2009 HONDA FIT tailgate

Introduction
The following pages provide
instructions on how to properly
protect the driver, adult passengers,
and teenage children who are large
enough and mature enough to drive
or ride in the front.
See pages34－38for important
guidelines on how to properly protect
infants, small children, and larger
children who ride in your vehicle.
1. Close and Lock the Doors
After everyone has entered the
vehicle, be sure the doors and the
tailgate are closed and locked.
Your vehicle has a door and
tailgate open indicator on
the instrument panel to indicate
when any door or the tailgate is not
tightly closed.
Locking the doors reduces the
chance of someone being thrown out
of the vehicle during a crash, and it
helps prevent passengers from
accidentally opening a door and
falling out.
Locking the doors and the tailgate
also helps prevent an outsider from
unexpectedly opening a door or the
tailgate when you come to a stop.
See page81for how to lock the
doors, and page62for how the door
and tailgate open indicator works.
Some models have the auto door
locking/unlocking feature. For more
information, see page83. 2. Adjust the Front Seats
Adjust the driver's seat as far to the
rear as possible while allowing you to
maintain full control of the vehicle.
Have a front passenger adjust their
seat as far to the rear as possible.
CONTINUED
Protecting Adults and Teens
11
Driver and Passenger Safety
2009 Fit

Additional Safety Precautions●Never hold an infant or child onyour lap.
If you are not wearing a
seat belt in a crash, you could be
thrown forward and crush the
child against the dashboard or a
seat-back. If you are wearing a seat
belt, the child can be torn from
your arms and be seriously hurt or
killed.
●Never put a seat belt over yourself
and a child.
During a crash, the
belt could press deep into the child
and cause serious or fatal injuries.
●Never let two children use the
same seat belt.
If they do, they
could be very seriously injured in a
crash.
●Make sure any unused seat belt that a child can reach is buckled,
the lockable retractor is activated,and the belt is fully retracted and
locked.
If a child wraps a loose
seat belt around their neck, they
can be seriously or fatally injured.
(See pages 45and 46for how to
activate and deactivate the
lockable retractor.)
●Use the childproof door locks to prevent children from opening the
rear doors.
This can prevent
children from accidentally falling
out (see page82).
●Do not leave children alone in a
vehicle.
Leaving children without
adult supervision is illegal in most
states and Canadian provinces, and
can be very hazardous. For example, infants and small
children left in a vehicle on a hot
day can die from heatstroke. A
child left alone with the key in the
ignition switch can accidentally set
the vehicle in motion, possibly
injuring themselves or others.
●Lock all doors and the tailgate
when your vehicle is not in use.Children who play in vehicles can
accidentally get trapped inside.
Teach your children not to play in
or around vehicles.●Keep vehicle keys/remotetransmitters out of the reach of
children.
Even very young
children learn how to unlock
vehicle doors, turn on the ignition
switch, and open the tailgate,
which can lead to accidental injury
or death.
Protecting Children －General Guidelines38
2009 Fit

Installing a Child Seat with a
Tether
A child seat with a tether can be
installed in any seating position in
the back seat.
Each rear outside seating position
has an anchorage point on the seat-
back, and the center seating position
has an anchorage point in the ceiling
near the tailgate.
Since a tether can provide additional
security to the lap/shoulder belt
installation, we recommend using a
tether whenever one is required or
available.
Using an Outer Anchor1. After properly securing the childseat (see page45),lift the head
restraint, then route the tether
strap over the seat-back and
through the head restraint legs.
2. Attach the tether strap hook to theanchor, making sure the tether
strap is not twisted.
3. Tighten the strap according to the seat maker's instructions.
ANCHOR
TETHER STRAP HOOK ANCHOR
CONTINUED
Installing a Child Seat
47
Driver and Passenger Safety
2009 Fit

Your vehicle's exhaust contains
carbon monoxide gas. Carbon
monoxide should not enter the
vehicle in normal driving if you
maintain your vehicle properly and
follow the information on this page.
Have the exhaust system inspected
for leaks whenever:●The vehicle is raised for an oil
change.●You notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust.●The vehicle was in an accident that
may have damaged the underside.
Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.
Breathing it can cause
unconsciousness and even kill
you.
Avoid any enclosed areas or
activities that expose you to
carbon monoxide.
High levels of carbon monoxide can
collect rapidly in enclosed areas,
such as a garage. Do not run the
engine with the garage door closed.
Even with the door open, run the
engine only long enough to move the
vehicle out of the garage. With the tailgate open, airflow can
pull exhaust gas into your vehicle's
interior and create a hazardous
condition. If you must drive with the
tailgate open, open all the windows
and set the heating and cooling
system as shown below.
If you must sit in your parked vehicle
with the engine running, even in an
unconfined area, adjust the heating
and cooling system as follows:
1. Select the fresh air mode.
2. Select the
mode.
3. Turn the fan on high speed.
4. Set the temperature control to a comfortable setting.
Carbon Monoxide Hazard
53
Driver and Passenger Safety
2009 Fit

This section gives information about
the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your vehicle. All the essential
controls are within easy reach.Control Locations
..........................
58
Instrument Panel
..........................
59
Instrument Panel Indicators
..........
60
Gauges
..........................................
68
Trip Meter
................................
69
Current Fuel Mileage
................
70
Average Fuel Mileage
...............
70
Odometer
..................................
70
Fuel Gauge
...............................
70
Check Fuel Cap Indicator
.........
70
Maintenance Minder
................
71
Controls Near the Steering
Wheel
.......................................
72
Windshield Wipers and Washers
................................
73
Windshield Wipers
...................
73
Rear Window Wiper and
Washer
.................................
73
Turn Signal and Headlights
..........
74
Headlights
....................................
75
Instrument Panel Brightness
........
76
Hazard Warning Button
................
76
Rear Window Defogger
.................
76
Steering Wheel Adjustment
..........
77
Keys and Locks
.............................
78 Immobilizer System
......................
79
Ignition Switch
..............................
80
Door Locks
...................................
81
Power Door Locks
....................
81
Childproof Door Locks
..............
82
Auto Door Locking/
Unlocking
.............................
83
Auto Door Locking
...................
83
Auto Door Unlocking
................
85
Tailgate
.........................................
88
Remote Transmitter
......................
90
Seats
.............................................
93
Power Windows
..........................
100
Mirrors
.......................................
101
Parking Brake
.............................
102
Interior Convenience Items
.........
104
Lower Glove Box
....................
105
Upper Glove Box
.....................
105
Beverage Holders
...................
106
Seat Under Box
.......................
106
Accessory Power Socket
.........
106
Sun Visor
................................
106
Interior Lights
.............................
107
Instruments and Controls
57
Instruments and Controls
2009 Fit

ꭧ: If equippedSECURITY SYSTEM INDICATOR
ꭧ(P. 66, 193)
WASHER LEVEL
INDICATOR
ꭧ(P.65)
MALFUNCTION
INDICATOR LAMP (P. 304)
CHARGING SYSTEM
INDICATOR (P. 60,303)
LOW OIL PRESSURE
INDICATOR (P. 60,303) IMMOBILIZER SYSTEM
INDICATOR (P.
66)
FOG LIGHT INDICATOR
ꭧ(P.
64) LIGHTS ON INDICATOR (P.
64)
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM INDICATOR (P. 30,61)
MAINTENANCE MINDER
INDICATOR (P.
66) CRUISE MAIN INDICATOR
ꭧ(P.
65)
CRUISE CONTROL
INDICATOR
ꭧ(P. 65)
LOW TEMPERATURE INDICATOR (P. 63)
ELECTRIC POWER
STEERING (EPS)
INDICATOR (P.
62)
HIGH BEAM INDICATOR (P.
65)
LOW FUEL INDICATOR
(P.62)
TPMS INDICATOR
ꭧ(P.
64)
SEAT BELT REMINDER
INDICATOR (P. 60)
PARKING BRAKE AND
BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR
(P. 60, 305)
DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS INDICATOR (P.
65)
HIGH TEMPERATURE
INDICATOR (P. 63)
VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST (VSA)
SYSTEM INDICATOR
ꭧ(P.
67)
VSA OFF INDICATORꭧ
(P. 67) SIDE AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR (P.
31,61)
LOW TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR
ꭧ(P. 64)
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM
INDICATOR (P. 62)
DOOR AND TAILGATE OPEN
INDICATOR (P.
62)
Instrument Panel
59
Instruments and Controls
2009 Fit

Anti-lock Brake System
(ABS) Indicator
This indicator normally comes on for
a few seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position, and when the ignition
switch is turned to the START (III)
position. If it comes on at any other
time, there is a problem with the
ABS. If this happens, have your
vehicle checked at a dealer. With this
indicator on, your vehicle still has
normal braking ability but no anti-
lock function. For more information,
see page231.
Electric Power Steering
(EPS) Indicator
This indicator normally comes on when
you turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position and goes off after 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 safe
place and turn off the engine. Reset the
system by restarting the engine. The
indicator will not turn off immediately.
If it does not go off 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 turned off, making
the vehicle harder to steer.
If you turn the steering wheel to the
full left or right position repeatedly
while stopping or driving at very low
speed, you may feel slightly harder
steering in order to prevent damage to
the steering box caused by
overheating.
Low Fuel Indicator
This indicator comes on as a
reminder that you must refuel soon.
When the indicator comes on, there
is about 1.64 US gal (6.2 L) of fuel
remaining in the tank before the
needle reaches E. There is a small
reserve of fuel remaining in the tank
when the needle does reach E.Door and Tailgate Open
Indicator
This indicator comes on if any door
or the tailgate is not closed tightly.
Instrument Panel Indicators62
2009 Fit

Each door has a lock tab next to the
inside door handle. Pull the lock tab
to lock the door, and push it forward
to unlock the door.On Canadian DX and DX-A modelsTo lock the passenger's door when
getting out of the vehicle, pull the
lock tab and close the door. To lock
the driver's door, pull and hold the
outside door handle, then pull the
lock tab. Release the handle, then
close the door.When the door is unlocked, you can
see the red indicator on the lock tab
above the inner door handle.
All models except Sport model and
Canadian LX modelEach front door can be locked or
unlocked with the ignition key. Power Door Locks
All models except Canadian DX and
DX-A modelsTo lock the doors and the tailgate,
push the top of the master door lock
switch on the driver's door, pull the
lock tab rearward on the driver's
door, or use the key in the outside
door lock on the driver's door.
Pushing the bottom of the master
door lock switch unlocks all doors
and the tailgate.
LOCK TAB
To lock
To unlock
RED INDICATOR
LOCK UNLOCK
MASTER DOOR LOCK SWITCH
CONTINUED
Door Locks
81
Instruments and Controls
2009 Fit