2008 HONDA CIVIC Owners Manual

How to operate the heating and air
conditioning system, the audio
system, and other convenience
f eatures.
A convenient ref erence to the
sections in this manual.
A quick ref erence to the main
controls in your vehicle.
Explains the purpose of each
instrument panel indicator and gauge,
and how to use the controls on the
dashboard and steering column.
What gasoline to use, how to break-
in your new vehicle, and how to load
luggage and other cargo.
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities,
and technical information.
How to order manuals and other
technical literature.
A summary of the inf ormation you
need when you pull up to the f uelpump.
A summary of the warranties
covering your new vehicle, and how
to contact us for any reason. Refer to
your warranty manual f or detailed
inf ormation.
The proper way to start the engine,
shif t the transmission, and park; plus
what you need to know if you’re
planning to tow a trailer.
This section covers several problems
motorists sometimes experience,
and details how to handle them.
The maintenance minder shows you
when you need to take your vehicle
to the dealer for maintenance service.
There is also a list of things to check
and instructions on how to check
them.
Important inf ormation about the
proper use and care of your vehicle’s
seat belts, an overview of the
supplemental restraint system, and
valuable inf ormation on how to
protect children with child restraints.
Contents
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Instruments and Controls
Features Bef ore Driving
Driving
T echnical Inf ormation
Warranty and Customer
Relations
(U.S. and Canada only)
Authorized Manuals
(U.S. only) Index
Service Inf ormation Summary
T aking Care of the Unexpected
Maintenance
Overview of Contents
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CONT INUED: If equipped
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Your Vehicle at a Glance
3
POWER WINDOW
SWITCHESGAUGES
POWER DOOR LOCK
MASTER SWITCH FUEL FILL DOOR
RELEASE HANDLE TRUNK RELEASE
HANDLE
DRIVER’S FRONT
AIRBAG
HEATING/COOLING
CONTROLS
INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS
AUDIO SYSTEMMOONROOF SWITCH PASSENGER’S FRONT AIRBAG
(P. 57)
(P. 66)
(P.9,24)
(P. 80) MIRROR CONTROLS
(P. 181) (P.9,30)
(P. 108)
(P. 199)
(P. 112)
Vehicle with navigation system is shown. DOOR LOCK TAB
(P. 79)
ACCESSORY
POWER SOCKET
AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
(P. 202)
MANUAL
TRANSMISSION
(P. 102)
(P. 99) (P. 86) (P. 106)
(P. 100)
AUXILIARY INPUT JACK SEAT HEATER SWITCHES
(P. 172) (P. 98)
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on system manual.
To use the horn, press the center pad of the steering wheel.
If equipped
1:2:3:
Your Vehicle at a Glance
4
HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS
STEERING WHEEL
ADJUSTMENT WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS
(P. 71)
(P. 72)
Vehicle with navigation system is shown. (P. 75)HORN
CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONSPASSENGER AIRBAG OFF
INDICATOR
(P. 30)
HAZARD WARNING BUTTON
(P. 74)
REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER
(P. 74)
HEATED MIRRORS
INSTRUMENT PANEL
BRIGHTNESS BUTTONS
(P. 73)
DISPLAY CHANGE
BUTTON
(P. 66)
SEL/RESET
BUTTON
VEHICLE STABILITY
ASSIST (VSA) SYSTEM
OFF SWITCH
REMOTE AUDIO
CONTROLS
VOICE CONTROL
SWITCHES
HOOD RELEASE HANDLE
(P. 182)
(P. 66)
(P. 211)
(P. 171)
(P. 176)(P. 103)
1 2
2
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You’ll f ind many saf ety
recommendations throughout this
section, and throughout this manual.
Therecommendationsonthispage
are the ones we consider to be the
most important.
A seat belt is your best protection in
all types of collisions. Airbags are
designed to supplement seat belts,
not replace them. So even though
your vehicle is equipped with airbags,
make sure you and your passengers
always wear your seat belts, and
wear them properly (see page ).
Alcohol and driving don’t mix. Even
one drink can reduce your ability to
respond to changing conditions, and
your reaction time gets worse withevery additional drink. So don’t drink
and drive, and don’t let your f riends
drink and drive, either.
While airbags can save lives, they
can cause serious or fatal injuries to
occupants who sit too close to them,
or are not properly restrained.
Inf ants, young children, and short
adults are at the greatest risk. Be
sure to f ollow all instructions and
warnings in this manual.
Children age 12 and under should
ride properly restrained in a back
seat, not the front seat. Infants and
smallchildrenshouldberestrained
in a child seat. Larger children
should use a booster seat and a lap/
shoulder belt until they can use the
belt properly without a booster seat
(see pages ).
Excessive speed is a major f actor in
crash injuries and deaths. Generally,
the higher the speed, the greater the
risk, but serious injuries can also
occur at lower speeds. Never drive
f aster than is saf e f or current
conditions, regardless of the
maximum speed posted.
Having a tire blowout or a
mechanical f ailure can be extremely
hazardous. To reduce the possibility
of such problems, check your tire
pressures and condition f requently,
and perform all regularly scheduled
maintenance (see page ).
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33 50
223
Important Saf ety Precautions
Always Wear Your Seat Belt
Don’t Drink and Drive
Be Aware of Airbag Hazards
Restrain All Children
Control Your Speed
K eep Your Vehicle in Saf e
Condition
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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 f ull 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 belt s
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
7
(2)
(2)
(8)
(8)
(7)
(9)
(9)
(3) (1) (4)
(6)
(10)
(5)
(11) (12)
(1) Safety Cage
(2) Crush Zones
(3) Seats and Seat-Backs
(4) Head Restraints
(5) Collapsible Steering Column
(6) Seat Belts
(7) Front Airbags(8) Side Airbags
(9) Side Curtain Airbags
(10) Front Seat Belt Tensioners
(11) Door Locks
(12) Front Seat Belt Buckle Tensioners
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Your vehicle is equipped with seat
belts in all seating positions.
Seat belts are the single most
effectivesafetydeviceforadultsand
larger children. (Inf ants and smaller
children must be properly restrained
in child seats.)
Not wearing a seat belt properly
increases the chance of serious
injury or death in a crash, even
though your vehicle has airbags.
In addition, most states and all
Canadian provinces require you to
wear seat belts.When properly worn, seat belts:
Keep you connected to the vehicle
so you can take advantage of the
vehicle’s built-in saf ety f eatures.
Help protect you in almost every
type of crash, including f rontal,
side, and rear impacts and
rollovers. Help keep you f rom being thrown
against the inside of the vehicle
and against other occupants.
Keep you f rom being thrown out
of the vehicle.
Help keep you in a good position
should the airbags ever deploy. A
good position reduces the risk of
injury f rom an inf lating airbag and
allows you to get the best
advantage f rom the airbag.
Of course, seat belts cannot
completely protect you in every
crash.Butinmostcases,seatbelts
can reduce your risk of serious
injury.
Always wear your seat belt, and
make sure you wear it properly.
Your seat belt system also includes
an indicator on the instrument panel
and a beeper to remind you and your
passengers to f asten your seat belts.
Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features
Seat Belts
Why Wear Seat Belt s
What You Should Do:
8
Not wearing a seat belt properly
increases the chance of serious
injury or death in a crash, even
though your vehicle has airbags.
Be sure you and your
passengers always wear seat
belts and wear them properly.
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In addition, your vehicle has side
curtain airbags to help protect the
heads of the driver, f ront passenger,
and passengers in the outer rear
seating positions during a moderate
to severe side impact (see pagef or more inf ormation on how
your side curtain airbags work).
Your vehicle also has side airbags to
help protect the upper torso of the
driver or a f ront seat passenger
during a moderate to severe side
impact (see page f or more
information on how your side airbags
work).
Your vehicle has a supplemental
restraint system (SRS) with f ront
airbags to help protect the heads and
chests of the driver and a front seat
passenger during a moderate to
severe f rontal collision (see page
f or more inf ormation on how
your f ront airbags work). 27
29
24
CONT INUED
Airbags
Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
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The most important things you need
to know about your airbags are:They are designed to supplement
the seat belts. Remember however, that no saf ety
system can prevent all injures or
deaths that can occur in a severe
crash, even when seat belts are
properly worn and the airbags deploy.
The rest of this section gives more
detailed inf ormation about how you
can maximize your saf ety.
Always wear
your seat belt properly, and sit
upright and as f ar back f rom the
steering wheel as possible while
allowing f ull control of the vehicle. A
f ront passenger should move their
seat as far back from the dashboard
as possible.
To do their job, airbags must
inf late with tremendous f orce. So
while airbags help save lives, they
can cause minor injuries or more
serious or even fatal injuries if
occupants are not properly
restrained or sitting properly.
Airbags do not replace seat belts. A irbags of f er no prot ect ion in rearimpact s, or minor f ront al or side
collisions. What you should do:
Airbags can pose serious hazards.
Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features
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