HONDA FIT 2016 3.G Owners Manual

330
uuWhen Driving uVehicle Stability Assist (VSA® ), aka Electronic Stability Control (ESC), System
Driving
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA®), aka Electronic
Stability Control (ESC), System
VSA ® helps to stabilize the vehicle during cornering if the vehicle turns more or less
than what was intended. It also assists in maintaining traction on slippery surfaces.
It does so by regulating engine output and selectively applying the brakes.
When VSA® activates, you may notice that the
engine does not respond to the accelerator.
You may also notice some noise from the
hydraulic system. You will also see the
indicator blink.
■VSA ® Operation
1 Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA ®), aka Electronic Stability Control
(ESC), System
The VSA ® may not function properl y if tire type and
size are mixed. Make sure to use the same size and
type of tire, and the air pressures as specified.
When the VSA ® indicator comes on and stays on
while driving, there may be a problem with the
system. While this may not interfere with normal
driving, have your vehi cle checked by a dealer
immediately.
VSA ® cannot enhance stability in all driving situations
and does not control the entire braking system. You
still need to drive and corner at speeds appropriate
for the conditions and always leave a sufficient
margin of safety.
The main function of the VSA ® system is generally
known as Electronic Stab ility Control (ESC). The
system also includes a traction control function.
VSA® System Indicator

331
uuWhen Driving uVehicle Stability Assist (VSA ®), aka Electronic Stability Control (ESC), System
Driving
This button is on the driver side control panel.
To partically turn the VSA features on and off,
press and hold it until you hear a beep.
The traction control stop s fully functioning,
allows the wheels to sp in more freely at low
speed. The VSA ® OFF indicator will also come
on.
To turn it on again, press the (VSA ® OFF )
button until you hear a beep.
VSA ® is turned on every time you start the
engine, even if you turned it off the last time
you drove the vehicle.
■VSA ® OFF Button1 Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA ®), aka Electronic Stability Control
(ESC), System
With the button pressed, your vehicle will have
normal braking and corn ering ability, but VSA®
traction and stability enhancement becomes less
effective.
In certain unusual conditions when your vehicle gets
stuck in shallow mud or fr esh snow, it may be easier
to free it with the VSA ® temporarily switched off.
When the button is pressed, the traction control
function becomes less effective. This allows for the
wheels to spin more freely at low speed. You should
only attempt to free your vehicle with the VSA ® off if
you are not able to free it when the VSA ® is on.
Immediately after freeing your vehicle, be sure to
switch VSA ® on again. We do not recommend driving
your vehicle with the VSA ® system switched off.
You may hear a motor sound coming from the
engine compartment while system checks are being
performed immediately after starting the engine or
while driving. This is normal.
VSA ® OFF Indicator

332
uuWhen Driving uLaneWatchTM*
Driving
LaneWatchTM*
Is an assistance system that allows y ou to check the passenger side rear areas
displayed on the audio/information screen when the turn signal is activated to the
passenger’s side. A camera in the passenger side door mirror monitors these areas
and allows you to check for vehicles, in addition to your visual check and use of the
passenger door mirror. You can also keep th e system on for your convenience while
driving.1 LaneWatchTM*
Important Safety Reminder
Like all assistance systems, LaneWatch has
limitations. Over reliance on LaneWatch may result in
a collision.
The LaneWatch func tion can be affected by weather,
lighting (including headli ghts and low sun angle),
ambient darkness, camera condition, and loading.
The LaneWatch may not prov ide the intended display
of traffic to the side and rear under the following
conditions:
•Your vehicle’s suspension has been altered,
changing the height of the vehicle.
•Your tires are over or under inflated.
•Your tires or wheels are of varied size or
construction.
3WARNING
Failure to visually confirm that it is safe to
change lanes before do ing so may result in
a crash and serious injury or death.
Do not rely only on LaneWatch while
driving.
Always look in your mirrors, to either side
of your vehicle, and behind you for other
vehicles before changing lanes.
The system activates when you: The passenger side view
display appears on the
audio/information
screen.
Move the turn
signal lever to the
passenger side. Press the
LaneWatch
button.
The system deactivates when you:
Pull the turn signal
lever back. Press the LaneWatch
button again.
CameraAudio/Information Screen
* Not available on all models

333
uuWhen Driving uLaneWatchTM*
Driving
■Customizing the La neWatch settings
You can customize the following items using the audio/information screen.
• Show with Turn Signal: Selects whether LaneWatch monitor comes on when
you operate the turn signal light lever.
• Display Time after Turn Signal Off: Changes the length of time the
LaneWatch display stays on after yo u pull the turn signal lever back.
• Reference Lines: Selects whether the reference li nes appear on the LaneWatch
monitor.
• Next Maneuver Pop up
*: Selects whether a turn direction screen of the
navigation system interr upts the LaneWatch display.
• Display: Adjusts display settings.
2 Customized Features P. 225
■Reference Lines
Three lines that appear on the screen can give
an idea of how far the vehicles or objects on
the screen are from your vehicle, respectively.
If an object is near line 1 (in red), it indicates
that it is close to your vehicle whereas an
object near line 3 farther away.
1LaneWatchTM*
The LaneWatch camera view is restricted. Its unique
lens makes objects on the screen look slightly
different from what they are.
LaneWatch display does not come on when the shift
lever is in
( R.
For proper LaneWatch operation:
•The camera is located in the passenger side door
mirror. Always keep this ar ea clean. If the camera
lens is covered with dirt or moisture, use a soft,
moist cloth to keep the lens clean and free of
debris.
•Do not cover the camera lens with labels or stickers
of any kind.
•Do not touch the camera lens.
1 Reference Lines
The area around the reference line 1 (red) is very close
to your vehicle. As always, make sure to visually
confirm the safety of a la ne change before changing
lanes.
The distance betwee n your vehicle and lines 1, 2 and
3 on the screen vary depending on road conditions
and vehicle loading. For ex ample, the reference lines
on the screen may seem to appear closer than the
actual distances when the rear of your vehicle is more
heavily loaded.
Consult a dealer if:
•The passenger side door mirr or, or area around it is
severely impacted, resulting in changing the
camera angle.
•The LaneWatch display doe s not come on at all.
* Not available on all models

334
uuWhen Driving uTire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Driving
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Instead of directly measuring the pressu re in each tire, the TPMS on this vehicle
monitors and compares the rolling radius and rotational characteristics of each
wheel and tire while you are driving to determine if one or more tires are
significantly under-inflated. This will caus e the low tire pressure/TPMS indicator to
come on.
You must start TPMS calibration every time you:
• Adjust the pressure in one or more tires.
• Rotate the tires.
• Replace one or more tires.
Before calibrating the TPMS:
• Set the cold tire pressu re in all four tires.
2Checking Tires P. 382
Make sure:
• The vehicle is at a complete stop.
• The shift lever is in
(N.
• The shift lever is in
(P.
• The ignition switch is in ON
(w*1.
*1 : Models with the smart entry system have an ENGINE START/STOP button instead of an ignition switch.
■TPMS Calibration
U.S. models only
1Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
The system does not monitor the tires when driving
at low speed.
Conditions such as low ambient temperature and
altitude change directly a ffect tire pressure and can
trigger the low tire pressure/TPMS indicator to come on.
Tire pressure checked and inflated in:
•Warm weather can beco me under-inflated in
colder weather.
•Cold weather can become over-inflated in warmer
weather.
The low tire pressure/TPMS indicator will not come
on as a result of over inflation.
The TPMS may not function pr operly if tire type and
size are mixed. Make sure to use the same size and
type of tire. 2 Checking and Maintaining Tires P. 382
The low tire pressure/TPMS indicator may come on
with a delay or may not come on at all when:
•You rapidly accelerate, decelerate, or turn the
steering wheel.
•You drive on snowy or slippery roads.
•Snow chains are used.
The low tire pressure/TPMS indicator may come on
under the following conditions:
•A compact spare tire is used.•There is a heavier and uneve n load on the tires than
the condition at calibration.
•Snow chains are used.
Manual transmission models
Continuously variable transmission models
All models

335
uuWhen Driving uTire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Driving
Press and hold the TPM S button until the low
tire pressure/TPMS indicator blinks twice,
indicating the calibration process has begun.
• If the low tire pressure/TPMS indicator does
not blink, confirm the above conditions
then press and hold the TPMS button again.
• The calibration process finishes
automatically.
*1 : Models with the smart entry system have an ENGINE START/STOP button instead of an ignition switch.
1TPMS Calibration
•TPMS cannot be calibrated if a compact spare tire is
installed.
•The calibration process requires approximately 30
minutes of cumulative dr iving at speeds between
30-60 mph (48-97 km/h).
•During this period, if the ignition is turned on*1 and
the vehicle is not move d within 45 seconds, you
may notice the low tire pressure/TPMS indicator
comes on briefly. This is normal and indicates that
the calibration process is not yet complete.
If the snow chains are installed, remove them before
calibrating the TPMS.
If the low tire pressure/TPMS indicator comes on even
when the properly inflated specified regular tires are
installed, have your vehicle checked by a dealer.
We recommend that the tires be replaced with the
same brand, model, and size as the originals. Ask a
dealer for details.
TPMS Button
Low Tire Pressure/TPMS Indicator

336
uuWhen Driving uTire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) - Required Federal Explanation
Driving
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) - Required
Federal Explanation
Each tire, including the spare (i f provided), should be checked
monthly when cold and inflated to the inflation pressure
recommended by the vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle placard
or tire inflation pressure label.
(If your vehicle has tires of a different size than the size indicated
on the vehicle placard or tire infl ation pressure label, you should
determine the proper tire inflat ion pressure for those tires.)
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has been equipped with
a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that illuminates a low
tire pressure telltale
when one or more of your tire s is significantly under-inflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pr essure telltale illuminates, you
should stop and check your tires as soon as possible, and inflate
them to the proper pressure.
Driving on a significantly under-in flated tire causes the tire to
overheat and can lead to tire fail ure. Under-inflation also reduces
fuel efficiency and tire tread li fe, and may affect the vehicle’s
handling and stopping ability.
U.S. models

337
uuWhen Driving uTire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) - Required Federal Explanation
Driving
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire
maintenance, and it is the driver ’s responsibility to maintain
correct tire pressure, even if un der-inflation has not reached the
level to trigger illumination of th e TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equi pped with a TPMS malfunction
indicator to indicate when the system is not operating properly.
The TPMS malfunction indicator is combined with the low tire
pressure telltale. When the syst em detects a malfunction, the
telltale will flash fo r approximately one minute and then remain
continuously illumina ted. This sequence will continue upon
subsequent vehicle start-ups as long as the malfunction exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated, the system may
not be able to detect or signal low tire pressure as intended.
TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety of reasons, including
the installation of replacement or alternate tires or wheels on the
vehicle that prevent the TPMS from functioning properly.
Always check the TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing one or
more tires or wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the
replacement or alternate tires and wheels allow the TPMS to
continue to function properly.

338
Driving
Braking
Brake System
Use the parking brake to keep the vehicle stationary when parking.To apply:
Pull the lever fully up without pressing the
release button.
To release:
1. Pull the lever slightly, and press and hold
the release button.
2. Lower the lever down all the way, then
release the button.
■Parking Brake1Parking Brake
NOTICE
Release the parking brake fu lly before driving. The
rear brakes and axle can be damaged if you drive
with the parki ng brake applied.
If you start driving without fully releasing the parking
brake, a buzzer sounds as a warning.
Always apply the parking brake when parking.

339
uuBraking uBrake System
Driving
Your vehicle is equipped with disc brakes at the front, and drum brakes in the rear
wheels. A vacuum power assist helps reduce the effort needed on the brake pedal.
The brake assist system increases the st opping force when you depress the brake
pedal hard in an emergency situation. The anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps you
retain steering control wh en braking very hard.
2Brake Assist System P. 341
2 Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) P. 340
■Foot Brake1Foot Brake
Check the brakes after driving through deep water,
or if there is a buildup of road surface water. If
necessary, dry the brakes by lightly depressing the
pedal several times.
If you hear a continuous me tallic friction sound when
applying the brakes, the brake pads need to be
replaced. Have your vehi cle checked by a dealer.
Constantly using the brak e pedal while going down a
long hill builds up heat, which reduces the brake
effectiveness. Apply engine braking by taking your
foot off the accelerator pe dal and downshifting to a
lower gear/speed position. With manual transmission
use a lower gear for gr eater engine braking.
Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, as it will lightly apply the brakes and cause
them to lose effectiveness over time and reduce pad
life. It will also conf use drivers behind you.