2012 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID check engine

Contents
Child Safety P. 54Exhaust Gas Hazard P. 66Safety Labels P. 67Opening and Closing the Trunk P. 110 Security System P. 113 Opening and Closing the Windows P. 115
Adjusting the Mirrors P. 125 Adjusting the Seats P. 126
Climate Control System P. 137Audio Error Messages P. 162 General Information on the Audio System P. 164When Driving P. 198Braking P. 213Parking Your Vehicle P. 217
Accessories and Modifications P. 226Maintenance Under the Hood P. 235 Replacing Light Bulbs P. 247
Checking and Maintaining Tires P. 254 12 Volt Battery P. 263 Remote Transmitter Care P. 264
Cleaning P. 266Engine Does Not Start P. 279 Jump Starting P. 280Shift Lever Does Not Move P. 282
Fuses P. 289 Emergency Towing P. 292Devices that Emit Radio Waves P. 297 Reporting Safety Defects P. 298
Authorized Manuals P. 303 Customer Service Information P. 304
Quick Reference Guide
P. 2
Safe Driving
P. 27
Instrument Panel
P. 69
Controls
P. 101
Features
P. 141
Driving
P. 191
Maintenance
P. 227
Handling the Unexpected
P. 271
Information
P. 293
Index
P. 305

20Quick Reference Guide
Maintenance
(P227)
Under the Hood
(P235)
● Check engine oil, engine coolant, and windshield washer
fluid. Add when necessary.
● Check brake fluid.
● Check the 12 volt battery regularly.
a
Pull the hood release handle under the corner of the
dashboard.
b
Locate the hood latch lever, pull the lever up, and lift up
the hood.
c
When finished, close the hood and make sure it is firmly
locked in place.
Lights
(P247)
● Inspect all lights regularly.
Wiper Blades
(P252)
● Replace blades if they leave streaks
across the windshield.
Tires
(P254)
● Inspect tires and wheels regularly.
● Check tire pressures regularly.
● Install snow tires for winter driving.

Quick Reference Guide21
Handling the Unexpected
(P271)
Flat Tire
(P273)
● Park in a safe location and replace the
flat tire with the compact spare tire in the
trunk.
Indicators Come On (P285)
●Identify the indicator and consult the
owner's manual.
Engine Won't Start
(P279)
● If the battery is dead, jump start using a
booster battery.
Blown Fuse
(P289)
● Check for a blown fuse if an electrical
device does not operate.
Overheating
(P283)
● Park in a safe location. If you do not see
steam under the hood, open the hood,
and let the engine cool down.
Emergency Towing
(P292)
● Call a professional towing service if you
need to tow your vehicle.

71
uuIndicators u
Continued
Instrument Panel
Indicator
Name
On/Blinking
Explanation
Message
Malfunction
Indicator Lamp
●
Comes on when you turn the
ignition switch to ON
(w
, and goes
off either when the engine starts or
after several seconds if the engine
is not started. If "readiness codes"
have not been set, it blinks five
times before it goes off.
●
Comes on if there is a problem
with the emissions control system.
●
Blinks when a misfire in the
engine's cylinders is detected.
●
Readiness codes are part of the on board
diagnostics for the emissions control
systems.
2 Testing of Readiness Codes P. 299
●
Comes on while driving - Have the
vehicle checked by a dealer.
●
Blinks while driving - Stop in a safe
place where there are no flammable
objects. Stop the engine for 10 minutes
or more, and wait for it to cool down.
Then, take the vehicle to a dealer.
2 If the Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Comes On or Blinks P. 286
12 Volt Battery
Charging System
Indicator
●
Comes on when you turn the
ignition switch to ON
(w
, and goes
off when the engine starts.
●
Comes on when the 12 volt battery
is not charging.
●
Comes on while driving - Turn off the
climate control system and rear defogger
in order to reduce electricity
consumption.
2 If the Charging System Indicator
Comes On P. 285
Indicator
Shift Lever
Position Indicator
●
Indicates in which position your
shift lever is.
2Shifting P. 203
.

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

77
uuIndicators u
Continued
Instrument Panel
Indicator
Name
On/Blinking
Explanation
Message
High-Beam
Indicator
●
Comes on when the high beam
headlights are on.
—
—
Lights On
Indicator
●
Comes on whenever the light switch
is on, or in AUTO when the exterior
lights are on.
●
If you remove the key from the ignition
switch while the lights are on, a chime
sounds when the driver's door is
opened.
—
Side Airbag Off
Indicator
●
Comes on for a few seconds when
you turn the ignition switch to ON (w
, then goes off.
●
Comes on when the passenger side
airbag system is automatically shut
off.
●
It does not mean there is a problem
with your side airbags.
●
Comes on when nobo dy is sitting in
the passenger seat - Have the vehicle
checked by a dealer.
●
Comes on when someone is sitting
in the seat - Have the passenger sit
properly.
Immobilizer
System Indicator
●
Comes on briefly when you turn the
ignition switch to ON
(w
, then goes
off.
●
Comes on if the immobilizer system
cannot recognize the key
information.
●
Blinks - You cannot start the engine.
Turn the ignition switch to LOCK
(0
,
pull the key out, and then insert the key
and turn it to ON
(w
again.
●
Repeatedly blinks - The system may
be malfunctioning. Have the vehicle
checked by a dealer.
●
Do not attempt to alter this system or
add other devices to it. Electrical
problems can occur.
—
U.S.
Canada

198Driving
When DrivingStarting the Engine
1.Make sure the parking brake is applied.
2. Check that the shift lever is in
(P
, then
depress the brake pedal.
u Although it is possible to start the vehicle
in
(N
, it is safer to start it in
(P
.
1Starting the Engine
Keep your foot firmly on the brake pedal when
starting the engine.
The engine is harder to start in cold weather and in
thinner air found at altitudes above 8,000 feet (2,400
meters).
When starting the engine in cold weather, turn off all
electrical accessories such as the lights, climate
control system, and rear defogger in order to reduce
battery drain.
If the exhaust system sounds abnormal or you can
smell exhaust gas inside the vehicle, have your vehicle
checked by a dealer. There may be a problem with
the engine or exhaust system.
Brake Pedal

Continued
199
uuWhen Driving uStarting the Engine
Driving
3. Turn the ignition switch to START
(e

without depressing the accelerator pedal.
1. Keeping your right foot on the brake pedal, release the parking brake. Check that
the parking brake and brake system indicator has gone off.
2 Parking Brake P. 213
2.Put the shift lever in
(D
. Select
(R
when reversing.
3. Gradually release the brake pedal and gently depress the accelerator pedal to pull
away.
1Starting the Engine
Do not hold the key in START
(e
for more than 15
seconds.
•If the engine does not start right away, wait for at
least 10 seconds before trying again.•If the engine starts, but then immediately stops,
wait at least 10 seconds before repeating step 3
while gently depressing the acce lerator pedal.
Release the accelerator pedal once the engine
starts.
The immobilizer system protects your vehicle from
theft. If an improperly coded key (or other device) is
used, the engine's fuel system is disabled 2 Immobilizer System P. 113
■
Starting to Drive