2012 HONDA CIVIC Start

Contents
Child Safety P. 50 Exhaust Gas Hazard P. 62 Safety Labels P. 63
Opening and Closing the Trunk P. 109 Security System P. 112 Opening and Closing the Windows P. 114
Operating the Switches Around the Steering Wheel P. 117 Adjusting the Mirrors P. 125
Interior Lights/Interior Convenience Items P. 134 Heating and Cooling*
P. 140
Audio Error Messages *
P. 172 General Information on the Audio System *
P. 174
When Driving P. 211 Braking P. 229 Parking Your Vehicle P. 233
Accessories and Modifications P. 238
Maintenance Under the Hood P. 251 Replacing Light Bulbs P. 268
Checking and Maintaining Tires P. 280 Battery P. 289 Remote Transmitter Care *
P. 290
Cleaning P. 292
Engine Does Not Start P. 306 Jump Starting P. 307 Shift Lever Does Not Move P. 310
Fuses P. 318 Emergency Towing P. 321
Devices that Emit Radio Waves P. 329 Reporting Safety Defects P. 330
Authorized Manuals P. 335 Customer Service Information P. 336
Quick Reference GuideP. 2
Safe DrivingP. 23
Instrument PanelP. 65
ControlsP. 97
FeaturesP. 143
DrivingP. 201
MaintenanceP. 239
Handling the UnexpectedP. 297
InformationP. 323
IndexP. 337
2012 Civic 4D Online Reference Owner's Manual
Note: All page numbers referenced in this document are hyperlinked.

15
Quick Reference GuideDriving (P 201)
2 1
D3
P
R
N DRelease Button Shift Lever
Depress the brake pedal and press the
release button to move out of
(P.
Move the shift lever without
pressing the release button.
Press the release button to
move the shift lever.
Manual Transmission
(P 217)
Automatic Transmission (P 215)
● Shift to
(P and depress the brake pedal when starting the engine.
● Shifting
Park
Turn off or start the engine. Transmission is locked.
Reverse
Neutral
Transmission is not locked.
Drive
Normal driving.
Drive (D3) Used when:
•Going up or down hills
•Towing a trailer in hilly terrain
Second
Used to increase engine braking
(the transmission is locked in 2nd gear)
First
Used to further increase engine braking
(the transmission is locked in 1st gear)
* Not available on all models

16
Quick Reference Guide
VSA®
OFF Button (P 224)
● The vehicle stability assist (VSA ®
) system
helps stabilize the vehicle during
cornering, and helps maintain traction
while accelerating on loose or slippery
road surfaces.
● VSA ®
comes on automatically every time
you start the engine.
● To turn VSA ®
on or off, press and hold
the button until you hear a beep.
Cruise Control *
(P 220)
● Cruise control allows you to maintain a
set speed without keeping your foot on
the accelerator pedal.
● To use cruise control, press the CRUISE
button, then press once you have
received the desired speed (above 25 mph or 40 km/h).
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) (P 225)
● TPMS monitors tire pressure.
● TPMS is turned on automatically every
time you start the engine.
–/SET
U.S. models only
Refueling (P 234)
a Push the fuel fill door
release handle.
b Turn the fuel fill cap
slowly to remove the cap.
c Place the cap in the
holder on the fuel fill
door.
d After refueling, screw
the cap back on until it
clicks at least once.
Fuel recommendation:
Unleaded gasoline with a pump octane number 87 or
higher required
Premium unleaded gasoline with a pump octane number
91 or higher recommended
Fuel tank capacity: 13.2 US gal (50 L)
1.8  engine models
2.4  engine models

18
Quick Reference GuideHandling the Unexpected (P 297)
Flat Tire (P 299)
● Park in a safe location and replace the
flat tire with the compact spare tire in the
trunk.
Indicators Come On
(P 313) ● Identify the indicator and consult the
owner's manual.
Engine Won't Start
(P 306) ●If the battery is dead, jump start using a
booster battery.
Blown Fuse (P 318)
● Check for a blown fuse if an electrical
device does not operate.Overheating (P 311)
● 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
(P 321) ● Call a professional towing service if you
need to tow your vehicle.

20
Quick Reference Guide
Why do the doors lock
after I unlocked the doors
using a remote transmitter?If you do not open the doors within 30 seconds, the doors are
relocked automatically for security.
Why does the beeper
sound when I open the driver's door? The beeper sounds when: ●
The key is left in the ignition switch.
● The exterior lights are left on.
Why does the beeper
sound when I start driving? The beeper sounds when: ●
Driver and/or front passenger are not wearing their seat belts.
● The parking brake lever is not fully released.
Why do I hear a screeching
sound when I apply the
brake pedal? The brake pads may need to be replaced. Have your vehicle
inspected by a dealer.
Is it possible to use
unleaded gasoline with a Pump Octane Number
(PON) of 87 or higher on
this vehicle? Unleaded gasoline with a PON of 91 or higher is recommended.
If premium unleaded gasoline with a PON of 91 or higher is not
available, you can temporarily use the gasoline with a PON of 87 or higher.
This will result in decreased engine
performance, and can cause
occasional metallic knocking noise in the engine.
Models with remote transmitter
2.4  engine models

62
Safe Driving
Exhaust Gas Hazard
Carbon Monoxide Gas
The engine exhaust from this vehicle contains carbon monoxide, a colorless,
odorless, and highly toxic gas. As long as you properly maintain your vehicle, carbon
monoxide gas will not get into the interior. ■Have the exhaust system inspected for leaks whenever
• The exhaust system is making an unusual noise.
• The exhaust system may have been damaged.
• The vehicle is raised for an oil change.
When you operate a vehicle with the trunk open, airflow can pull exhaust gas into
the interior and create a hazardous condition. If you must drive with the trunk open,
open all the windows and set the heating and cooling *
system as shown below.
1. Select the fresh air mode.
2. Select the mode.
3. Set the fan speed to high.
4. Set the temperature control to a comfortable setting.
Adjust the heating and cooling *
system in the same manner if you sit in your parked
vehicle with the engine running.
1Carbon Monoxide Gas
An enclosed area such as a garage can quickly fill up with carbon monoxide gas.
Do not run the engine with the garage door closed.
Even when the garage door is open, drive out of the
garage immediately after starting the engine.
3WARNING
Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.
Breathing it can cause unconsciousness and
even kill you.
Avoid any enclosed areas or activities that
expose you to carbon monoxide.
* 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