Page 169 of 267

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To shift from any position, press
firmly 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 off or
starting the engine. To shift out of
Park, you must press on the brake
pedal and have your foot off the
accelerator pedal. Press the release
buttononthefrontoftheshiftlever
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. 169
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.
CONT INUED
Park (P) Shif t L ock Release
Shif ting
Automatic Transmission (CVT)
Driving
167
SHIFT LEVER
RELEASE BUTTON
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Page 170 of 267

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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. Engine Speed L imiter
Reverse (R)
Drive (D) Neutral (N) Second (S)
Low (L)
Automatic Transmission (CVT)
168
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Page 171 of 267

Do this if pushing on the brake pedal
and pressing the release button do
not shif t the transmission out of
Park:Remove the key from the ignition
switch. Set the parking brake.
Insert a key into the Shift Lock
Release slot.
Push down on the key while you
pressthereleasebuttononthe
shif t lever and move the lever out
of Park to neutral.Remove the key from the shift
lock release slot, then install the
cover. Make sure the notch on the
cover is on the shif t lever 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 your dealer.
Putaclothonthenotchof the
shif t lock release slot cover. Using
a small f lat-tipped screwdriver or a
metal f ingernail f ile, caref ully pry
on the notch of the cover to
remove it.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.6.
Shif t L ock Release
Automatic Transmission (CVT)
Driving
169
SHIFT LOCK
RELEASE SLOT
COVER RELEASE
BUTTON
NOTCH
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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. You are pressing on the brake
pedal.
Fan speed lower f an speeds, in
either AUTO or manual modes. The f ront window def roster is of f .
Outside temperature is between
10 100 degrees F. The Auto Idle Stop f unction activates
if you speed up to 8 mph (12 km/h)
over and brake to a stop. And it can
activate twice even if you speed up to
8 mph (12 km/h) or below and brake
to a stop.
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 press the accelerator pedal.
You are on an incline, and the
vehicle begins rolling. The Auto Idle Stop f unction may
activate when you slow down.
Auto Idle Stop
Automatic Transmission (CVT)
170
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Page 173 of 267
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.
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 indicator is
blinking. A uto Idle Stop Indicator
Automatic Transmission (CVT)
Driving
171
AUTO IDLE STOP INDICATOR
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Always use the parking brake when
you park your vehicle. Make sure
the parking brake is set f irmly, or
your vehicle may roll if it is parked
on an incline.
If your vehicle has an automatic
transmission, set the parking brake
bef ore you put the transmission in
Park. This keeps the vehicle f rom
moving and putting pressure on the
parking mechanism in the
transmission.Make sure the windows are closed.
Turn of f the lights.
Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the trunk or take them with you.
Lockthedoorswiththekeyorthe
remote transmitter.
Check the indicator on the
instrument panel to verif y that the
security system is set.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other f lammable
materials. The hot three way
catalytic converter could cause
these materials to catch on fire.
If the vehicle is f acing uphill, turn
the front wheels away from the
curb.If the vehicle is f acing downhill,
turn the front wheels toward the
curb.
Make sure the parking brake is
f ully released bef ore driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or
damage the rear brakes.
Parking T ips
Parking
172
Never install a sunshade between the
upper and lower meters on the
instrument panel. If you do, you could
cause heat damage to the upper meter
on a very hot day.
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Your vehicle 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.TheABShelpsyou
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.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.
Your vehicle is equipped with an
advanced hydraulic booster.
The advanced hydraulic booster has
some f eatures.
This f eature enables you to press the
brakepedalwithlessforcebythe
help of hydraulic pressure in the oil
pressure pump.
This f eature controls the braking
pressure appropriately, coordinating
with the regenerating brake of the
IMA motor.
When you release the brake pedal
while your vehicle idles, this f eature
keeps the braking pressure until the
engine starts, and prevents the
vehicle f rom dropping back.
This f eature helps you apply the
brakes with less f orce during an
emergency braking situation.
Power-Assist
Brake-Assist
Cooperative Control with Regenerative
Brake
Creep Aid System
Braking System
Driving
173
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Page 176 of 267

If this indicator comes on, the anti-
lock function of the braking system
has shut down. The brakes still work
like a conventional system, but
without anti-lock. You should have
your dealer inspect your vehic le as
soon as possible.
If the ABS indicator comes on while
driving, test the brakes as shown on
page .
You will f eel a pulsation in the brake
pedal when the ABS activates, and
you may hear some noise. This is
normal: it is the ABS rapidly
pumpingthebrakes.Ondry
pavement, you will need to press on
thebrakepedalveryhardbeforethe
ABS activates. However, you may
feel the ABS activate immediately if you are trying to stop on snow or ice.
The anti-lock brake system (ABS)
helps prevent the brakes f rom
locking up and helps you retain
steering control by pumping the
brakes rapidly; much f aster than a
person.
The ABS also balances the f ront-to-
rear braking distribution according
to vehicle loading.
Let the ABS work f or you by always
keeping f irm, steady pressure on the
brake pedal. This is sometimes
ref erred to as ‘‘stomp and steer.’’
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.
230
You should never pump the brake pedal.
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
ABS Indicator
Braking System Design
Brake Pad Wear Indicators
174
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