Honda Civic 2006 Car Owners Manual

Your Vehicle at a Glance

INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATORS
GAUGES

(P. 65)

DRIVER’S FRONT
AIRBAG
(P. 11, 26)

MIRROR CONTROLS
(P. 96)

POWER DOOR LOCK
MASTER SWITCH

＊

(P. 78)

POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
(P. 93)

FUEL FILL DOOR
RELEASE HANDLE
(P. 151)

TRUNK RELEASE
HANDLE
(P. 84)

Vehicle with navigation system is shown.

＊

: If equipped

4

(P. 59)

AUDIO SYSTEM

MOONROOF SWITCH

＊

(P. 106)

AUXILIARY INPUT JACK
(P. 143)

＊

(P. 94)

PASSENGER’S FRONT AIRBAG
(P. 11, 26)

HEATING/COOLING
CONTROLS
(P. 102)

DOOR LOCK TAB
(P. 78)

ACCESSORY
POWER SOCKET
(P. 100)

AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
(P. 166)

MANUAL
TRANSMISSION
(P. 164)

＊

＊

＊

＊

＊

＊

＊

＊

To use the horn, press the pad around the ‘‘H’’ logo.

On

ly on vehicles equipped with navigation system. Refer to the navigation system manual.

:
1:
2:

If equipped

Your Vehicle at a Glance

Your Vehicle at a Glance

5

HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS

DISPLAY CHANGE
BUTTON

(P. 65)

SEL/RESET
BUTTON

REMOTE AUDIO
CONTROLS

VOICE CONTROL
SWITCHES

STEERING WHEEL
ADJUSTMENT

HAZARD WARNING BUTTON

PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF
INDICATOR

HORN

REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER
(P. 73)

(P. 72)

(P. 65)

(P. 143)

(P. 152)

(P. 73)

(P. 71)

(P. 70)

(P. 32)

(P. 72)

(P. 97)

(P. 145)

HOOD RELEASE
HANDLE

WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS

HEATED MIRRORS

CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS

Vehicle with navigation system is shown.

INSTRUMENT PANEL
BRIGHTNESS BUTTONS

1

2

1

1

6

−You’ll find many safety

recommendations throughout this
section, and throughout this manual.
Therecommendationsonthispage
are the ones we consider to be the
most important.

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 saf e for current
conditions, regardless of the
maximum speed posted.

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 (see page ).

A seat belt is your best protection in
all types of collisions. Airbags are
designed to supplement seat belts,
not replace them. So even though
your vehicle is equipped with airbags,
make sure you and your passengers
always wear your seat belts, and
wear them properly (see page ).

Children age 12 and under should
ride properly restrained in a back
seat, not the front seat. Infants and
smallchildrenshouldberestrained
in a child seat. Larger children
should use a booster seat and a lap/
shoulder belt until they can use the
belt properly without a booster seat

(see pages ).

Alcohol and driving don’t mix. Even
one drink can reduce your ability to
respond to changing conditions, and
your reaction time gets worse with
every additional drink. So don’t drink
and drive, and don’t let your friends
drink and drive, either.

While airbags can save lives, they
can cause serious or fatal injuries to
occupants who sit too close to them,
or are not properly restrained.
Infants, young children, and short
adults are at the greatest risk. Be
sure to f ollow all instructions and
warnings in this manual.

16

35 52

181

Important Saf ety Precautions

Always Wear Your Seat Belt

Control Your Speed

Keep Your Vehicle in Saf e
Condition

Restrain All Children

Don’t Drink and Drive

Be Aware of Airbag Hazards

8

Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features

(11)

(7)

(8)

(9)

(3)

(2)

(5)

(9)

(1) (4)

(6)

(8)

(10)

(1) Safety Cage
(2) Crush Zones
(3) Seats and Seat-Backs
(4) Head Restraints
(5) Collapsible Steering Column
(6) Seat Belts
(7) Front Airbags
(8) Side Airbags
(9) Side Curtain Airbags
(10) Front Seat Belt Tensioners
(11) Door Locks

(2)

Your vehicle is equipped with many
features that work together to
protect you and your passengers
during a crash.

Some features do not require any
action on your part. These include a
strong steel framework that forms a
safety cage around the passenger
compartment; front and rear crush
zones; a collapsible steering column;
and tensioners that tighten the front
seat belts in a crash.

However, you and your passengers
can’t take full advantage of these
features unless you remain sitting in
a proper position and

your seat belts

features can contribute to injuries if
they are not used properly.

The f ollowing pages explain how you
cantakeanactiveroleinprotecting
yourself and your passengers.

always wear

. In fact, some safety

Driver and Passenger Safet y

9

Your vehicle is equipped with seat
belts in all seating positions.

Seat belts are the single most
effectivesafetydeviceforadultsand
larger children. (Infants and smaller
children must be properly restrained
in child seats.)

Not wearing a seat belt properly
increases the chance of serious
injury or death in a crash, even
though your vehicle has airbags.

In addition, most states and all
Canadian provinces require you to
wear seat belts.

When properly worn, seat belts:

Keep you connected to the vehicle
so you can take advantage of the
vehicle’s built-in safety features.

Help protect you in almost every
type of crash, including frontal,
side, and rear impacts and
rollovers.

Help keep you from being thrown
against the inside of the vehicle
and against other occupants.

Keep you from being thrown out
of the vehicle.

Help keep you in a good position
should the airbags ever deploy. A
good position reduces the risk of
injury from an inf lating airbag and
allows you to get the best
advantage from the airbag.

Of course, seat belts cannot
completely protect you in every
crash.Butinmostcases,seatbelts
can reduce your risk of serious
injury.

Always wear your seat belt, and
make sure you wear it properly.

Your seat belt system also includes
an indicator on the instrument panel
and a beeper to remind you and your
passengers to fasten your seat belts.

Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features

Seat Belts

Why Wear Seat Belts

What You Should Do:

10

Not wearing a seat belt properly
increases the chance of serious
injury or death in a crash, even
though your vehicle has airbags.

Be sure you and your
passengers always wear seat
belts and wear them properly.

Airbags

Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features

Driver and Passenger Safet y

Your vehicle has a supplemental
restraint system (SRS) with front
airbags to help protect the heads and
chests of the driver and a front seat
passenger during a moderate to
severe f rontal collision (see page

for more information on how

26

your front airbags work).

Your vehicle also has side airbags to
help protect the upper torso of the
driver or a front seat passenger
during a moderate to severe side
impact (see page for more
information on how your side airbags
work).

29

Your vehicle also has side curtain
airbags to help protect the heads of
the driver, front passenger, and
passengers in the outer rear seating
positions during a moderate to
severe side impact (see page for
more information on how your side
curtain airbags work).

31

CONTINUED

11

The most important things you need
to know about your airbags are:

They are designed to supplement
the seat belts.

To do
their job, airbags must inflate with
tremendous f orce. So while
airbags help save lives, they can
cause minor injuries or more
serious or even fatal injuries if
occupants are not properly
restrained or sitting properly.

Remember however, that no saf ety
system can prevent all injures or
deaths that can occur in a severe
crash, even when seat belts are
properly worn and the airbags deploy.

The rest of this section gives more
detailed inf ormation about how you
can maximize your safety.

Always wear
your seat belt properly, and sit
upright and as far back f rom the
steering wheel as possible while
allowing full control of the vehicle. A
front passenger should move their
seat as far back from the dashboard
as possible.

Airbags do not replace seat belts.

Airbags off er no protection in rear
impacts, or minor frontal or side
collisions.

Airbags can pose hazards.

What you should do:

Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features

12

The f ollowing pages provide
instructions on how to properly
protect the driver, adult passengers,
and teenage children who are large
enough and mature enough to drive
or ride in the front.

See pages for important
guidelines on how to properly
protect infants, small children, and
larger children who ride in your
vehicle.

−

35 52

Your vehicle has a door-open
indicator on the instrument panel to
indicate when any door is not tightly
closed.

Locking the doors reduces the
chance of someone being thrown out
of the vehicle during a crash, and it
helps prevent passengers f rom
accidentally opening a door and
falling out.

Protecting Adults and Teens

Adjust the Front SeatsIntroduction

2.

Driver and Passenger Safet y

Close and Lock the Doors1.

After everyone has entered the
vehicle, be sure the doors are closed
and locked.

Locking the doors also helps prevent
an outsider from unexpectedly
opening a door when you come to a
stop.

See page for how to lock the
doors, and page for how the door­open indicator works.

Some models have auto door
locking/unlocking features. See
page for how to set them.

78

62

79

Adjust the driver’s seat as far to the
rear as possible while allowing you to
maintain f ull control of the vehicle.
Have a front passenger adjust their
seat as far to the rear as possible.

CONTINUED

13

If you sit too close to the steering
wheel or dashboard, you can be
seriously injured by an inflating front
airbag, or by striking the steering
wheel or dashboard.

If you cannot get far enough away
from the steering wheel and still
reach the controls, we recommend
that you investigate whether some
type of adaptive equipment may help.

Once your seat is adjusted correctly,
rock it back and forth to make sure
the seat is locked in position.

See page for how to adjust the
front seats.

Adjust the driver’s seat-back to a
comfortable, upright position,
leaving ample space between your
chest and the airbag cover in the
center of the steering wheel.

Passengers with adjustable seat­backs should also adjust their seat­back to a comfortable, upright
position.

The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport
Canada recommend that drivers
allow at least 10 inches (25 cm)
between the center of the steering
wheel and the chest. In addition to
adjusting the seat, you can adjust the
steering wheel up and down, and in
and out (see page ).

88

73

Adjust the Seat-Backs3.

Protecting Adults and Teens

14

Sitting too close to a front
airbag can result in serious
injury or death if the front
airbags inflate.

Always sit as far back from the
front airbags as possible.

Protecting Adults and Teens

Reclining the seat-back too far
can result in serious injury or
death in a crash.

Adjust the seat-back to an
upright position, and sit well
back in the seat.

Reclining a seat-back so that the
shoulder part of the belt no longer
rests against the occupant’s chest
reduces the protective capability of
the belt. It also increases the chance
of sliding under the belt in a crash
and being seriously injured. The
farther a seat-back is reclined, the
greater the risk of injury.

See page for how to adjust the
seat-backs.

Adjust the Head Restraints4.

Adjust the driver’s head restraint so
the back of your head rests against
the center of the restraint.

Have passengers adjust their head
restraints properly as well. Taller
persons should adjust their restraint
as high as possible.88 89

When a passenger is seated in the
rear center seating position, make
sure the head restraint is adjusted to
its highest position.

Improperly positioning head
restraints reduces their
effectiveness and you can be
seriously injured in a crash.

Make sure head restraints are
in place and positioned properly
before driving.

Properly adjusted head restraints
will help protect occupants from
whiplash and other crash injuries.

See page for how to adjust the
head restraints.

Driver and Passenger Safet y

15

If the seat belt touches or crosses
your neck, or if it crosses your arm
instead of your shoulder, you need to
adjust the seat belt anchor height.

If necessary, pull up on the belt again
to remove any slack, then check that
the belt rests across the center of
your chest and over your shoulder.
This spreads the forces of a crash
over the strongest bones in your
upper body.

Position the lap part of the belt as
low as possible across your hips,
then pull up on the shoulder part of
the belt so the lap part fits snugly.
This lets your strong pelvic bones
take the force of a crash and reduces
the chance of internal injuries.

Insert the latch plate into the buckle,
then tug on the belt to make sure the
belt is securely latched. Check that
the belt is not twisted, because a
twisted belt can cause serious
injuries in a crash.

Protecting Adults and Teens

Fasten and Position the Seat
Belts

5.

16

Improperly positioning the seat
belts can cause serious injury
or death in a crash.

Make sure all seat belts are
properly positioned before
driving.

Protecting Adults and Teens

The front seats have adjustable seat
belt anchors. To adjust the height of
an anchor, press and hold the release
button and slide the anchor up or
down as needed (it has four
positions).

Never place the shoulder portion of a
lap/shoulder belt under your arm or
behind your back.

This could cause

very serious injuries in a crash.

If a seat belt does not seem to work
as it should, it may not protect the
occupant in a crash.

No one should sit in a seat with an
inoperative seat belt.

Using a seat
belt that is not working properly can
result in serious injury or death.
Have your dealer check the belt as
soon as possible.

See page for additional

22
information about your seat belts
and how to take care of them.

Maintain a Proper Sitting

6.
Position

After all occupants have adjusted
their seats and put on seat belts, it is
very important that they continue to
sit upright, well back in their seats,
with their feet on the floor, until the
vehicle is parked and the engine is
off .

Sitting improperly can increase the
chance of injury during a crash. For
example, if an occupant slouches,
lies down, turns sideways, sits
forward, leans forward or sideways,
or puts one or both feet up, the
chance of injury during a crash is
greatly increased.

CONTINUED

Driver and Passenger Safet y

17

If you are pregnant, the best way to
protect yourself and your unborn
child when driving or riding in a
vehicle is to always wear a seat belt,
and keep the lap part of the belt as
low as possible across the hips.

When driving, remember to sit
upright and adjust the seat as f ar
back as possible while allowing full
control of the vehicle. When riding
as a front passenger, adjust the seat
as far back as possible.

This will reduce the risk of injuries
to both you and your unborn child
that can be caused by a crash or an
inflating front airbag.

Each time you have a checkup, ask
your doctor if it’s okay for you to
drive.

In addition, an occupant who is out of
position in the front seat can be
seriously or f atally injured in a crash
by striking interior parts of the
vehicle or being struck by an
inflating front airbag.

Advice for Pregnant Women

Protecting Adults and Teens

18

Sitting improperly or out of
position can result in serious
injury or death in a crash.

Always sit upright, well back in
the seat, with your feet on the
floor.

Protecting Adults and Teens

Additional Safety Precautions

Two people should never use the
same seat belt.

If they do, they
could be very seriously injured in a
crash.

Do not put any accessories on seat
belts.

Devices intended to improve
occupant comf ort or reposition the
shoulder part of a seat belt can
reduce the protective capability of
the seat belt and increase the
chance of serious injury in a crash.

Do not place hard or sharp objects
between yourself and a front
airbag.

Carrying hard or sharp
objects on your lap, or driving with
a pipe or other sharp object in
your mouth, can result in injuries
if your front airbag inflates.

Do not attach or place objects on
the front airbag covers.

Objects on
the covers marked ‘‘SRS AIRBAG’’
could interf ere with the proper
operation of the airbags or be
propelled inside the vehicle and
hurt someone if the airbags inf late.

Do not attach solid objects on or
near a door.

If a side airbag or a
side curtain airbag inflates, a cup
holder or other solid object
attached on or near the door could
be propelled inside the vehicle and
hurt someone.

Keep your hands and arms away
from the airbag covers.

If your
hands or arms are close to an
airbag cover, they could be injured
if the airbag inflates.

19

Driver and Passenger Safet y

Your seat belt system includes lap/
shoulder belts in all five seating
positions. The front seat belts are
also equipped with automatic seat
belt tensioners.

The seat belts use the same
monitoring system as the front
airbags. The system may not work
properly under these conditions:

Placing heavy items on the front
passenger’s seat.

The f ront passenger does not sit
properly.

The f ront passenger’s seat-back is
pressed forward by a f olded-down
rear seat.

The seat belt system

includes an indicator on the
instrument panel and a beeper to
remind you and your passengers to
fasten your seat belts.

This system monitors the front seat
belts.
If you turn the ignition switch to the
ON (II) position before your seat
belt is fastened, the beeper will
sound and the indicator will f lash. If
your seat belt is not fastened bef ore
the beeper stops, the indicator will
stop flashing but remain on.

If a front passenger does not fasten
their seat belt, the indicator will
come on about 6 seconds after the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
(II) position.

If either the driver or a front
passenger does not fasten their seat
belt while driving, the beeper will
sound and the indicator will f lash
again at regular intervals.

When no one is sitting in the front
passenger’s seat, or a small child is
riding there, the indicator will not
come on and the beeper will not
sound.

Have your vehicle checked by a
dealer if the indicator comes on or
the beeper sounds when there is no
frontpassengerorobjectsonthe
front seat.

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

Seat Belt System Components

20

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

The lap/shoulder belt goes over
your shoulder, across your chest,
and across your hips.

To fasten the belt, insert the latch
plate into the buckle, then tug on the
belt to make sure the buckle is
latched (see page for how to
properly position the belt).

To unlock the belt, press the red
PRESSbuttononthebuckle.Guide
the belt across your body so that it
retracts completely. After exiting the
vehicle, be sure the belt is out of the
way and will not get closed in the
door.

All seat belts have an emergency
locking retractor. In normal driving,
the retractor lets you move freely in
your seat while it keeps some
tension on the belt. During a collision
or sudden stop, the retractor
automatically locks the belt to help

16

restrain your body.

The seat belts in all seating positions
except the driver’s have an additional
locking mechanism that must be
activated to secure a child seat (see
page ).

46

If the shoulder part of the belt is
pulled all the way out, the locking
mechanism will activate. The belt
will retract, but it will not allow the
passenger to move freely.

To deactivate the locking
mechanism, unlatch the buckle and
let the seat belt fully retract. To
refasten the seat belt, pull it out only
as far as needed.

Automatic Seat Belt TensionersLap/Shoulder Belt

Driver and Passenger Safet y

For added protection, the front seat
belts are equipped with automatic
seat belt tensioners. When activated,
the tensioners immediately tighten
the belts to help hold the driver and
a front passenger in place.

The tensioners are designed to
activate in any collision severe
enough to cause a front, side, or side
curtainairbagtoinflate.

CONTINUED

21

If a seat belt is worn during a crash,
it must be replaced by the dealer. A
belt that has been worn during a
crash may not provide the same level
of protection in a subsequent crash.

The dealer should also inspect the
anchors for damage and replace
them if needed. If the automatic seat
belt tensioners activate during a
crash, they must be replaced.

For safety, you should check the
condition of your seat belts regularly.

Pull each belt out fully, and look for
frays, cuts, burns, and wear. Check
that the latches work smoothly and
the belts retract easily. If a belt does
not retract easily, cleaning the belt
may correct the problem (see page

). Any belt that is not in good
condition or working properly will
not provide good protection and
should be replaced as soon as
possible.

Honda provides a lifetime warranty
on seat belts for U.S. models. See
your
booklet for details.

If a side curtain airbag deploys
during a side impact, the tensioner
on that side of the vehicle will also
deploy.

The tensioners can also be activated
during a collision in which the front
airbags . In this case, the
airbags would not be needed, but the
additional restraint could be helpf ul.

When the tensioners are activated,
the seat belts will remain tight until
they are unbuckled in the normal
manner.

If the front seat belt tensioners ever
activate, they must be replaced as
the belts will no longer retract
properly.

206

Honda Warranty Information

do not deploy

Additional Inf ormation About Your Seat Belts

Seat Belt Maintenance

22

Not checking or maintaining
seat belts can result in serious
injury or death if the seat belts
do not work properly when
needed.

Check your seat belts regularly,
and have any problem
corrected as soon as possible.

Airbag System Components

Additional Information About Your Airbags

(8)

(1) Driver’s Airbag
(2) Front Passenger’s Airbag
(3) Control Unit
(4) Front Seat Belt Tensioners
(5) Side Airbags
(6) Driver’s Seat Position Sensor
(7) Front Passenger’s Weight Sensors
(8) Front Impact Sensors
(9) Passenger Airbag Off Indicator
(10) Side Impact Sensors (First)
(11) Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS) Sensors
(12) Front Passenger’s Weight Sensors/OPDS Sensors Control Unit
(13) Seat Belt Buckle Tensioners
(14) Rear Safing Sensor

(6)

(9)

(1) (2)

(10)

(12)

(3) (11)

(7)

(13)

(5)

(14)

(4)

Driver and Passenger Safet y

(5)

(4)

(10)

CONTINUED

23

Two SRS (supplemental restraint
system) front airbags. The driver’s
airbag is stored in the center of
the steering wheel; the front
passenger’sairbagisstoredinthe
dashboard. Both are marked ‘‘SRS
AIRBAG’’ (see page ).

Two side airbags, one f or the
driver and one for a front
passenger. The airbags are stored
in the outer edges of the seat­backs. Both are marked ‘‘SIDE
AIRBAG’’ (see page ).

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’’ (see page

).

Your airbag system includes:

26

29

31

Additional Information About Your Airbags

24

(16)

(15)

(15)

(15) Side Impact Sensor (Second)
(16) Side Curtain Airbags

Additional Information About Your Airbags

Automatic front seat belt
tensioners (see page ).

Sensors that can detect a
moderate to severe front impact or
side impact.

Sensors that can detect whether
a child is in the passenger’s side
airbag path and automatically
turn the airbag off (see page

).

32

A driver’s seat position sensor that
monitors the distance of the seat
from the front airbag. If the seat is
too far f orward, the airbag will
inflate with less force (see page

).

28

21

Weight sensors that monitor the
weight on the front passenger’s
seat. If the weight of an infant
or small child is detected, the
passenger’s front airbag will be
turned off (see page ).

A sophisticated electronic system
that continually monitors and
records information about the
sensors, the control unit, the
airbag activators, the seat belt
tensioners, and driver and front
passenger seat belt use when the
ignition switch is in the ON (II)
position.

An indicator on the instrument
panel that alerts you to a possible
problem with your airbags,
sensors, or seat belt tensioners
(see page ).

31

28

An indicator on the instrument
panel that alerts you that the
passenger’s side airbag has been
turned off (see page ).

An indicator on the dashboard that
alerts you that the passenger’s
front airbag has been turned off
(see page ).

Emergency backup power in case
your vehicle’s electrical system is
disconnected in a crash.

32

32

25

Driver and Passenger Safet y

After inflating, the front airbags
immediately deflate, so they won’t
interfere with the driver’s visibility,
or the ability to steer or operate
other controls.

Although both airbags normally
inflate within a split second of each
other, it is possible for only one
airbag to deploy.

If you ever have a moderate to
severe f rontal collision, sensors will
detect the vehicle’s rapid
deceleration.

If the rate of deceleration is high
enough, the control unit will instantly
inflate the driver’s and front
passenger’s airbags, at the time and
with the force needed.

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.

The total time for inflation and
deflation is one-tenth of a second, so
fast that most occupants are not
aware that the airbags deployed until
they see them lying in their laps.

During a frontal crash, your seat belt
restrains your lower body and torso,
and the f ront airbag helps protect
your head and chest.

Only the driver’s airbag will deploy if
there is no passenger in the front
seat, or if the advanced airbag
system has turned the passenger’s
airbag off (see page ).

32

How Your Front Airbags Work

Additional Information About Your Airbags

26

Additional Information About Your Airbags

After 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
mayexperiencesometemporary
discomfort. If this occurs, get out of
the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do
so.

Your front airbags are dual-stage
airbags. This means they have two
inflation stages that can be ignited
sequentially or simultaneously,
depending on crash severity.

more severe

In a crash, both stages
will ignite simultaneously to provide
the quickest and greatest protection.

less severe

In a crash, one stage will
ignite first, then the second stage
will ignite a split second later. This
provides longer airbag inflation time
with a little less force.

Dual-Threshold AirbagsDual-Stage Airbags

Your front airbags are also dual­threshold airbags. Airbags with this
feature have two deployment
thresholds that depend on whether
or not the occupant is wearing a seat
belt.

If the occupant’s belt is ,

not latched

the airbag will deploy at a slightly
lower threshold, because the
occupant would need extra
protection.

If the occupant’s belt , the

is latched

airbag will inf late at a slightly higher
threshold, when the airbag would be
needed to supplement the protection
provided by the seat belt.

CONTINUED

27

Driver and Passenger Safet y

The driver’s advanced front airbag
system includes a seat position
sensor under the seat. If the seat is
too far f orward, the airbag will
inflate with less force, regardless of
the severity of the impact.

Your front airbags are also advanced
airbags. The main purpose of this
feature is to help prevent airbag­caused injuries to short drivers and
children who ride in front.

For both advanced airbags to work
properly:

Occupants must sit upright and
wear their seat belts properly.

Do not spill any liquids on or
under the seats, cover the sensors,
or put any cargo or metal objects
under the f ront seats.

Back-seat passengers should not
put their feet under the front seats.

Failure to follow these instructions
could damage the sensors or prevent
them from working properly.

If there is a problem with the sensor,
the SRS indicator will come on, and
the airbag will inflate in the normal
manner regardless of the driver’s
seating position.

The passenger’s advanced front
airbag system has weight sensors
under the seat. Although Honda
does not encourage carrying an
infant or small child in front, if the
sensors detect the weight of an
infant or small child, the system will
automatically turn the passenger’s
front airbag off.

Advanced Airbags

Additional Information About Your Airbags

28

DRIVER’S
SEAT
POSITION
SENSOR

PASSENGER’S
SEAT WEIGHT
SENSORS

Additional Information About Your Airbags

When the airbag is turned off, an
indicator in the center of the
dashboard will come on indicating
passenger airbag ‘‘OFF’’ (see page

).

32

If the weight sensors detect there is
no passenger in the front seat, the
airbag will be off. However, the
passenger airbag off indicator will
not come on.

To ensure that the passenger’s
advanced front airbag system will
work properly,

that would increase or decrease the
weight on the front passenger’s seat.

do not do anything

This includes:

A rear passenger pushing or
pulling on the back of the
passenger’s seat.

Moving the front seat forcibly
back against cargo on the seat or
floor behind it.

Moving the front seat forcibly
back on the folded rear seat.

The rear seat-back interfere with
the reclined front passenger’s
seat-back when folding rear seat.

Hanging heavy items on the front
passenger seat, or placing heavy
items in the seat-back pocket.

If equipped

Also,makesurethefloormatbehind
the front passenger’s seat is hooked
to the floor mat anchor. If it is not,
the mat may interfere with the
proper operation of the sensors and
operation of the seat.

How Your Side Airbags Work

Driver and Passenger Safet y

If you ever have a moderate to
severe side impact, sensors will
detect rapid deceleration and signal
the control unit to instantly inflate
either the driver’s or the passenger’s
side airbag.

CONTINUED

29

If the side airbag off indicator comes
on (see page ), have the
passenger sit upright. Once the
passenger is out of the airbag’s
deployment path, the system will
turn the airbag back on, and the
indicator will go out.

There will be some delay between
the moment the passenger moves
into or out of the airbag deployment
pathandwhentheindicatorcomes
on or goes off.

A front seat passenger should not
use a cushion or other object as a
backrest. It may prevent the cutoff
system f rom working properly.

Only one airbag will deploy during a
side impact. If the impact is on the
passenger’s side, the passenger’s
side airbag will deploy even if there
is no passenger.

To get the best protection from the
side airbags, front seat occupants
should wear their seat belts and sit
upright and well back in their seats.

Your vehicle has a side airbag cutoff
system designed primarily to protect
a child riding in the front passenger’s
seat.

Although Honda does not encourage
children to ride in front, this system
is designed to shut off the side
airbag if a child leans into the side
airbag’s path.

Thesideairbagmayalsoshutoffifa
short adult leans sideways, or a
larger adult slouches and leans
sideways into the airbag’s
deployment path.

Objects placed on the front
passenger seat can also cause the
side airbag to be shut off.

32

Side Airbag Cutoff Syst em

Additional Information About Your Airbags

30

Additional Information About Your Airbags

How Your Side Curtain Airbags
Work

SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG

In a moderate to severe side impact,
sensors will detect rapid deceleration
and signal the control unit to
instantly inflate the side curtain
airbag on the driver’s or the
passenger’s side of the vehicle.

If the impact is on the passenger’s
side, the passenger’s side curtain
airbag will inflate even if there are no
occupants on that side of the vehicle.

To get the best protection from the
side curtain airbags, occupants
should wear their seat belts and sit
upright and well back in their seats.

How the SRS Indicator Works

The SRS indicator alerts

you to a potential problem
with your airbags or seat belt
tensioners.

When you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position, this indicator
comes on for several seconds then
goes off. This tells you the system is
working properly.

If the indicator comes on at any
other time, or does not come on at all,
you should have the system checked
by your dealer. For example:

If the SRS indicator does not come
on after you turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position.

If the indicator stays on after the
engine starts.

If the indicator comes on or
flashesonandoffwhileyoudrive.

CONTINUED

31

Driver and Passenger Safet y

This indicator alerts you that the
passenger’s front airbag has been
shut off because weight sensors
detect an infant or small child may
be in the front passenger’s seat. It
does mean there is a problem
with the airbag.

If you see any of these indications,
the airbags and seat belt tensioners
may not work properly when you
need them.

This indicator

alerts you that the
passenger’s side airbag has been
automatically shut off. It does
mean there is a problem with your
side airbags.

When you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position, the indicator
should come on for several seconds
andthengooff(seepage ).Ifit
doesn’t come on, stays on, or comes
on while driving without a passenger
in the front seat, have the system
checked.

61

not

not

How the Passenger Airbag Of f
Indicator Works

How the Side Airbag Off
Indicator Works

Additional Information About Your Airbags

32

CanadaU.S.

Canada

U.S.

PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR

Ignoring the SRS indicator can
result in serious injury or death
if the airbag systems or
tensioners do not work properly.

Have your vehicle checked by a
dealer as soon as possible if
the SRS indicator alerts you to
a possible problem.

Additional Information About Your Airbags

If no one is riding in the f ront seat,
the airbag will be automatically shut
off . However, the indicator will not
come on.

If the indicator comes on with no
passenger in the front, or with an
adult in the seat, there may be a
problem with the advanced airbag
system. Have the vehicle checked by
your dealer as soon as possible.

The passenger airbag off indicator
may also come on and off repeatedly
if total weight on the seat is near the
airbag cutoff threshold.

If this happens, have the passenger
ride properly restrained in the back
seat. If the passenger must ride in
front, move the seat as far to the
rear as possible, have the passenger
sit upright and wear the seat belt
properly.

Airbag Service

Your airbag systems are virtually
maintenance free, and there are no
parts you can safely service.
However, you must have your
vehicle serviced if:

An airbag ever inflates. If your vehicle has a moderate to

that has deployed must be
replaced along with the control
unit and other related parts. Any
seat belt tensioner that activates
must also be replaced.

Do not try to remove or replace
anyairbagbyyourself.Thismust
be done by your dealer or a
knowledgeable body shop.

Any airbag

The SRS indicator alerts you to a
problem.

authorized dealer as soon as
possible. If you ignore this
indication, your airbags may not
operate properly.

severe impact.

airbags do not inflate, your dealer
should inspect the driver’s seat
position sensor, the front
passenger’s weight sensors, the
front seat belt tensioners, and all
seat belts worn during the crash to
make sure they are operating
properly.

Take your vehicle to an

Even if your

Driver and Passenger Safet y

33

Together, airbags and
seat belts provide the best
protection.

Tampering could cause
the airbags to deploy, possibly
causing very serious injury.

This could make the
driver’s seat position sensor or the
front passenger’s weight sensors
ineffective. If it is necessary to
remove or modif y a front seat to
accommodate a person with
disabilities, first contact Honda
Automobile Customer Service at
[phone].

Improperly replacing
or covering front seat-back covers
can prevent your side airbags from
inflating during a side impact.

If water or another liquid
soaks into a seat-back, it can
prevent the side airbag cutoff
system f rom working properly.

This will cause the
front passenger’s weight sensors
to work improperly. The system
mayshutoffthefrontpassenger’s
airbag and the passenger airbag
off indicator will come on. The
seat belt reminder indicator for a
front seat passenger may also
work improperly.

Make sure that the folded-down
rear seat does not press the front
passenger’s seat-back. Check the
passenger airbag off indicator to
confirm that the passenger’s
advanced front airbag is operating
properly.

Additional Safety Precautions

Donotattempttodeactivateyour
airbags.

Do not tamper with airbag
components or wiring for any
reason.

Do not remove or modify a front
seat without consulting your
dealer.

Do not cover or replace front seat­back covers without consulting
your dealer.

Do not expose t he front seat-backs
to liquid.

Do not recline the front passenger’s
seat-back as far to the rear as
possible with the right rear seat
foldeddown.

Additional Information About Your Airbags

34