battery HONDA CIVIC HYBRID 2012 9.G Owners Manual

Contents
Child Safety P. 54Exhaust Gas Hazard P. 66Safety Labels P. 67Opening and Closing the Trunk P. 110 Security System P. 113 Opening and Closing the Windows P. 115
Adjusting the Mirrors P. 125 Adjusting the Seats P. 126
Climate Control System P. 137Audio Error Messages P. 162 General Information on the Audio System P. 164When Driving P. 198Braking P. 213Parking Your Vehicle P. 217
Accessories and Modifications P. 226Maintenance Under the Hood P. 235 Replacing Light Bulbs P. 247
Checking and Maintaining Tires P. 254 12 Volt Battery P. 263 Remote Transmitter Care P. 264
Cleaning P. 266Engine Does Not Start P. 279 Jump Starting P. 280Shift Lever Does Not Move P. 282
Fuses P. 289 Emergency Towing P. 292Devices that Emit Radio Waves P. 297 Reporting Safety Defects P. 298
Authorized Manuals P. 303 Customer Service Information P. 304
Quick Reference Guide
P. 2
Safe Driving
P. 27
Instrument Panel
P. 69
Controls
P. 101
Features
P. 141
Driving
P. 191
Maintenance
P. 227
Handling the Unexpected
P. 271
Information
P. 293
Index
P. 305

10Quick Reference Guide
The Honda IMA SystemThe main power source for the Honda IMA system is the gasoline engine.
The electric motor assists the engine to improve fuel economy, based on
current operating conditions.
Tips to Improve Fue
l Economy
To help your vehicle’s fuel economy:
●Avoid aggressive acceleration/braking
● Monitor the ambient meter and the Eco drive bar
displayed on the multi-information display.
It reflects your driving style. (P8, 87)
Start-up/Low speed cruise/
Aggressive acceleration
● The electric motor assists the
engine. Low speed cruise
● Only IMA motor is
powering the vehicle and
IMA battery is discharging.
Slow acceleration/High
speed cruise
● Only the engine powers
the vehicle. Deceleration
● The IMA system charges
the IMA battery.
Stop
● Auto Idle Stop is in
operation.
Vehicle
Speed
TimeEco Drive Bar
Display
IMA
System IMA
System
IMA
System
IMA
System
IMA
System
Electric
Motor Assist Engine
ON Electric
Motor Assist Electric
Motor OFF
Charging
Engine
OFF Engine
ON
Engine OFF
Engine OFF
IMA
Battery IMA
Battery IMA
Battery
IMA
Battery
IMA
Battery
Fuel
Fuel Fuel
Fuel
Fuel
Electric Motor OFF

11Quick Reference Guide
To Keep the IMA Battery in Good Condition Drive your vehicle at least once a month for more than 30 minutes. Parking your vehicle for an extended period can
cause the IMA battery to weaken or decrease the IMA battery life.Safety Precautions Do not cover the air intake.
Air Intake
If the air intake is obstructed during
vehicle operation, the IMA battery can
become too hot. To protect the battery,
the system may start limiting IMA battery
output power and cause the IMA system
and 12 volt battery charging system
indicators to come on.
IMA System Indicator (P87)
12 Volt Battery Charging
System Indicator (P71)
Do not touch the Honda IMA SystemA high voltage current runs through Honda IMA System. Consult your authorized dealer
when maintenance or repair is needed.
IMA Battery
IMA Power Cable
If a crash occurs● Be careful of electric shock hazard.
u If a crash severely damaged your vehicle, there is a possibility of electrical shock. Do
not touch the IMA system components or their wiring (orange).
● Avoid contact with IMA battery fluid.
u The battery fluid may leak as a result of a crash. Avoid any skin or eye contact with
the fluid. The battery fluid is corrosive. If you accid entally touched it, flush the
affected area(s) with a large quantity of water for at least five minutes, and seek
medical attention immediately.
● Use a fire extinguisher for an electrical fire.
u Attempting to extinguish an electrical fire with a small quantity of water can be
dangerous.When the vehicle is disposed● The IMA battery is a Lithium ion battery. Honda collects and recycles used IMA
batteries – consult with your dealer for proper battery disposal in the event your
vehicle is not repairable.

13Quick Reference Guide
Instrument Panel
(P69)
System Indicators
Malfunction
Indicator Lamp
Low Oil Pressure
Indicator Anti-lock Brake
System (ABS)
Indicator
Vehicle Stability
Assist (VSA
®) System
Indicator VSA
® OFF Indicator
Electric Power
Steering (EPS)
Indicator
Lights On Indicator
High Beam Indicator
Immobilizer System
Indicator
Seat Belt Reminder
Indicator
Lights Reminders
Cruise Main
Indicator
System Message
Indicator
Brake System
Indicator (Amber) Supplemental
Restraint System
Indicator
Side Airbag Off
Indicator
Door Open Indicator
TachometerInstant Fuel
Economy Gauge
Speedometer
Fuel Gauge
Security System Alarm Indicator
Shift Lever Position Indicator
Low Fuel Indicator
Gauges
(P82)
/Multi-Information Display
(P83)
/System Indicators
(P70)
Trunk Open Indicator
ECON Mode Indicator Turn Signal and
Hazard Warning
Indicators
High Temperature
Indicator
Low Temperature
Indicator Ambient Meter
System Indicators
System Indicators
Low Tire Pressure/
TPMS IndicatorU.S. models only
Parking Brake
and Brake System
Indicator (Red)
IMA System
Indicator
Cruise Control
Indicator
System Indicators
12 Volt Battery
Charging System
IndicatorAuto Idle Stop
Indicator
U.S.CanadaU.S.Canada
U.S.Canada

18Quick Reference Guide
Driving
(P191)
Release ButtonShift Lever
Depress the brake pedal and press the
release button to move out of
(P
.
Move the shift lever without
pressing the release button.
Press the release button to
move the shift lever.
Automatic Transmission (CVT)
(P203)
● Shift to
(P
and depress the brake pedal when starting the engine.
● Shifting
Park
Turn off or start the engine.
Transmission is locked.
Reverse
Used when reversing.
Neutral
Transmission is not locked.
Drive
Normal driving.
Drive (S)
Used for:
●Better acceleration●Increased engine braking●Going up or down hills
Low●Used to further increase
engine braking●Used when going up or down
hills●Used when IMA battery is
low

20Quick Reference Guide
Maintenance
(P227)
Under the Hood
(P235)
● Check engine oil, engine coolant, and windshield washer
fluid. Add when necessary.
● Check brake fluid.
● Check the 12 volt battery regularly.
a
Pull the hood release handle under the corner of the
dashboard.
b
Locate the hood latch lever, pull the lever up, and lift up
the hood.
c
When finished, close the hood and make sure it is firmly
locked in place.
Lights
(P247)
● Inspect all lights regularly.
Wiper Blades
(P252)
● Replace blades if they leave streaks
across the windshield.
Tires
(P254)
● Inspect tires and wheels regularly.
● Check tire pressures regularly.
● Install snow tires for winter driving.

Quick Reference Guide21
Handling the Unexpected
(P271)
Flat Tire
(P273)
● Park in a safe location and replace the
flat tire with the compact spare tire in the
trunk.
Indicators Come On (P285)
●Identify the indicator and consult the
owner's manual.
Engine Won't Start
(P279)
● If the battery is dead, jump start using a
booster battery.
Blown Fuse
(P289)
● Check for a blown fuse if an electrical
device does not operate.
Overheating
(P283)
● Park in a safe location. If you do not see
steam under the hood, open the hood,
and let the engine cool down.
Emergency Towing
(P292)
● Call a professional towing service if you
need to tow your vehicle.

71
uuIndicators u
Continued
Instrument Panel
Indicator
Name
On/Blinking
Explanation
Message
Malfunction
Indicator Lamp
●
Comes on when you turn the
ignition switch to ON
(w
, and goes
off either when the engine starts or
after several seconds if the engine
is not started. If "readiness codes"
have not been set, it blinks five
times before it goes off.
●
Comes on if there is a problem
with the emissions control system.
●
Blinks when a misfire in the
engine's cylinders is detected.
●
Readiness codes are part of the on board
diagnostics for the emissions control
systems.
2 Testing of Readiness Codes P. 299
●
Comes on while driving - Have the
vehicle checked by a dealer.
●
Blinks while driving - Stop in a safe
place where there are no flammable
objects. Stop the engine for 10 minutes
or more, and wait for it to cool down.
Then, take the vehicle to a dealer.
2 If the Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Comes On or Blinks P. 286
12 Volt Battery
Charging System
Indicator
●
Comes on when you turn the
ignition switch to ON
(w
, and goes
off when the engine starts.
●
Comes on when the 12 volt battery
is not charging.
●
Comes on while driving - Turn off the
climate control system and rear defogger
in order to reduce electricity
consumption.
2 If the Charging System Indicator
Comes On P. 285
Indicator
Shift Lever
Position Indicator
●
Indicates in which position your
shift lever is.
2Shifting P. 203
.

81
uuIndicators uMulti-Information Display Warning and Information Messages
Instrument Panel
Message
Condition
Explanation
●
Appears when the scheduled maintenance is due soon.
●
Consequently, "SERVICE DUE NOW" and "SERVICE
PAST DUE" follow.
2 Maintenance Minder
TM P. 231
●
Appears when you open the driver's door while the
ignition key is in ACCESSORY
(q
.
●
Turn the ignition switch to LOCK
(0
, then remove the
key.
●
Appears when you open the driver's door while the
ignition key is in LOCK
(0
.
●
Remove the key from the ignition switch.
●
Appears when the IMA battery is significantly low.
●
Drive continuously or, if necessary, allow the vehicle to
idle in an open area until the message disappears.

Continued
89
uuGauges and Multi-Information Display uMulti-Information Display
Instrument Panel
Displays engine and electric motor power flow – whether the system is assisting the
engine or charging the battery.■
Power flow from/to the IMA battery icon
The degree to which the electric motor is assisting the engine or the IMA battery is being charged is indica ted by the bar graph.
■
Power Flow Monitor
1Power Flow Monitor
The IMA battery charge level may decrease rapidly
under the following conditions:•When the 12 volt battery has been replaced.•When the IMA battery has been disconnected.•When the IMA battery control system is correcting
its reading.
The charge level reading will be corrected
automatically while driving.
If the IMA battery is too hot or too cold, the IMA
battery’s output power is limited to protect the
battery. This disables the IMA assist and Auto Idle
Stop, even though the battery is well-charged.
It takes a short time to normalize the IMA battery’s
output power depending on the weather.
Power Flow Engine Operation Icon
IMA Battery Icon
Shows Charge Level
Power is supplied by
only the electric motor. Power is supplied by
the engine and the electric
motor is assisting the engine. The electric motor is charging the IMA
battery.
Power is only supplied by the engine.
Power is only supplied by the engine
and the electric motor is charging the
IMA battery.