HONDA FIT 2012 2.G Owners Manual

160
uuTowing a TraileruTowing Your Vehicle
Driving
■
Extended Towing
If you tow more than 8 hours in one day, you should repeat the “before towing your
vehicle procedure” at least every 8 hours.
You also need to perform the following procedure to prevent the battery from
running down.
1.Remove the 30 A accessory radio fuse. This
fuse is located in the interior fuse box.
2Interior Fuse Box P. 261
2.Store the fuse in a safe place so you do not
lose it.
uMake sure to reinstall the fuse before
you start driving your vehicle.
Interior Fuse Box
Radio Fuse

161
Continued
Driving
When DrivingStarting the Engine
1.Make sure the parking brake is applied.
2.Check that the shift lever is in
(P
, then
depress the brake pedal.
uAlthough it is possible to start the vehicle
in
(N
, it is safer to start it in
(P
.
2.Check that the shift lever is in
(N
. Then
depress the brake pedal with your right
foot, and the clutch pedal with your left
foot.
uThe clutch pedal must be fully depressed
to start the engine.
1Starting the Engine
Keep your foot firmly 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, heating and
cooling
* system, and rear defogger in order to reduce
battery drain.
If the exhaust system sounds abnormal or 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
Automatic transmission models
Brake Pedal Clutch Pedal
Manual transmission models
* Not available on all models

uuWhen DrivinguStarting the Engine
162Driving
3.Turn the ignition switch to START
(e

without depressing the accelerator pedal.
1.Keeping your right foot on the brake pedal, release the parking brake. Check that
the brake system indicator has gone off.
2Parking Brake P. 181
2.Put the shift lever in
(D
. Select
(R
when reversing.
3.Gradually release the brake pedal and gently depress the accelerator pedal to pull
away.
1Starting the Engine
Do not hold the key in START
(e
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,
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.
2Immobilizer System P. 90
■
Starting to Drive
Automatic transmission models

163
uuWhen DrivinguPrecautions While Driving
Driving
Precautions While DrivingAvoid 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
NOTICEDo 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.
NOTICEThe 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.Sport Models

164
uuWhen DrivinguAutomatic Transmission
Driving
Automatic TransmissionThe following conditions cause the engine to run at high revolutions, and increase
creeping:
•Immediately after the engine starts.
•When the heating and cooling
* 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 gear, unexpectedly increasing vehicle speed. Depress
the accelerator pedal carefully, especially on slippery roads and curves.
■
Creeping
■
Kickdown
* Not available on all models

165
uuWhen DrivinguShifting
Continued
Driving
ShiftingChange the shift position in accordance with your driving needs.■
Shift lever positions
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.
Models with 7 positions AT
Park
Used when parking or starting the
engine
Reverse
Used when reversing
Neutral
Used when idling
Drive
Used for normal driving (gears change
between 1st and 5th automatically)
Drive (D3)
Used when:●Going up or down hills
Second
Used to increase engine braking
(the transmission is locked in 2nd gear)
First
Used to further increase engine braking
(the transmission is locked in 1st gear) Release Button

uuWhen DrivinguShifting
166Driving
■
Shift Lever Operation
1Shift Lever Operation
NOTICEWhen 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.
Shift Lever Position Indicator Tachometer’s red zone
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.

167
uuWhen DrivinguShifting
Continued
Driving
ShiftingChange the shift position in accordance with your driving needs■
Shift lever positions
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.
Models with 5 positions AT
Park
Used when parking or starting the
engine
Reverse
Used when reversing
Neutral
Used when idling
Drive
Used for:●Normal driving (gears change
between 1st and 5th automatically)●Temporarily driving in the sequential
mode Release Button
Drive (S)
Used for:●Automatically changing gears
between 1st and 4th (4th gear is used
only at high speed)●Driving in the sequential mode

uuWhen DrivinguShifting
168Driving
■
Shift Lever Operation
1Shift Lever Operation
NOTICEWhen 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.
M (Sequential Shift Mode) Indicator/
Gear position Indicator Tachometer’s red zone
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. Shift Lever Position Indicator

169
uuWhen DrivinguShifting
Continued
Driving
Use the paddle shifters to change between 1st and 5th gears without removing your
hands from the steering wheel. The transmission will switch to the sequential shift
mode.■
When the shift lever is in
(D
:
The vehicle will go into the sequential shift mode momentarily, and the gear position
indicator will come on.
Once you start traveling at a constant speed, the sequential shift mode will
automatically switch off, and the gear position indicator will go off.
Hold the
(+
paddle shifter for two seconds to return to normal drive.
■
When the shift lever is in
(S
:
The vehicle will go into the sequential shift mode, and the
(M
(sequential shift)
indicator and gear position indicator will come on. At speeds of 6 mph (10 km/h) or
less, the vehicle automatically shifts down into 1st gear. It will not automatically shift
up, even if vehicle speed increases.
You can only pull away in 1st or 2nd gear.
When switching out of the sequential shift mode, move the shift lever from
(S
to
(D
. When the sequential shift mode is canceled, the sequential shift mode indicator
and shift indicator go off.
■
Sequential Shift Mode