2004 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID stop start

This indicator normally comes on
when you turn the ignition to ON (II)
and goes off after the engine starts.
If it comes on at any other time,
there is a problem in the Electric
Power Steering system. If this
happens, stop the vehicle in a saf e
place and turn of f the engine. Reset
the system by restarting the engine.
The indicator will not turn of f
immediately. If it does not go of f
after driving a short distance, or
comes back on again while driving,
take the vehicle to your dealer to
have it checked. With the indicator
on, the EPS may be turned of f ,
making the vehicle harder to steer.This indicator normally comes on f or
a f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to ON (II). If it comes
on at any other time, it indicates a
problem in the Integrated Motor
Assist (IMA) system. With the IMA
indicator on, the vehicle may not
accelerate as it normally does. Have
the vehicle checked by the dealer as
soon as possible.
See pages and .
If you drive with the system
overheated continuously or
repeatedly, this can damage the
power steering system.
If the power steering system
overheats while driving, the assisting
power is reduced and steering may
f eel slightly harder. This indicator comes on f or a f ew
seconds when you turn the ignition
switch to ON (II). It will then go of f
if you have inserted a properly-coded
ignition key. If it is not a properly-
coded key, the indicator will blink
and the engine will not start (see
page ).
This indicator also blinks several
times when you turn the ignition
switch f rom ON (II) to ACCESSORY
(I) or LOCK (0).
71
132 137
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Electric Power Steering
(EPS) Indicator IMA System Indicator
A uto Idle Stop Indicator
Immobilizer System
Indicator
Instrument Panel
55

If the IMA battery is too hot or too
cold, the IMA system shuts down to
protect the battery. This disables the
IMA assist and Auto Idle Stop, even
though the Battery Level Gauge may
show that the battery is well-charged.
Theref ore, those f unctions may not
operate when you f irst start driving
in very hot or cold weather.This shows the temperature of the
engine’s coolant. During normal
operation, the reading should be in
the middle of the gauge. In severe
driving conditions, the reading may
reach near the red mark. If it
reaches the red (Hot) mark, pull
safely to the side of the road. Turn to
page f or instructions and
precautions on checking the engine’s
cooling system.
The battery temperature will
normalize af ter a f ew minutes of
driving, and the IMA system will
work normally.
This gauge shows you the status of
the Integrated Motor Assist (IMA).
When the IMA battery is being
charged, the lef t side of the gauge
illuminates. When the IMA is
assisting the engine, the right side of
the gauge illuminates. 187
Charge/Assist Gauge
Temperature Gauge
Gauges
Inst rument s and Cont rols63
IMA CHARGE
GAUGEIMA ASSIST
GAUGE

See page f or important saf etyinf ormation about how to properlyposition the steering wheel. 16
Make any steering wheel adjustment
bef ore you start driving.
To adjust the steering wheel upward
or downward:Push the lever under the steering
column all the way down. Push the lever up to lock the
steering wheel in that position.
Make sure you have securely
locked the steering wheel in place
by trying to move it up and down.
Move the steering wheel so it
points to your chest, not toward
your f ace. Make sure you can see
the instrument panel gauges and
indicators.
1. 4.
2. 3.
Steering Wheel A djustment
Inst rument s and Cont rols69
Adjusting the steering wheel
position while driving may
cause you to lose control of the
vehicle and be seriously injured
inacrash.
Adjust the steering wheel only
when the vehicle is stopped.

To maximize f uel economy, your
Civic Hybrid has an Auto Idle Stop
f unction. Under certain conditions,
the engine will shut of f when you
come to a stop. Those conditions are:The engine coolant is nearly up to
normal operating temperature.
The vehicle’s speed is below 19
mph (30 km/h) and you are
pressing on the brake pedal to
come to a stop.
You depress the clutch pedal.
You are not pressing on the
accelerator pedal.
The IMA battery is charged
enough to operate the system. The Auto Idle Stop f unction may not
activate if the IMA battery
temperature is too hot or too cold. During Auto Idle Stop, the IMA
charge and power brake vacuum
reserve is monitored by the system.
If either drops below a desired level,
and the shif t lever is in Neutral, the
engine will restart so it can recharge
the IMA battery or replenish the
vacuum supply.
The ECON mode is selected, and
the outside temperature is above
f reezing, or the f an speed control
dial is off (see page ).
There is adequate vacuum reserve
f or the power brakes.
When these conditions are met, the
engine will shut of f as you come to a
stop. It will start again automatically
when you depress the clutch pedal
f ully and move the shif t lever to f irst
gear. There is no need to start the
engine with the ignition switch.
It is recommended that you move
the shift lever to Neutral and remove
your f oot f rom the clutch pedal while
you are stopped. Sitting with the
clutch pedal depressed and the shif t
lever in gear will cause the engine to
continue running, def eating the f uel
economy benef its of the Auto Idle
Stop f unction. 89
5-speed Manual T ransmission
Auto Idle Stop
Driving131

This indicator will blink, and you will
hear a continuous beep, if you open
the door when Auto Stop is active.
The beep will stop when you close
the door.
Always turn the ignition switch to
LOCK (0) and remove the key if you
are getting out of the vehicle.
This indicator comes on as a
reminder that the engine has
stopped because of the Auto Idle
Stop f unction. When the indicator is
of f , it means that Auto Idle Stop is
not active. When the indicator is on,
but the engine is not running, it
means the clutch pedal is depressed,
but the transmission is not in gear.
When the indicator is blinking, it
means the clutch pedal is not
depressed completely. You cannot restart the engine with the ignition
switch when this light is blinking.
Either the Shift Up or Shift Down
indicator will light to show the best
time to shift to a higher or lower
gear. You can achieve the best f uel
economy by accelerating and
decelerating slowly, and shif ting
when prompted by the Shif t Up
indicator.
Road and traffic conditions may
require you to shif t at times other
than those indicated.
5-speed Manual T ransmission
A uto Idle Stop Indicator Shif t Up/Shif t Down Indicators
Driving132
AUTO IDLE STOP INDICATOR SHIFT UP INDICATOR
SHIFT DOWN INDICATOR

µ
To shif t f rom any position, press
f irmly on the brake pedal and press
the release button on the front of the
shiftlever.Youcannotshiftoutof
Park when the ignition switch is in
LOCK (0) or ACCESSORY (I). 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
from the ignition switch.
This position mechani-
cally locks the transmission. Use
Park whenever you are turning of f or
starting the engine. To shif t out of
Park, you must press on the brake
pedal and have your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal. Press the release
buttononthefrontof theshiftlever
to move it. If you have done all of the above and
still cannot move the lever out of
Park, see
on
page . 136
To shift from:
PtoR
RtoP
NtoR StoL
LtoS
StoD
DtoN DtoS
NtoD RtoN Do this:
Press the brake pedal and
press the release button.
Press the release button.
Move the lever.Shif t L ever Positions
Park (P) Shif t L ock Release
Automatic Transmission (CVT)
Driving134
SHIFT LEVER
RELEASE BUTTON

µ
µ
µ µ
µ
Press the brake
pedal and press the release button to
the f ront of shif t lever to shif t f rom
Park to Reverse. To shif t f rom
Reverse to Neutral, come to a
completestopandthenshift.
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 the Park
position if you need to leave your
vehicle for any reason. Press on the
brake pedal when you are moving
the shift lever from 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. Selecting Second
shifts the transmission into a lower
range of ratios for better
acceleration and increased engine
braking. Use Second when you are
going down a steep hill, or in stop-
and-go driving.
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.
ForfasteraccelerationwheninD,S
or L, the transmission will
automatically ‘‘kick down’’ to a lower
range of ratios by pushing the
accelerator pedal to the floor. 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 to below the maximum.
Reverse (R)
Neutral (N)
Drive (D) Second (S)
Low (L)
Engine Speed L imiter
Automatic Transmission (CVT)
Driving135

To maximize f uel economy, your
Civic Hybrid has an Auto Idle Stop
f unction. Under certain conditions,
the engine will shut of f when you
come to a stop. Those conditions are:The engine coolant is nearly up to
normal operating temperature.
The shift lever is in D or N.
You are not pressing on the
accelerator pedal.
The IMA battery is charged
enough to operate the system.
The ECON mode is selected, and
the outside temperature is above
f reezing, or the f an speed control
dial is off (see page ). There is adequate vacuum reserve
f or the power brakes.
When these conditions are met af ter
the vehicle speed has exceeded 10
mph (16 km/h), the engine will shut
of f as you are braking to a stop and
the vehicle speed goes below 5 mph
(8 km/h).
The engine will start again when you
release the brake pedal. It will also
restart, even if you are still pressing
the brake pedal, under these
conditions: You move the shif t lever f rom D
or N to R or L.
You are on an incline, and the
vehicle begins rolling. During Auto Idle Stop, the IMA
charge and power brake vacuum
reserve is monitored by the system.
If the vacuum reserve drops below
an optimal level, the engine will
restart to replenish the vacuum
supply. If the IMA charge drops
below an optimal level and the shif t
lever is in Neutral or Park (P), the
engine will restart to recharge the
IMA battery.
The Auto Idle Stop f unction may not
activate if the IMA battery
temperature is too hot or too cold.
You press the accelerator pedal.
89
Auto Idle Stop
Automatic Transmission (CVT)
Driving137