under the seats.
They can interfere with the driver’s ability to operate the pedals, the operation
of the seats, or the operation of the sensors under the seats.
Everyone in the vehicle must fasten their seat belt.

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Fastening a Seat Belt P.37
Make sure that the indicators in the instrument panel come on when you start

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the vehicle, and go off soon after.
Always have a dealer check the vehicle if any of the indicators indicate a
problem.
Indicators P.68
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Driving
Before Driving Maximum Load Limit
Maximum Load Limit The maximum load for your vehicle is 400 lbs (181 kg). See Tire and Loading Information label attached to the driver’s doorjamb. This figure includes the total weight of all occupants, cargo, and accessories, and the tongue load if you are towing a trailer. Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit - (1) Locate the statement “The combined weight of occupants and cargo
should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs.” on your vehicle’s placard.
(2) Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers that will
be riding in your vehicle.
(3) Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers from XXX
kg or XXX lbs.
(4) The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and luggage
load capacity. For example, if the “XXX” amount equals 1,400 lbs. and there will be five 150 lb. passengers in your vehicle, the amount of available cargo and luggage load capacity is 650 lbs. (1,400 - 750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs.)
Maximum Load Limit
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): The maximum allowable weight of the
vehicle, all occupants, all accessories, and all cargo.
Specifications P. 3 12
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR): The maximum allowable weight of the vehicle axle.
Specifications P. 3 12
WARNING
Overloading or improper loading can affect handling and stability and cause a crash in which you can be hurt or killed. Follow all load limits and other loading guidelines in this manual.Label Example
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Driving
Before Driving Maximum Load Limit
(5) Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being loaded on
the vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed the available cargo and luggage load capacity calculated in step 4.
(6) If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your trailer will be
transferred to your vehicle. Consult this manual to determine how this reduces the available cargo and luggage load capacity of your vehicle.
In addition, the total weight of the vehicle, all occupants, accessories, cargo, and trailer tongue load must not exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). Both are on a label on the driver’s doorjamb.
Max Load 400 lbs
(181 kg) Cargo Weight
250 lbs
(113 kg)
Passenger Weight
150 lbs x 1 = 150 lbs (68 kg x 1 = 68 kg)
Max Load 400 lbs
(181 kg) Cargo Weight
100 lbs (45 kg)
Passenger Weight
150 lbs x 2 = 300 lbs (68 kg x 2 = 136 kg)
Load Limits Example Example 1 Example 2
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Driving
Towing a Trailer
Your vehicle is not designed to tow a trailer. Attempting to do so can void your warranties. Towing Your Vehicle Your vehicle is not designed to be towed behind a motor home. If your vehicle needs to be towed in an emergency, refer to the emergency towing information.
Emergency Towing P.308
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Driving
When Driving
Starting the Engine
1. Make sure the parking brake is applied.
Automatic transmission (CVT) model
Check that the shift lever is in
2. P, then
depress the brake pedal.
Although it is possible to start the vehicle in
N, it is safer to start it in P.
Manual transmission model
Check that the shift lever is in
2. N. Then
depress the brake pedal with your right foot, and the clutch pedal with your left foot.
The clutch pedal must be fully depressed to start the engine.
Starting the Engine
Keep your foot irmly on the brake pedal when starting the engine. The engine is harder to start in cold weather and in thinner air found at altitudes above 8,000 feet (2,400 meters). When starting the engine in cold weather, turn off all electrical accessories such as the lights, climate control system, and rear defogger in order to reduce battery drain. If the exhaust sounds abnormal or if you can smell exhaust gas inside the vehicle, have your vehicle checked by a dealer. There may be a problem with the engine or exhaust system.
Brake Pedal
Brake Pedal
Clutch Pedal
continued
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Driving
When Driving Starting the Engine
3. Turn the ignition switch to START
without depressing the accelerator pedal.
Starting to Drive

■
Automatic transmission (CVT) model
Keeping your right foot on the brake pedal, release the parking brake. Check
1.
that the brake system indicator has gone off.
Parking Brake P.219
Put the shift lever in
2.
D. Select R when reversing.
Gradually release the brake pedal and gently depress the accelerator pedal to
3.
pull away.
Starting the Engine
Do not hold the key in START
for more than 15
seconds.
If the engine does not start right away, wait for

•
at least 10 seconds before trying again. If the engine starts, but then immediately stops,

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wait at least 10 seconds before repeating step 3 while gently depressing the accelerator pedal. Release the accelerator pedal once the engine starts.
The immobilizer system protects your vehicle from theft. If an improperly coded key (or other device) is used, the engine's fuel system is disabled.
Immobilizer System P.1 0 5
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Driving
When Driving Starting the Engine
Creep Aid System
■
Automatic transmission (CVT) model
With the shift lever in D or N, this feature applies brake pressure briefly as you
release the brake pedal to prevent the vehicle from moving unexpectedly.
Hill Start Assist System
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Manual transmission model
Hill start assist feature helps to prevent the vehicle from rolling on inclines as you move your foot from the brake pedal to the accelerator. Depress the clutch pedal, and shift to
1 when facing uphill, or R when facing
downhill, then release the brake pedal. The brakes remain engaged briefly as you release the brake pedal.
Hill Start Assist System
Hill start assist may not prevent the vehicle from rolling downhill on a very steep or slippery slope, and will not operate on small inclines. Hill start assist is not a replacement for the parking brake. Hill start assist will still operate even when VSA ®
is
switched off.
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