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 also blinks several
times when you turn the ignition
switch f rom ON (II) to ACCESSORY
(I) or LOCK (0). 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 ).
71 130 136
Electric Power Steering
(EPS) Indicator
IMA System Indicator
A uto Idle Stop Indicator
Immobilizer System
Indicator
Instrument Panel Indicators
Inst rument s and Cont rols
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.
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. 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, such as very hot
weather or a long period of uphill
driving, the reading may reach near
the red mark. If it reaches the red
(Hot) mark, pull saf ely to the side of
theroad.Seepage for
instructions and precautions on
checking the engine’s cooling
system.
186
Charge/Assist Gauge
Temperature Gauge
Gauges
Inst rument s and Cont rols
63
IMA CHARGE
GAUGEIMA ASSIST
GAUGE
Make sure you have securely
locked the steering wheel in place
by trying to move it up and down.
Make any steering wheel adjustment
bef ore you start driving.
Push the lever under the steering
column all the way down.
Move the steering wheel so it
points toward your chest, not
toward your f ace. Make sure you
can see the instrument panel
gauges and indicators.Push the lever up to lock the
steering wheel in position.
1. 4.
2. 3.
Steering Wheel A djustment
Inst rument s and Cont rols
69
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.
The air intake for the IMA battery
and electronics is located on top of
the trunk panel. Do not block this air
intake, it may cause the IMA battery
and the power control unit to
overheat, causing the IMA system to
shut down. It will start working again
af ter it cools.
Store or secure all items that could
be thrown around and hurt
someone during a crash.
Do not put any items on top of the
trunk panel. They can block your
view and be thrown around the
vehicle during a crash.
Distribute cargo evenly on the
f loor of the trunk, placing the
heaviest items on the bottom and
as far forward as possible.
If you carry large items that
prevent you f rom closing the trunk
lid, exhaust gas can enter the
passenger area. To avoid the
possibility of
, f ollow the instructions
on page .
If you carry any items on a roof
rack, be sure the total weight of
the rack and the items does not
exceed the maximum allowable
weight. Please contact your dealer
for further information.
If you use an accessory roof rack,
the roof rack weight limit may be
lower. Ref er to the inf ormation
that came with your roof rack.
Keep the glove box closed while
driving. If it is open, a passenger
could injure their knees during a
crash or sudden stop. Be sure items placed on the f loor
behind the f ront seats cannot roll
under the seats and interf ere with
the driver’s ability to operate the
pedals or the proper operation of
the seats.
45
CONT INUED
Carrying Cargo
Air Intake
Carrying Items in the Passenger
Compartment Carrying Cargo in the T runk or on
a Roof Rack
carbon monoxide
poisoning
Bef ore Driving
123
AIR INTAKE
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. 87
Auto Idle Stop
Manual T ransmission
Driving
129
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 indicator 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.
A uto Idle Stop Indicator
Shif t Up/Shif t Down Indicators
Manual T ransmission
130
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
the LOCK (0) or ACCESSORY (I)
position. 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 .
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. 134
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.
Automatic Transmission (CVT)
Park (P) Shif t L ock Release
Shif ting
132
SHIFT LEVER
RELEASE BUTTON
µ
µ µ
µ
µ 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.
Press the brake
pedal and press the release button
on the f ront of the shif t lever to shif t
f rom Park to Reverse. To shif t f rom
Reverse to Neutral, come to a
completestopandthenshift.Press
the release button bef ore shif ting
into Reverse f rom Neutral.
Use this position f or
your normal driving. The
transmission automatically adjusts to
keep the engine at the best speed f or
driving conditions. To help the
engine warm up f aster, the
transmission will select ratios that allow the engine to run at higher
speedswhenitiscold.
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. 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.
Automatic Transmission (CVT)
Engine Speed L imiter
Reverse (R)
Drive (D) Neutral (N) Second (S)
Low (L)
Driving
133