2010 HONDA FIT tailgate

Carrying Cargo in the Passenger Compartment● Store or secure all items that could
be thrown around and hurt
someone during a crash.
● Be sure items placed on the floor
behind the front seats cannot roll
under the seats and interfere with
the driver's ability to operate the
pedals, the proper operation of the
seats, or proper operation of the
sensors under the seats.
● Keep the upper and lower glove
boxes closed while driving. If it is
open, a passenger could injure
their knees during a crash or
sudden stop. ●
If you fold the rear seats up or
down, tie down items that could be
thrown about the vehicle during a
crash or sudden stop. Also, keep
all cargo below the bottom of the
windows. If it is higher, it could
interfere with the proper operation
of the side curtain airbags. Carrying Cargo in the Cargo Area
● Distribute cargo evenly on the
floor of the cargo area, placing the
heaviest items on the bottom and
as far forward as possible. Tie
down items that could be thrown
about the vehicle during a crash or
sudden stop.
● Do not stack items higher than the
back of the rear seats. They can
block your view and be thrown
around the vehicle during a crash.
● If you carry large items that
prevent you from closing the
tailgate, exhaust gas can enter the
passenger area. To avoid the
possibility of carbon monoxide
poisoning, follow the instructions
on page 53.
CONTINUED
Carrying Cargo
211
Before Driving
Table of Contents

You should do the following checks
and adjustments before you drive
your vehicle.
1. Make sure all windows, mirrors,and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove frost, snow,
or ice.
2. Check that the hood is fully closed.
3. Visually check the tires. If a tire looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure (see page 273).
4. Check that any items you may be carrying are stored properly or
fastened down securely. 5. Check the seat adjustment (see
page 93).
6. Check the adjustment of the inside and outside mirrors (see page101).
7. Check the steering wheel adjustment (see page 77).
8. Make sure the doors and the tailgate are securely closed andlocked.
9. Fasten your seat belt. Check that your passengers have fastened
their seat belts (see page 14).
10. When you start the engine, check the gauges and indicators in the
instrument panel (see page 59).
Preparing to Drive
215
Driving
Table of Contents

Always use the parking brake when
you park your vehicle. Make sure the
parking brake is set firmly, or your
vehicle may roll if it is parked on anincline.
If your vehicle has an automatic
transmission, set the parking brake
before you put the transmission in
Park. This keeps the vehicle from
moving and putting pressure on the
parking mechanism in thetransmission.Parking Tips
● Make sure the windows areclosed.
● Turn off the lights.
● Place any packages, valuables, etc.
in the cargo area or take them withyou.
● Lock the doors and the tailgate.
On Sport model
Check the indicator on the
instrument panel to verify that the
security system is set.
● Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other flammable
materials. The hot three way
catalytic converter could cause
these materials to catch on fire. ●
If the vehicle is facing uphill, turn
the front wheels away from the
curb. If your vehicle has a manual
transmission, put it in first gear
and set the parking brake.
● If the vehicle is facing downhill,
turn the front wheels toward the
curb. If your vehicle has a manual
transmission, put it in reverse gear
and set the parking brake.
● Make sure the parking brake is
fully released before driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or
damage the rear brakes.
Parking
229
Driving
Table of Contents

Replacing Rear Bulbs
1. Open the tailgate. Place a cloth onthe edge of the light assembly
cover to prevent scratches.
Remove the cover by carefully
prying in the notch on its middle
edge with a flat-tip screwdriver.
2. Determine which of the threebulbs is burned out: stop/taillight,
back-up light, or turn signal light.
3. Remove the socket by turning it one-quarter turn counterclockwise. 4. Remove the burned out bulb from
the socket by pulling it straight out
of its socket.
5. Install the new bulb in the socket.
6. Turn on the lights to make sure the new bulb is working.
7. Reinstall the socket into the light assembly by turning it clockwise
until it locks.
8. Reinstall the light assembly cover.LIGHT ASSEMBLY COVER
Lights
266
Table of Contents

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 exteriorcompletely.
● 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 storedindoors).
● Disconnect the battery.
● Support the front and rear wiper
blade arms with a folded towel or
rag so they do not touch thewindshield.
● 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
Table of Contents

Except all Canadian models withautomatic transmission
If 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 thejack.
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
Table of Contents

21. Place the flat tire face down in thespare tire well.
22. Secure the flat tire by screwing the wing bolt back into its hole. 23. Store the jack. Place the tool kit in
the center of the flat tire.
Loose items can fly around the
interior in a crash and could
seriously injure the occupants.
Store the wheel, jack, and tools
securely before driving. 24. Place the floor lid in the cargo
area.
25. Store the wheel cover or center cap in the cargo area. Make sure it
will not get scratched or damaged.
26. Close the tailgate. 27.
On U.S. models
Your vehicle's original tire has a
tire pressure monitoring system
sensor. To replace a tire, refer to
Changing a Tire with TPMS (see
page 237).
For normal tire For spare tire
CONTINUED
Changing a Flat Tire
289
Taking Care of the Unexpected
Table of Contents

2. Open the tailgate.
3. Raise the cargo area floor lid bylifting it up with the back of the
strap. Remove the tire repair kit.Your tire repair kit contains:
● An air pump with a power cord and
an air hose attached.
● A bottle of sealant with a filler hoseattached.
● Two labels, one for the tire wheel
and one for the instrument panel.
● An instruction sheet. ●
An empty recovery bottle. A tire
repair professional will use this to
collect the injected sealant from the
tire during the permanent repair.
4. Remove the sealant bottle and
check the expiration date on the
label. If the date has expired, do not
continue. Have your vehicle towed
to the nearest Honda service
center. In Canada or the
continental U.S.A. simply call 1-800-
465-PLUS (7587) for Honda Plus
Roadside Assistance.
FLOOR LID
TIRE REPAIR KIT STRAP
EXPIRATION DATE
Temporarily Repairing a Flat Tire
292
Table of Contents