2009 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID stop start

If you turn the steering wheel to the
f ull lef t or right position repeatedly
while stopping or driving at very low
speed, you may f eel slightly harder
steering due to overheating of the
steering gearbox.This indicator normally comes on f or
a f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. When the brake system
indicator (amber) is on, there is the
problem with the Cooperative
Control with regenerative brake,
Creep Aid System or Brake Assist
(the normal brake operates properly).
Have your vehicle checked by your
dealer.
For more inf ormation, see page .
Continuously driving under those
conditions could damage the power
steering system.
This indicator normally comes on
when you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position and goes of f
af ter the engine starts. If it comes on
at any other time, there is a problem
in the electric power steering system.
If this happens, stop the vehicle in a
saf e place, and turn of f the engine.
Reset the system by restarting the
engine. The indicator will not turn
of f immediately. If it does not go of f
after driving a short distance, or
comes back on again while driving,
take the vehicle to your dealer to
have it checked. With the indicator
on, the EPS may be of f , making the
vehicle harder to steer.
279
Electric Power Steering
(EPS) Indicator
Brake System
Indicator
(A mber)
Instrument Panel Indicators
Inst rument s and Cont rols
63
U.S. Canada
\f—\f—
y\f\fy
(#\fy\f\fy
2009 Civic Hybrid

This gauge shows you the status of
the Integrated Motor Assist (IMA).
When the IMA battery is being
charged, the bottom side of the
gauge illuminates. When the IMA is
assisting the engine, the upper side
of the gauge illuminates.If the IMA battery is too hot or too
cold, the IMA system limits the IMA
battery’s output power to protect the
battery. This disables the IMA assist
and Auto Idle Stop, even though the
Battery Level Gauge may show that
the battery is well-charged.
Theref ore, if the motor assist is
f requently used, the battery
becomes hot and starts to limit its
output power.
It takes the IMA system a f ew
minutes in cold weather to normalize
the IMA battery’s output power, and
about 15 minutes in hot weather.
Charge/Assist Gauge
Gauges
Inst rument s and Cont rols
71
IMA ASSIST GAUGE
IMA CHARGE GAUGE
\f—\f—
y\fy
(#\fy\f\fy
2009 Civic Hybrid

Push the lever up to lock the
steering wheel in that position.
Make sure you have securely
locked the steering wheel in place
by trying to move it up, down, in,
and out.
Push the lever under the steering
column all the way down.
Make any steering wheel adjustment
bef ore you start driving.
Move the steering wheel up or
down, and in or out, so it points
toward your chest, not toward
your f ace. Make sure you can see
the instrument panel gauges and
indicators.
1. 4.
2. 3.
Steering Wheel A djustment
Inst rument s and Cont rols
77
Adjusting the steering wheel
position while driving may
cause you to lose control of the
vehicle and be seriously injured
inacrash.
Adjust the steering wheel only
when the vehicle is stopped.
\f—\f—
y\fy
(#\fy\f\fy
2009 Civic Hybrid

The security system helps to protect
your vehicle and valuables f rom thef t.
The horn sounds and a combination
of headlights (low beam), parking
lights, side marker lights, and
taillights f lash if someone attempts
to break into your vehicle or remove
the radio. This alarm continues f or 2
minutes, then it stops. To reset an
activated system before the 2
minutes have elapsed, unlock the
driver’s door with the key or the
remote transmitter.
The security system automatically
sets 15 seconds after you lock the
doors, hood, and trunk. For the
system to activate, you must lock the
doors f rom the outside with the key,
driver’s lock tab, door lock master
switch, or remote transmitter. The
security system indicator on the
instrument panel starts blinking
immediately to show you the system
is setting itself .Once the security system is set,
opening any door, the trunk, or the
hood without using the key or the
remote transmitter will cause it to
alarm. It also alarms if the radio is
removed f rom the dashboard or the
wiring is cut.
With the system set, you can still
open the trunk with the master key
or the remote transmitter without
triggering the alarm. The alarm will
sound if the trunk lock is f orced, orthe trunk is opened with the trunk
release handle.
The security system will not set if
the hood, trunk, or either door is not
f ully closed. If the system will not set,
turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position, and check the
indicators on the instrument panel.
Close either door or the trunk
indicatedonthedisplay.Checkthe
hood visually since it is not part of
the display, and shut it if necessary.
To see if the system is set
af ter you exit the vehicle, press the
LOCK button on the remote
transmitter within 5 seconds. If the
system is set, the horn will beep
once.
Do not attempt to alter this system
or add other devices to it.
Security System
Features
213
NOTE:
SECURITY SYSTEM INDICATOR
\f—\f—
y\fy
(#\fy\f
y
2009 Civic Hybrid

Store or secure all items that could
be thrown around and hurt
someone during a crash.Distribute cargo evenly on the
f loor of the trunk, placing the
heaviest items on the bottom and
as far forward as possible.
Do not put any items on the rear
shelf that could cover the IMA
battery air intake. They can block
your view, or be thrown around
the vehicle during a crash.
The air intake for the IMA battery
and electronics is located on top of
the rear shelf . Do not block this air
intake; it may cause the IMA battery
and the power control unit to
overheat, causing the IMA system to
shut down. It will start working again
af ter it cools.
Be sure items placed on the f loor
behind the f ront seats cannot roll
underneath and interf ere with the
proper operation of the seats, the
sensors under the seats, or the
driver’s ability to operate the
pedals. If you carry large items that
prevent you f rom closing the trunk
lid, exhaust gas can enter the
passenger area. To avoid the
possibility of carbon monoxide
poisoning, f ollow the instructions
on page .
Keep the glove box closed while
driving. If it is open, a passenger
could injure their knees during a
crash or sudden stop. 52
CONT INUED
Air Intake
Carrying Cargo in the T runk
Carrying Items in the Passenger
Compartment
Carrying Cargo
Bef ore Driving
267
AIR INTAKE
\f—\f—
y
\f\fy
(#\fy\fy
2009 Civic Hybrid

µ
To shif t f rom Park to any position,
press firmly on the brake pedal and
pressthereleasebuttononthefront
of the shif t 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 of f or
starting the engine. To shif t out of
Park, you must press on the brake
pedal and have your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal. Press the release
buttononthefrontof theshiftlever
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. 275
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
273
SHIFT LEVER
RELEASE BUTTON
\f—\f—
y
\f\fy
(#\fy\fy
2009 Civic Hybrid

µ
µ µ
µ
µ
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.
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.
In L, the IMA charge and discharge
characteristics will be different than
when the vehicle is in D or S. In L,
the battery is charged at a higher
rate both while driving and when the
engine is idling at a stop. The engine
will idle at higher speeds when the
IMA battery state of charge is low
and decrease as the battery reaches a full state of charge.
ForfasteraccelerationwheninD,S
or L, the transmission will
automatically ‘‘kick down’’ to a lower
range of ratios by pushing the
accelerator pedal to the floor.
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.
Reverse (R)
Drive (D)
Neutral (N)
Second (S)
Low (L)
Engine Speed L imiter
Automatic Transmission (CVT)
274
\f—\f—
y
\f\fy
(#\fy\fy
2009 Civic Hybrid

µµThe Auto Idle Stop f unction may
activate when you slow down.
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.
To help maximize f uel economy,
your Civic Hybrid has an Auto Idle
Stop f unction. Depending on
environmental conditions and vehicle
operation, the engine will shut of f
when you come to a stop.
The engine coolant is nearly up to
normal operating temperature.
The IMA battery is charged
enough to operate the system.
Outside temperature is between
10 100 degrees F.
The vehicle is not climbing a hill. The shift lever is in D or N.
You are not pressing on the
accelerator pedal.
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 .
Auto Idle Stop
Automatic Transmission (CVT)
A ccording t o driving condit ions
A ccording t o vehicle cont rols
276
\f—\f—
y\f

y
(#\fy\f
y
2009 Civic Hybrid