Honda Civic Hybrid 2004 Owner's Manual

2004 Civic Hybrid Online Reference Owner's Manual

Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through this reference. For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.helminc.com.

Owner's Identification Form

Introduction..................................................................................................................................................... i

A Few Wo

rds About Safety ..........................................................................................................................ii

Your Vehicle at a Glance...............................................................................................................................2

Driver and Passenger Safety .......................................................................................................................5

Important information about proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, an overview of Supplemental

Restraint System, and valuable information on how to protect children with child restraints.

Instruments and Controls...........................................................................................................................49

Explains the purpose of each instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use controls on

the dashboard and steering column.

Comfort and Convenience Features.........................................................................................................87

How to

operate the heating and air conditioning system, the audio system, and other convenience

features.

Before Driving .............................................................................................................................................113

What gasoline to u

se, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.

Driving...........................................................................................................................................................127

The proper way

to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park.

Maintenance.................................................................................................................................................143

The M

aintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer. There is also

a list of things to check and instructions on how to check them.

Taking Care of the Unexpected...............................................................................................................177

This section covers several p

roblems motorists sometimes experience, and details how to handle them.

Contents

Technical Information...............................................................................................................................201

ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and techn

ical information.

Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada only).............................................................213

A summary of t

he warranties covering your new Honda, and how to contact us for any reason. Refer to

your warranty manual for detailed information.

Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)...............................................................................................................217

How to order

manuals and other technical literature.

Index .................................................................................................................................................................I

Service Inf

A summary of informa

ormation Summary

tion you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.

Owner’s Identification

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OWNER

ADDRESS

STREET

CITY STATE/PROVINCE ZIP CODE/

V. I. N. DELIVERY DATE

(Datesold to original retail purchaser)

DEALER NAME DEALER NO. ADDRESS

STREET

CITY STATE/PROVINCE ZIP CODE/

OWNER’S SIGNATURE DEALER’S SIGNATURE

POSTALCODE

This 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 the Civic Hybrid. You may find descriptions of equipment and features that are not on your particular model.

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 incurringany obligationwhatsoever.

Introduction

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Congratulations! Your selection of a 2004 Honda Civic Hybrid was a wise investment. It will give you years of driving pleasure.

One of the best ways to enhance the enjoyment of your new Honda is to read this manual. In it, you will learn how to operate its driving controls and convenience items. Afterwards, keep this owner’s manual in your vehicle so youcanrefertoitatanytime.

Several warranties protect your new Honda. Read the warranty booklet thoroughly so you understand the coverages and are aware of your rights and responsibilities.

Maintaining your vehicle according to the schedules given in this manual helps to keep your driving trouble-free while it preserves yourinvestment. When your vehicle needs maintenance, keep in mind that your Honda dealer’s staff is specially trained in servicing the many systems unique to your Honda. Your Honda dealer is dedicated to your satisfaction and will be pleased to answer any questions and concerns.

California Proposition 65 Warning

WARNING:

Thisproductcontainsor emitschemicalsknownto the State of

California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

As you read this manual, you will find information that is preceded by a symbol. This information is intended to help you avoid damage to your Honda, other property, or the environment.

AFewWordsAboutSafety

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Yoursafety, and the safety of others, is very important. And operating this vehiclesafely is an important responsibility.

To help you make informed decisions about safety, we have provided operating procedures and other information on labels and in this manual. This information alerts you to potential hazards that could hurt you or others.

Of course, it is not practical or possible to warn you about all the hazards associated with operating or maintaining your vehicle. You must use your own good judgement.

You will find this important safety information in a variety of forms, including:

Safety Labels Safety Messages

three signal words: , , or .

−

on the vehicle.

−

preceded by a safety alert symbol and one of

DANGER WARNING CAUTION

These signal words mean:

You WILL be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if you don’t follow instructions.

You CAN be KILLED or SERIOUSLY HURT if you don’t follow instructions.

You CAN be HURT if you don’t follow instructions.

Safety Headings

−

such as Important Safety Reminders or Important

SafetyPrecautions.

Safety Section Instructions

This entire book is filled with important safety information please read it

−

suchas Driver and Passenger Safety.

−

how to use this vehicle correctly and safely.

−

carefully.

Your Vehicle at a Glance

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POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCH (P. 73)

POWER WINDOW SWITCHES (P. 79)

FUEL FILL DOOR RELEASE (P. 115) TRUNK RELEASE (P. 74)

INSTRUMENT PANEL

HOOD RELEASE HANDLE (P. 117)

(P. 51)

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (CVT) (P. 133) MANUAL TRANSMISSION (P. 130)

AIRBAGS (P. 10, 22)

HEATING/COOLING CONTROLS (P. 88)

Your Vehicle at a Glance

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HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS (P. 66)

CRUISE CONTROL MASTER SWITCH (P. 109)

REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER (P. 68)

MIRROR CONTROLS TILT ADJUSTMENT (P. 81)

WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS (P. 65)

(P. 69)

HORN

HAZARD WARNING BUTTON (P. 67)

AUDIO SYSTEM (P. 94)

DIGITAL CLOCK (P. 108)

ECON BUTTON (P. 89)

ACCESSORY POWER SOCKET (P. 85)

CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHES (P. 109)

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Driver and Passenger Safety

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This section gives you important information about how to protect yourself and your passengers. It shows you how to use seat belts properly. It explains how your airbagswork. And it tells you how to properly restraininfants and children in your vehicle.

.......................................Seat Belts . 8

.........................................Airbags .10

5. Fasten and Position the

.........Important Safety Precautions . 6

.......Your Vehicle’s Safety Features . 7

.........Protecting Adults and Teens . 11

.....1. Close and Lock the Doors . 11

...........2. Adjust the Front Seats . 11

............3. Adjust the Seat-Backs . 13

...4. Adjust the Head Restraints . 14 ...Lap/Shoulder Seat Belts . 14

....6. Adjust the Steering Wheel . 16

7. Maintain a Proper Sitting

................................Position . 16

.....Advice for Pregnant Women . 17

...AdditionalSafety Precautions . 18

Additional Information About Your

.................................Seat Belts . 19

..Seat Belt System Components . 19

......................Lap/Shoulder Belt . 19

Automatic Seat Belt

...............................Tensioners . 20

...............Seat Belt Maintenance . 21

Additional Information About

...........................YourAirbags .22

......Airbag System Components . 22

How Your Front Airbags

.........................................Work .22

...How Your Side Airbags Work . 25

..How the SRS Indicator Works . 26

How the Side Airbag Off

......................Indicator Works . 27

.............................Airbag Service . 28

...AdditionalSafety Precautions . 28

Protecting Children General

−

................................Guidelines . 29

All Children Must Be

...............................Restrained . 29

All Children Should Sit in the

.................................Back Seat . 30

The Passenger’sFront Airbag

.........Can Pose Serious Risks . 30

If You Must Drive with Several

...................................Children . 32

If a Child Requires Close

..................................Attention . 32

...........................Protecting Infants . 34

.............Protecting Small Children . 35

.....................Selecting a Child Seat . 36

....................Installing a Child Seat . 37

Installing a Child Seat Using

.....................................LATCH .38

Installing a Child Seat with a

..................Lap/shoulder Belt . 40

Installing a Child Seat with a

......................................Tether . 41

...........Protecting Larger Children . 42

...............Checking Seat Belt Fit . 43

..................Using a Booster Seat . 43

.............Carbon Monoxide Hazard .46

...................................Safety Labels . 47

Driver and Passenger Safety

...AdditionalSafety Precautions . 33

...AdditionalSafety Precautions . 45

Important Safety Precautions

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You’ll find many safety recommendations throughout this section, and throughout this manual. Therecommendationsonthispage are the ones we consider to be the most important.

Always Wear Your Seat Belt

A seat belt is your best protection in all types of collisions. Airbags supplement seat belts, but airbags are designed to inflate only in a moderate to severe frontal collision. So even though your vehicle is equipped with airbags, make sure you and your passenger always wear your seat belts, and wear them properly. (See page 14).

Restrain All Children

Children age 12 and under should ride properly restrained in a back seat. Infants and small children should be restrained in a child seat. Larger children should use a booster and a lap/shoulder belt until they

Driver and Passenger Safety

canusethebeltproperlywithouta booster (see page ). Excessive speed is a major factor in

Control Your Speed

crash injuries and deaths. Generally,

Be Aware of Airbag Hazards

Whileairbags can save lives, they can cause serious or fatal injuriesto occupants who sit too close to them, or are not properly restrained. Infants, young children, and short

the higher the speed the greater the risk, but serious injuries can also occur at lower speeds. Never drive faster than is safe for current conditions, regardless of the

maximum speed posted. adults are at the greatest risk. Be sure to follow all instructions and warnings in this manual.

Keep Your Vehicle in Saf e

Condition

Having a tire blowout or a

Don’t Drink and Drive

Alcohol and driving don’t mix. Even one drink can reduce your ability to respond to changing conditions, and your reactiontimegetsworsewith every additional drink. So don’t drink

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 147). and drive, and don’t let your friends drink and drive, either.

(5)

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(7)

(8)

(2)

(6)(4)(3)(1)(10)

(9)

(7)

(1) Safety Cage (2) Crush Zone (3) Seats & Seat-Backs (4) Head Restraints (5) Collapsible Steering Column (6) Seat Belts (7) Front Airbags (8) Side Airbags

(U.S.models and optional for

Canadian model) (9) Seat Belt Tensioners (10) Door Locks

(8)

(2)

Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features

Your vehicle is equipped with many featuresthat work togetherto protect you and your passengers during a crash.

Some safety features do not require anyactiononyourpart.These includea strongsteel framework thatf orms a saf ety cagearoundthe passenger compartment; front and rear crash zones, a collapsible steering column,and seat belt tensionersthat tightenthe front seat belts in the event of a crash.

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Driver and Passenger Safety

Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features

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However, you and your passengers can’t take full advantage of these safety features unless you remain sitting in a proper position and always wear your seat belts properly. Infact,somesafetyfeaturescan contribute to injuries if they are not used properly.

The following pages explain how you cantakeanactiveroleinprotecting yourself and your passengers.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Seat Belts

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

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

Why Wear Seat Belts

Seat belts are the single most effective safety device for adults and larger children (Infants and smaller childrenmust be properlyrestrained in child seats).

Not wearing a seat belt properly increases the chance of serious injuryor death in a crash,even thoughyour vehicle has airbags.

Inaddition,most statesandall Canadian provinces require you to wear seat belts.

Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features

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Not wearing a seat belt properly increases the chance of serious injury or death in a crash, even if you have airbags.

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

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 t hrown 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 inflating 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.

What You Should Do:

Always wear yourseat belt, and make sure you wear it properly.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features

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Airbags

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 frontal collision (see page

for more information on how

your front airbags work).

Driver and Passenger Safety

Only models equipped with side airbags.

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

informationon how your side airbags work).

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

Airbags do not replace seat belts.

They are designed to supplement the seat belts.

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

To do their job, airbags must inflate with tremendous force. 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.

What you should do:

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

Protecting Adults and Teens

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

Remember however, that no safety system can prevent all injures or deaths that can occur in severe crashes, even where seat belts are properly worn and the airbags deploy.

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

See page for important guidelines

on how to properly protect infants, small children, and larger children who ride in your vehicle.

Close and Lock the Doors Adjust the Front Seats1. 2.

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

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

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.

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

If yousit toocloseto the steering wheel or dashboard, you can be seriously injured by an inflating front airbag,or by strikingthe steering wheel or dashboard.

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Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Adults and Teens

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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.

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.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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.

Once your seat is adjusted correctly, rock it back and forth to make sure the seat is locked into position. See page for how to adjust the front

seats.

Protecting Adults and Teens

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Adjust the Seat-Backs3.

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.

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.

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.

See page for how to adjust seat-

backs.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Adults and Teens

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Adjust the Head Restraints Fasten and Position the Lap/

4. 5.

Shoulder Seat Belts

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

Have passengers with adjustable restraints adjust their restraints properly as well. Taller persons should adjust their restraint as high as possible.

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.

Insert the latch plate into the buckle, thentugon thebelt to make sure the belt is securely latched. Also check thatthe beltis not twisted, becausea twisted belt can causeserious injuries in a crash.

Position the lap part of the belt as low as possible across your hips, then pull up on the shoulder part of thebeltsothelappartfitssnugly. This lets your strong pelvic bones takethe forceof acrashand reduces the chance of internal injuries.

Driver and Passenger Safety

If necessary, pull up on the belt again

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to removeany slack, then check that thebelt rests acrossthe center of your chest and over your shoulder. This spreads the forces of a crash over the strongest bones inyour upper body.

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

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

Thiscouldcause

very seriousinjuriesin a crash.

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

To adjust the height of a front seat belt anchor, pressand hold t he releasebuttons and slide the anchor up or down as needed (it has four positions).

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Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Adults and Teens

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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 Honda dealer check the belt as soon as possible.

See page for additional

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

Driver and Passenger Safety

Adjust the Steering Wheel Maintain a Proper Sitting

6. 7. Position

Af ter all occupants have adjusted their seats and put on seat belts, it is veryimportantthat theycontinueto sit upright, well back in their seats, withtheirfeet on the f loor,untilthe 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 Adjust the steering wheel, if needed, so that the wheel points toward your chest, not toward your face. This provides optimal protection from the

forward, leans forward or sideways,

or puts one or both feet up, the

chance of injury during a crash is

greatly increased. front airbag.

See page for how to adjust the

steering wheel.

Protecting Adults and Teens

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In addition, an occupant who is out of position in the front seat can be seriously or fatally injured in a crash by strikinginterior parts of the vehicle or being struck by an inflating front airbag. Being struck by an inflating side airbag can possiblyresult in serious injuries.

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

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

Advice for Pregnant Women

If you are pregnant, the best way to protect yourself and your unborn child when driving or riding in a vehicleis 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 far

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 causedby a crash or an

inflating front airbag.

Eachtime you have a check-up, ask

your doctor if it’s okay for you to

drive.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Adults and Teens

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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 comfort or reposition the shoulder part of a seat belt can reduce the protective capability of the seat belt andincrease the chance of serious injury in a crash.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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

Carryinghard or sharp objects on your lap, or driving with a pipe or other sharp objects 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 interfere with the proper operation of the airbags or if be propelled inside the vehicle and hurt someone if the airbags inflate.

On models with side airbags, do not attach hard objects on or near a front door.

If a side airbag inflates,acupholderorotherhard 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 handsor arms are close to an airbagcover, they couldbe injured if the airbag inflates.

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

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Seat Belt System Components Lap/Shoulder Belt

Your seat belt system includes lap/ shoulder belts in all five seating positions. The front seat belts are

The lap and shoulder belt goes over your shoulder, across your chest,

and across your hips. also equipped with automatic seat belt tensioners.

To fasten the belt, insert the latch

plate into the buckle, then tug on the

The seat belt system includes an indicator on the

instrument panel and a beeper to

belt to make sure the buckle is

latched (see page for how to

properly position the belt). remind you and your passengers to fasten your seat belts.

To unlock the belt, push the red

PRESSbuttononthebuckle.Guide If you turn the ignition switch to ON (II) before fastening your belt, the beeper sounds and the indicator flashes. If you do not fasten your seat belt before the beeper stops, the

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. indicator stops flashing but remains on.

If you continue driving without fastening your seat belt, the beeper sounds and the indicator flashes againat regular intervals.

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 restrain your body.

The seat belts in all positions except the driver’shave an additional locking mechanism that must be activated t o secure a childseat (see page 40).

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

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Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

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

Driver and Passenger Safety

Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners

For added protection, the front seat

belts are equipped with automatic

seat belt tensioners. When activated,

the tensioners immediately tighten

thebeltsto helphold the driver and

a front passenger in place.

The tensioners are designed to activate primarily in frontal collisions, andtheyshouldactivateinany collision severe enough to cause front-airbag inflation.

However, the tensioners can be activated during a collision where the front airbags do not deploy. In this case, the airbags wouldnot be needed, but the additional restraint could be helpful.

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

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

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Seat Belt Maintenance

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 thatthe latches work smoothly and thebeltsretracteasily. A ny beltthat is not in goodcondition or not workingproperlywill 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

Honda Warranty Information

your booklet for details.

If a seat belt is worn during a crash,

it must be replaced by the dealer. A

belt that has been worn during a

crashmay not providethe 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.

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.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Airbags

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Airbag System Components How Your Front Airbags Work

Your airbag system includes:

A sophisticated electronic system that continually monitors and

records information about the Two SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) front airbags. The driver’s airbag is stored in the center of the steering wheel; the front passenger’sairbagisstoredinthe

sensors, the control unit, the

airbag activators, and driver and

frontpassengerseatbeltusewhen

the ignition is in the ON (II)

position. dashboard. Both are marked ‘‘SRS AIRBAG.’’

An indicator on the instrument

panel that alerts you to a possible

On models equipped with side airbags,

one for the driver and one for a

problem with your airbags (see

page ).

front passenger. The airbags are stored in the outer edges of the seat-backs. Both are marked ‘‘SIDE AIRBAG’’ (see page ).

Automatic seat belt tensioners (see page ).

Sensors that can detect a moderate to severe frontal impact

On models equipped with side airbags,

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

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

If you ever have a moderate to severe frontal 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 front airbags, at the time and with the

force needed. or side impact in models equipped with side airbags.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Airbags

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

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

This can happen if the severity of a collision is at the margin, or threshold,that determineswhether or not the airbags will deploy. In such cases, the seat belt will provide sufficient protection, and the supplementalprotection offered by the airbag would be minimal.

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

The total timefor 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.

Af ter a crash, you may see what

looks like smoke. This is actually

powderfrom the airbag’ssurface.

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.

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Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Airbags

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Dual-Stage Airbags

Your front airbags are dual-stage airbags.This means t hey 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 ignitef irst, then the second stage will ignite a split second later. This provides longer airbag inflation time witha littlelessforce.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Dual-Threshold 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 the same thresholdas a conventionalairbag, because the occupant would need extraprotection.

If the occupant’s belt , the

is latched

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

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How Your Side Airbags Work

(On models equipped)

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

The passenger’s side airbag has a cutoff system designed to turn off the passenger’s front airbag if a child’s head is in the airbag’s deployment path (see page ).

If the side airbag off indicator comes on, have the passenger sit upright. Once the passenger is out of the deployment path of the side airbag, thesystemwillturnthe airbagback on and the indicator will go out.

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

Driver and Passenger Safety

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How the SRS Indicator Works

The SRS indicator alerts

you to a potential problem with your front airbags, see side airbags, or front seat belt tensioners (seepage ).

When you turn the ignition to ON (II), this indicator will light briefly thengoout. T his tells you that the system is workingproperly.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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 ON (II).

If the indicator stays on after the engine starts.

If the indicator comes on or flashesonandoffwhileyoudrive.

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

Ignoring the SRS indicator light 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.

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How the Side Airbag Off Indicator Works

(On models equipped)

This indicator alerts you

thatthe passenger’sside airbaghas been automatically shut off. It does mean there is a

not

problem with your side airbags. To reduce the risk of injury from an

inflating side airbag, your vehicle has anautomatic cutoff systemfor the passenger’s side airbag.

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

If a short adult leans sideways, or a larger adult slouches and leans sideways into the side airbag deployment path, the system may also shut off the side airbag.

To get the best protection from the sideairbags, front seat occupants shouldwear their seat belts and sit upright and well back in their seats.

When you turn the ignition switch to ON (II), the indicator should light briefly and go out. If it doesn’t light, stays on, or comes on while driving without a passenger inthe front seat, have the system checked.

Driver and Passenger Safety

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