2012 HONDA FIT ECO mode

ContentsThis 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 your vehicle. 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.
2Safe Driving P. 21For Safe Driving P. 22 Seat Belts P. 26 Airbags P. 342Instrument Panel P. 63Indicators P. 64 Gauges and Displays P. 722Controls P. 75Setting the Clock P. 76 Locking and Unlocking the Doors P. 77
Opening and Closing the Windows P. 92
Adjusting the Seats P. 1032Features P. 121Audio System P. 122 Audio System Basic Operation P. 125
Bluetooth® HandsFreeLink®
* P. 140
2Driving P. 153Before Driving P. 154 Towing a Trailer P. 159
Refueling P. 186 Fuel Economy P. 1892Maintenance P. 191Before Performing Maintenance P. 192 Maintenance Minder
TM P. 195
Checking and Maintaining Wiper Blades P. 218
Heating and Cooling
* System Maintenance P. 233
2Handling the Unexpected P. 237Tools P. 238 If a Tire Goes Flat P. 239
Overheating P. 254 Indicator, Coming On/Blinking P. 2562Information P. 267Specifications P. 268 Identification Numbers P. 270
Emissions Testing P. 273 Warranty Coverages P. 275

13Quick Reference Guide
Driving
(P153)
Depress the brake pedal and press
the release button to move out of
(P
.
Manua
l Transm
iss
ion
(P171)
Automatic Transmission
(P165)
●Shift to
(P
and depress the brake pedal when starting the engine.
Shifting
Park
Turn off or start the engine.
Transmission is locked.
Reverse
Used when reversing.
Neutral
Transmission is not locked.
Drive
Normal driving.
On models with paddle shifter,
D-paddle shift mode can be used.Drive (D3)
Used when:
•Going up or down hills
Models without paddle shifterSecond
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) S Position
Sequential shift mode can be used.
Models with paddle shifter
Move the shift lever without
pressing the release button.
Press the release button to move
the shift lever.
Paddle Shifters
* (P169)
●Paddle shifters allow you to shift gears much like a manual
transmission (1st through 5th). This is useful for engine
braking.
●D-paddle shift mode: The transmission will shift back to
automatic mode once the system detects that the vehicle
is cruising.
●Sequential shift mode: Holds the selected gear, and the M
indicator comes on.
Paddle
Shifter
(-
Paddle
Shifter
(+ (M
Indicator
Selected Gear
Number
●The selected gear
position is shown in the
instrument panel.
Models with
paddle shifter
Models without
paddle shifter
Shift Lever
Release
Button
* Not available on all models

14Quick Reference Guide
VSA® OFF Button
(P177)
●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
* (P173)
●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 DECEL/SET once you
have received the desired speed (above
25 mph or 40 km/h).
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS)
(P178)
●TPMS monitors tire pressure.
●TPMS is turned on automatically every
time you start the engine.
U.S. models only
Refueling
(P186)
a
Press on the edge of the
fuel fill door to make it
pop up slightly.
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
Fuel tank capacity: 10.6 US gal (40 L)

18Quick 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.
Models with remote transmitter

35
uuAirbagsuAirbag System Components
Continued
Safe Driving
The front, front side, and side curtain
airbags are deployed according to the
direction and severity of impact. The airbag
system includes:a
Two SRS (Supplemental Restraint System)
front airbags. The driver’s airbag is stored
in the center of the steering wheel; the
front passenger’s airbag is stored in the
dashboard. Both are marked SRS
AIRBAG.
b
Two side airbags, one for the driver and
one for a front passenger. The airbags are
stored in the outer edges of the seat-
backs. Both are marked SIDE AIRBAG.
c
Two side curtain airbags, one for each
side of the vehicle. The airbags are stored
in the ceiling, above the side windows.
The front and rear pillars are marked SIDE
CURTAIN AIRBAG.
d
An electronic control unit that continually
monitors and records information about
the sensors, the airbag activators, the
seat belt tensioners, and driver and front
passenger seat belt use when the ignition
switch is in ON
(w
.
e
Automatic front seat belt tensioners. The
driver’s and front passenger’s seat belts
incorporate sensors that detect whether
or not they are fastened.
f
A driver’s seat position sensor. If the seat
is too far forward, the airbag will inflate
with less force.
g
Weight sensors in the front passenger’s
seat. The front passenger’s airbag will be
turned off if the weight on the seat is 65
lbs (29 kg) or less (the weight of an infant
or small child).
h
Impact sensors that can detect a
moderate-to-severe front or side
collision.
i
An indicator on the dashboard that alerts
you that the front passenger’s front
airbag has been turned off.
j
Sensors that can detect if a child or small
statured adult is in the deployment path
of the front passenger’s side airbag.
k
An indicator on the instrument panel that
alerts you to a possible problem with your
airbag system or seat belt tensioners.
l
An indicator on the instrument panel that
alerts you that the front passenger’s side
airbag has been turned off.

uuAirbagsuFront Airbags (SRS)
38Safe Driving
Front airbags are designed to inflate during moderate-to-severe frontal collisions.
When the vehicle decelerates suddenly, the sensors send information to the control
unit which signals one or both front airbags to inflate.
A frontal collision can be either head-on or angled between two vehicles, or when a
vehicle crashes into a stationary object, such as a concrete wall.
While your seat belt restrains your torso, the
front airbag provides supplemental protection
for your head and chest.
The front airbags deflate immediately so that
they won’t interfere with the driver’s visibility
or the ability to steer or operate other
controls.
The total time for inflation and deflation is so fast that most occupants are not
aware that the airbags deployed until they see them lying in front of them.■
Operation
■
How the Front Airbags Work
1How the Front Airbags Work
After a front airbag inflates in a crash, you may see
what looks like smoke. This is actually powder from
the airbag’s surface. Although the powder is not
harmful, people with respiratory problems may
experience some temporary discomfort. If this occurs,
get out of the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
Although the driver’s and front passenger’s airbags
normally inflate within a split second of each other, it
is possible for only one airbag to deploy. This can
happen if the severity of a collision is at the margin,
or threshold, that determines whether or not the
airbags will deploy. In such cases, the seat belt will
provide sufficient protection, and the supplemental
protection offered by the airbag would be minimal.

48
uuAirbagsuAirbag Care
Safe Driving
Airbag CareYou 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 passenger’s weight
sensors. 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.

62Safe Driving
Safety LabelsLabel LocationsThese labels are in the locations shown. They warn you of potential hazards that can cause serious injury or death. Read these labels
carefully.
If a label comes off or becomes hard to read (except for the U.S. dashboard label which may be removed by the owner), contact a dealer
for a replacement.
Sun Visor
U.S. models
Canadian models
Radiator CapDoorjambsU.S. models
U.S. models only Dashboard
Canadian models Doorjambs