Page 110 of 218

Apply the parking brake.
In cold weather, turn of f all
electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery.
Push the clutch pedal down all the
way. The START (III) position
does not f unction unless the clutch
pedal is pressed.If the engine does not start within
15 seconds, or starts but stalls
right away, repeat step 4 with the
accelerator pedal pressed halfway
down. If the engine starts, release
pressure on the accelerator pedal
so the engine does not race.
If the engine fails to start, press
the accelerator pedal all the way
down, and hold it there while
starting to clear flooding. If the
engine still does not start, return
to step 5.
Without touching the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition key to the
START (III) position. Do not hold
the key in the START (III)
position f or more than 15 seconds
at a time. If the engine does not
start right away, pause for at least
10 seconds bef ore trying again. Make sure the shif t lever is in
Park. Press on the brake pedal.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Manual Transmission:
Automatic Transmission (CVT):
Starting the Engine
Driving
109
T he immobilizer system protects your
vehicle f rom thef t. If an improperly-
coded key (or other device) is used, the
engine’s f uel system is disabled. For
more inf ormation, see page . The engine is harder to start in cold
weather. Also, the thinner air f ound at
altitudes above 8,000 f eet (2,400
meters) adds to this problem.
60
Page 111 of 218

Come to a full stop before you shift
into Reverse. You can damage the
transmission by trying to shift into
reverse with the vehicle moving.
Push down the clutch pedal, and
pause f or a f ew seconds bef ore
shif ting into reverse, or shif t into one
of the f orward gears f or a moment.
This stops the gears so they won’t
‘‘grind.’’
When slowing down, you can get
extra braking f rom the engine by
shifting to a lower gear. This extra
braking can help you maintain a safe
speed and prevent your brakes f rom
overheating while going down a
steep hill. Bef ore downshif ting,
make sure the engine speed will not
go into the tachometer’s red zone in
the lower gear.
The manual transmission is syn-
chronizedinallforwardgearsfor
smooth operation. It has a lockout so
you cannot shift directly from Fifth
to Reverse. When shif ting up or
down,makesureyoupushtheclutch
pedal down all the way, shift to the
next gear, and let the pedal up
gradually. When you are not shif ting,
do not rest your f oot on the clutch
pedal. This can cause your clutch to
wear out faster.
Manual T ransmission
110
Rapid slowing or speeding-up
can cause loss of control on
slippery surfaces. If you crash,
you can be injured.
Use extra care when driving on
slippery surfaces.
Page 112 of 218

CONT INUED
The Shif t Up or Shif t Down indicator
will come on at the best time to shif t
toahigherorlowergearforthebest
f uel economy. You can achieve the
best f uel economy by accelerating
and decelerating slowly, and shif ting
up when prompted.To maximize f uel economy, under
certain conditions, the engine will
shut of f when you come to a stop.
Those conditions are:
The A/C is of f , or in ECON mode,
and the outside temperature is
above 41°F (5°C) (see page ). 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 suf f iciently
charged (at least 1/3 on the
battery level gauge).
Bef ore downshif ting, make sure the
engine will not go into the
tachometer’s red zone. If you exceed the maximum speed
f or the gear you are in, the engine
speed will enter into the tachometer’s
red zone. If this occurs, you may f eel
the engine cut in and out. This is
caused by a limiter in the engine’s
computer controls. The engine will
run normally when you reduce the
rpm below the red zone. Road and traffic conditions may
require you to shif t at times other
than those indicated. The Shift Down indicator prompts
you to shif t to a lower gear when you
are climbing a hill f aster than 12 mph
(19km/h),losingspeed,and
pressing on the accelerator pedal.
75
Shif t Up/Shif t Down Indicators
Auto Idle Stop
Engine Speed L imiter
Manual T ransmission
Driving
111
SHIFT UP INDICATOR
SHIFT DOWN INDICATOR
Page 113 of 218

There is adequate vacuum reserve
f or the power brakes.
The engine will start again
automatically when you shift to first
gear. There is no need to start the
engine with the ignition switch.
It is recommended that you shif t to
Neutral and release the clutch pedal
while 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.
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. Auto Idle Stop is not active.
Auto Idle Stop is active.
The clutch pedal is depressed.
The transmission is not in gear.Auto Idle Stop is active.
The clutch is not depressed.
You cannot restart the engine.
You will hear a chime if the door is
open.
When the indicator is of f :
When the indicator is on: When the indicator is blinking:
A uto Idle Stop Indicator
Manual T ransmission
112
AUTO IDLE STOP INDICATOR
Page 126 of 218

This section explains why it is
important to keep your vehicle well
maintained and how to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.
This section also includes
Maintenance Schedules f or normal
driving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions f or simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself .
If you have the skills and tools to
perf orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your vehicle, you may want
to purchase the service manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your dealer.......................
Maintenance Saf ety .126
.................
Maintenance Schedule . 127
....................
Maintenance Record .131
..............................
Fluid Locations .134
........................
Adding Engine Oil .135
.......
Recommended Engine Oil . 135
..............................
Synthetic Oil .136
................
Engine Oil Additives . 136
.........
Changing the Oil and Filter . 136
..............................
Engine Coolant .139
............
Adding Engine Coolant . 139
....................
Windshield Washers .141
.......................
Transmission Fluid .142
Automatic Transmission .....................................
(CVT) .142
..............
Manual Transmission . 143
................
Brake and Clutch Fluid . 144
............................
Brake System .145
...........................
Clutch System .145
.............................................
Lights .146
................
Cleaning the Seat Belts . 151
.....................................
Floor Mats .151
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 152
................................
Roof Antenna .152
..........................
Rear Wheel Skirt .153
.................................
Wiper Blades .153 ...............................................
Tires .156
..................
Inf lation Guidelines . 156
.
Recommended Tire Pressure . 157
..........................
Tire Inspection .158
.....................
Tire Maintenance .158
.............................
Tire Rotation .159
.........................
Replacing Tires .159
Wheels and Tires ........................
Specif ications .160
..........................
Winter Driving .160
.................................
Snow Tires .161
................................
Tire Chains .161
...................
Checking the Battery . 162
.............................
Vehicle Storage .163
207
Maintenance
Maint enance
125
Page 135 of 218
Fluid Locations
134
ENGINE OIL
FILL CAP
WASHER FLUID
(Blue cap)
ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK
(Orange loop)BRAKE FLUID
(Gray cap)
ENGINE
COOLANT
RESERVOIR
AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
FLUID DIPSTICK
(CVT)
(Yellow loop)
RADIATOR CAP CLUTCH FLUID
(Gray cap)
(Manual
Transmission
only)
Page 145 of 218

If Honda MTF is not available, you
may use an SAE 10W-30 or 10W-40
viscosity motor oil with the API
Certif ication seal that says ‘‘FOR
GASOLINE ENGINES’’ as a
temporary replacement. However,
motor oil does not contain the proper
additives, and continued use can
cause stiffer shifting. Replace as
soon as it is convenient.
The transmission should be drained
and ref illed with new f luid according
to the time and distance recommen-
dations in the maintenance schedule.
If you are not sure how to check and
add f luid, contact your dealer.Check the brake f luid level in the
reservoirs monthly.
Replace the brake f luid according to
the recommendation in the
maintenance schedule.
Always use Honda Heavy Duty
Brake Fluid DOT 3. If it is not
available, you should use only DOT 3
or DOT 4 f luid, f rom a sealed
container, as a temporary
replacement.
Using any non-Honda brake f luid can
cause corrosion and decrease the lif e
of the system. Have the brake
system f lushed and ref illed with
Honda Heavy Duty Brake Fluid
DOT 3 as soon as possible.
Brake f luid marked DOT 5 is not
compatible with your vehicle’s
braking system and can cause
extensive damage.
Transmission Fluid, Brake and Clutch Fluid
Brake and Clutch Fluid
144
Page 146 of 218
The f luid level should be between
theMINandMAXmarksontheside
of the reservoir. If it is not, add
brake f luid to bring it up to that level.
Use the same fluid specified for the
brake system.
The f luid level should be between
theMINandMAXmarksontheside
of the reservoir. If the level is at or
below the MIN mark, your brake
system needs attention. Have the
brake system inspected f or leaks or
worn brake pads.
A low f luid level can indicate a leak
in the clutch system. Have this
system inspected as soon as possible. Clutch System
Brake System
Brake and Clutch Fluid
Maint enance
145
MAX
MIN
MAX
MIN