2012 HONDA CIVIC maintenance

Contents
This owner’s manual should be considered a permanent part of the
vehicle and should remain with the vehicle when it is sold.
This owner’s manual covers all models of the Civic 4-Door. You may
find descriptions of equipment and features that are not on your
particular model.
Images throughout this owner’s manual (including the front cover)
represent features and equipment that are available on some, but
not all, models. Your particular model may not have some of these features.
This owner’s manual is for vehicles sold in the United States and Canada.
The information and specifications included in this publication were
in effect at the time of approval for printing. Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
reserves the right, however, to discontinue or change specifications
or design at any time without notice and without incurring any
obligation.2 Safe Driving P. 23
For Safe Driving P. 24 Seat Belts P. 28 Airbags P. 35
2Instrument Panel P. 65
Indicators P. 66 Gauges and Displays P. 78
2Controls P. 97
Setting the Clock P. 98 Locking and Unlocking the Doors P. 99
Opening and Closing the Moonroof *
P. 116
Adjusting the Seats P. 126
2 Features P. 143
Audio System *
P. 144 Audio System Basic Operation *
P. 147
Bluetooth ®
HandsFreeLink ®*
P. 177
2 Driving P. 201
Before Driving P. 202 Towing a Trailer P. 207
Refueling P. 234 Fuel Economy P. 237
2Maintenance P. 239
Before Performing Maintenance P. 240 Maintenance Minder™ P. 243
Checking and Maintaining Wiper Blades P. 278
Heating and Cooling *
System Maintenance P. 291
2 Handling the Unexpected P. 297
Tools P. 298 If a Tire Goes Flat P. 299
Overheating P. 311 Indicator, Coming On/Blinking P. 313
2Information P. 323
Specifications P. 324 Identification Numbers P. 328
Emissions Testing P. 331 Warranty Coverages P. 333
Main Menu2012 Civic 4D Online Reference Owner's Manual

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.

Visual Index
6Quick Reference Guide
❙Maintenance Under the Hood (P 251)
❙Windshield Wipers (P 121, 278)
❙Tires (P 280, 299)
❙Fog Lights *
(P 120, 272)
❙Door Lock/Unlock Control (P 101)
❙Power Door Mirrors*
(P 125)
❙Headlights (P 118, 268)
❙Front Turn Signal/Parking/Side Marker Lights (P 118, 273)
❙How to Refuel (P 235)
❙High-Mount Brake Light *
(P 277)
❙Emergency Trunk Release Lever
(P 111)
❙Opening/Closing the Trunk (P 109)
❙Back-Up Lights (P 275)
❙Brake/Taillights (P 275)
❙Rear Turn Signal Lights (P 275)
❙Rear Side Marker Lights (P 275)

9
Quick Reference GuideInstrument Panel (P 65)
U. S.
Canada
U. S.
Canada
System Indicators
Malfunction
Indicator Lamp Low Oil Pressure
Indicator
Charging System
Indicator
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
Indicator
Vehicle Stability
Assist (VSA ®
) System
Indicator
VSA ®
OFF Indicator
Low Tire Pressure
Indicator*
/
Low Tire Pressure/
TPMS Indicator * Electric Power
Steering (EPS)
Indicator
Lights Reminders Lights On Indicator
High Beam IndicatorFog Light Indicator *
Immobilizer System
Indicator Seat Belt Reminder
Indicator
System Indicators
Cruise Control
Indicator *
System Message
Indicator *
Parking Brake
and Brake System
Indicator Supplemental
Restraint System
Indicator
Side Airbag Off
Indicator
Door Open Indicator Cruise Main Indicator*
Tachometer Instant Fuel
Economy Gauge
*
Speedometer
Fuel Gauge
Security Alarm
System Indicator * Shift Lever Position Indicator
*Low Fuel Indicator
Gauges
(P 78)/Information Display *
(P 80) /
Multi-Information Display *
(P 82) /System Indicators (P 66)
Trunk Open Indicator
ECON Mode Indicator *
TPMS Indicator * Turn Signal and
Hazard Warning
Indicators
High Temperature
Indicator
Low Temperature
Indicator
Maintenance Minder
Indicator *
Daytime Running
Lights Indicator *
Washer Level
Indicator *
i-VTEC
Indicator
REV
Indicator2.4  engine models
Ambient Meter
*
*
Not available on all models

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

25
uuFor Safe DrivinguImportant Safety Precautions
Safe Driving
■Pay appropriate attention to the task of driving safely
Engaging in cell phone conversation or other activities that keep you from paying
close attention to the road, other vehicles, and pedestrians could lead to a crash.
Remember, situations can change quickly, and only you can decide when it is safe to
divert some attention away from driving. ■ Control your speed
Excessive speed is a major factor in crash injuries and deaths. Generally, the higher
the speed, the greater the risk, but serious injuries can also occur at lower speeds.
Never drive faster than is safe for current conditions, regardless of the maximum speed posted. ■ Keep your vehicle in safe condition
Having a tire blowout or a mechanical failure can be extremely hazardous.
To reduce the possibility of such problems, check your tire pressures and condition
frequently, and perform all regularly scheduled maintenance.

49
uuAirbagsuAirbag Care
Safe Driving
Airbag Care
You do not need to, and should not, perform any maintenance on or replace any
airbag system components yourself. However, you should have your vehicle
inspected by a dealer in the following situations: ■When the airbags have deployed
If an airbag has inflated, the control unit and other related parts must be replaced.
Similarly, once an automatic seat belt tensioner has been activated, it must be
replaced. ■ When the vehicle has been in a moderate-to-severe collision
Even if the airbags did not inflate, have your dealer inspect the following: the driver’s
seat position sensor, weight sensors in the passenger’s seat, front seat belt
tensioners, and each seat belt that was worn during the crash. ■ Do not remove or modify a front seat without consulting a dealer
This would likely disable the driver's seat position sensor or the weight sensors in the
passenger's seat. If it is necessary to remove or modify a front seat to accommodate
a person with disabilities, contact a Honda dealer, or for U.S. vehicles, American
Honda Automobile Customer Service at 800-999-1009 and for Canadian vehicles,
Honda Canada Customer Relations at 888-9-HONDA-9.
1Airbag Care
We recommend against the use of salvaged airbag
system components, including the airbag, tensioners, sensors, and control unit.

75
uuIndicatorsu
Instrument Panel
IndicatorNameOn/BlinkingExplanationMessage*
ECON Mode
Indicator
*
●
Comes on when you turn the
ignition switch to ON
(w , and goes
off when the engine starts.
● Comes on when you press the ECON
button.
2 ECON Button P. 123
CRUISE MAIN
Indicator*●
Comes on when you press the
CRUISE button.
2 Cruise Control P. 220—
CRUISE CONTROL
Indicator*●
Comes on if you have set a speed for
cruise control.
2 Cruise Control P. 220—
Washer Level
Indicator*●
Comes on when washer fluid gets
low.● Refill washer fluid.
2Refilling Window Washer Fluid
P. 267
—
Maintenance
Minder Indicator *●
Comes on when the scheduled
maintenance is due soon.2 Maintenance Minder™ P. 243—
i-VTEC Indicator*
●
Comes on when the i-VTEC system
switches the low RPM cams to the
high RPM cams.● When the i-VTEC indicator comes on,
the REV indicator begins to come on
simultaneously.
2i-VTEC indicator P. 79
—
REV Indicators*
●
Come on when the tachometer
reading approaches the red zone.
2 REV indicators P. 79—
Indicator
Indicator
* Not available on all models