2003 HONDA CIVIC HATCHBACK ignition

Many parents say they pref er to put
an inf ant or small child in the f ront
passenger seat so they can watch the
child, or because the child requires
attention.
If you ever have to carry more than
three children in your car:
Place the largest child in the f ront
seat, provided the child is large
enough to wear a seat belt
properly (see page ).
Move the vehicle seat as far to the
rear as possible (see page ).
Have the child sit upright and well
backintheseat(seepage ).
Make sure the seat belt is properly
positioned and secured (see page ). Placing a child in the f ront seat
exposes the child to hazards f rom
the passenger’s f ront airbag, and
paying close attention to a child
distracts the driver f rom the
important tasks of driving, placing
both of you at risk.
If a child requires physical attention
or f requent visual contact, we
strongly recommend that another
adult ride with the child in the back
seat. The back seat is far safer for a
child than the front.
Your car has three seating positions
in the back seat where children can
be properly restrained.
Leaving children without
adult supervision is illegal in most
states and Canadian provinces,
and can be very hazardous. For
example, inf ants and small
childrenleftinavehicleonahot
day can die f rom heatstroke. And
children lef t alone with the key in
the ignition can accidentally set
the vehicle in motion, possibly
injuring themselves or others.
12
15 35
17 If a Child Requires Close
Attention
If You Must Drive with Several
Children Additional Saf ety Precautions
Protecting Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Do not leave children alone in your
car.
24

Childrenuptoaboutone
year old should be restrained in a
rear-f acing, reclining child seat. Only
a rear-f acing seat provides the
proper support to protect an inf ant’s
head, neck, and back. See page
for additional information on
protecting inf ants.
The f ollowing pages give general
guidelines f or selecting and installing
child seats f or inf ants and small
children.
To provide proper protection, a child
seat should meet three
requirements:
The child seat should
meet Federal Motor Vehicle
Saf ety Standard 213 (FMVSS 213)
or Canadian Motor Vehicle Saf ety
Standard 213 (CMVSS 213). Look
for the manufacturer’s statement
of compliance on the box and seat.
Children who play in cars can
accidentally get trapped inside the
car. Teach your children not to
play in or around cars.
Even very young
children learn how to unlock
vehicle doors, turn on the ignition,
and open the hatch, which can
lead to accidental injury or death.
29
CONT INUED
Inf ant s:
Select ing a Child Seat
T he child seat should meet saf et yst andards.
T he child seat should be of theproper t ype and size t o f it t he child.
Lock both doors and the hatch
when your car is not in use.
K eep car keys and remot etransmitters out of the reach ofchildren.
1.
2.
General Guidelines f or Using
Child Seats
Protecting Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety 25

This seat belt has a single belt that
goes over your shoulder, across your
chest and across your hips.To unlock the belt, push the red
PRESSbuttononthebuckle.
To fasten the belt, insert the latch
plate into the buckle, then tug on the
belt to make sure the buckle is
latched.
Your seat belt system includes lap/
shoulder belts in all f ive seating
positions.
The seat belt system also
includes a light on the
instrument panel to remind you and
your passengers to f asten your belts.
If the driver’s seat belt is not
fastened before the ignition is turned
ON (II), the light will come on. The
light will stay on until the driver’s
seat belt is f astened. Guide the belt across your body to
the door pillar. Af ter exiting the
vehicle, be sure the belt is out of the
way and will not get closed in the
door.
The seat belts in all seating positions
except the driver’s have an additional
locking mechanism that must be
activated to secure a child seat. (See
pages and f or instructions on
how to secure child seats with this
type of seat belt.)
All seat belts have an emergency
locking retractor. In normal driving,
the retractor lets you move f reely in
your seat while it keeps some
tension on the belt. During a collision
or sudden stop, the retractor
automatically locks the belt to help
restrain your body.
33
30
CONT INUED
Seat Belt System Components L ap/Shoulder Belt
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Additional Inf ormation About Your Seat Belts
43

Your Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS) includes:Two f ront airbags. The driver’s
airbag is stored in the center of
the steering wheel; the f ront
passenger’sairbagisstoredinthe
dashboard. Both are marked ‘‘SRS
AIRBAG.’’ A sophisticated electronic system
that continually monitors and
records inf ormation about the
sensors, the control unit, the
airbag activators, and driver and
passenger seat belt use when the
ignition is ON (II).
An indicator light on the
instrument panel that alerts you to
a possible problem with the
system (see page ).
Emergency backup power in case
your car’s electrical system is
disconnected in a crash.
Automatic seat belt tensioners
(see page ).
If you ever have a moderate to
severe f rontal collision, the sensors
will detect the vehicle’s rapid
deceleration. If the rate of
deceleration is high enough, the
control unit will instantly inf late the
f ront airbags.
Sensors that can detect a
moderate to severe frontal
collision.
48
44 How Your Front Airbags Work
Airbag Components
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
46

When you turn the ignition ON (II),
this indicator will light brief ly then
go out. This tells you that the system
is working properly.
Your car is equipped with side
airbags f or the driver and a f ront
seat passenger. The airbags are
stored in the outer edges of the f ront
seat-backs, and both are marked
‘‘SIDE AIRBAG.’’ If you ever have a moderate to
severe side impact, the sensors will
detect rapid deceleration and signal
the control unit to instantly inf late
either the driver’s or the passenger’s
side airbag.
Only one airbag will deploy during a
side impact. If the impact is on the
passenger’s side, the passenger’s
side airbag will deploy even if there
is no passenger.
To get the best protection f rom the
side airbags, front seat occupants
should wear their seat belts and sit
upright and well back in their seats.
Thepurposeof theSRS
indicator light is to alert
you to a potential problem with your
f ront airbags. On vehicles with side
airbags, this light will also alert you
to a potential problem with your
automatic seat belt tensioners (page
); or your side airbags or
passenger’s side airbag automatic
cutof f system (page ). 44
49
Optional
How Your Side A irbags Work How the SRS Indicator L ight
Works
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
48

If the light comes on at any other
time, or does not come on at all, you
should have the system checked by
your dealer. For example:If the SRS indicator light does not
come on after you turn the ignition
switch to ON (II).
If the light stays on after the
engine starts.
If the light comes on or f lashes on
andoff whileyoudrive. If you see any of these indications,
your f ront or side airbags may not
deploy, your passenger’s side airbag
automatic cutoff system may not
work properly, or your seat belt
tensioners may not work when you
need them. See your Honda dealer
as soon as possible.
This light alerts you that
the passenger’s side airbag
has been automatically shut off.
It does not mean there is a problem
with your side airbags. It means that
thesideairbagcutoff systemhas
activated to prevent the side airbag
f rom deploying.
To reduce the risk of injury f rom an
inf lating side airbag, your car has an
automatic cutoff system for the
passenger’s side airbag.
Although Honda does not encourage
children to ride in the f ront, this
system is designed to shut of f the
side airbag if a child leans sideways
and the child’s head is in the side
airbag deployment path.
Only when equipped with side airbags
CONT INUED
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
How the Passenger Airbag Cutof f
Indicator L ight Works
49
Ignoring the SRS indicator light
can result in serious injury or
death if the airbags, cutoff
system, or tensioners do not
work properly.
Have your vehicle checked by a
dealer as soon as possible if
the SRS light alerts you to a
potential problem.

A f ront seat passenger should not
use a cushion or other object as a
backrest. It may prevent the cutof f
system f rom working properly.
If a small-statured adult leans
sideways, or larger adult slouches
and leans sideways into the
deployment path of the side airbag,
the system may also shut of f the side
airbag.
Your f ront airbag system and side
airbag system (if equipped) are
virtually maintenance-f ree, and there
are no parts you can safely service.
However, you must have your car
serviced if :
Any
airbag that has deployed must be
replaced along with the seat belt
tensioners, control unit and other
related parts. Do not try to remove
or replace any airbag by yourself.
This must be done by a Honda
dealer or a knowledgeable body
shop.
When you turn the ignition switch to
ON (II), the indicator should light
brief ly and go out (see page ). If it
doesn’t light, stays on, or comes on
while driving without a passenger in
the front seat, have the system
checked.
If the passenger airbag cutof f
indicator light comes on, you should
have the passenger sit upright. Once
the passenger is out of the
deployment path of the side airbag,
the system will turn the airbag back
on and the light will go out. 58
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
Airbag Service
Your airbags ever inf late.
50

This section gives inf ormation about
the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your Honda. All the essential
controls are within easy reach............................
Control Locations . 56
...............................
Indicator Lights . 57
.............................................
Gauges . 63
...............................
Speedometer . 63
.....................................
Odometer . 63
...................................
Trip Meter . 63
..................................
Fuel Gauge . 64
.................................
Tachometer . 64
...................
Temperature Gauge . 64
Controls Near the Steering .......................................
Wheel . 65
...................................
Headlights . 66
............
Daytime Running Lights . 67
....
Instrument Panel Brightness . 67
................................
Turn Signals . 68
.....................
Windshield Wipers . 68
..................
Windshield Washers . 69
Rear Window Wiper and
.....................................
Washer . 69
..........................
Hazard Warning . 70
.............
Rear Window Def ogger . 70
......
Steering Wheel Adjustment . 71
...............................
Keys and Locks . 72
..............................................
Keys . 72
............................
Ignition Switch . 72
....................
Immobilizer System . 74 ......................
Power Door Locks . 75
...................
Remote Transmitter . 76
............................................
Hatch . 80
............................
Seat Adjustments . 81
.............
Front Seat Adjustments . 81
..........................
Head Restraints . 82
........................
Rear Seat Access . 82
...........................
Folding Rear Seat . 83
...........................
Cargo Area Cover . 84
..............................
Power Windows . 85
.........................................
Moonroof . 87
.............................................
Mirrors . 88
.................................
Parking Brake . 89
........................................
Glove Box . 90
...........................
Beverage Holders . 90
...................
Console Compartment . 92
........................................
Coat Hook . 92
...............
Accessory Power Socket . 92
..................................
Vanity Mirror . 93
.................................
Interior Lights . 93
..............................
Ceiling Lights . 93
.....................................
Spotlights . 94
........................
Cargo Area Light . 94
Instruments and Controls
Inst rument s and Cont rols 55