service HONDA CIVIC SEDAN 2012 Owner's Manual (in English)

Contents
Child Safety P. 50 Exhaust Gas Hazard P. 62 Safety Labels P. 63
Opening and Closing the Trunk P. 109Security System P. 112 Opening and Closing the Windows P. 114
Operating the Switches Around the Steering Wheel P. 117Adjusting the Mirrors P. 125
Interior Lights/Interior Convenience Items P.134 Heating and Cooling
* P. 140
Audio Error Messages* P. 172 General Information on the Audio System* P. 174
When Driving P. 211 Braking P.229 Parking Your Vehicle P.233
Accessories and Modifications P. 238
Maintenance Under the Hood P.251 Replacing Light Bulbs P. 268
Checking and Maintaining Tires P. 280Battery P. 289 Remote Transmitter Care* P. 290
Cleaning P. 292
Engine Does Not Start P. 306 Jump Starting P.307 Shift Lever Does Not Move P. 310
Fuses P. 318 Emergency Towing P. 321
Devices that Emit Radio Waves P. 329Reporting Safety Defects P. 330
Authorized Manuals P. 335 Customer Service Information P. 336
Quick Reference GuideP. 2
Safe DrivingP. 23
Instrument PanelP. 65
ControlsP. 97
FeaturesP. 143
DrivingP. 201
MaintenanceP. 239
Handling the UnexpectedP. 297
InformationP. 323
IndexP. 337
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* Not available on all models2012 Civic Sedan

18
Quick Reference Guide - 2012 Civic SedanHandling the Unexpected (P 297)
Flat Tire (P 299)
● Park in a safe location and replace the
flat tire with the compact spare tire in the
trunk.
Indicators Come On
(P 313)
●Identify the indicator and consult the
owner's manual.
Engine Won't Start
(P 306)
● If the battery is dead, jump start using a
booster battery.
Blown Fuse (P 318)
● Check for a blown fuse if an electrical
device does not operate.
Overheating (P 311)
● 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
(P 321)
●Call a professional towing service if you
need to tow your vehicle.
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21
Quick Reference Guide - 2012 Civic Sedan
California Proposition 65 Warning
Event Data Recorders
This vehicle is equipped with an event data recorder (EDR).
The main purpose of an EDR is to record, in certain crash or near
crash-like situations, such as an air bag deployment or hitting a
road obstacle, data that will assist in understanding how a vehicle’s
systems performed. The EDR is designed to record data related
to vehicle dynamics and safety systems for a short period of
time, typically 30 seconds or le ss. The EDR in this vehicle is
designed to record such data as:
• How various systems in your vehicle were operating;
• Whether or not the driver and passenger safety belts were
buckled/fastened;
• How far (if at all) the driver was depressing the accelerator
and/or brake pedal; and,
• How fast the vehicle was traveling.
These data can help provide a better understanding of the
circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur. NOTE: EDR data
are recorded by your vehicle only if a non-tri vial crash situation
occurs; no data are recorded by the EDR under normal driving
conditions and no personal data (e.g., name, gender, age, and
crash location) are recorded. Howe ver, other parties, such as law
enforcement, could combine the EDR data with the type of
personally identifying data routinely acquired during a crash
investigation.
WARNING: This product contains or emits
chemicals known to the state of California to cause
cancer and birth defects or other reproductive
harm.
To read data recorded by an ED R, special equipment is required,
and access to the vehicle or the ED R is needed. In addition to the
vehicle manufacturer, other parties, such as law enforcement, that
have the special equipment, can r ead the information if they have
access to the vehicle or the EDR.
The data belongs to the vehicle owner and may not be accessed by
anyone else except as legally requir ed or with the permission of the
vehicle owner.
Service Diagnostic Recorders
This vehicle is equipped with serv ice-related devices that record
information about powertrain perfor mance. The data can be used
to verify emissions law requirements and/or help technicians
diagnose and solve service problems. It may also be combined with
data from other sources for research purposes, but it remains
confidential.
California Perchlorate Contamination Prevention Act
The airbags, seat belt tensioners , and CR type batteries in this
vehicle may contain perchlorate materials - special handling may
apply. See www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/perchlorate/
As you read this manual, you will find information that is preceded
by a symbol. This information is intended to help you avoid
damage to your vehicle, other property, or the environment.
NOTICE
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49
uuAirbags uAirbag Care
Safe Driving
Airbag Care
You do not need to, and should not, perform any maintenance on or replace any
airbag system components yourself. However, you should have your vehicle
inspected by a dealer in the following situations:
■When the airbags have deployed
If an airbag has inflated, the control unit and other related parts must be replaced.
Similarly, once an automatic seat belt te nsioner has been activated, it must be
replaced.
■When the vehicle has been in a moderate-to-severe collision
Even if the airbags did not infl ate, have your dealer inspect the following: the driver’s
seat position sensor, weight sensors in the passenger’s seat, front seat belt
tensioners, and each seat belt that was worn during the crash.
■Do not remove or modi fy a front seat without consulting a dealer
This would likely disable the driver's seat position sensor or the weight sensors in the
passenger's seat. If it is necessary to remo ve or modify a front seat to accommodate
a person with disabilities, co ntact a Honda dealer, or for U.S. vehicles, American
Honda Automobile Customer Service at 800-999-1009 and for Canadian vehicles,
Honda Canada Customer Relations at 888-9-HONDA-9.
1 Airbag Care
We recommend against the use of salvaged airbag
system components, including the airbag, tensioners,
sensors, and control unit.
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77
uuIndicators uMulti-Information Display Warn ing and Information Messages*
Instrument Panel
MessageConditionExplanation
●Appears when the scheduled maintenance is due soon.●Consequently, "SERVICE DUE NOW" and "SERVICE
PAST DUE" follow.
2Maintenance Minder Messages on the Multi-
Information Display P. 248
●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 th e ignition switch.
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* Not av ailable on all mo dels

80
uuGauges and Displays uInformation Display*
Instrument Panel
Information Display*
The information display shows the odome ter, trip meter, engine oil life and
maintenance service item codes, and other gauges.
Press the (SEL/RESET) knob to change the display.
Shows the total number of miles or kilome ters that your vehicle has accumulated.
Shows the total number of miles or kilomete rs driven since the last reset. Meters A
and B can be used to measure 2 separate trips.
■Resetting a trip meter
To reset a trip meter, display it, then pr ess and hold the knob. The trip meter is
reset to “0.0”.
■Switching the Display
1 Switching the display
Each time you press the knob, the information
display changes as follows:
Average Fuel A
Trip Meter A, Odometer
Average Fuel B
Trip Meter B, Odometer
Engine Oil Life
Range
Trip Meter A, Odometer
■Odometer
■Trip Meter1 Trip Meter
Switch between trip meter A and trip meter B by
pressing the knob.
* Not available on all models
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234
Driving
Refueling
Fuel Information
■Fuel recommendation
Use of a lower octane gasoline can cause a persistent, heavy metallic knocking noise
that can lead to engine damage.
Use of a lower octane gasoline can cause occasional metallic knocking noise in the
engine and will result in decreased engine performance.
Use of a gasoline with a pump octane less than 87 can lead to engine damage.
■Top tier detergent gasoline
Because the level of detergency and additive s in gasoline vary in the market, Honda
endorses the use of “TOP TIER Deterg ent Gasoline” where available to help
maintain the performance and reliability of your vehicle. TOP TIER Detergent
Gasoline meets a new gasoline standard join tly established by leading automotive
manufacturers to meet the need s of today’s advanced engines.
Unleaded gasoline, pump octane number 87 or higher
Unleaded premium gasoline, pump octane number 91 or higher
1Fuel Information
NOTICE
We recommend quality ga soline containing
detergent additives that help prevent fuel system and
engine deposits. In addition, in order to maintain
good performance, fuel economy, and emissions
control, we strongly reco mmend the use of gasoline
that does NOT contain harmful manganese-based
fuel additives such as MMT, if such gasoline is
available.
Use of gasoline with these additives may adversely
affect performance, a nd cause the malfunction
indicator lamp on your inst rument panel to come on.
If this happens, contact a dealer for service.
Some gasoline today is ble nded with oxygenates such
as ethanol. Your vehicle is designed to operate on
oxygenated gasoline containing up to 10% ethanol
by volume. Do not use gaso line containing methanol.
If you notice any undesira ble operating symptoms, try
another service station or sw itch to another brand of
gasoline.1.8 ℓ engine models
2.4 ℓ engine models
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Continued235
uuRefueling uHow to Refuel
Driving
Qualifying gasoline retailers will, in most cases, identify their gasoline as having met
"TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline" standards at the retail location. This fuel is
guaranteed to contain the proper level of de tergent additives and be free of metallic
additives. The proper level of detergent additives, and absence of harmful metallic
additives in gasoline, help avoid build-up of deposits in your engine and emission
control system.
For further important fuel-related informati on for your vehicle, or on information on
gasoline that does not contain MMT, visit www.hondacars.com. In Canada, visit
www.honda.ca for additional information on gaso line. For more information on top
tier gasoline, visit www.toptiergas.com .
■Fuel tank capacity: 13.2 US gal (50 liters)
How to Refuel
1.Stop your vehicle with the service station
pump on the left side of the vehicle in the
rear.
2. Turn off the engine.
3. Push on the fuel fill door release handle at
the foot of the driver’s seat.
u The fuel fill door opens.
1How to Refuel
3WARNING
Gasoline is highly flammable and explosive.
You can be burned or seriously injured
when handling fuel.
• Stop the engine, and keep heat, sparks,
and flame away.
• Handle fuel only outdoors.
• Wipe up spills immediately.
Push
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239
Maintenance
This chapter discusses basic maintenance.
Before Performing MaintenanceInspection and Maintenance ............ 240
Safety When Performing Maintenance..... 241Parts and Fluids Used in Maintenance
Service ........................................... 242
Maintenance Minder™ ....................243
Maintenance Under the Hood
Maintenance Items Under the Hood ..... 251Opening the Hood ...........................253
Recommended Engine Oil ................ 254
Oil Check ......................................... 255
Adding Engine Oil ............................ 257
Changing the Engine Oil and Oil Filter ..... 258
Engine Coolant ................................261
Transmission Fluid ............................ 263
Brake/Clutch Fluid ............................ 266
Refilling Window Wa sher Fluid.........267
Replacing Light Bulbs .......................268
Checking and Maintaining Wiper
Blades .......................................... 278
Checking and Maintaining Tires
Checking Tires ................................. 280
Tire and Loading Information Label ...... 281Tire Labeling ....................................281DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)....... 283Wear Indicators................................285Tire Service Life ................................
285
Tire and Wheel Replacement ........... 286
Tire Rotation .................................... 287
Winter Tires ..................................... 288
Battery ............................................... 289
Remote Transmitter Care
*
Replacing the Battery ....................... 290
Heating and Cooling* System
Maintenance ................................... 291
Cleaning
Interior Care .................................... 292
Exterior Care.................................... 294
* Not available on all models
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240
Maintenance
Before Performing Maintenance
Inspection and Maintenance
For your safety, perform all listed inspections and maintenance to keep your vehicle
in good condition. If you become aware of any abnormality (noise, smell, insufficient
brake fluid, oil residue on the ground, etc.), have your vehicle inspected by a dealer.
(Note, however, that service at a dealer is not mandatory to keep your warranties in
effect.) Refer to the separate maintena nce booklet for detailed maintenance and
inspection information.
■Daily inspections
Perform inspections before long distance tri ps, when washing the vehicle, or when
refueling.
■Periodic inspections
• Check the automatic transmi ssion fluid level monthly.
2Automatic Transmission Fluid P. 263
•Check the brake fluid level monthly.
2 Brake/Clutch Fluid P. 266
•Check the tire pressure monthly. Examin e the tread for wear and foreign objects.
2Checking and Maintaining Tires P. 280
•Check the operation of the exterior lights monthly.
2 Replacing Light Bulbs P. 268
•Check the condition of the wiper bl ades at least every six months.
2Checking and Maintaining Wiper Blades P. 278
■Types of Inspection and Maintenance
1Inspection and Maintenance
Maintenance, replacement, or repair of
emissions control devices and systems may be
done by any automotive repair establishment or
individuals using parts that are "certified" to
EPA standards.
According to state and fede ral regulations, failure to
perform maintenance on the maintenance main
items marked with # will not void your emissions
warranties. However, all maintenance services should
be performed in accordan ce with the intervals
indicated by the information display
*/multi-
information display*.
2 Maintenance Service Items
P. 245
If you want to perform complex maintenance tasks
that require more skills a nd tools, you can purchase a
subscription to the Service Express website at
www.techinfo.honda.com .
2 Authorized Manuals P. 335
If you want to perform ma intenance yourself, make
sure that you have the necessary tools and skills first.
After performing ma intenance, update the records in
the separate maintenance booklet.
U.S. models
* Not available on all models
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