2009 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID Owners Manual

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.
This switch is under the driver’s side
vent. To turn the VSA system on and
of f , press and hold it until you hear a
beep.
When VSA is off, the VSA activation
indicator comes on as a reminder.
Press and hold the switch again. It
turns the system back on. VSA is turned on every time you
start the engine, even if you turned it
off the last time you drove the
vehicle.
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.
319
VSA and Tire Sizes
VSA OFF Switch
Vehicle Stability A ssist (VSA), aka Electronic Stability Control (ESC), System
286
VSA OFF SWITCH
\f—\f—
y
\f\fy
(#\fy\f
y
2009 Civic Hybrid

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.
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
instructions on how to read the
maintenance minder messages on
the information display, and
instructions f or simple maintenance
tasks you may want to take care of
yourself .......................
Maintenance Saf ety .288
....................
Maintenance Minder .289
..............................
Fluid Locations .296
........................
Adding Engine Oil .297
.........
Changing the Oil and Filter .298
..............................
Engine Coolant .300
....................
Windshield Washers .302
........................
Transmission Fluid .303
Continuously Variable ............
Transmission (CVT) .303
....................................
Brake Fluid .304
.............................................
Lights .305
................................
Roof Antenna .310
................
Cleaning the Seat Belts .311
.....................................
Floor Mats .311
..................
DustandPollenFilter .312
.................................
Wiper Blades .312
...........................................
Wheels .315
...............................................
Tires .315
......
Checking the 12 Volt Battery .321
.............................
Vehicle Storage .322
283
Maintenance
Maint enance
287
\f—\f—
y
\f\f
y
(#\fy\fy
2009 Civic Hybrid

To eliminate potential hazards, read
the instructions bef ore you begin,
and make sure you have the tools
and skills required.
To clean parts, use a commercially
available degreaser or parts
cleaner, not gasoline.
To reduce the possibility of f ire or
explosion, keep cigarettes, sparks,
and flames away from the battery
and all f uel-related parts.
Make sure your vehicle is parked
on level ground, the parking brake
is set, and the engine is of f .
Some of the most important saf ety
precautions are given here. However,
we cannot warn you of every
conceivable hazard that can arise in
perf orming maintenance. Only you
can decide whether or not you
should perf orm a given task.
Do
not run the engine unless
instructed to do so.
Let the
engine and exhaust system cool
down bef ore touching any parts.
Wear eye protection and
protective clothing when working
with the battery or compressed air.
All service items not detailed in this
section should be perf ormed by a
certif ied technician or qualif ied
mechanic.
Be sure there is
adequate ventilation whenever you
operate the engine.
Maintenance Saf ety
Important Saf ety Precautions
Injury f rom moving parts.
Burns f rom hot parts.
Carbon Monoxide poison f rom
engine exhaust.
Potential Vehicle Hazards
288
Failure to properly follow
maintenance instructions and
precautions can cause you to
be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the procedures
and precautions in this owner’s
manual.
Improperly maintaining this
vehicle, or failing to correct a
problem before driving can
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the inspection
and maintenance
recommendations and
schedules in this owner’s
manual.
——
y

y
(#yy
2009 Civic Hybrid

µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ
µ µ
µ
CONT INUED
Calculated Engine Oil Lif e (%)
100 % 91 % 90 % 81 %
80 % 71 %
70 % 61 %
60 % 51 %
50 % 41 %
40 % 31 %
30 % 21 %
20 % 16 %
15 % 11 %10 % 6 % 5% 1% 0% Displayed
Engine Oil Lif e (%) 100 %90 %
80 %
70 %
60 %
50 %
40 %
30 %
20 %
15 %
10 %5%
0%
Based on the engine operating
conditions and accumulated engine
revolutions, the onboard computer in
your vehicle calculates the remaining
engine oil lif e and displays it as a
percentage. The remaining engine oil lif e is
shownonthedisplayaccordingto
this table:
To see the current engine oil lif e,
turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position, and press the SEL/
RESET button repeatedly until the
engine oil lif e display appears (see
page ).
Your vehicle displays engine oil lif e
and maintenance service items on
the inf ormation display to show you
when you should have your dealer
perf orm engine oil replacement and
indicated maintenance service.
65
Maintenance Minder
Engine Oil L if e Display
Maint enance
289
SEL/RESET BUTTONENGINE OIL LIFE DISPLAY
\f—\f—
y
\f\fy
(#\fy\fy
2009 Civic Hybrid

The maintenance item code or codes
indicate the main and sub items
required at the time of the oil change
(see page ).
If the remaining engine oil lif e is 15
to 6 percent, you will see the engine
oil lif e indicator every time you turn
the ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. The maintenance minder
indicator will also come on, and the
maintenance item code(s) for other
scheduled maintenance items
needing service will be displayed
next to the engine oil lif e indicator. When the remaining engine oil lif e is
5 to 1 percent, you will see a
‘‘SERVICE OIL LIFE’’ message
along with the same maintenance
item code(s), every time you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position.
295
Maintenance Minder
290
ENGINE OIL
LIFE DISPLAY
MAINTENANCE
MINDER INDICATOR
MAINTENANCE ITEM CODE(S)
\f—\f—
y
\f\fy
(#\fy\fy
2009 Civic Hybrid

If you still do not perf orm the
indicated maintenance, you will see
negative mileage. It is displayed
when you drive more than 10 miles
(f or U.S. models) or 10 km (f or
Canadian models) af ter seeing the 0
percent message. Af terward, it
shows your driving distance if you
continue to drive. Immediately have
the indicated maintenance done by
your dealer.
When the remaining engine oil lif e is
0 percent, the engine oil lif e indicator
will blink. The display comes on
everytimeyouturntheignition
switch to the ON (II) position. When
you see this message, have the
indicated maintenance perf ormed by
your dealer as soon as possible. You can change the inf ormation
display f rom the engine oil lif e
display to the odometer, the trip
meter, or the outside temperature
every time you press and release the
SEL/RESET button.
When the engine oil lif e is 0 percent
or negative mileage, the
maintenance minder indicator
remainsonevenif youchangethe
inf ormation display.
Immediately have the service done,
and make sure to reset the display as
described on the next page.
Maintenance Minder
Maint enance
291
——
y

y
(#yy
2009 Civic Hybrid

Your dealer will reset the display
af ter completing the required
maintenance service. You will see
‘‘OIL LIFE 100%’’ on the inf ormation
display the next time you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position.Press the SEL/RESET button
repeatedly until the engine oil lif e
is displayed.
All maintenance items displayed on
the inf ormation display are in code.
For an explanation of these
maintenance codes, see page . Press the SEL/RESET button f or
about 10 seconds. The engine oil
lif e and the maintenance item
code(s) will blink.
If maintenance service is done by
someone other than your dealer,
reset the maintenance minder as
f ollows:
Turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position.
1.
2. 3.
295
Maintenance Minder
Maintenance Main Items and Sub
Items Resetting the Engine Oil Lif e
Display
292
MAINTENANCE MAIN ITEM
MAINTENANCE
SUB ITEM
\f—\f—
y
\f\f\fy
(#\fy\fy
2009 Civic Hybrid

If you have the required service
done but do not reset the display, or
reset the display without doing the
service, the system will not show the
proper maintenance intervals. This
canleadtoseriousmechanical
problems because you will no longer
have an accurate record of when
maintenance is needed.
Your authorized Honda dealer
knows your vehicle best and can
provide competent, ef f icient service.
Press the SEL/RESET button f or
more than 5 seconds. The
maintenance item code(s) will
disappear, and the engine oil lif e
will reset to ‘‘100.’’ However, service at a dealer is not
mandatory to keep your warranties
in ef f ect. Maintenance may be done
by any qualif ied service f acility or
person who is skilled in this type of
automotive service. Make sure to
have the service facility or person
reset the display as previously
described. Keep all receipts as proof
of completion, and have the person
who does the work f ill out your
Honda Service History or Canadian
Maintenance Log. Check your
warranty booklet f or more
inf ormation.
We recommend using Honda parts
and fluids whenever you have
maintenance done. These are
manuf actured to the same high
quality standards as the original
components, so you can be conf ident
of their performance and durability.
4.
CONT INUED
Maintenance Minder
Important Maintenance
Precautions
Maint enance
293
\f—\f—
y
\f\f
y
(#\fy\fy
2009 Civic Hybrid