2011 HONDA FIT Owners Manual

This section explains why it is
important to keep your vehicle well
maintained and how to follow basic
maintenance safety precautions.
This section also includes
instructions on how to read the
Maintenance Minder messages on
the information display, and
instructions for simple maintenance
tasks you may want to take care ofyourself.
If you have the skills and tools to
perform more complex maintenance
tasks on your vehicle, you may want
to purchase the service manual. See
page 337 for information on how to
obtain a copy, or see your dealer.U.S. Vehicles:
Maintenance, replacement, or
repair of emissions control
devices and systems may be done
by any automotive repair
establishment or individual using
parts that are
‘‘certified ’’to EPA
standards. Maintenance Safety
.....................246
Maintenance MinderTM............... 247
Fluid Locations ........................... 254
Adding Engine Oil ......................255
Changing the Engine Oil and Filter ....................................... 256
Engine Coolant ........................... 258
Windshield Washers ...................260
Transmission Fluid .....................261
Automatic Transmission Fluid ................................... 261
Manual Transmission Fluid ....262
Brake and Clutch Fluid ...............263
Lights .......................................... 264
Cleaning the Seat Belts ...............269
Floor Mats .................................. 269
Audio Antenna ............................ 270
Dust and Pollen Filter .................270
Wiper Blades .............................. 271
Tires ........................................... 275
Checking the Battery ..................281
Vehicle Storage ........................... 283
Maintenance
245
Maintenance
Main MenuTable of Contents

All service items not detailed in this
section should be performed by a
certified technician or other qualifiedmechanic.
Important Safety Precautions
To eliminate potential hazards, read
the instructions before you begin,
and make sure you have the tools
and skills required. Make sure your vehicle is parked
on level ground, the parking brake
is set, and the engine is off.
To clean parts, use a commercially
available degreaser or parts
cleaner, not gasoline.
To reduce the possibility of fire or
explosion, keep cigarettes, sparks,
and flames away from the battery
and all fuel-related parts.
Wear eye protection and protective
clothing when working with the
battery or compressed air.
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'smanual.
Potential Vehicle Hazards Carbon Monoxide poison from
engine exhaust. Be sure there is
adequate ventilation whenever you
operate the engine.
Burns from hot parts. Let the
engine and exhaust system cool
down before touching any parts.
Injury from moving parts. Do
not run the engine unless
instructed to do so.
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.
Some of the most important safety
precautions are given here. However,
we cannot warn you of every
conceivable hazard that can arise in
performing maintenance. Only you
can decide whether or not you
should perform a given task.
Maintenance Safety
246
Main MenuTable of Contents

Your vehicle displays engine oil life
and maintenance service items on
the information display to show you
when you should have your dealer
perform engine oil replacement and
indicated maintenance service.
Based on the engine operating
conditions and accumulated engine
revolutions, the onboard computer in
your vehicle calculates the remaining
engine oil life and displays it as apercentage.Engine Oil Life Display
To see the current engine oil life,
turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position, then press and release
the select/reset knob repeatedly
until the engine oil life indicator
appears (see page 69).The remaining engine oil life is
shown on the display according to
this table:
Calculated Engine Oil Life (%) Displayed
Engine Oil Life (%)
100% 91% 100%
90% 81% 90%
80% 71% 80%
70% 61% 70%
60% 51% 60%
50% 41% 50%
40% 31% 40%
30% 21% 30%
20% 16% 20%
15% 11% 15%
10% 6% 10%
5% 1% 5%
0% 0%
SELECT/RESET KNOB
ENGINE OIL LIFE INDICATOR
CONTINUED
Maintenance MinderTM
247
Maintenance
Main MenuTable of Contents

If the remaining engine oil life is 15
to 6 percent, you will see the engine
oil life 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
above the‘‘OIL LIFE ’’message.The 15 and 11 percent oil life
indicator reminds you that the time is
coming soon to take your vehicle in
for the required maintenance.When the remaining engine oil life is
5 to 1 percent, you will see a‘‘SERVICE ’’message along with the
same maintenance item code(s),
every time you turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position.
MAINTENANCE
MINDER INDICATOR
MAINTENANCE ITEM CODE(S)
ENGINE OIL
LIFE INDICATOR
Maintenance MinderTM
248
Main MenuTable of Contents

The maintenance item code or codes
indicate the main and sub items
required at the time of the oil change
(see page 250).
You can switch the information
display from the engine oil life
display to the odometer or the trip
meter. Press and release the select/
reset knob on the instrument panel.
When the engine oil life is 15 to 1
percent, the Maintenance Minder
indicator (
) comes on every time
you turn the ignition switch to the
ON (II) position, then it goes out if
you switch the information display.
When you see this message, have
the indicated maintenance performed
by your dealer as soon as possible.When the remaining engine oil life is
0 percent, the engine oil life indicator
will blink. The display comes on
every time you turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position. The
Maintenance Minder indicator (
)
also comes on and remains on in the
instrument panel. When you see this
message, immediately have the
indicated maintenance done by yourdealer.
If you do not perform the indicated
maintenance, negative distance
traveled is displayed and begins to
blink after the vehicle has been
driven 10 miles (10 km) or more.
Negative distance traveled means
your vehicle has passed the
maintenance required point.
Immediately have the indicated
maintenance done by your dealer.
NEGATIVE DISTANCE TRAVELED
CONTINUED
Maintenance MinderTM
249
Maintenance
Main MenuTable of Contents

To change the information display
from the engine oil life display to the
odometer, the trip meter or average
fuel economy, press and release the
select/reset knob.
When the engine oil life is 0 percent
or negative distance traveled, the
Maintenance Minder indicator (
)
remains on even if you change the
information display.
Immediately have the service
performed, and make sure to reset
the display as described. Maintenance Main Items and Sub Items
All maintenance items displayed on
the information display are in code.
For an explanation of these
maintenance codes, see page 253. Resetting the Engine Oil LifeDisplay
Your dealer will reset the display
after completing the required
maintenance service. You will see‘‘
OIL LIFE 100% ’’on the information
display the next time you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)position.
If maintenance service is done by
someone other than your dealer,
reset the Maintenance Minder asfollows:
1. Turn the ignition switch to the ON (II) position.
2. Press the select/reset knob repeatedly until the engine oil life
is displayed.
MAINTENANCE MAIN ITEM
MAINTENANCE SUB ITEM(S)
Maintenance MinderTM
250
Main MenuTable of Contents

3. Press the select/reset knob forabout 10 seconds. The engine oil
life and the maintenance item
code(s) will blink.4. Press the select/reset knob foranother 5 seconds. The
maintenance item code(s) will
disappear, and the engine oil life
will reset to ‘‘100. ’’ Important MaintenancePrecautions
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 can lead
to serious mechanical 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, efficient service.
CONTINUED
Maintenance MinderTM
251
Maintenance
Main MenuTable of Contents

However, service at a dealer is not
mandatory to keep your warranties in
effect. Maintenance may be done by
any qualified service facility 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 fill out your
Honda Service History or Canadian
Maintenance Log. Check your
warranty booklet for moreinformation.
We recommend using Honda parts
and fluids whenever you have
maintenance done. These are
manufactured to the same high
quality standards as the original
components, so you can be confident
of their performance and durability.U.S. Vehicles:
According to state and federal
regulations, failure to perform
maintenance on the items markedwith
will not void your emissions
warranties. However, all
maintenance services should be
performed in accordance with the
intervals indicated by the informationdisplay.
Owner's Maintenance Checks
You should check the following
items at the specified intervals. If you
are unsure of how to perform any
check, turn to the appropriate pagelisted.
Engine oil level Check every
time you fill the fuel tank. See page204.
Engine coolant level Check the
radiator reserve tank every time
you fill the fuel tank. See page 204.
Automatic transmission Check
the fluid level monthly. See page261.
Brakes Check the fluid level
monthly. See page 263.
Tires Check the tire pressure
monthly. Examine the tread for
wear and foreign objects. See page276.
Lights Check the operation of
the headlights, parking lights,
taillights, high-mount brake light,
and license plate lights monthly.
See page 264.
Maintenance MinderTM
252
Main MenuTable of Contents