2001 HONDA CIVIC COUPE Owners Manual

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If you have done all of the above and
still cannot move the lever out of
Park, see Shif t Lock Release on page
.
You must also press the release
button to shift into Park. To avoid
transmission damage, come to a
complete stop bef ore shif ting into
Park. The shif t lever must be in Park
bef ore you can remove the key f rom
the ignition switch. To shif t to Reverse
f rom Park, see the explanation under
Park. To shif t to Reverse f rom
Neutral, come to a complete stop and
then shift. Press the release button
bef ore shif ting into Reverse f rom
Neutral.
Use Neutral if you
need to restart a stalled engine, or if
it is necessary to stop brief ly with
the engine idling. Shif t to Park posi-
tion if you need to leave the car for
any reason. Press on the brake pedal
when you are moving the shif t lever
f rom Neutral to another gear. Use this position f or
your normal driving. The transmis-
sion automatically selects a suitable
gear f or your speed and acceleration.
You may notice the transmission
shif ting up at higher speeds when
the engine is cold. This helps the
engine warm up f aster.
184
Automatic Transmission
Driving
Reverse (R)
Neutral (N) Drive (D)
182

µµThis position is similar
to D , except only the first three
gears are selected. Use D to provide
engine braking when going down a
steep hill. D can also keep the
transmission f rom cycling between
third and f ourth gears in stop-and-go
driving.
ForfasteraccelerationwheninD or
D , you can get the transmission to
automatically downshif t by pushing
the accelerator pedal to the floor.
The transmission will shif t down one
or two gears, depending on your
speed. To shif t to Second,
pressthereleasebuttononthefront
of the shif t lever. This position locks
the transmission in second gear. It
does not downshif t to f irst gear
when you come to a stop. Second
gives you more power when climbing,
and increased engine braking when
going down steep hills. Use second
gear when starting out on a slippery
surf ace or in deep snow. It will help
reduce wheelspin. If you exceed the maximum speed
f or the gear you are in, the engine
speed will enter into the tachometer’s
red zone. If this occurs, you may f eel
the engine cut in and out. This is
caused by a limiter in the engine’s
computer controls. The engine will
run normally when you reduce the
RPM below the red zone.
If you exceed the maximum speed
f or the gear you are in, you may f eel
the engine cut in and out. This is
caused by a limiter in the engine’s
computer controls. The engine will
run normally when you reduce the
engine speed by upshif ting or
slowing down.
4
3
3
3
4OnLXandEXmodelsintheU.S.,LX andSimodelsinCanada
On DX model
Automatic Transmission
Driving
Drive (D ) Engine Speed L imiter
Second (2)3
183

This allows you to move the shif t
lever out of Park if the normal
method of pushing on the brake
pedal and pressing the release
button does not work.Set the Parking brake.
Remove the key from the ignition
switch.
Push down on the key while you
pressthereleasebuttononthe
shif t lever and move the shif t lever
out of Park to Neutral. Insert the key in the Shift Lock
Release slot.
Put a cloth on the edge of the Shif t
Lock Release slot cover next to
the shift lever.
Use a small flat-tipped screwdriver
or small metal plate (neither are
included in the tool kit) to remove
the cover. Caref ully pry of f the
edge of the cover. Remove the key from the Shift
Lock Release slot, then reinstall
thecover.Makesurethenotchon
the cover is on the lef t side.
Depress the brake pedal and
restart the engine.
If you need to use the Shif t Lock
Release, it means your car is
developing a problem. Have the car
checked by your Honda dealer.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.6.
Automatic Transmission
Driving
Shif t L ock Release
184
R RE
EL
LEE A
A S
SEE B
BUUT TT
TO
ON N
S
SH H I
IFFT T L
LOOC CKK
R
RE EL
LEE A
A S
SEE S
SLLOOT T
C
CO
OV VE
ER
R

Honda’s Continuously Variable
automatic transmission’s unique
design provides a smooth, constant
f low of power. It is electronically
controlled f or more precise operation
and better f uel economy.This indicator on the instrument
panel shows which position the shif t
lever is in.
The ‘‘D’’ indicator comes on f or a
f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch ON (II). If it f lashes
while driving (in any shif t position),
it indicates a possible problem in the
transmission. Avoid rapid acceler-
ation and have the transmission
checkedbyanauthorizedHonda
dealer as soon as possible.The shif t lever has six positions. It
must be in Park or Neutral to start
the engine. When you are stopped in
D, S, L, N or R, press f irmly on the
brake pedal and keep your f oot of f
the accelerator pedal.
CONT INUED
On HX model
Continuously Variable
T ransmission (CVT )
Shif t L ever Position Indicator Shif t L ever Positions
Automatic Transmission (CVT)
Driving185

µYou must also press the release
button to shift into Park. To avoid
transmission damage, come to a
complete stop bef ore shif ting into
Park. The shif t lever must be in Park
bef ore you can remove the key f rom
the ignition switch.
This position
mechanically locks the transmission.
Use Park whenever you are turning
of f or starting the engine. To shif t
outofPark,youmustpressonthe
brake pedal, have your foot off the
accelerator pedal, and press the
releasebuttononthefrontof the
shif t lever.
If you have done all of the above and
still cannot move the lever out of
Park, see Shif t Lock Release on page .
184Do this:
Press the brake pedal and
press the release button.
Press the release button.
Move the lever.
To shift from:
PtoR
RtoP
NtoR StoL
LtoS
StoD
DtoS
DtoN
NtoD RtoN
Automatic Transmission (CVT)
Driving
Park (P)
186

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To shift from Re-
verse to Park, see the explanation
under Park. To shif t to Reverse f rom
Neutral, come to a complete stop
first. Press the release button before
shifting into Reverse from Neutral.
Use Neutral if you
need to restart a stalled engine, or if
it is necessary to stop brief ly with
the engine idling. Always shif t to
Park position if you need to leave the
vehicle for any reason. Press on the
brake pedal when you are moving
the shift lever from Neutral to
another position. Use this position f or
your normal driving. The transmis-
sion automatically adjusts to keep
the engine at the best speed f or
driving conditions. To help the
engine warm up f aster, the transmis-
sion will select ratios that allow the
engine to run at higher speeds when
it is cold.
Selecting Second
shifts the transmission into a lower
range of ratios f or better accelera-
tion and increased engine braking.
Use Second when you are going
down a steep hill, or in stop-and-go
driving. ForfasteraccelerationwheninD,S
or L, the transmission will
automatically ‘‘kick down’’ to a lower
range of ratios by pushing the
accelerator pedal to the floor.
The CVT shifts automatically to
maintain proper engine speed in any
shif t position.
When the vehicle reaches the
maximum speed in any shif t position,
you may f eel the engine cut in and
out. This is caused by a limiter (112
mph, 180 km/h) in the engine’s
computer controls. The engine will
run normally when you reduce the
speed below the maximum.To shif t to Low, press
the release button on the front of the
shif t lever. Use Low to get more
power when climbing, and f or
maximum engine braking when
going down steep hills.
Automatic Transmission (CVT)
Driving
Reverse (R)
Neutral (N) Drive (D)
Second (S)
Maximum Allowable Speeds Low (L)
187

µMake sure the moonroof and the
windows are closed.
Make sure the parking brake is f ully
released bef ore driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or damage
the rear brakes. Turn of f the lights.
Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the trunk or take them with you.
Lockthedoorswiththekeyorthe
remote transmitter.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other f lammable
materials. The three way catalytic
converter gets very hot, and could
cause these materials to catch on
fire.
Always use the parking brake when
you park your car. The indicator on
the instrument panel shows that the
parking brake is not f ully released; it
does not indicate that the parking
brakeisfirmlyset.Makesurethe
parking brake is set f irmly or your
car may roll if it is parked on an
incline.
If your car has an automatic
transmission, set the parking brake
bef ore you put the transmission in
Park.Thiskeepsthecarfrom
moving and putting pressure on the
parking mechanism in the
transmission making it easier to
move the shift lever out of Park
when you want to drive away. If the car is f acing uphill, turn the
f ront wheels away f rom the curb. If
you have a manual transmission, put
it in f irst gear.
If the car is f acing downhill, turn the
f ront wheels toward the curb. If you
have a manual transmission, put it in
reverse gear.
Parking T ips
Driving
Parking
188

Check your brakes af ter driving
through deep water. Apply the
brakes moderately to see if they f eel
normal. If not, apply them gently and
f requently until they do. Since a
longer distance is needed to stop
with wet brakes, be extra cautious
and alert in your driving. Constant application of the brakes
when going down a long hill builds
up heat and reduces their ef f ective-
ness. Use the engine to assist the
brakes by downshif ting to a lower
gear and taking your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal.
All Civics are equipped with f ront
disc brakes. The brakes on the rear
wheels are drum. A power assist
helps reduce the ef f ort needed on
the brake pedal.
Put your f oot on the brake pedal only
when you intend to brake. Resting
your f oot on the pedal keeps the
brakes applied lightly, causing them
to build up heat. Heat build-up can
reduce how well your brakes work. It
also keeps your brake lights on all
the time, conf using drivers behind
you. When the brake pads need replacing,
you will hear a distinctive metallic
‘‘screeching’’ sound when you apply
the brakes. If you do not have the
brake pads replaced, they will begin
screeching all the time.
Your brakes may sometimes squeal
or squeak when you apply them
lightly. Do not conf use this with the
brake wear indicators. They make a
very audible ‘‘screeching.’’ The f ront disc brakes on all models
have audible brake wear indicators. Brake Wear Indicators
The Braking System
Driving189