2008 HONDA CIVIC SEDAN traction control

The vehicle stability assist (VSA)
system helps to stabilize the vehicle
during cornering if the vehicle turns
more or less than desired. It also
assists you in maintaining traction
while accelerating on loose or
slippery road surf aces. It does this
by regulating the engine’s output and
by selectively applying the brakes.
When VSA activates, you may notice
that the engine does not respond to
the accelerator in the same way it
does at other times. There may also
be some noise f rom the VSA
hydraulic system. You will also see
the VSA activation indicator blink.
The VSA system cannot enhance the
vehicle’s driving stability in all
situations and does not control your
vehicle’s entire braking system. It is
still your responsibility to drive and
corner at reasonable speeds and to
leave a sufficient margin of safety.When VSA activates, you will see the
VSA Activation indicator blinks.
If this indicator comes on while
driving, pull to the side of the road
when it is saf e, and turn of f the
engine. Reset the system by
restarting the engine. If the VSA
system indicator stays on or comes
back on while driving, have the VSA
system inspected by your dealer.
Without VSA, your vehicle will have
normal braking and cornering ability,
but it will not have VSA traction and
stability enhancement. If the low tire pressure indicator or
TPMS indicator comes on, the VSA
system automatically turns on even if
the VSA system is turned of f by
pressing the VSA OFF switch (see
page ). If this happens, you
cannot turn the VSA system of f by
pressing the VSA of f switch again. If the indicator does not come on
when the ignition switch is turned to
the ON (II) position, there may be a
problem with the VSA system. Have
your dealer inspect your vehicle as
soon as possible.
If equipped
211
On U.S. models
VSA A ctivation Indicator
Vehicle Stability Assist
(VSA ) System Indicator
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) System
210
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This switch is under the lef t vent.
Press it to turn the VSA system on
and off.
When VSA is off, the VSA activation
indicator comes on as a reminder.In certain unusual conditions when
your vehicle gets stuck in shallow
mud or f resh snow, it may be easier
to free it with the VSA temporarily
switched of f . When the VSA system
is of f , the traction control system is
alsooff.Youshouldonlyattemptto
f ree your vehicle with the VSA of f if
you are not able to f ree it when the
VSA is on.
Immediately af ter f reeing your
vehicle, be sure to switch the VSA on
again. We do not recommend driving
your vehicle with the VSA and
traction control systems switched off.
VSA is turned on every time you
start the engine, even if you turned it
off the last time you drove the
vehicle. Driving with varying tire or wheel
sizes may cause the VSA to
malf unction. When replacing tires,
make sure they are of the same size
and type as your original tires (see
page ).
If you install winter tires, make sure
they are the same size as those that
were originally supplied with your
vehicle. Exercise the same caution
during winter driving as you would if
your vehicle was not equipped with
VSA.
260
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) System
VSA Of f Switch VSA and Tire Sizes
Driving
211
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Your vehicle has been designed
primarily to carry passengers and
their cargo. You can also use it to
tow a trailer if you caref ully observe
the load limits, use the proper
equipment, and f ollow the guidelines
in this section.The
maximum allowable weight of the
trailer and everything in or on it
must not exceed 1,000 lbs (450 kg).
Towing a load that is too heavy can
seriously af f ect your vehicle’s
handling and perf ormance. It can
also damage the engine and
drivetrain. Theweightthatthe
tongue of a f ully-loaded trailer puts
on the hitch should be approximately
10% of the total trailer weight. Too
much tongue load reduces f ront-tire
traction and steering control. Too
little tongue load can make the
trailer unstable and cause it to sway.
CONT INUED
Load Limits
T otal T railer Weight: T ongue L oad:
Towing a Trailer
Driving
215
Exceeding any load limit or
improperly loading your vehicle
and trailer can cause a crash in
which you can be seriously hurt
or killed.
Check the loading of your
vehicle and trailer carefully
beforestartingtodrive.
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µ
Thediagramsinthissectiongive
you the dimensions and capacities of
your vehicle and the locations of the
identif ication numbers. It also
includes inf ormation you should
know about your vehicle’s tires and
emissions control systems.
................
Identif ication Numbers .290
................................
Specif ications .292
DOT Tire Quality Grading
......................
(U.S. Vehicles) .295
.................................
Treadwear .295
......................................
Traction .295
.............................
Temperature .296
.................................
Tire Labeling .297
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS) Required .............
Federal Explanation .298 .......................
Emissions Controls .300
.....................
The Clean Air Act .300
Crankcase Emissions Control
....................................
System .300
Evaporative Emissions Control ....................................
System .300
Onboard Ref ueling Vapor ................................
Recovery .300
...
Exhaust Emissions Controls .301
....................
PGM-FI System .301
Ignition Timing Control
................................
System .301
Exhaust Gas Recirculation ...................
(EGR) System .301
Three Way Catalytic ...........................
Converter .301
....................
Replacement Parts .301
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter .302
........................
Emissions Testing .303
T echnical Inf ormation
Technical Inf ormation
289
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Quality grades can be f ound where
applicable on the tire sidewall
between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. For
example:
All passenger car tires must conf orm
to Federal Saf ety Requirements in
addition to these grades.The treadwear grade is a compara-
tive rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specif ied government
test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and one-
half (1 1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded
100. The relative perf ormance of
tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may
depart signif icantly f rom the norm
due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and dif f erences in
road characteristics and climate.
The traction grades, f rom highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. Those
grades represent the tire’s ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on
specif ied government test surf aces
of asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction
perf ormance.
Warning: The traction grade
assignedtothistireisbasedon
straight-ahead braking traction tests,
and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak
traction characteristics.
The tires on your vehicle meet all
U.S. Federal Saf ety Requirements.
All tires are also graded f or
treadwear, traction, and temperature
perf ormance according to
Department of Transportation
(DOT) standards. The f ollowing
explains these gradings.
Unif orm T ire Quality Grading
T readwear 200
Traction AA
Temperature A T readwear T raction
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
Technical Inf ormation
295
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Î
Î
Î
Î
Î
Î
Î Î
Unexpected, Taking Care
..........................................
of the .265
..
Unif orm Tire Quality Grading .295
........................
Unleaded Gasoline .180
.......
Used Oil, How to Dispose of .236
Technical Descriptions
....
DOT Tire Quality Grading .295
.....
Emissions Control Systems .300
....................
Emissions Testing .303
.....................
Oxygenated Fuels .181
Three Way Catalytic
...............................
Converter .301
.................................
Tire Labeling .297
.......................
Temperature Gauge .67
.....................
Tether Anchor Points .45
............................
Thef t Protection .175
..
Three Way Catalytic Converter .302
..........................
Time, Setting the .174
....................................
Tire Chains .261
.........
Tire, How to Change a Flat .267
.........................
Tire Inf ormation .295
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
................................
(TPMS) .212
.............................
Indicator .63, 213
Required Federal
..........................
Explanation .298
...............................................
Tires .254
..............................
Air Pressure .255
.........................
Checking Wear .256
..........................
Compact Spare .266
....
DOT Tire Quality Grading .295 ..................
High Speed Driving .256
......................................
Inf lation .254
..................................
Inspection .256
..............................
Maintenance .258
...................................
Replacing .259
......................................
Rotating .258
................................
Service Lif e .257
...........................................
Snow .261
....................
Specif ications .260, 294
................................
Tire Chains .261
...................
Tools, Tire Changing .267
Towing
.....................................
A Trailer .215
..................
Emergency Towing .286
...........................
Traction Devices .261
Transmission
Checking Fluid Level, ..............................
Automatic .240
Checking Fluid Level, ...................................
Manual .241
..................
Fluid Selection .240, 241
..............
Identif ication Number .290
.............
Shif ting the Automatic .202
..................
Shif ting the Manual .199
...................................
Treadwear .295
.......................................
Trip Meter .67 ................................................
Trunk .86
........................................
Opening .86
...................
Open Monitor Light .61
....................................
Turn Signals .72
................................
Vanity Mirror .105
.................
Vehicle Capacity Load .192
......................
Vehicle Dimensions .292
....
Vehicle Identif ication Number .290
.............................
Vehicle Storage .264
.................................................
VIN .290
..................................
Viscosity, Oil .233
Index
U
V
VIII
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