HONDA ACCORD HYBRID 2007 CL7 / 7.G Owners Manual

This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
automatic transmission. It also
includes important inf ormation on
parking your vehicle, the braking
system, the vehicle stability assist
(VSA) system, and f acts you need if
you are planning to tow a trailer.
........................Preparing to Drive . 170
.......................Starting the Engine . 171
..............Automatic Transmission . 172
Shif t Lever Position
...............................Indicators . 172
.......................................Shif ting . 172
..............Engine Speed Limiter . 174
....................Shif t Lock Release . 175
............................Auto Idle Stop . 177
...........Auto Idle Stop Indicator . 178
...........................................Parking . 179
.............................Braking System . 180
...........Braking System Design . 180
.....Brake Pad Wear Indicators . 180
...............Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) . 181
............................ABS Indicator . 181
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA)
....................................System . 183
.........VSA Activation Indicator . 183
..............VSA System Indicator . 183
.........................VSA Of f Switch . 184
...................VSA and Tire Sizes . 184
...........................Towing a Trailer . 185
Driving
Driving
169
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Youshoulddothefollowingchecks
and adjustments bef ore you drive
your vehicle.Make sure all windows, mirrors,
and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove f rost, snow,
or ice.
Make sure the doors are securely
closed and locked.
Fasten your seat belt. Check that
your passengers have f astened
their seat belts (see page ). Check the steering wheel
adjustment (see page ).
Check that the hood is f ully closed.
Check that the trunk is f ully
closed.
Visually check the tires. If a tire
looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure.
Check that any items you may be
carrying are stored properly or
f astened down securely. Check the seat adjustment (see
pages to ).
Check the adjustment of the
inside and outside mirrors (see
pages and ).
When you start the engine, check
the gauges and indicators in the
instrument panel (see pages to
).
3. 2. 1.
4.
5. 6.
7.
8.
9.
11.
10. 16
90 92
93 94 80 73
59
Preparing to Drive
170
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Apply the parking brake.
In cold weather, turn of f all
electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery.
Make sure the shif t lever is in
Park. Press on the brake pedal.If the engine does not start within
15 seconds, or starts but stalls
right away, repeat step 4 with the
accelerator pedal pressed halfway
down. If the engine starts, release
pressure on the accelerator pedal
so the engine does not race.In cold weather, conventional starter
is used instead of the IMA system
starter. This is normal.
Without touching the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition key to the
START (III) position. Do not hold
the key in the START (III)
position f or more than 15 seconds
at a time. If the engine does not
start right away, pause for at least
10 seconds bef ore trying again. If the engine f ails to start, press the accelerator pedal all the way
down, and hold it there while
starting to clear flooding. If the
engine still does not start, return
to step 5.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
82
Starting the Engine
Starting in Cold Weather
Driving
171
T he immobilizer system protects your
vehicle f rom thef t. If an improperly-
coded key (or other device) is used, the
engine’s f uel system is disabled. For
more inf ormation, see page .
The engine is harder to start in cold
weather. Also, the thinner air f ound at
altitudes above 8,000 f eet (2,400
meters) adds to this problem.
06/08/08 14:44:22 31SDR620_176

If the malf unction indicator lamp
comes on along with the ‘‘D’’
indicator, there is a problem with the
automatic transmission control
system. Avoid rapid acceleration and
have the transmission checked by
your dealer as soon as possible.To shif t f rom Park to any position,
press firmly on the brake pedal and
pressthereleasebuttononthefront
of the shif t lever, then pull the lever.
YoucannotshiftoutofParkwhen
the ignition switch is in the LOCK
(0) or the ACCESSORY (I) position.
The ‘‘D’’ indicator comes on f or a
f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. If it f lashes while driving (in
any shif t position), it indicates a
possible problem in the transmission. These indicators between the tacho-
meter and speedometer show which
position the shif t lever is in.
To shift from: PtoR
RtoP
NtoR
Dto2 2to1
1to2
2toD
DtoD DtoN
DtoD NtoDRtoN Do this:
Press the brake pedal and
press the release button.
Press the release button.
Move the lever.
3
3
3
3
Automatic Transmission
Shif t L ever Position Indicators
Shif ting
172
SHIFT LEVER
RELEASE BUTTON
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µµ
µ
µ
µ
If you have done all of the above and
still cannot move the lever out of
Park, see on
page .
You must also press the release
button to shift into Park. To avoid
transmission damage, come to a
complete stop bef ore shif ting into
Park. The shif t lever must be in Park
bef ore you can remove the key f rom
the ignition switch.
Press the brake
pedal and press the release button to
shif t f rom Park to Reverse. To shif t
from Reverse to Neutral, come to a
completestopandthenshift.
This position is similar
to D, except only the first three
gears are selected instead of all f ive.
Use D when towing a trailer in hilly
terrain, or to provide engine braking
when going down a steep hill. D can
also keep the transmission f rom
cycling between third and f ourth
gears in stop-and-go driving.
Use this position f or
your normal driving. The
transmission automatically selects a
suitable gear for the vehicle speed
and acceleration. You may notice the
transmission shif ting up at higher
speeds when the engine is cold. This
helps the engine warm up f aster.
Use Neutral if you
need to restart a stalled engine, or if
it is necessary to stop brief ly with
the engine idling. Shif t to the Park
position if you need to leave your
vehicle and apply the parking brake.
Press on the brake pedal when you
are moving the shif t lever f rom
Neutral to another gear.
This position mechani-
cally locks the transmission. Use
Park whenever you are turning of f or
starting the engine. To shif t out of
Park, you must press on the brake
pedal and have your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal. Press the release
buttononthefrontof theshiftlever
to move it.
175
3
3
CONT INUED
Automatic Transmission
Shif t L ock Release
Reverse (R) Drive (D )
Drive (D)
Neutral (N)
Park (P)3
Driving
173
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µµThis position locks
the transmission in second gear. It
does not downshif t to f irst gear
when you come to a stop.
Use second gear:
For starting out on a slippery
surf ace or in deep snow.
To help reduce wheel spin.
When driving downhill with a
trailer. If you exceed the maximum speed
f or the gear you are in, the engine
speed will enter into the tachometer’s
red zone. If this occurs, you may f eel
the engine cut in and out. This is
caused by a limiter in the engine’s
computer controls. The engine will
run normally when you reduce the
rpm below the red zone.
For more power when climbing.
To increase engine braking when
going down steep hills. To shif t f rom second to
first, press the release button on the
f ront of the shif t lever. This position
locks the transmission in f irst gear.
By upshif ting and downshif ting
through 1, 2, D , and D, you can
operate this transmission much like
a manual transmission without a
clutch pedal.
3
Automatic Transmission
Second (2) Engine Speed L imiter
First (1)
174
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Put a cloth on the edge of the shif t
lock release slot cover next to the
shif t lever. Use a small f lat-tipped
screwdriverorfingernailfileto
remove the cover. Caref ully pry
of f the edge of the cover.Insert the key in the shift lock
release slot.
This allows you to move the shif t
lever out of Park if the normal
method of pushing on the brake
pedal and pressing the release
button does not work.
Remove the key from the ignition
switch. Set the parking brake.
1.
2.
3.4.
CONT INUED
Automatic Transmission
Shif t L ock Release
Driving
175
COVER
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Push down on the key while you
pressthereleasebuttononthe
shif t lever and move the shif t lever
out of Park to neutral.
Remove the key from the Shift
Lock Release slot, then reinstall
thecover.Makesurethenotchon
the cover is on the lef t side.
Depress the brake pedal and
restart the engine.If you need to use the shif t lock
release, it means your vehicle is
developing a problem. Have the
vehicle checked by your dealer.
5.
6.
Automatic Transmission
176
RELEASE
BUTTON
SHIFT LOCK RELEASE SLOT
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µ
µ The engine restarts when you
release the brake pedal. Even while
you are pressing down on the brake
pedal, the engine restarts if the
conditions below are met.
You move the shif t lever f rom N to
R, or f rom D3 to 2nd.
Youstepontheacceleratorpedal.
Your vehicle has an auto idle stop
system. Af ter your vehicle comes to
a halt, the engine shuts of f
automatically if all the f ollowing
conditions are met.
The vehicle speed is over 8 mph
(12km/h)beforethevehicle
comes to a stop.
The engine coolant is nearly up to
normal operating temperature.
TheshiftleverisinD,D3orN.
You are pressing on the brake
pedal.
You are not pressing on the
accelerator pedal.
The IMA battery is charged
enough to operate the system.
Fan speed lower f an speeds, in
either AUTO or manual modes. During Auto Idle Stop, the IMA
charge and power brake vacuum
reserve is monitored by the system.
If the vacuum reserve drops below
an optimal level, the engine will
restart to replenish the vacuum
supply. If the IMA charge drops
below an optimal level, the engine
will restart to recharge the IMA
battery.
The auto idle stop system may not
work if the temperature of the IMA
battery is extremely high or
extremely low.
While the auto idle stop system is
working, the auto idle stop indicator
blinks (see page ).
Outside temperature is between
10 100 degrees F.
The vent mode is neither in nor . 178
Automatic Transmission
Auto Idle Stop
Driving
177
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