HONDA CR-Z 2012 1.G Owners Manual

uuWhen DrivinguStarting the Engine
200
Driving
■ Creep aid system
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
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.
Automatic transmiss ion (CVT) models
Manual transmission models
1Hill 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.

201
uuWhen DrivinguPrecautions While Driving
Driving
Precautions While Driving
Avoid driving in deep water and on flooded roads. This can damage the engine or
cause electrical component failure.
If there is a strong impact with something under the vehicle, stop in a safe location.
Check the underside of the vehicle for damage or any fluid leaks.
■In Rain
■Other Precautions
1Precautions While Driving
NOTICE
Do not operate the shift lever while pressing the
accelerator pedal. You could damage the
transmission.
If the ignition switch is turned to ACCESSORY
(q or
LOCK
(0 while driving, the engine will shut down
and all steering and brake power assist functions will
stop, making it difficult to control the vehicle.
Do not put the shift lever in
(N , as you will lose
engine braking (and acceleration) performance.
During the first 600 miles (1,000 km) of operation,
avoid sudden acceleration or full throttle operation so
as to not damage the engine or powertrain.
Avoid hard braking for the first 200 miles (300 km).
You should also follow this when the brake pads are replaced.
NOTICE
Following can damage the under spoiler: • Parking the vehicle by a parking block
• Parallel parking along the road shoulder
• Driving towards the bottom of a hill
• Driving up or down to a different surface level
(such as a road shoulder)
• Driving on a rutted or bumpy road
• Driving on a road with potholes

202
uuWhen DrivinguAutomatic Transmission (CVT)
Driving
Automatic Transmission (CVT) The following conditions cause the engine to run at high revolutions, and increase
creeping: • Immediately after the engine starts.
• When the climate control system is in use.
Keep the brake pedal firmly depressed when stopped.
Quickly depressing the accelerator pedal while driving uphill may cause the
transmission to drop to a lower ratio, unexpectedly increasing vehicle speed.
Depress the accelerator pedal carefully, especially on slippery roads and curves.
■Creeping
■Kickdown

203
uuWhen DrivinguShifting
Continued
Driving
Shifting
Change the shift position in accordance with your driving needs.
■ Shift lever positions
Automatic transmiss ion (CVT) models
1Shifting
You cannot turn the ignition switch to LOCK
(0 and
remove the key unless the shift lever is in
(P.
The vehicle may move forward very slightly even in
(N while the engine is cold.
Depress the brake pedal firmly and, when necessary,
apply the parking brake.
The engine may cut in and out in
(R or depending on
the road condition, even when the engine speed is
lower than the ta chometer’s red zone. This is the
engine’s computer working to protect the
transmission.
Park
Used when parking or starting the engine
ReverseUsed when reversing
Neutral Used when idling
Drive
Used for:● Normal driving
● Temporarily driving in the 7-speed manual
shift mode (when driving in ECON or NORMAL mode)
● Driving in the 7-speed manual shift mode
(when driving in SPORT mode)
● Driving in L mode
Release Button

uuWhen DrivinguShifting
204
Driving
■Shift Lever Operation1Shift Lever Operation
NOTICE
When you change the shift lever from (D to (R and
vice versa, come to a complete stop and keep the brake pedal depressed.
Operating the shift lever before the vehicle has come
to a complete standstill can damage the transmission.
Use the shift lever position indicator to check the
lever position before pulling away.
Whichever position the shift lever is in when driving,
a blinking
(D indicator indicates a transmission
problem.
Avoid sudden acceleration and have the transmission
checked by a dealer as soon as possible.
The fuel supply may be cut off if you drive at engine
speeds in or over the tachometer red zone (engine
speed limit). If this happens, you may experience a
slight jolt.
It may not be possible to operate the shift lever if the
brake pedal is applied while the shift lever release
button is held down. Depress the brake pedal first.
Tachometer's
Red Zone
Shift Lever Position Indicator Depress the brake pedal and
press the shift lever release button to shift. Shift without pressing the
shift lever release button.
Press the shift lever
release button and shift. M (7-Speed Manual Shift Mode) Indicator/
Shift Indicator

Continued205
uuWhen DrivinguShifting
Driving
Use the paddle shifters to change between first and seventh speeds without
removing your hands from the steering wheel. The transmission switches to the 7-
speed manual shift mode when you pull a paddle shifter while driving. This mode is
useful when engine braking is needed.
You can cancel this mode by pressing any of the three driving mode buttons, or
pulling the
(+ paddle shifter for a few seconds.
■ When the driving mode is in ECON or NORMAL
The shift mode goes into the 7-speed manual shift mode temporarily, and the
number is displayed in the shift indicator.
The 7-speed manual shift mode is canceled automatically if you drive at constant
speed or accelerate, and the number in the shift indicator goes off.
The 7-speed manual shift mode is especially useful when reducing the vehicle speed
temporarily before making a turn. ■ When the driving mo de is in SPORT
The shift mode goes into the 7-speed manual shift mode. The
(M indicator and the
speed number are displayed in the shift indicat or. As the vehicle speed slows down,
the transmission automatically shifts down accordingly. When the vehicle comes to
a stop, it automatically shifts down into first.
If the vehicle speed increases and the engine speed reaches near the tachometer’s
red zone, the transmission automatically shifts up.
■7-Speed Manual Shift Mode17-Speed Manual Shift Mode
To improve fuel economy, the transmission may shift
up to a higher speed than the seventh under certain circumstances. In this case, the number in the shift
indicator remains as "7."
In the 7-speed manual shift mode, the transmission
shifts up or down by operating either paddle shifter
under the following conditions:
Shift Up: The engine speed reaches the lowest
threshold of the higher speed position.
Shift Down: The engine speed reaches the highest
threshold of the lower speed position.
When the engine speed reaches near the
tachometer’s red zone, the transmission shifts up
automatically.
When the engine speed reaches the lowest threshold
of the selected speed position, the transmission shifts down automatically.
Operating the paddle shifters on slippery surfaces
may cause the tires to lock up. In this case, the 7-
speed manual shift mode is canceled and goes back
to the normal D driving mode.

uuWhen DrivinguShifting
206
Driving
■7-Speed Manual Shift Mode Operation
(- Paddle Shifter
(Shift down)(+ Paddle Shifter
(Shift up)
Downshifting when
pulling the
(- paddle
shifter (Changes to a
lower speed number) Upshifting when pulling the (+
paddle shifter
(Changes to a higher
speed number)
17-Speed Manual Shift Mode Operation
Each paddle shift operation makes a single speed change.
To change continuously, release the paddle shifter
before pulling it again for the next speed. Recommended Shift Points
Use this table as a guideline for efficient fuel
economy and effective emission control.
If the position indicator blinks when you try to shift
up or down, this means your vehicle speed is not in its allowable shifting range.
Slightly accelerate to shift up and decelerate to shift
down while the indicator is blinking. Shift Up Normal Acceleration
1 to 215 mph (24 km/h)
2 to 3 25 mph (40 km/h)
3 to 440 mph (64 km/h)
4 to 5 47 mph (76 km/h)
5 to 652 mph (84 km/h)
6 to 7 57 mph (92 km/h)

207
uuWhen DrivinguShifting
Driving
Use this mode to get more power when climbing hills.
To switch to the L mode, pull and hold both paddle shifters (
(+ and (- ) at the same
time with the shift lever in
(D .
To cancel this mode, pull and hold both paddle shifters again, or press any of the
three driving mode buttons. The
(L indicator goes off.
■L Mode Operation1L Mode Operation
Use the L mode to get more engine braking in the 7- speed manual shift mode.
(L is displayed in the 7-speed
manual shift mode indicator.
Pull both
(+ and (- paddle shifters at the same time.

208
uuWhen DrivinguShifting
Driving
Shifting
Fully depress the clutch pedal to operate the shift lever and change gears, then
slowly release the pedal.
Depress the clutch pedal, and pause for a few seconds before shifting into
(R, or
shift into one of the forward gears for a moment. This stops the gears so they do not
“grind.” When you are not shifting, do not rest your
foot on the clutch pedal. This can cause your
clutch to wear out faster.
■Shift Lever Operation
Manual transmission models
1Shifting
Do not shift to
(R before the vehicle comes to a
complete stop.
Shifting to
(R before stopping can damage the
transmission. Recommended Shift Points
Driving in the highest gear that allows the engine to
run and accelerate smoothly helps to optimize fuel
economy and effective emissions control. The
following shift points are recommended:
If you exceed the maximum speed for the gear you
are in, the engine speed will enter into the
tachometer's red zone. When this happens, you may
experience a slight jolt.
Before downshifting, make sure the engine will not go
into the tachometer's red zone. Should this occur, it
can severely damage your engine.
There is a metallic part on the shift lever. If you leave the vehicle park ed outside for a long time on a hot
day, be careful before moving the shift lever. Because
of heat, the shift lever may be extremely hot. If the
outside temperature is low, the shift lever may feel cold. Shift Up Normal Acceleration
1st to 2nd15 mph (24 km/h)
2nd to 3rd 25 mph (40 km/h)
3rd to 4th40 mph (64 km/h)
4th to 5th 47 mph (76 km/h)
5th to 6th52 mph (84 km/h)
NOTICE
NOTICE

Continued209
uuWhen DrivinguShifting
Driving
Come on to indicate when a gear change is
appropriate to maintain the most fuel efficient driving style.
The shift up indicator: Comes on when
shifting up is recommended.
The shift down indicator: Comes on when shifting down is recommended.
uThe indicators do not come on in the
SPORT mode.
■Shift Up/Down Indicators1Shift Up/Down Indicators
This indicator will not prompt you to downshift to
increase engine braking. It is up to you to downshift to increase engine braking when driving downhill.
Always shift down at the appropriate vehicle speed.
The shift down indicator does not come on when downshifting from
(2 to (1.
Ambient meter color may change if you do not
change gears when a shift indicator illuminates. This
can result in a change in fuel economy.
Road and traffic conditions may require you to shift
at times other than those indicated.