2012 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID steering

41
uuAirbags uAirbag System Components
Safe Driving
Airbags can pose serious hazards. To do their job, airbags must inflate with
tremendous force. So, while airbags help save lives, they can cause minor injuries,
sometimes even fatal ones if occupants are not wearing their seat belts properly and
sitting correctly.
What you should do: Always wear your seat belt properly, and sit upright and as
far back from the steering wheel as possible while allowing full control of the
vehicle. A front passenger should move their seat as far back from the dashboard as
possible.
Remember, however, that no safety system can prevent all injuries or deaths that
can occur in a severe crash, even when seat belts are properly worn and the airbags
deploy.
Do not place hard or sharp objects between yourself and a front airbag.
Carrying hard or sharp objects on your lap, or driving with a pipe or other sharp
object in your mouth, can result in injuries if your front airbag inflates.
Do not attach or place objects on the front airbag covers. Objects on the
covers marked ”SRS AIRBAG” could interfere with the proper operation of the
airbags or be propelled inside the vehicle and hurt someone if the airbags inflate.■
Important Facts About Your Airbags
1 Important Facts About Your Airbags
Do not attempt to deactivate your airbags. Together,
airbags and seat belts provide the best protection.
When driving, keep hands and arms out of the
deployment path of the front airbag by holding each
side of the steering wheel. Do not cross an arm over
the airbag cover.

42
uuAirbags uTypes of Airbags
Safe Driving
Types of AirbagsYour vehicle is equipped with three types of airbags:
• Front airbags: Airbags in front of the driver's and front passenger's seats.
• Side airbags: Airbags in the driver's and front passenger's seat-backs.
• Side curtain airbags: Airbags above the side windows.
Each is discussed in the following pages.Front Airbags (SRS)The front SRS airbags inflate in a moderate-to-severe frontal collision to help protect
the head and chest of the driver and/or front passenger.
SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) indicates that the airbags are designed to
supplement seat belts, not replace them. Seat belts are the occupant's primary
restraint system.
The front airbags are housed in the center of the steering wheel for the driver, and
in the dashboard for the front passenger. Both airbags are marked SRS AIRBAG.■
Housing Locations
1 Types of Airbags
The airbags can inflate whenever the ignition switch
is in ON
(w
.
1 Front Airbags (SRS)
Dual-Stage, Multiple-Threshold Front Airbags
(SRS)
Your vehicle is equipped with dual-stage, multiple-
threshold front airbags (SRS).
During a frontal crash severe enough to cause one or
both front airbags to deploy, the airbags can inflate
at different rates, depending on the severity of the
crash, whether or not the seat belts are latched, and/
or other factors. Frontal airbags are designed to
supplement the seat belts to help reduce the
likelihood of head and chest injuries in frontal
crashes.

75
uuIndicators u
Continued
Instrument Panel
Indicator
Name
On/Blinking
Explanation
Message
EPS (Electric
Power Steering
System) Indicator
●
Comes on when you turn the
ignition switch to ON
(w
, and goes
off when the engine starts.
●
Comes on if there is a problem with
the EPS (Electric Power Steering
System).
●
Stays on constantly or does not
come on at all - Have the vehicle
checked by a dealer.
2 If the EPS Indicator Comes On
P. 287
Auto Idle Stop
Indicator
●
Blinks when Auto Idle Stop is in
operation. The engine automatically
shuts off.
2 Auto Idle Stop P. 218
—
Low Tire Pressure/
TPMS Indicator
●
Comes on for a few seconds when
you turn the ignition switch to ON (w
.
●
Comes on if the tire pressure of any
of the tires becomes significantly
low.
●
Blinks for about one minute, and
then stays on if there is a problem
with the TPMS, or when a compact
spare tire is temporarily installed.
●
Comes on while driving - Stop in a
safe place, check tire pressures, and
inflate the tire(s) if necessary.
●
Blinks and remains on - Have the
vehicle checked by a dealer. If the
vehicle is fitted with a compact spare,
get your regular tire repaired or
replaced and put back on your vehicle
as soon as you can.
U.S.
models only

101
Controls
This chapter explains how to operate the various controls necessary for driving.
Setting the Clock.............................. 102
Locking and Unlocking the Doors
Key Types and Functions .................. 103
Locking/Unlocking the Doors from the Outside .......................................... 105
Locking/Unlocking the Doors from the Inside ............................................. 107
Childproof Door Locks ..................... 108
Auto Door Locking/Unlocking .......... 109
Opening and Closing the Trunk ....... 110
Security System
Immobilizer System .......................... 113
Security System Alarm ...................... 113Opening and Closing the Windows ..... 115
Operating the Switches Around the
Steering Wheel
Ignition Switch ................................. 117
Turn Signals ..................................... 118
Light Switches.................................. 118
Daytime Running Lights ................... 120
Wipers and Washers ........................ 121
Brightness Control ........................... 122
Rear Defogger/Heated Door Mirror
*
Button ........................................... 123
ECON Button ................................... 123
Adjusting the Steering Wheel........... 124 Adjusting the Mirrors
Interior Rearview Mirror ................... 125
Door Mirrors .................................... 125
Adjusting the Seats Adjusting the Seat Positions ............. 126
Interior Lights/Interior Convenience ItemsInterior Lights .................................. 131
Interior Convenience Items .............. 132
Climate Control System Using Automatic Climate Control .... 137
Automatic Climate Control Sensors ...... 139
* Not available on all models

117
Controls
Operating the Switches Around the Steering WheelIgnition Switch
1Ignition Switch
You cannot take the key out unless the shift lever is
in
(P
.
If you open the driver's door when the key is in LOCK
( 0
or ACCESSORY
(q
, a warning buzzer will sound
to remind you to take the key out.
When this happens, the following messages appear
on the multi-information display:
•In LOCK
( 0
: "REMOVE KEY"
•In ACCESSORY
(q
: "RETURN IGNITION SWITCH
TO LOCK (0) POSITION" The buzzer will stop when
you take the key out.
If the key won't turn from LOCK
( 0
to ACCESSORY
(q
, turn the key while moving the steering wheel left
and right. The steering wheel will unlock, allowing
the key to turn.
( 0
LOCK: Insert and remove the key in this
position.
( q
ACCESSORY: Operate the audio system and
other accessories in this position.
( w
ON: This is the position when driving.
(e
START: This position is for starting the engine.
The switch returns to ON
( w
when you let go of
the key.

118
uuOperating the Switches Around the Steering Wheel uTurn Signals
Controls
Turn Signals
The turn signals can be used when the ignition
switch is in ON
(w
.
Light Switches
Rotating the light switch turns the lights on
and off, regardless of the position of the
ignition switch.■
High beams
Push the lever forward until you hear a click.
■
Low beams
When in high beams, pull the lever back to
return to low beams.
■
Flashing the high beams
Pull the lever back, and release it.
Right Turn
Left Turn
■
Manual Operation
1 Light Switches
If you remove the key fr om the ignition switch while
the lights are on, a chime sounds when the driver’s
door is opened.
When the lights are on, the lights on indicator in the
instrument panel will be on.
2 Lights On Indicator P. 77
Do not leave the lights on when the engine is off
because it will cause the battery to discharge.
High Beams
Flashing the high beams
Low Beams
Turns on side marker, tail, and
rear license plate lights
Turns on headlights, parking, side
marker, tail, and rear license plate
lights

119
uuOperating the Switches Around the Steering Wheel uLight Switches
Controls
Automatic lighting control can be used when
the ignition switch is in ON
(w
.
When you turn the light switch to
#Y
, the
headlights and other exterior lights will switch
on and off automatically depending on the
ambient brightness.
The headlights, all other exterior lights, and the instrument panel lights turn off
within 15 seconds after you remove the key and close the driver's door.
If you turn the ignition switch to LOCK
(0
with the headlight switch on, but do not
open the door, the lights turn off after 10 minutes (3 minutes, if the switch is in the
#Y
position).
The lights turn on again when you unlock or open the driver's door. If you unlock
the door, but do not open it within 15 secon ds, the lights go off. If you open the
driver's door, you will hear a lights on reminder chime.
■
Automatic Lighting Control
1 Automatic Lighting Control
We recommend that you turn on the lights manually
when driving at night, in a dense fog, or in dark areas
such as long tunnels or parking facilities.
The light sensor is in the location shown below.
Do not cover this light sensor with anything;
otherwise, the automatic lighting system may not
work properly.
You can change the AUTO light sensitivity and
automatic lighting off timer setting using the multi-
information display.
2 Customized Features P. 90
Light Sensor
■
Automatic Lighting Off Feature

120
uuOperating the Switches Around the Steering Wheel uDaytime Running Lights
Controls
Daytime Running LightsThe high beam headlights come on slightly dimmer than normal when the following
conditions have been met:
• The ignition switch is in ON
(w
.
• The headlight switch is off, or in .
• The parking brake is released.
The lights remain on even if you set the parking brake. Turning off the ignition
switch will turn off the daytime running lights.
The high beam headlights return to the original brightness once the headlight
switch is turned on.