2011 HONDA FIT service

In freezing temperatures, turn the
engine on and leave it running
while the flat tire is being serviced.
Prolonged exposure to the cold
may cause the vehicle's battery to
weaken. Under cold conditions,
safely start the vehicle's engine and
keep the engine running at idle
when operating the air pump.
Running the engine with the
vehicle in an enclosed or even
partly enclosed area can cause
a rapid build-up of toxic carbonmonoxide.
Breathing this colorless,
odorless gas can cause
unconsciousness and even
death. Only run the engine to
power the air pump with the
vehicle outdoors.10. Turn the air pump on to inflate thetire. Do not run the air pump for
more than 15 minutes or it may
overheat. The air pressure gauge
will show about 40 to 60 psi (275 to
415 kPa) for the first few minutes
while the sealant is pumped into
the tire, and then the pressure will
go down to about 10 to 20 psi (70
to 140 kPa). 11. Inflate the tire to 33 psi (230 kPa),
then turn the air pump switch OFF
for an accurate pressure reading. If
the pressure fails to reach 33 psi
(230 kPa) within 15 minutes, do
not continue, and have the vehicle
towed. In Canada or the
continental U.S.A. simply call 1-
800-465-PLUS (7587) for Honda
Plus Roadside Assistance.
12. Turn the ignition switch to the LOCK (0) position.
13. Remove the sealant bottle hose from the tire valve, then reinstall
the tire valve cap.
AIR PUMP SWITCH
OFF
ON
Temporarily Repairing a Flat Tire
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If the pressure is lower than 32 psi
(220 kPa) and higher than 19 psi
(130 kPa), use the air pump to
bring air to the desired level as
described in step 11. Then drive to
the nearest service station at no
more than 50 mph (80 km/h).
If the pressure is below 19 psi, do
not continue. Have the vehicle
towed (see page 313).
In any case, be sure to have the
damaged tire permanently repaired
as soon as possible.
Remember to return the tire sealant
bottle to your Honda service center
for proper disposal. If the Engine Won't Start
Diagnosing why the engine won't
start falls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
ignition switch to the START (III)position:
You hear nothing, or almost
nothing. The engine's starter
motor does not operate at all, or
operates very slowly.
You can hear the starter motor
operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
faster than normal, but the engine
does not start up and run. Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
When you turn the ignition switch to
the START (III) position, you do not
hear the normal noise of the engine
trying to start. You may hear a
clicking sound, a series of clicks, or
nothing at all.
Check these things:
Check the transmission interlock.
If you have a manual transmission,
the clutch pedal must be pushed
all the way to the floor or the
starter will not operate. With an
automatic transmission, it must be
in Park or neutral.
Turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position. Turn on the
headlights, and check their
brightness. If the headlights are
very dim or do not come on at all,
the battery is discharged. See
Jump Starting on page 301.
CONTINUED
Temporarily Repairing a Flat Tire, If the Engine Won't Start
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Low Oil Pressure Indicator
This indicator should never
come on when the engine is
running. If it starts flashing or stays
on, the oil pressure has dropped very
low or lost pressure. Serious engine
damage is possible, and you should
take immediate action.
Running the engine with low oil
pressure can cause serious mechanical
damage almost immediately. Turn off
the engine as soon as you can safely get
the vehicle stopped. 1. Safely pull off the road, and shut
off the engine. Turn on the hazard
warning lights.
2. Let the vehicle sit for a minute. Open the hood, and check the oil
level (see page 204). An engine
very low on oil can lose pressure
during cornering and other drivingmaneuvers.
3. If necessary, add oil to bring the level back to the full mark on the
dipstick (see page 255).
4. Start the engine, and watch the oil pressure indicator. If it does not go
out within 10 seconds, turn off the
engine. There is a mechanical
problem that needs to be repaired
before you can continue driving(see Emergency Towing on page
313). Charging System Indicator
If the charging system
indicator comes on brightly
when the engine is running, the
battery is not being charged.
Immediately turn off all electrical
accessories. Try not to use other
electrically operated controls such as
the power windows. Keep the engine
running; starting the engine will
discharge the battery rapidly.
Go to a service station or garage
where you can get technicalassistance.
Low Oil Pressure Indicator, Charging System Indicator
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U.S. Canada
Brake System
Indicator (Red)
The brake system indicator (red)
normally comes on when you turn
the ignition switch to the ON (II)
position, and as a reminder to check
the parking brake. It will stay on if
you do not fully release the parkingbrake.
If the brake system indicator (red)
comes on while driving, the brake
fluid level is probably low. Press
lightly on the brake pedal to see if it
feels normal. If it does, check the
brake fluid level the next time you
stop at a service station (see page263).
If the fluid level is low, take your
vehicle to a dealer, and have the
brake system inspected for leaks or
worn brake pads/shoes. However, if the brake pedal does not
feel normal, you should take
immediate action. A problem in one
part of the system's dual circuit
design will still give you braking at
two wheels. You will feel the brake
pedal go down much farther before
the vehicle begins to slow down, and
you will have to press harder on thepedal.
Slow down by shifting to a lower
gear, and pull to the side of the road
when it is safe. Because of the long
distance needed to stop, it is
hazardous to drive the vehicle. You
should have it towed and repaired as
soon as possible (see
Emergency
Towing on page 313).
If you must drive the vehicle a short
distance in this condition, drive
slowly and carefully. If the ABS indicator and the VSA
system indicator (if equipped) come
on with the brake system indicator,
have your vehicle inspected by your
dealer immediately.
Brake System Indicator
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If your vehicle needs to be towed,
call a professional towing service or
organization. Never tow your vehicle
with just a rope or chain. It is verydangerous.
There are two ways to tow your vehicle:
Flat-bed EquipmentThe operator
loads your vehicle on the back of atruck. This is the best way to
transport your vehicle.
Wheel-lift Equipment The tow
truck uses two pivoting arms that go
under the front tires and lift them off
the ground. The rear tires remain on
the ground. This is an acceptable
way to tow your vehicle. If, due to damage, your vehicle must
be towed with the front wheels on
the ground, do this:
Manual transmission:

Release the parking brake.
Shift the transmission to neutral.
Leave the ignition switch in the
ACCESSORY (I) position so the
steering wheel does not lock.
Automatic transmission:
Start the engine.
Shift to the D position and hold for
5 seconds, then to N.
Turn off the engine.
Leave the ignition switch in the
ACCESSORY (I) position so the
steering wheel does not lock.
Release the parking brake.
Improper towing preparation will
damage the transmission. Follow the
above procedure exactly. If you cannot
shift the transmission or start the
engine (automatic transmission), your
vehicle must be transported with the
front wheels off the ground.
With the front wheels on the ground,
it is best to tow the vehicle no farther
than 50 miles (80 km), and keep the
speed below 35 mph (55 km/h).
CONTINUED
Emergency Towing
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Trying to lift or tow your vehicle by the
bumpers will cause serious damage.
The bumpers are not designed to
support the vehicle's weight.
The steering system can be damaged if
the steering wheel is locked. Leave the
ignition switch in the ACCESSORY (I)
position, and make sure the steering
wheel turns freely before you begin towing.If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
If your vehicle gets stuck in sand,
mud, or snow, call a towing service to
pull it out (see page 313).
For very short distances, such as
freeing the vehicle, you can use the
detachable towing hook that mounts
on the anchor in the front bumper.
To use the towing hook:
1. Take the towing hook and the
extension out of the tool kit in the
cargo area.
2. Put a cloth on the notch of the cover. Using the extension,
carefully pry on the notch of the
cover to remove it.
Emergency Towing, If Your Vehicle Gets Stuck
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The tires on your vehicle meet all
U.S. Federal Safety Requirements.
All tires are also graded for
treadwear, traction, and temperature
performance according to
Department of Transportation (DOT)
standards. The following explains
these gradings.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Quality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall
between tread shoulder and
maximum section width. Forexample:Treadwear 200
Traction AA
Temperature A
All passenger car tires must conform
to Federal Safety Requirements in
addition to these grades. Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a
comparative rating based on the wear
rate of the tire when tested under
controlled conditions on a specified
government test course. For
example, a tire graded 150 would
wear one and one-half (1 1/2) times
as well on the government course as
a tire graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends upon
the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart
significantly from the norm due to
variations in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
Traction
The traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B, and C. Those
grades represent the tire's ability to
stop on wet pavement as measured
under controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked
C may have poor traction
performance.
Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction tests,
and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak
traction characteristics.
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)
323
Technical Information
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Customer Service Information....334
Warranty Coverages ...................335
Reporting Safety Defects .............336
Authorized Manuals ....................337
Warranty and Customer Relations
333
Warranty and Customer Relations
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