Page 134 of 231

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
Page 135 of 231

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
Page 137 of 231

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
Page 138 of 231

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
Page 139 of 231
Insert the key in the Shift Lock
Release slot.Remove the key from the Shift
Lock Release slot, then reinstall
thecover.Makesurethenotchon
the cover is on the lef t side.
Return the key to the ignition
switch, press the brake pedal, and
restart the engine.
If you need to use the Shif t Lock
Release, it means your vehicle is
developing a problem. Have it
checked by a Honda dealer.
Push down on the key while you
pressthereleasebuttononthe
shif t lever and move the shif t lever
out of Park to Neutral.
Do this if pushing on the brake pedal
and pressing the release button do
not shif t the transmission out of
Park:
Put a cloth on the edge of the Shif t
Lock Release slot cover next to
theshiftlever.Useakeyto
remove the cover. Caref ully pry on
the edge of the cover. Remove the key from the ignition
switch. Set the Parking brake.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.6.
Shif t L ock Release
Automatic Transmission (CVT)
Driving136
RELEASE BUTTON
SHIFT LOCK
RELEASE SLOT
COVER
Page 140 of 231

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
Page 141 of 231
The indicator blinks as a reminder
that the engine has stopped because
of the Auto Idle Stop f unction. You
cannot restart the engine with the
ignition switch when this light is
blinking.If you open the driver’s door when
Auto Stop is active, the indicator will
blink and you will hear a continuous
beep. The beep will stop when you
close the door.
With the driver’s door open, you will
hear a continuous beep even if the
Auto Idle Stop f unction is
deactivated and the engine restarts.
Always turn the ignition switch to
LOCK (0) and remove the key if you
are getting out of the vehicle.
A uto Idle Stop Indicator
Automatic Transmission (CVT)
Driving138
AUTO IDLE STOP INDICATOR
Page 143 of 231

Check the brakes after 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. Be extra
cautious in your driving.
The hydraulic system that operates
the brakes has two separate circuits.
Each circuit works diagonally across
the vehicle (the lef t-f ront brake is
connected with the right-rear brake,etc.). If one circuit should develop a
problem, you will still have braking
at two wheels.
If the brake pads need replacing, you
will hear a distinctive, metallic
screeching sound when you apply
the brake pedal. If you do not have
the brake pads replaced, they will
screech all the time. It is normal f or
the brakes to occasionally squeal or
squeak when you apply them.
Your Honda is 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
thebrakepedal.TheABS(onsome
models) helps you retain steering
control when braking very hard.
Resting your f oot on the pedal keeps
the brakes applied lightly, builds up
heat, and reduces their ef f ectiveness.
It also keeps your brake lights on all
the time, conf using drivers behind
you.
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 taking your f oot of f the
accelerator and downshif ting to a
lower gear. Braking System Design
Brake Wear Indicators
Driving
Braking System
140
Front