Page 1 of 231

2004 Civic Hybrid Online Reference Owner's Manual Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.helminc.com. Contents
Owner's Identification Form
Introduction ........................................................................\
............................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safety ........................................................................\
.................................................. ii
Your Vehicle at a Glance........................................................................\
.......................................................2
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
...............................................5
Important information about proper use and care of your vehicle's seat b\
elts, an overview of Supplemental
Instruments and Controls........................................................................\
.................................................. .49
Explains the purpose of each instrument panel indica tor and gauge, and how to use controls on
Comfort and Convenience Features........................................................................\
.................................87
How to operate the heating and air conditioning system, the audio system, and other convenience
Before Driving ........................................................................\
.....................................................................113
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving........................................................................\
...................................................... .............................127
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park.
Maintenance........................................................................\
...................................................... ...................143
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer. There is also
Taking Care of the Unexpected........................................................................\
.......................................177
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, and details how to handle them.
Technical Information........................................................................\
...................................................... .201
ID numbers, dimensions, capaciti es, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada only).............................................................213
A summary of the warranties covering your new Honda, and how to contact us for any reason. Refer to
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)........................................................................\
.......................................217
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index ........................................................................\
......................................................................................... I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.
Restraint System, and valuable information on how to protect children w\
ith child restraints.
the dashboard and steering column.
features.
a list of things to check and instructions on how to check them.
your warranty manual for detailed information.
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Your Vehicle at a Glance
2
AIRBAGSHEATING/COOLING CONTROLS
FUEL FILL DOOR RELEASE
HOOD RELEASE
HANDLE
POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRUNK RELEASE POWER DOOR
LOCK SWITCH INSTRUMENT PANEL
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (CVT)
(P.
73) (P.
51)
(P. 115)
(P. 74)
(P.117) (P.
133)
(P. 130) (P.
88)
(P.
10, 22)
(P. 79)
Page 49 of 231

Your vehicle’s exhaust contains
carbon monoxide gas. You should
have no problem with carbon
monoxide entering the vehicle in
normal driving if you maintain your
vehicle properly.High levels of carbon monoxide can
collect rapidly in enclosed areas,
such as a garage. Do not run the
engine with the garage door closed.
Even with the door open, run the
engine only long enough to move the
vehicle out of the garage.With the trunk lid open, air f low can
pull exhaust gas into your vehicle’s
interior and create a hazardous
condition. If you must drive with the
trunk lid open, open all the windows
and set the heating and cooling
system as shown below.
If you must sit in your parked vehicle,
even in an unconf ined area, with the
engine running, adjust the heating
and cooling system as f ollows:
Select the Fresh Air mode.
Select the mode.
Turn the f an on high speed.
Set the temperature control to a
comfortable setting.
Have the exhaust system inspected
f or leaks whenever:
The vehicle is raised f or an oil
change.
You notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust.
The vehicle was in an accident
that may have damaged the under-
side. 1.
2.
3.
4.
Carbon Monoxide Hazard
Driver and Passenger Saf ety46
Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.
Breathing it can cause
unconsciousness and even kill
you.
Avoid any enclosed areas or
activities that expose you to
carbon monoxide.
Page 53 of 231
AT model is shown.
Control L ocations
Inst rument s and Cont rols50
HEATING/COOLING CONTROLS
FUEL FILL DOOR RELEASE
TRUNK RELEASE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHES
CRUISE CONTROL
MASTER SWITCH
POWER DOOR LOCK
SWITCH
MIRROR
CONTROLS
HOOD RELEASE
HANDLE
POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES AUDIO SYSTEM
DIGIT
AL CLOCK
(P.
88)
ACCESSORY POWER
SOCKET
(P. 109)
(P. 117)
(P. 74)
(P.
115)
(P.
109)
(P.
73)
(P.94)
(P. 108 )
(P.
81)
(P. 79)
(P.85)
Page 90 of 231

The standard audio system has
many f eatures. This section de-
scribes those f eatures and how to
use them. (If you selected an
optional audio system, ref er to the
operating instructions that came
with it.) The heating and air conditioning
systems in your Honda provide a
comf ortable driving environment in
all weather conditions.
Your Honda has an anti-thef t audio
system that requires a code number
to enable it................
Vents, Heating, and A/C . 88
............................
Playing the Radio .94
..........................
Radio Reception .97
....................................
Playing a CD .99
..............................
CD Changer .100
................
Protecting Your CDs . 101
.....
CD Player Error Messages . 102
.
CD Changer Error Messages . 103
...............................
Playing a Tape .104
.................
Radio Thef t Protection . 107
..........................
Setting the Clock .108
...............................
Cruise Control .109
Comf ort and Convenience Features
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures87
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Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Vents, Heating, and A/C
88
MODE CONTROL DIAL
TEMPERATURE
CONTROL DIAL
FAN CONTROL DIAL RECIRCULATION BUTTON AIR CONDITIONING BUTTONECON BUTTON
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CONT INUED
You can manually set the system
controls f or ventilation, air
conditioning, heating, air f low
direction, and fan speed in various
combinations.When the ECON button is on:
The indicator comes on.
The Auto Idle Stop is enabled.
The system will not cool as quickly
when the A/C is on.
If the outside temperature is below
f reezing, the Auto Idle Stop is
disabled, even if the ECON button is
on. The heater will continue to warm
the interior with the vehicle stopped
and engine running.
When the ECON button is off: The Auto Idle Stop is disabled.
The system turns of f the ECON
mode when you select or . If thefancontroldialisoff,the
ECON button will not turn on or of f ,
and the Auto Idle Stop is enabled.
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Manual Operation
ECON Button
Vents, Heating, and A/C
89
Page 93 of 231

The outside air intakes f or the
heating and cooling system are at
the base of the windshield. Keep this
area clear of leaves and other debris.
ThesystemshouldbeleftinFresh
Air mode under almost all conditions.
Keeping the system in Recirculation
mode, particularly with the A/C of f ,
can cause the windows to fog up.
Switch to Recirculation mode when
driving through dusty or smoky
conditions, then return to Fresh Air
mode.
This button turns the rear window
def ogger of f and on (see page ).
Use the mode control dial to select
the vents the air flow from. Some air
will f low f rom the dashboard vents in
all modes.Air flows from the center
and corner vents in the dashboard.
Air f low is divided between
the vents in the dashboard and the
f loor vents.
Air f lows f rom the f loor
vents. When you select , the
system automatically switches to
Fresh Air mode.
Air f low is divided between
the f loor vents and the def roster
vents at the base of the windshield.
Air f lows f rom the def roster
vents at the base of the windshield.
Turn this dial to control fan speed
and the air flow.
When the dial is set to AUTO, the
system controls the f an speed
automatically.
Turning this dial clockwise increases
the temperature of the airflow.
This button turns the air
conditioning on and of f . The light in
thebuttonisonwhentheA/Cison.
When the light in the button is on,
air f rom the vehicle’s interior is sent
throughout the system again. When
the light is of f , air is brought in f rom
the outside of the vehicle (Fresh Air
mode).
When you select or ,
the system automatically switches to
Fresh Air mode and turns on the
A/C and turns off the ECON mode.
68
Fan Control Dial
Rear Window Def ogger Button
Mode Control Dial
Air Conditioning (A/C) Button T emperature Control Dial
Recirculation Button
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Vents, Heating, and A/C
90