Page 2 of 333

Contents
Child Safety P. 56 Exhaust Gas Hazard P. 64 Safety Labels P. 65
Opening and Closing the Hatch P. 104 Security System P. 105 Opening and Closing the Windows P. 107
Adjusting the Mirrors P. 118Adjusting the Seats P. 119
Climate Control System P. 132
Audio with Navigation System *
P. 151 Audio Error Messages P. 167
Bluetooth ® HandsFreeLink ®*
P. 173
When Driving P. 198 Braking P. 220 Parking Your Vehicle P. 224
Accessories and Modifications P. 236
Maintenance Under the Hood P. 245 Replacing Light Bulbs P. 258
Checking and Maintaining Tires P. 269 12 Volt Battery P. 278 Remote Transmitter Care P. 279
Cleaning P. 281
Engine Does Not Start P. 293 Jump Starting P. 294 Shift Lever Does Not Move P. 296
Fuses P. 304 Emergency Towing P. 308 When You Cannot Open the Hatch P. 310
Devices that Emit Radio Waves P. 315 Reporting Safety Defects P. 316
Authorized Manuals P. 321 Customer Service Information P. 322
Quick Reference GuideP. 2
Safe DrivingP. 29
Instrument PanelP. 67
ControlsP. 97
FeaturesP. 135
DrivingP. 191
MaintenanceP. 237
Handling the UnexpectedP. 285
InformationP. 311
IndexP. 323
Note: All page numbers referenced in this document are hyperlinked.
2012 CR-Z Online Reference Owner's Manual
Page 11 of 333
10
Quick Reference Guide
The Honda IMA System
The main power source for the Honda IMA system is the gasoline engine.
The electric motor assists the engine to improve fuel economy, based on
current operating conditions.Tips to Improve Fuel Economy
To help your vehicle’s fuel economy: ● Avoid aggressive acceleration/braking
● Monitor the ambient meter and the Eco drive bar
displayed on the multi-information display.
It reflects your driving style. (P8, 86)
Start-up/Low speed cruise/
Aggressive acceleration
● The electric motor assists the engine.
Slow acceleration/High speed cruise
● Only the engine powers the vehicle. Deceleration
● The IMA system charges the IMA battery.
Stop
● Auto Idle Stop is in
operation.
Vehicle Speed
Time
Eco Drive
Bar Display
IMA
System IMA
System
IMA
System
IMA
System
Electric
Motor
Assist Engine
ON Electric
Motor
OFF
Charging
Engine
ON
Engine
OFF
Engine
OFF
IMA
Battery IMA
Battery
IMA
Battery
IMA
Battery
Fuel Fuel
Fuel
Fuel
Electric Motor OFF
Page 13 of 333

12
Quick Reference Guide
To Keep the IMA Battery in Good Condition
Drive your vehicle at least once a month for more than 30 minutes. Parking your vehicle for an extended period can cause the IMA battery
to weaken or decrease the IMA battery life. Safety Precautions
Do not cover the air intake.
Air Intake
Do not touch the Honda IMA System
A high voltage current runs through Honda IMA System. Consult your authorized dealer when
maintenance or repair is needed.
Do not spill any liquids on or around the IMA
battery, as they can damage the IMA battery. If
you accidentally spill liquids on or around the
battery, ensure that the spill is completely
wiped up as soon as possible.
The IMA system indicator may come on.
IMA Battery
IMA Power Cable
If a crash occurs ● Be careful of electric shock hazard.
uIf a crash severely damaged your vehicle, there is a possibility of electrical shock. Do not
touch the IMA system components or its wiring (orange).
● Avoid contact with IMA battery fluid.
uThe battery fluid may leak as a result of a crash. Avoid any skin or eye contact with the
fluid. The battery fluid is corro sive. If you accidentally touched it, flush your eyes or skin
with a large quantity of water for at least five minutes, and seek medical attention
immediately.
● Use a fire extinguisher for an electrical fire.
uAttempting to extinguish an electrical fire with a small quantity of water can be dangerous.
When the vehicle is disposed ● The IMA battery is a Nickel hydride battery. Honda collects and recycles used IMA batteries –
consult with your dealer for proper batter y disposal in the event your vehicle is not
repairable.
If the air intake is obstructed during
vehicle operation, the IMA battery can
become too hot. To protect the battery,
the system may start limiting IMA
battery output power and cause the IMA system and 12 volt battery
charging system indicators to come on.
IMA System Indicator
(P86)
12 Volt Battery Charging System Indicator (P69)
Page 15 of 333

14
Quick Reference Guide
Instrument Panel (P67)
Tachometer
CHRG/ASST Indicators
IMA Battery Charge Level Indicator
Shift Up/Down Indicator *Multi-Information
Display
7-Speed Manual Shift Mode Indicator
*
System Indicators
Lights Reminders
Instant Fuel
Economy GaugeSpeedometer
Fuel Gauge
Security Alarm
System Indicator
Shift Lever
Position Indicator
Gauges
(P81)/Multi-Information Display (P83)/System Indicators (P68)
Ambient Meter
System Indicators System Indicators
System IndicatorsLights On Indicator
High Beam Indicator
Fog Light Indicator *
Malfunction
Indicator Lamp
Low Oil Pressure Indicator
12 Volt Battery
Charging System Indicator
Anti-lock Brake
System (ABS) Indicator
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA
®) System
Indicator
VSA ® OFF Indicator
Turn Signal and
Hazard Warning
Indicators
Electric Power Steering (EPS) Indicator
Immobilizer System Indicator
IMA System Indicator
Auto Idle Stop
Indicator
Seat Belt Reminder
Indicator
Parking Brake and
Brake System
Indicator
Supplemental
Restraint System
Indicator
Side Airbag Off
Indicator
Low Tire Pressure/
TPMS Indicator
U.S. models only
Door/Hatch Open
Indicator
Cruise Main Indicator
Cruise Control
Indicator
System Message
Indicator
High Temperature Indicator
Low Temperature Indicator
SPORT Mode
Indicator
NORMAL Mode
Indicator
ECON Mode
Indicator Low Fuel Indicator
Page 23 of 333
22
Quick Reference Guide
Maintenance (P237)
Under the Hood (P245)
● Check engine oil, engine coolant, and window washer fluid. Add when necessary.
● Check transmission fluid (CVT).
● Check brake fluid and clutch fluid.
● Check the 12 volt 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 (P258)
● Inspect all lights regularly.
Wiper Blades
(P266)
● Replace blades if they leave streaks
across the windshield.
Tires (P269)
● Inspect tires and wheels regularly.
● Check tire pressures regularly.
● Install snow tires for winter driving.
Page 24 of 333
Quick Reference Guide
23
Handling the Unexpected
(P285)
Flat Tire (P287)
● Park in a safe location and replace the
flat tire with the compact spare tire
located under the cargo area.
Indicators Come On
(P299) ● Identify the indicator and consult the owner's manual.
Engine Won't Start (P293)
● If the battery is dead, jump start using a
booster battery.
Blown Fuse (P304)
● Check for a blown fuse if an electrical
device does not operate.Overheating (P297)
● 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 (P308)
● Call a professional towing service if you
need to tow your vehicle.
Page 70 of 333

69
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. 317
● 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. 301
12 Volt Battery
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 12 volt
battery is not charging.
●Comes on while driving - Turn off the
climate control system and rear defogger
in order to reduce electricity
consumption. 2If the Charging System Indicator
Comes On P. 300
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.
* Not available on all models
Page 80 of 333
79
uuIndicatorsuMulti-Information Display Warning and Information Messages
Continued
Instrument Panel
MessageConditionExplanation
●Appears when the ignition key is turned to
ACCESSORY
(q from ON (w. (The driver’s door is
closed.)—
● Appears when you open the driver’s door while the
ignition key is in LOCK
(0 .
●
Remove the key from the ignition switch.
●Appears if the clutch pedal is not fully depressed while
the Auto Idle Stop is in operation, and the engine is
ready to restart.●Fully depress the clutch pedal.
2Auto Idle Stop P. 228
●
Appears when the shift lever is in any forward gear
position, and the Auto Idle Stop operating time has
continued for a while.●Shift to (N .
2 Auto Idle Stop P. 228
●
Appears when the engine does not automatically
restart for the following reasons while the Auto Idle
Stop is in operation.
• The IMA battery charge is low.
• There is a problem with the system.●
Manually start the engine.
2Starting the Engine P. 198