2012 HONDA CR-Z Owners Manual

208
uuWhen DrivinguShifting
Driving
Shifting
Fully depress the clutch pedal to operate the shift lever and change gears, then
slowly release the pedal.
Depress the clutch pedal, and pause for a few seconds before shifting into
(R, or
shift into one of the forward gears for a moment. This stops the gears so they do not
“grind.” When you are not shifting, do not rest your
foot on the clutch pedal. This can cause your
clutch to wear out faster.
■Shift Lever Operation
Manual transmission models
1Shifting
Do not shift to
(R before the vehicle comes to a
complete stop.
Shifting to
(R before stopping can damage the
transmission. Recommended Shift Points
Driving in the highest gear that allows the engine to
run and accelerate smoothly helps to optimize fuel
economy and effective emissions control. The
following shift points are recommended:
If you exceed the maximum speed for the gear you
are in, the engine speed will enter into the
tachometer's red zone. When this happens, you may
experience a slight jolt.
Before downshifting, make sure the engine will not go
into the tachometer's red zone. Should this occur, it
can severely damage your engine.
There is a metallic part on the shift lever. If you leave the vehicle park ed outside for a long time on a hot
day, be careful before moving the shift lever. Because
of heat, the shift lever may be extremely hot. If the
outside temperature is low, the shift lever may feel cold. Shift Up Normal Acceleration
1st to 2nd15 mph (24 km/h)
2nd to 3rd 25 mph (40 km/h)
3rd to 4th40 mph (64 km/h)
4th to 5th 47 mph (76 km/h)
5th to 6th52 mph (84 km/h)
NOTICE
NOTICE

Continued209
uuWhen DrivinguShifting
Driving
Come on to indicate when a gear change is
appropriate to maintain the most fuel efficient driving style.
The shift up indicator: Comes on when
shifting up is recommended.
The shift down indicator: Comes on when shifting down is recommended.
uThe indicators do not come on in the
SPORT mode.
■Shift Up/Down Indicators1Shift Up/Down Indicators
This indicator will not prompt you to downshift to
increase engine braking. It is up to you to downshift to increase engine braking when driving downhill.
Always shift down at the appropriate vehicle speed.
The shift down indicator does not come on when downshifting from
(2 to (1.
Ambient meter color may change if you do not
change gears when a shift indicator illuminates. This
can result in a change in fuel economy.
Road and traffic conditions may require you to shift
at times other than those indicated.

210
uuWhen DrivinguShifting
Driving
The manual transmission has a lockout mechanism that stops you from accidentally
shifting into
(R from a forward gear while the vehicle is moving above a certain
speed.
If you cannot shift to
(R when the vehicle is stopped, do the following:
1.Depress the clutch pedal, move the shift
lever all the way to the left, and shift to
(R .
2. If you still cannot shift into
(R , apply the
parking brake, and turn the ignition switch
to ACCESSORY
(q or LOCK (0.
3. Depress the clutch pedal and shift into
(R .
4. Keep depressing the clutch pedal and start
the engine.
Have the vehicle checked by a dealer if you
have to go through this procedure repeatedly.
■Reverse Lockout

211
uuWhen Drivingu3-Mode Drive System
Driving
3-Mode Drive System
Driving mode is in NORMAL when you turn the ignition switch to ON
(w.
To change driving modes, press the de sired mode button. The corresponding mode
indicator comes on in the instrument panel, and the mode icon appears briefly on the multi-information display.13-Mode Drive System
To keep the system in the ECON mode the next time
the ignition switch is turned to ON
(w , change the
customized setting on the multi-information display.
2 Customized Features P. 90
The ECON mode helps you improve your fuel
economy by changing the engine, transmission,
climate control system, cruise control, and IMA
system performances.
While in the ECON mode, the climate control system
has greater temperature fluctuations.
■ Select a driving mode
and press the button.
SPORT Mode Button
■The selected driving mode
indicator comes on.
NORMAL Mode Button
ECON mode Button

212
uuWhen DrivinguCruise Control
Driving
Cruise Control
Maintains a constant vehicle speed without having to keep your foot on the
accelerator. Use cruise control on freeways or open roads where you can travel at a
constant speed with little acceleration or deceleration.
1Cruise Control
It may not be possible to maintain a constant speed
when driving uphill or downhill.
When not using cruise control:
Turn off cruise control by pressing the CRUISE button.
While in the ECON mode, it may take relatively more
time to accelera te to maintain the set speed.
While the cruise control system is activated, the shift
up or down indicator does not work.
3WARNING
Improper use of the cruise control can lead
to a crash.
Use the cruise control only when traveling
on open highways in good weather.
Manual transmission models
■ Press the CRUISE button
on the steering wheel. CRUISE MAIN is on in the
instrument panel.
Cruise control is ready to use.
How to use
■ Vehicle speed for cruise control:
Desired speed in a range above
roughly 25 mph (40 km/h) ~ Always keep sufficient distance between
you and the vehicle in front of you.
When to use

213
uuWhen DrivinguCruise Control
Continued
Driving
Take your foot off the pedal and press the button when you reach the
desired speed.
The moment you release the button, the set speed is fixed, and cruise
control begins. The CRUISE CONTROL indicator comes on.
■To Set the Vehicle Speed
ButtonDECEL/SET
On when cruise control beginsPress and release.
On
On
DECEL/SET
DECEL/SET

uuWhen DrivinguCruise Control
214
Driving
Increase or decrease the vehicle speed using the or buttons
on the steering wheel. • Each time you press the button, the vehicle speed is increased or decreased by
about 1 mph (1.6 km/h).
• If you keep the button pressed, the vehicle speed increases or decreases until you
release it. This speed is then set.
To cancel cruise control, do any of the
following: • Press the CANCEL button.
• Press the CRUISE button.
• Depress the brake pedal.
• Depress the clutch pedal.
The CRUISE CONTROL indicator goes off.
■To Adjust the Vehicle Speed1To Adjust the Vehicle Speed
You can set the vehicle speed using the
button on the steering wheel when adjusting the
speed with the accelerator and brake pedals.
DECEL/SETRES/ACCELDECEL/SET
■To Cancel
To decrease speed
To increase speed
1To Cancel
Resuming the prior set speed:
After cruise control has been canceled, you can still
resume the prior set speed by pressing the
button while driving at a speed of at
least 25 mph (40 km/h) or more.
You cannot set or resume in the following situations: • When vehicle speed is less than 25 mph (40 km/h)
• When the CRUISE button is turned off
At vehicle speeds of 22 mph (35 km/h) or less, cruise control is canceled automatically.
RES/ACCEL
CRUISE Button
CANCEL Button
Manual transmission models

215
uuWhen DrivinguVSA® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC (Electronic Stability Control), System
Continued
Driving
VSA ® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC (Electronic
Stability Control), System VSA ® helps to stabilize the vehicle during cornering if the vehicle turns more or less
than what was intended. It also assists in maintaining traction on slippery surfaces. It does so by regulating engine output and selectively applying the brakes.
When VSA® activates, you may notice that the
engine does not respond to the accelerator.
You may also notice some noise from the
hydraulic system. You will also see the
indicator blink.
■VSA ® Operation
1VSA ® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC (Electronic Stability
Control), System
The VSA ® may not function properly if tire type and
size are mixed. Make sure to use the same size and
type of tire, and the ai r pressures as specified.
When the VSA ® indicator comes on and stays on
while driving, there may be a problem with the
system. While this may not interfere with normal
driving, have your vehicle checked by a dealer
immediately.
VSA ® cannot enhance stability in all driving situations
and does not control the entire braking system. You
still need to drive and cor ner at speeds appropriate
for the conditions and always leave a sufficient margin of safety.
The main function of the VSA ® system is generally
known as Electronic Stability Control (ESC). The
system also includes a traction control function.
VSA ® System
Indicator