2012 HONDA CIVIC check engine light

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.

17
Quick Reference GuideMaintenance (P 239)
Under the Hood (P 251)
● Check engine oil, engine coolant, and windshield washer
fluid. Add when necessary.
● Check brake fluid and clutch fluid.
● Check the 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 (P 268)
● Inspect all lights regularly.
Wiper Blades
(P 278)
● Replace blades if they leave streaks
across the windshield.
Tires (P 280)
● Inspect tires and wheels regularly.
● Check tire pressures regularly.
● Install snow tires for winter
driving.
* Not available on all models

71
uuIndicatorsu
Continued
Instrument Panel
IndicatorNameOn/BlinkingExplanationMessage*
Trunk Open
Indicator
●
Comes on for a few seconds if you turn
the ignition switch to ON
(w , then goes
off.
● Comes on if the trunk is not completely
closed.
●Goes off when the trunk is closed.
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. 2If the EPS Indicator Comes On
P. 315
Daytime
Running
Lights
Indicator *●
Comes on for a few seconds when you
turn the ignition switch to ON
(w , then
goes off.
● Comes on if there is a problem with the
DRL system.
●
Have your vehicle checked by a dealer.
2Daytime Running Lights P. 120
—
TPMS
Indicator
●
Comes on for a few seconds when you
turn the ignition switch to ON
(w .
● Comes on if there is a problem with the
TPMS, or when a compact spare tire is
temporarily installed.
●Stays on constantly or does not
come on at all - 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 onlyModels with
information
display
* Not available on all models

211
Continued
Driving
When Driving
Starting the Engine
1.Make sure the parking brake is applied.
2. Check that the shift lever is in
(P , then
depress the brake pedal.
uAlthough it is possible to start the vehicle
in
(N , it is safer to start it in (P.
2. Check that the shift lever is in
(N . Then
depress the brake pedal with your right
foot, and the clutch pedal with your left foot.
uThe clutch pedal must be fully depressed
to start the engine.
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, heating and cooling *
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 PedalAutomatic transmission models
Brake Pedal
Clutch Pedal
Manual transmission models
* Not available on all models

uuWhen DrivinguShifting
216
Driving
■Shift Lever Operation1Shift Lever Operation
NOTICE
When you change the shift lever from (D to (R and
vice versa, come to a complete stop and keep the
brake pedal depressed.
Operating the shift lever before the vehicle has come
to a complete standstill can damage the transmission.
Use the shift lever position indicator to check the
lever position before pulling away.
Whichever position the shift lever is in when driving,
a blinking
(D indicator indicates a transmission
problem.
Avoid sudden acceleration and have the transmission
checked by a dealer as soon as possible.
The fuel supply may be cut off if you drive at engine
speeds in or over the tachometer red zone (engine
speed limit). If this happens, you may experience a
slight jolt.
It may not be possible to operate the shift lever if the
brake pedal is applied while the shift lever release
button is held down.
Depress the brake pedal first.Tachometer's red zone
Shift Lever Position Indicator
Depress the brake pedal and
press the shift lever release button to
shift.
Shift without pressing the shift lever
release button.
Press the shift lever release button
and shift.

uuBrakinguBrake System
230
Driving
Your vehicle is equipped with front disc brakes. The brakes on the rear wheels may
be disc or drum, depending on the model. A power assist helps reduce the effort
needed on the brake pedal. The brake assist system increases the stopping force
when you depress the brake pedal hard in an emergency situation. The anti-lock
brake system (ABS) helps you retain steering control when braking very hard. 2 Brake Assist System P. 232
2 ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) P. 231
■Foot Brake1Foot Brake
Check the brakes after driving through deep water,
or if there is a buildup of road surface water. If
necessary, dry the brakes by lightly depressing the
pedal several times.
If you hear a continuous metallic friction sound when
applying the brakes, the brake pads need to be
replaced. Have the vehicle checked by a dealer.
Constantly using the brake pedal while going down a
long hill builds up heat, which reduces the brake
effectiveness. Apply engine braking by taking your
foot off the accelerator pedal and downshifting to a
lower gear. With manual transmission use a lower
gear for greater engine braking.
Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, as it will lightly apply the brakes and cause
them to lose effectiveness over time and reduce pad
life. It will also confuse drivers behind you.

231
uuBrakinguABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
Driving
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
Helps prevent the wheels from locking up, and helps you retain steering control by
pumping the brakes rapidly, much faster than you.
The electronic brake distribution (EBD) system, which is part of the ABS, also
balances the front-to-rear braking distribution according to vehicle loading.
You should never pump the brake pedal. Let the ABS work for you by always
keeping firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal. This is sometimes referred to as
"stomp and steer." ■ABS operation
The brake pedal may pulsate slightly when the ABS is working. Keep holding the
pedal firmly down. On dry pavement, you will need to press on the brake pedal very
hard before the ABS activates. However, you may feel the ABS activate immediately
if you are trying to stop on snow or ice.
When the vehicle speed goes under 6 mph (10 km/h), the ABS stops.
■ABS1ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
NOTICE
The ABS may not function correctly if you use an
incorrect tire type and size.
When the ABS indicator comes on while driving,
there may be a problem with the system.
While normal braking is not affected, there is a
possibility of the ABS not operating. Have the vehicle checked by a dealer immediately.
The ABS does not reduce the time or distance it takes
to stop the vehicle. It only helps with steering control
during hard braking.
In the following cases, your vehicle may need more
stopping distance than a vehicle without the ABS: • When driving on rough road surfaces, including
when driving on uneven surfaces, such as gravel or
snow.
• When tire chains are installed.
You may hear a motor sound coming from the
engine compartment while system checks are being
performed immediately after starting the engine or
while driving. This is normal.

239
Maintenance
This chapter discusses basic maintenance.
Before Performing Maintenance Inspection and Maintenance ............ 240
Safety When Performing Maintenance..... 241
Parts and Fluids Used in Maintenance Service ........................................... 242
Maintenance Minder™ .................... 243
Maintenance Under the Hood Maintenance Items Under the Hood ..... 251
Opening the Hood ........................... 253
Recommended Engine Oil ...... .......... 254
Oil Check ......................................... 255
Adding Engine Oil ............................ 257
Changing the Engine Oil and Oil Filter ..... 258
Engine Coolant ................................ 261
Transmission Fluid ............................ 263
Brake/Clutch Fluid ............................ 266
Refilling Window Washer Fluid......... 267
Replacing Light Bulbs ....................... 268
Checking and Maintaining Wiper
Blades .......................................... 278
Checking and Maintaining Tires Checking Tires ................................. 280
Tire and Loading Information Label ...... 281
Tire Labeling .................................... 281
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles)....... 283
Wear Indicators................................ 285 Tire Service Life ................................ 285
Tire and Wheel Replacement ........... 286
Tire Rotation .................................... 287
Winter Tires ..................................... 288
Battery ............................................... 289
Remote Transmitter Care *
Replacing the Battery ....................... 290
Heating and Cooling *
System
Maintenance ................................... 291
Cleaning
Interior Care .................................... 292
Exterior Care.................................... 294
* Not available on all models