2013 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID Owners Manual

uuWhen DrivinguStarting the Engine
216Driving
■Creep aid system
With the shift lever in
(D, this feature applies brake pressure briefly as you release
the brake pedal to prevent the vehicle from moving unexpectedly.
■Hill start assist system
Hill start assist keeps the brake engaged briefly to help prevent the vehicle from
rolling on inclines as you move your foot from the brake pedal to the accelerator.
Move the shift lever to
(D or
(L when facing uphill, or
(R when facing downhill,
then release the brake pedal.
1Hill start assist system
Hill start assist may not prevent the vehicle from
rolling downhill on a very steep or slippery slope, and
will not operate on small inclines.
Hill start assist is not a replacement for the parking
brake.
Hill start assist will still operate even when VSA® is
switched off.

217
uuWhen DrivinguPrecautions While Driving
Driving
Precautions While DrivingAvoid driving in deep water and on flooded roads. This can damage the engine or
driveline, or cause electrical component failure.
If there is a strong impact with something under the vehicle, stop in a safe location.
Check the underside of the vehicle for damage or any fluid leaks.■In Rain■Other Precautions
1Precautions While DrivingNOTICEDo not operate the shift lever while pressing the
accelerator pedal. You could damage the
transmission.
If the ignition switch is turned to ACCESSORY
(q or
LOCK
(0 while driving, the engine will shut down
and all steering and brake power assist functions will
stop, making it difficult to control the vehicle.
Do not put the shift lever in
(N, as you will lose
engine braking (and acceleration) performance.
During the first 600 miles (1,000 km) of operation,
avoid sudden acceleration or full throttle operation so
as not to damage the engine or powertrain.
Avoid hard braking for the first 200 miles (300 km).
You should also follow this when the brake pads are
replaced.
NOTICEFollowing can damage the under spoiler:•Parking the vehicle by a parking block•Parallel parking along the road shoulder•Driving towards the bottom of a hill•Driving up or down to a different surface level
(such as a road shoulder)•Driving on a rutted or bumpy road•Driving on a road with potholes

218
uuWhen DrivinguAutomatic Transmission (CVT)
Driving
Automatic Transmission (CVT)The engine runs at a higher idle speed and creeping increases.
Keep the brake pedal firmly depressed when stopped.
Quickly depressing the accelerator pedal while driving uphill may cause the
transmission to drop to a lower ratio, unexpectedly increasing vehicle speed.
Depress the accelerator pedal carefully, especially on slippery roads and curves.■Creeping■Kickdown

219
uuWhen DrivinguShifting
Continued
Driving
ShiftingChange the shift position in accordance with your driving needs.■Shift lever positions
1Shifting
You cannot turn the ignition switch to LOCK
(0 and
remove the key unless the shift lever is in
(P.
The vehicle may move forward very slightly even in
(N while the engine is cold.
Depress the brake pedal firmly and, when necessary,
apply the parking brake.
Park
Used when parking or starting the
engine
Reverse
Used when reversing
Neutral
Used when idling
Drive
Used for normal driving
Drive (S)●Used for better acceleration●Used to increase engine braking●Used when going up or down hills Release Button
Low●Used to further increase engine
braking●Used when going up or down hills●Used when IMA battery is low

uuWhen DrivinguShifting
220Driving
■Shift Lever Operation
1Shift Lever OperationNOTICEWhen 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’s 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 pressed.
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.

221
uuWhen DrivinguECON Button
Driving
ECON ButtonThe ECON button turns the ECON mode on and off.
The ECON mode helps you improve your fuel economy by adjusting the
performance of the engine, transmission, climate control system, and cruise control.

222
uuWhen DrivinguAuto Idle Stop
Driving
Auto Idle StopTo help maximize fuel economy, Auto Idle Stop shuts off the engine when the
vehicle comes to a stop, depending on environmental and vehicle operating
conditions. The AUTO STOP indicator blinks at this time.
The engine then restarts once the vehicle is
about to move again, and the indicator goes
off.
If the driver’s door is opened while the
indicator is blinking, a buzzer sounds to notify
you that the Auto Idle Stop function is in
operation.
1Auto Idle Stop
The duration of the Auto Idle Stop operation:•Increases in the ECON mode, compared to when
the ECON mode is off, with climate control in use. •Decreases if you operate the wiper and climate
control simultaneously.
AUTO STOP
Indicator

Continued
223
uuWhen DrivinguAuto Idle Stop
Driving
The vehicle stops with the shift lever in
(D and the brake pedal depressed.
■Auto idle stop does not activate when:
•The low temperature indicator is on.
•The IMA battery charge is low.
•The bars of the electric motor power flow monitor do not move when
accelerating or decelerating.
•The transmission fluid temperature is low.
•The vehicle comes to a stop again before the vehicle speed reaches 9 mph (15
km/h) after the engine starts.
•Stopped on a steep incline.
•The shift lever is in a position other than
(D or
(N.
■Auto idle stop may not activate when:
•Even if the set temperature and the actual interior temperature are around the
same ambient conditions (strong sunlight, high or low temperature, etc.) can
prevent Auto Idle Stop from activating.
•The vehicle is stopped by braking suddenly.■Auto Idle Stop Activates When:
1Auto Idle Stop Activates When:
The Auto Idle Stop may also activate when the brake
pedal is depressed, and the vehicle slows down to a
speed below 6 mph (10 km/h).