Page 10 of 268

Your vehicle is equipped with many
features that work together to
protect you and your passengers
during a crash.
However, you and your passengers
can’t take full advantage of these
f eatures unless you remain sitting in
a proper position and. In fact, some safety
f eatures can contribute to injuries if
they are not used properly.
The f ollowing pages explain how you
cantakeanactiveroleinprotecting
yourself and your passengers. Some f eatures do not require any
action on your part. These include a
strong steel f ramework that f orms a
saf ety cage around the passenger
compartment, front and rear crush
zones, a collapsible steering column,
and tensioners that tighten the f ront
seat belts in a crash.
Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features
always wear
your seat belts
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
7
(9)
(2)
(6) (4)
(3)
(1)
(8)
(7)
(5)
(2)
(11) (9)
(10) (8)
(8) Side Airbags
(9) Side Curtain Airbags
(10) Front Seat Belt Tensioners
(11) Door Locks (1) Safety Cage
(2) Crush Zone
(3) Seats and Seat-Backs
(4) Head Restraints
(5) Collapsible Steering Column
(6) Seat Belts
(7) Front Airbags 
     
        
        Page 22 of 268

CONTINUED
For added  protection,  the front  seat
belts  are equipped  with automatic
seat  belt tensioners.  When activated,
the  tensioners  immediately  tighten
the  belts  to help  hold  the driver  and
a  front  passenger  in position.
The  tensioners  are designed  to
activate  in any  collision  severe
enough  to cause  a front,  side, or side
curtainairbagtoinflate.
The 
lap/shoulder  belt  goes  over
your  shoulder,  across your chest,
and  across  your hips.
To  fasten  the belt,  insert  the latch
plate  into the buckle,  then  tug  on the
belt  to make  sure the buckle  is
latched  (see page  for how  to
properly  position the belt).
To  unlock  the belt,  press  the red
PRESSbuttononthebuckle.Guide
the  belt  across  your body  so that  it
retracts  completely.  After exiting  the
vehicle,  be sure  the belt  is out  of the
way  and will not get  closed  in the
door.
All  seat  belts  have an emerge ncy
locking  retractor.  In normal  driving,
the  retractor  lets  you  move  freely  in
your  seat while  it keeps  some
tension  on the  belt.  During  a collision
or  sudden  stop, the retractor
automati cally locks  the belt  to help restrain 
your body.
If  the  shoulder  part of the  belt  is
pulled  all the  way  out, the lockable
retractor  will activate.  The belt will
retract,  but it will  not allow  the
passenger  to move  freely.
To  deactivate  the lockable  retractor,
unlatch  the buckle  and let the  seat
belt  fully  retract.  To refasten  the
seat  belt,  pull it out  only  as far  as
needed. The seat belts in all positions except
the driver’s have an additional
lockable retractor that must be
activated to secure a child seat (see
page ).
14 45
Additional Inf ormation About Your Seat Belts
A utomatic Seat Belt T ensioners
L ap/Shoulder Belt
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
19 
     
        
        Page 47 of 268
Other LATCH-compatible  seats have
a  flexible-type  connector as shown
above.
Whatever  type you have,  follow
the  child  seat maker’s  instructions
for  adjusting  or tightening  the fit. Lift 
the head  restraint  (see page
), then route the tether strap
through the legs of the head
restraint and over the seat-back,
making sure the strap is not
twisted. Attach the tether strap hook to the
tether anchor, then tighten the
strap as instructed by the child
seat maker.
Pushandpullthechildseat
f orward and f rom side-to-side to
verify that it is secure. If the tether strap is too long and
cannot be tightened f irmly, f ind a
route where the strap can be
tightened securely.
Tighten the strap according to the
seat maker’s instructions.
6. 5.
4. 7.
90 8.
Installing a Child Seat
44
Flexible type Front
ANCHOR
TETHER STRAP HOOK 
     
        
        Page 50 of 268
After properly  securing  the child
seat  (see  page  ), lift  the  head
restraint, then route the tether
strap over the seat-back and
through the head restraint legs.
If the tether strap is too long and
cannot be tightened f irmly, f ind a
route where the strap can be
tightened securely. Lift the anchor cover, then attach
the tether strap hook to the
anchor, making sure the strap is
not twisted.
Tighten the strap according to the
seat maker’s instructions.
1. 2.
3.
45
Installing a Child Seat
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
47
Front
ANCHOR
ANCHOR Front
Outer Position Center Position
TETHER STRAP HOOK TETHER STRAP HOOK 
     
        
        Page 71 of 268

The information  display in the
instrument  panel shows  you the
engine  oil life  and  maintenance
service  items when the ignition
switch  is in  the  ON  (II) position.  This
information  helps to keep  you aware
of  the  periodic  maintenance  your
vehicle  needs for continued  trouble-
free  driving.  Refer to page  for
more  information.
Your 
vehicle’s  on board  diagnostic
system  will detect  a loose  or missing
fuel  fill cap  as an  evaporative  system
leak.  The first  time  a leak  is detected
a  ‘‘CHECK  FUEL CAP’’ message
appears  on the  information  display.
Turn  the engine  off, and  confi rm the
fuel  fill cap  is installed.  If it is,  loosen
it,  then  retighten  it until  it clicks  at
least  once.  The message  should go
off  after  several  days of normal
driving  once you tighten  or replace
the  fuel  fill cap.  To scroll  to another
display,  press the SEL/RESET
button.  The ‘‘CHECK  FUEL CAP’’
message  will appear  each time you
restart  the engine  until the system
turns  the message  off. If 
the  system  still detects  a leak  in
the  vehicle’s  evaporative  emissions
system,  the malfunction  indicator
lamp  (MIL)  comes  on. If the  fuel  fill
cap  was  not already  tightened,  turn
the  engine  off, and  check  or
retighten  the fuel  fill cap  until  it
clicks  at least  once.  The MIL  should
go  off  after  several  days of normal
driving  once the cap  is tightened  or
replaced.  If the  MIL  does  not go off,
have  your vehicle  inspected  by a
dealer.  For more  information,  see
page . 179
229
Gauges
Maintenance Minder
Check Fuel Cap Message
68 
     
        
        Page 155 of 268
If the  hood  latch handle  moves
stiffly,  or if you  can open  the hood
without  lifting the handle,  the
mechanism  should be cleaned  and
lubricated.
Put  your  fingers  under the front
edge  of the  hood  near the center.
Slide  your hand  to the  left  until
you  feel  the hood  latch handle.
Push  this handle  up to release  it.
Lift  up the  hood.
Push 
the fuel  fill door  closed  until
it  latches.
Screw 
the fuel  fill cap  back  on
until  it clicks  at least  once.  If you
do not properly tighten the cap,
the malf unction indicator lamp
maycomeon(seepage ).You
will also see a ‘‘CHECK FUEL
CAP’’ message on the inf ormation
display.
Holding the grip, pull the support
rod out of its clip. Insert the end
into the designated hole in the
hood.
Park the vehicle, and set the
parking brake. Pull the hood
release handle located under the
lower lef t corner of the dashboard.
The hood will pop up slightly.
2. 1.
3.
5.
6.
229
Service Station Procedures
Opening and Closing the Hood
152
HOOD
RELEASE
HANDLE LATCH 
     
        
        Page 192 of 268

The oil viscosity or weight is
provided on the container’s label.
Oil is a major contributor to your
engine’s perf ormance and longevity.
Always use a premium-grade 0W-20
detergent oil displaying the API
Certif ication Seal. This seal indicates
the oil is energy conserving, and that
it meets the American Petroleum
Institute’s latest requirements.
Honda Motor Oil is the pref erred
0W-20 lubricant f or your vehicle. It is
highly recommended that you use
Honda Motor Oil in your vehicle f or optimum engine protection. Make
sure the API Certif ication Seal says
‘‘For Gasoline Engines’’.
A very low-viscosity, f uel-ef f icient
0W-20 oil is the pref erred engine
lubricant f or your Civic Hybrid. This
special oil is f ormulated to help your
engine use less fuel. It is available at
your dealer. A 5W-20 oil may be used
if 0W-20 is not available.
Unscrew and remove the engine oil
fill cap on the valve cover. Pour in
the oil slowly and caref ully so you do
not spill any. Clean up any spills
immediately. Spilled oil could
damage components in the engine
compartment. Reinstall the engine
oil f ill cap, and tighten it securely.
Wait a f ew minutes, and recheck the
oil level on the engine oil dipstick.
Do not f ill above the upper mark; you
could damage the engine. Recommended Engine Oil
A dding Engine Oil
Maint enance
189
API CERTIFICATION SEAL
ENGINE OIL
FILL CAP
Ambient Temperature 
     
        
        Page 194 of 268

Refill the engine with the
recommended oil.
Engine oil change capacity
(including f ilter):
Let the engine run f or several
minutes, then check the drain bolt
and oil f ilter f or leaks. Put a new washer on the drain bolt,
then reinstall the drain bolt.
Tighten the drain bolt to:
Install a new oil f ilter according to
the instructions that come with it. Reinstall the engine oil f ill cap.
Start the engine. The oil pressure
indicator should go out within 5
seconds. If it does not, turn of f the
engine, and check your work.
Remove the oil drain bolt and
washer from the bottom of the
engine. Drain the oil into an
appropriate container.
Remove the oil f ilter, and let the
remaining oil drain. A special
wrench (available from your
dealer) is required.
Make sure the oil f ilter gasket is
not stuck to the engine block. If it
is, remove it bef ore installing a
new oil f ilter.7.
8.
9.
4. 5.
6.10.
CONT INUED
Changing the Oil and Filter
Maint enance
191
DRAIN BOLT
WASHER OIL FILTER
3.4 US qt (3.2)
29 lbf·ft (39 N·m , 4.0 kgf·m)