2007 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID Engine

You may notice that using the A/C
causes a greater drop in f uel
economy than you are used to in
other vehicles. Although the amount
of extra f uel used by the A/C load on
the engine is no greater than other
vehicles, it is more noticeable
because of your Civic Hybrid’s
excellent f uel mileage. Using the
A/C in hot weather may result in
f uel economy that is lower than
expected.
The air conditioning puts an extra
load on the engine which makes it
usemorefuel.Usethefresh-air
ventilation when possible.
Try to maintain a constant speed.
Everytimeyouslowdownand
speed up, your vehicle uses extra
f uel. Use cruise control when
appropriate.
Wind resistance causes vehicles to
usemorefuelathigherspeeds.
Driving at moderate speeds on the
highway also reduces wind
resistance and conserves f uel.
The current f uel mileage display
allows you to monitor your f uel
mileage and adjust your driving
habits to save fuel.
Combine several short trips into
one.
Fuel Economy
Bef ore Driving
155

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Preparing to Drive .164
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Starting the Engine .165
.
Automatic Transmission (CVT) .166
...........................................
Parking .172
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Braking System .173
...............
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) .174
...........................
Towing a Trailer .175
This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
automatic transmissions (CVT). It
also includes important inf ormation
on parking your vehicle and the
braking system.
Driving
Driving
163

Make sure all windows, mirrors,
and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove frost, snow,
or ice. Check
that any items you may be
carrying are stored properly or
fastened down securely.
Check the seat adjustment (see
page ).
Check the adjustment of the
inside and outside mirrors (see
page ).
Check the steering wheel
adjustment (see page ).
Make sure the doors are securely
closed and locked. Fasten
your seat belt. Check that
your passengers have fastened
their seat belts (see page ).
Youshoulddothefollowingchecks
and
adjustmen ts before you drive
your vehicle.
When you start the engine, check
the gauges and indicato rs in the
instrument panel (see page ).
Check that the hood and trunk are
fully closed.
Visually check the tires. If a tire
looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure (see page ).
1.
2.
3.
8. 7. 6. 14
9.
4.
5.
93 57
10.
207 89
75
Preparing to Drive
164

Apply the parking brake.
In cold weather, turn off all
electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery.
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. In
cold weather, conventional starter
is used instead of the IMA system
starter. This is normal.
Make sure the shift lever is in
Park. Press on the brake pedal.
Without touching the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition key to the
START (III) position. Do not hold
the key in the START (III)
position for more than 15 seconds
at a time. If the engine does not
start right away, pause for at least
10 seconds before trying again.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
78
Starting
theEngine
Starting in Cold Weather
Driv ing
165
The engine is harder to start in cold
weather. Also, the thinner air found at
altitudes above 8,000 feet (2,400
meters) adds to this problem.
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 .

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To shift from Park to any position,
press firmly on the brake pedal and
pressthereleasebuttononthefront
of the shift lever, then pull the lever.
YoucannotshiftoutofParkwhen
the ignition switch is in the LOCK
(0) or the 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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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
completestop,andthenshift.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

Remove the key from the ignition
switch. Set the parking brake.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.
Do this if pushing on the brake pedal
and pressing the release button does
not shif t the transmission out of
Park:
Insert a key into the shift lock
release slot.
Push down on the key while you
pressthereleasebuttononthe
shif t lever and move the shif t lever
out of Park to neutral.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.6.
Shif t L ock Release
Automatic Transmission (CVT)
Driving
169
SHIFT LOCK
RELEASE SLOT RELEASE
BUTTON
NOTCH COVER

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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 over 8 mph
(12 km/h) and brake to a stop. And
it can activate twice even if you
speedupto8mph(12km/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