2009 HONDA FIT Owners Manual

Winter Driving
Tires marked‘‘M ＋ S’’or ‘‘All
Season ’’on the sidewall have an all-
weather tread design suitable for
most winter driving conditions.
For the best performance in snowy
or icy conditions, you should install
snow tires or tire chains. They may
be required by local laws under
certain conditions.Snow TiresIf you mount snow tires on your
vehicle, make sure they are radial
tires of the same size and load range
as the original tires. Mount snow
tires on all four wheels. The traction
provided by snow tires on dry roads
may be lower than your original tires.
Check with the tire dealer for
maximum speed recommendations.
Tire ChainsMount tire chains on your tires when
required by driving conditions or local
laws. Install them only on the front
tires.
Because your vehicle has limited tire
clearance, Honda strongly
recommends using the chains listed
below, made by Security Chain
Company (SCC).All models except SportSC1026Sport modelSC1030
When installing cables, follow the
manufacturer's instructions, and
mount them as tight as you can. Make
sure they are not contacting the brake
lines or suspension. Drive slowly with
them installed. If you hear them
coming into contact with the body or
chassis, stop and investigate. Remove
them as soon as you begin driving on
cleared roads.
Traction devices that are the wrong size
or improperly installed can damage
your vehicle's brake lines, suspension,
body, and wheels. Stop driving if they
are hitting any part of the vehicle.
Using the wrong chains, or not
properly installing chains, can
damage the brake lines and
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously injured or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner's manual regarding the
selection and use of tire chains.
Tires278
2009 Fit

Wheels
Clean the wheels as you would the
rest of the exterior. Wash them with
the same solution, and rinse them
thoroughly.If equippedAluminum alloy wheels have a
protective clear-coat that keeps the
aluminum from corroding and
tarnishing. Cleaning the wheels with
harsh chemicals (including some
commercial wheel cleaners) or a stiff
brush can damage the clear-coat. To
clean the wheels, use a mild
detergent and a soft brush or sponge.Checking the Battery
Check the condition of the battery
monthly by looking at the test
indicator window. The label on the
battery explains the test indicator's
colors.
The location of the test indicator
window varies between
manufacturers.Check the terminals for corrosion (a
white or yellowish powder). To
remove it, cover the terminals with a
solution of baking soda and water. It
will bubble up and turn brown. When
this stops, wash it off with plain
water. Dry off the battery with a cloth
or paper towel. Coat the terminals
with grease to help prevent future
corrosion.
If additional battery maintenance is
needed, see your dealer or a
qualified technician.
TEST INDICATOR WINDOW
CONTINUED
Tires, Checking the Battery
279
Maintenance
2009 Fit

WARNING:Battery posts,
terminals, and related accessories
contain lead and lead compounds.
Wash your hands after handling.
If you need to connect the battery to
a charger, disconnect both cables to
prevent damaging your vehicle's
electrical system. Always disconnect
the negative ( －) cable first, and
reconnect it last.On vehicles without navigation systemIf your vehicle's battery is
disconnected, or goes dead, the time
setting is lost. To reset the time, see
page192.
If your vehicle's battery is
disconnected, or goes dead, the
audio system may disable itself. The
next time you turn on the radio, you
will see ‘‘ENTER CODE ’’in the
frequency display. Use the preset
buttons to enter the code (see page
191).
The battery gives off explosive
hydrogen gas during normal
operation.
A spark or flame can cause the
battery to explode with enough
force to kill or seriously hurt
you.
Wear protective clothing and a
face shield, or have a skilled
technician do the battery
maintenance.
On vehicles with navigation systemThe navigation system will also
disable itself. The next time you turn
on the ignition switch, the system
will require you to enter ‘‘ENTER
CODE ’’before it can be used. Refer
to the navigation system manual.
Checking the Battery280
2009 Fit

If you need to park your vehicle for
an extended period (more than 1
month), there are several things you
should do to prepare it for storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to
get your vehicle back on the road. If
possible, store your vehicle indoors.●Fill the fuel tank.●Wash and dry the exterior
completely.●Clean the interior. Make sure the
carpeting, floor mats, etc., are
completely dry.●Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in reverse
(manual) or Park (automatic).●Block the rear wheels.
●If the vehicle is to be stored for a
longer period, it should be
supported on jackstands so the
tires are off the ground.●Leave one window open slightly (if
the vehicle is being stored
indoors).●Disconnect the battery.●Support the front and rear wiper
blade arms with a folded towel or
rag so they do not touch the
windshield.●To minimize sticking, apply a
silicone spray lubricant to all door
and tailgate seals. Also, apply a
vehicle body wax to the painted
surfaces that mate with the door
and tailgate seals.
●Cover the vehicle with a
‘‘breathable ’’cover, one made
from a porous material such as
cotton. Non-porous materials, such
as plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint.●If possible, periodically run the
engine until it reaches full
operating temperature (the cooling
fans cycle on and off twice).
Preferably, do this once a month.
Vehicle Storage
281
Maintenance
2009 Fit

282
2009 Fit

This section covers the more
common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you information about how to
safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has
stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again. If
not, you will also find instructions on
getting your vehicle towed.Compact Spare Tire
....................
284
Changing a Flat Tire
...................
285
Temporarily Repairing a Flat Tire
.........................................
291
If the Engine Won't Start
.............
297
Jump Starting
..............................
299
If the Engine Overheats
..............
301
Low Oil Pressure Indicator
.........
303
Charging System Indicator
.........
303
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
........
304
Brake System Indicator
...............
305
Fuses
..........................................
306
Fuse Locations
............................
309
Emergency Towing
.....................
311
If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
..........
312
Taking Care of the Unexpected
283
Taking Care of the Unexpected
2009 Fit

Except all Canadian models withautomatic transmissionUse the compact spare tire as a
temporary replacement only. Get
your regular tire repaired or
replaced, and put it back on your
vehicle as soon as you can.
Check the inflation pressure of the
compact spare tire every time you
check the other tires. It should be
inflated to:
60 psi (420 kPa, 4.2 kgf/cm
2) Follow these precautions:
●Never exceed 50 mph (80 km/h).●This tire gives a harsher ride and
less traction on some road
surfaces. Use greater caution while
driving.●Do not mount tire chains on the
compact spare tire.●Do not use your compact spare tire
on another vehicle unless it is the
same make and model.●On vehicles with the TPMS
system, the low tire pressure
indicator comes on and stays on
after you replace the flat tire with
the compact spare tire. After
several miles (kilometers) driving
with the compact spare tire, the
TPMS indicator comes on and the
low tire pressure indicator goes
off.
Replace the tire when you can see
the tread wear indicator bars. The
replacement should be the same size
and design tire, mounted on the
same wheel. The spare tire is not
designed to be mounted on a regular
wheel, and the spare wheel is not
designed for mounting a regular tire.INDICATOR LOCATION MARK
TREAD WEAR INDICATOR BAR
Compact Spare Tire284
2009 Fit

Except all Canadian models withautomatic transmissionIf you have a flat tire while driving,
stop in a safe place to change it.
Drive slowly along the shoulder until
you get to an exit or an area to stop
that is far away from the traffic lanes.
The vehicle can easily roll off
the jack, seriously injuring
anyone underneath.
Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and
never get under the vehicle
when it is supported only by the
jack.
1. Park the vehicle on firm, level, and non-slippery ground. Put the
transmission in Park (automatic)
or reverse (manual). Apply the
parking brake.
2. Turn on the hazard warning lights, and turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK (0) position. Have all
passengers get out of the vehicle
while you change the tire.
3. Lift the rear center head restraint.
4. Open the tailgate. Raise the cargo area floor lid by lifting it up with
the back of the strap. To keep the
floor lid open, hook the looped
side of the strap to the legs of the
rear center head restraint.
5. Take the tool kit out of the spare tire.
FLOOR LID LOOP
SPARE
TIRE
TOOL KIT JACK
STRAP
CONTINUED
Changing a Flat Tire
285
Taking Care of the Unexpected
2009 Fit