2012 HONDA CIVIC econ

Continued29
uuSeat BeltsuAbout Your Seat Belts
Safe Driving
■Proper use of seat belts
Follow these guidelines for proper use: • All occupants should sit upright, well back in the seat, and remain in that position
for the duration of the trip. Slouching and leaning reduces the effectiveness of
the belt and can increase the chance of serious injury in a crash.
• Never place the shoulder part of a lap/shoulder seat belt under your arm or
behind your back. This could cause very serious injuries in a crash.
• Two people should never use the same seat belt. If they do, they could be very
seriously injured in a crash.
• Do not put any accessories on the seat belts. Devices intended to improve comfort
or reposition the shoulder part of a seat belt can reduce the protective capability
and increase the chance of serious injury in a crash.
Your vehicle monitors front seat belt use. If
the ignition switch is turned to ON
(w before
the driver's seat belt is fastened, a beeper will
sound and the indicator will blink. If the driver
does not fasten the belt before the beeper
stops, the indicator will remain on.
The beeper will also periodically sound and
the indicator will blink while driving until the
driver's and front passenger’s seat belts are
fastened.
■Seat Belt Reminder
1About Your Seat Belts
If a rear seat passenger moves around and extends
the seat belt, the lockable retractor may activate. If
this happens, release the retractor by unfastening the
seat belt and allow the belt to retract completely.
Then refasten the belt.
1Seat Belt Reminder
The indicator will also come on if a front passenger
does not fasten their seat belt within 6 seconds after
the ignition switch is turned to ON
(w .
When no one is sitting in the front passenger's seat,
or a child or small adult is riding there, the indicator will not come on.
This is because the weight sensors in the seat cannot detect their presence.
*
* Not available on all models

Continued39
uuAirbagsuFront Airbags (SRS)
Safe DrivingFront airbags are designed to inflate during moderate-to-severe frontal collisions.
When the vehicle decelerates suddenly, the sensors send information to the control
unit which signals one or both front airbags to inflate.
A frontal collision can be either head-on or angled between two vehicles, or when a
vehicle crashes into a stationary object, such as a concrete wall.
While your seat belt restrains your torso, the
front airbag provides supplemental protection
for your head and chest.
The front airbags deflate immediately so that
they won't interfere with the driver's visibility
or the ability to steer or operate other
controls.
The total time for inflation and deflation is so fast that most occupants are not
aware that the airbags deployed until they see them lying in front of them.
■Operation
■How the Front Airbags Work1How the Front Airbags Work
After a front airbag inflates in a crash, you may see
what looks like smoke. This is actually powder from
the airbag's surface. Although the powder is not
harmful, people with respiratory problems may
experience some temporary discomfort. If this occurs,
get out of the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
Although the driver's and front passenger's airbags
normally inflate within a split second of each other, it
is possible for only one airbag to deploy. This can
happen if the severity of a collision is at the margin,
or threshold, that determines whether or not the
airbags will deploy. In such cases, the seat belt will
provide sufficient protection, and the supplemental
protection offered by the airbag would be minimal.

uuAirbagsuSide Airbags
44
Safe DrivingTo reduce the likelihood that a front passenger may be injured by an inflating side
airbag, the passenger side airbag is automatically turned off when: • The height sensors detect a child or short-statured adult is seated in the front
passenger seat.
• The position sensor detects that the front passenger is leaning into the
deployment path of the side airbag.
When the side airbag cutoff system is activated, the side airbag off indicator comes
on. 2 Side Airbag Off Indicator P. 48
If the side airbag off indicator comes on, have the passenger sit upright. A few
seconds after the passenger is sitting properly, the side airbag will automatically be
turned on, and the indicator will go off.
If the front passenger is a child, stop when it is safe to do so, and have the child sit
properly restrained in a rear seat.
■Side Airbag Cutoff System
■Side Airbag Off Indicator
1Side Airbag Cutoff System
The sensors that monitor the front passenger's height
and body position may not work if: • The seat-back is wet
• The passenger is touching a metal or other
electrical conductive object
• A seat cushion is on the seat
• The passenger is wearing excessively thick clothing
Sensor that
monitor the
passenger’s height.
Sensor that monitor
the passenger’s position.

46
uuAirbagsuAirbag System Indicators
Safe Driving
Airbag System Indicators
If a problem occurs in the airbag system, the SRS indicator will come on and a
message appears on the multi-information display*
.
■ When the ignition switch is turned to ON
(w
The indicator comes on for a few seconds,
then goes off. This tells you the system is
working properly.
If the indicator comes on at any other time, or does not come on at all, have the
system checked by a dealer as soon as possible. If you don't, your airbags and seat
belt tensioners may not work properly when they are needed.
■SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) Indicator
1SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) Indicator
3WARNING
Ignoring the SRS indicator can result in
serious injury or death if the airbag systems
or tensioners do not work properly.
Have your vehicle checked by a dealer as
soon as possible if the SRS indicator alerts
you to a possible problem.
*
* Not available on all models

uuAirbagsuAirbag System Indicators
48
Safe Driving■ When the side airbag off indicator comes on
This indicator comes on if the passenger's side airbag has been turned off because
the passenger is too small to be sitting in the front seat, is slouching or not sitting
upright, or has leaned into the airbag's deployment path.
Unless the passenger is a smaller statured adult or a child, the indicator should go
off when the passenger returns to a proper upright sitting position.
■Side Airbag Off Indicator1Side Airbag Off Indicator
When you turn the ignition switch to ON
(w , the
indicator should come on for a few seconds and then
go out. If it doesn't come on, stays on, or comes on
while driving without a passenger in the front seat,
have the system checked by a dealer as soon as
possible.
*
CanadaU.S.
* Not available on all models

66
Instrument Panel
Indicators
IndicatorNameOn/BlinkingExplanationMessage*
Parking Brake and Brake
System Indicator
●
Comes on for a few seconds when
you turn the ignition switch to ON
(w , then goes off.
● Comes on when the parking brake
is applied, and goes off when it is released.
● Comes on when the brake fluid
level is low.
● Comes on if there is a problem
with the brake system.
● The beeper sounds and the
indicator comes on if you drive
with the parking brake not fully released.
●
Comes on while driving - Make sure
the parking brake is released. Check the
brake fluid level. 2What to do when the indicator
comes on P. 315
● Comes on along with the ABS
indicator - Have the vehicle checked by a
dealer. 2If the Brake System Indicator Comes On P. 315
Low Oil Pressure
Indicator
●
Comes on when you turn the
ignition switch to ON
(w , and goes
off when the engine starts.
● Comes on when the engine oil
pressure is low.
● Comes on while driving - Immediately
stop in a safe place. 2If the Low Oil Pressure Indicator
Comes On P. 313
U.S.
Canada
* Not available on all models

67
uuIndicatorsu
Continued
Instrument Panel
IndicatorNameOn/BlinkingExplanationMessage*
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.
2Testing of Readiness Codes P. 331
● 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. 2If the Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Comes On or Blinks P. 314
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 battery is not charging.
● Comes on while driving - Turn off the
heating and cooling *
system and rear
defogger in order to reduce electricity
consumption. 2If the Charging System Indicator
Comes On P. 313
Shift Position
Indicator*●
Indicates in which position your shift lever is.2 Shifting P. 215—
Indicator
* Not available on all models

68
uuIndicatorsu
Instrument Panel
IndicatorNameOn/BlinkingExplanationMessage*
Transmission
Indicator
*
●
Comes on for a few seconds when
you turn the ignition switch to ON
(w , then goes off.
● Blinks if the transmission system has a problem.
●Blinks while driving - Avoid sudden
starts and acceleration and have the vehicle checked by a dealer
immediately.
Seat Belt
Reminder
Indicator
● Comes on and the beeper sounds if
you are not wearing a seat belt when
you turn the ignition switch to ON
(w . If the front passenger is not
wearing a seat belt, the indicator
comes on about six seconds later.
● Blinks while driving if either you or the front passenger has not fastened
a seat belt. The beeper sounds and
the indicator blinks at regular intervals.
●
The beeper stops and the indicator goes
off when you and the front passenger fasten their seat belts.
● Stays on after you or the front
passenger has fastened the seat
belt - A detection error may have
occurred in the sens or. Have the vehicle
checked by a dealer. 2Seat Belt Reminder P. 29
Low Fuel
Indicator
●
Comes on when the fuel reserve is
running low (approximately 1.9 U.S. gal./7.5 Liter left).
● Blinks if there is a problem with the
fuel gauge.●Comes on - Refuel your vehicle as soon
as possible.
● Blinks - Have the vehicle checked by a
dealer.
* Not available on all models