Honda Civic Hybrid 2005 Owner's Manual
2005 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 Words About Safety.................................................................................................................ii
Your Vehicle at a Glance.....................................................................................................................3
Driver and Passenger Safety ..............................................................................................................5
Seat belts, SRS, and child protection
Instruments and Controls.................................................................................................................49
Indicators, gauges, dashboard, and steering column
Features ..............................................................................................................................................85
Climate, audio, steering wheel, security, cruise control, and HomeLink
Before Driving..................................................................................................................................111
Fuel, vehicle break-in, and cargo loading
Driving ..............................................................................................................................................125
Engine and transmission operation
Maintenance.....................................................................................................................................141
Schedules, fluid checking, minor services, and vehicle storage
Taking Care of the Unexpected......................................................................................................175
Flat tire, dead battery, overheating, fuses
Technical Information.....................................................................................................................199
Vehicle specifications, tires, fuels, and emissions controls
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................211
Warranty and contact information
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)......................................................................................................215
How to order
Index...................................................................................................................................................... I
Service Information Summary
Fluid capacities and tire pressures
Contents
Introduction
Main Menu
▲
▼
Congratulations! Your selection of a 2005 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 vehicle 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 warrantiesprotect yournewvehicle. 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 your investment.
When your vehicle needs maintenance, keep in mind that yourdealer’sstaff
is specially trained in servicing the many systems unique to your vehicle.
Your dealer is dedicated to your satisfaction and will be pleased to answer
any questions and concerns.
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 vehicle, other
property, or the environment.
California Proposition 65 Warning
WARNING:
This product contains
or emits chemicals known to the
State of Calif ornia to cause cancer
andbirthdefectsorother
reproductive harm.
Event Data Recorders
This vehicle is equipped with one or
more recording devices commonly
referred to as event data recorders
or sensing and diagnostic modules.
i
AFewWordsAboutSafety
Main Menu
▲
▼
Yoursafety, andthe safetyof others,
is very important. And operating this
vehicle safely 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
−
suchasDriver and Passenger Safety.
−
how to usethisvehicle correctlyand safely.
−
carefully.
ii
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Main Menu
▲
▼
POWER DOOR
LOCK MASTER
SWITCH
(P. 73)
POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
(P. 79)
FUEL FILL DOOR RELEASE
(P. 113)
TRUNK RELEASE
(P. 74)
INSTRUMENT PANEL
HOOD RELEASE
HANDLE
(P. 115)
(P. 51, 52)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (CVT)
(P. 131)
MANUAL TRANSMISSION
(P. 128)
AIRBAGS
(P.9,22)
Your Vehicle at a Glance
HEATING/COOLING CONTROLS
(P. 86)
3
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Main Menu
▲
▼
CRUISE CONTROL
MASTER BUTTON
(P. 108)
REAR WINDOW
DEFOGGER
(P. 68)
MIRROR CONTROLS
(P. 80)
HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS
(P. 66)
WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS
(P. 65)
STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENT
(P. 69) (P. 108)
HAZARD WARNING BUTTON
(P. 67)
AUDIO SYSTEM
(P. 93)
CLOCK
(P. 107)
ECON BUTTON
(P. 87)
ACCESSORY POWER
SOCKET
(P. 83)
HORN
CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS
4
Driver and Passenger Safety
Main Menu
▲
▼
This section gives you important
information about how to protect
yourself and your passengers. It
shows you how to use seat belts. It
explains how your airbags work. And
it tells you how to properly restrain
infants and children in your vehicle.
.........Important Safety Precautions .6
.......Your Vehicle’s Safety Features . 7
.......................................Seat Belts . 8
...........................................Airbags .9
.........Protecting Adults and Teens . 11
.....1. Close and Lock the Doors . 11
...........2. Adjust the Front Seats . 11
............3. Adjust the Seat-Backs . 12
...4. Adjust the Head Restraints . 13
5. Fasten and Position the
.............................Seat Belts . 14
6. Maintain a Proper Sitting
................................Position . 15
.....Advice for Pregnant Women . 16
...AdditionalSafety Precautions . 17
Additional Information About Your
.................................Seat Belts . 18
..Seat Belt System Components . 18
......................Lap/Shoulder Belt . 18
Automatic Seat Belt
...............................Tensioners . 19
...............Seat Belt Maintenance . 20
Additional Information About
...........................YourAirbags .21
......Airbag System Components . 21
How Your Front Airbags
.........................................Work . 22
...How Your Side Airbags Work . 24
..How the SRS Indicator Works . 25
How the Side Airbag Off
......................Indicator Works . 26
.............................Airbag Service . 26
...AdditionalSafety Precautions . 26
Protecting Children General
−
................................Guidelines . 27
All Children Must Be
...............................Restrained . 27
All Children Should Sit in a
.................................Back Seat . 28
The Passenger’sFront A irbag
................Poses Serious Risks . 28
If You Must Drive with Several
...................................Children . 30
If a Child Requires Close
..................................Attention . 30
Protecting Infants and Small
.......................................Children . 32
.......................Protecting Infants . 32
.....................Selecting a Child Seat . 34
....................Installing a Child Seat . 35
...............................WithLA T CH . 36
..............................With a Tether . 40
...............Checking Seat Belt Fit . 41
..................Using a Booster Seat . 42
.............Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 45
...................................Safety Labels . 46
Driver and Passenger Safety
...AdditionalSafety Precautions . 31
.........Protecting Small Children . 33
..........With a Lap/shoulder Belt . 38
...........Protecting Larger Children . 41
..When Can a Child Sit in Front . 43
...AdditionalSafety Precautions . 44
5
Important Safety Precautions
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
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 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 ).
14
Restrain All Children
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
−
27 44).
Be Aware of Airbag Hazards
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 follow all instructions and
warnings in this manual.
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 reaction time gets worse with
every additional drink. So don’t drink
and drive, and don’t let your friends
drink and drive, either.
Control Your Speed
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 safe for current
conditions, regardless of the
maximum speed posted.While airbags can save lives, they
Keep Your Vehicle in Saf e
Condition
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 ).
145
6
(5)
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
(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
(Standard for U.S.models and
optional for Canadian models)
(9) Front Seat Belt Tensioners
(10) Door Locks
(8)
(2)
Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features
Your vehicleis equippedwith many
featuresthat work togetherto
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 andrearcrush
zones; a collapsible steering column;
and tensioners that t ighten 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
. In fact, somesafety
features can contribute to injuries if
they are not used properly.
The following pages explain how you
cantakeanactiveroleinprotecting
yourself and your passengers.
always wear
Driver and Passenger Safety
7
Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
Seat Belts
Your vehicle is equipped with seat
belts in all seating positions.
Your seat belt system alsoincludes
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.
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.
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.
8
Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
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 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 your seat belt, and
make sure you wear it properly.
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
22
your front airbags work).
Standard for U.S. models
Optionalfor Canadianmodels
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
24
informationon how your side airbags
work).
CONTINUED
Driver and Passenger Safety
9
Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
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 offer no protection in rear
impacts, or minor frontal or side
collisions.
Airbags can pose hazards.
Todo
their job, airbags must inflate with
tremendous force. So while
airbagshelp 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 as possible while
allowing full control of the vehicle. A
front passenger should move their
seat as f ar backfrom the dashboard
as possible.
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 injuries or
deaths that canoccur in a severe
crash, even when seat belts are
properly worn and the airbags deploy.
10
The following pages provide
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
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
−
3127
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 SeatsIntroduction 1. 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 a door and
falling out.
Locking the doors also helps prevent
an outsider from unexpectedly
opening a door when you come to a
stop.
See page
73 for how to lock the
doors.
Protecting Adults and Teens
Driver and Passenger Safety
Adjust the driver’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 to the rear as possible.
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.
CONTINUED
11
Protecting Adults and Teens
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
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
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.
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
77
front seats.
Adjust the Seat-Backs3.
Adjust thedriver’s seat-back to a
comfortable, upright position,
leaving ample space between your
chest and the airbag cover inthe
center of the steering wheel.
Passengers with adjustable seatbacks should also adjust their seatback to a comfortable, upright
position.
12
Protecting Adults and Teens
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
Adjust the Head Restraints4.
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
77
seat-backs.
Adjust the driver’s head restraint so
the back of your head rests against
the center of the restraint.
Have passengers with adjustable
head 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
78
head restraints.
CONTINUED
Driver and Passenger Safety
13
Protecting Adults and Teens
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
Fasten and Position the Seat
5.
Belts
Insert the latch plate into the buckle,
thentugon thebelt to makesure the
belt is securely latched. Check that
thebeltis nottwisted, becausea
twisted belt can causeserious
injuries in a crash.
If necessary, pull up on the belt again
to removeany slack, then check that
thebeltrests acrossthe center of
your chest and over your shoulder.
This spreads the forces of a crash
over the strongest bones in your
upper body.
Improperly positioning the seat
belts can cause serious injury
or death 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
the belt so the lap part fits snugly.
Make sure all seat belts are
properly positioned before
driving.
This lets your strong pelvic bones
takethe forceof acrashand reduces
the chance of internal injuries. If the seat belt touches or crosses
your neck, or if it crosses your arm
instead of yourshoulder, you need to
adjust the seat belt anchor height.
14
Protecting Adults and Teens
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
The front seats have adjustable seat
belt anchors.
To adjust the height of a front seat
belt anchor, press and hold the
release buttons 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
properly, 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 yourdealer checkthe belt as
soon as possible.
See page for additional
18
information about your seat belts
andhowto 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 Safety
15
Protecting Adults and Teens
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
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 byan
inflating front airbag.
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.
Advice for Pregnant Women
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 far
back as possible while allowing full
control of the vehicle. When riding
as a front passenger, adjust the seat
as far backas 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.
Each time you have a checkup, ask
your doctor if it’s okay for you to
drive.
16
Protecting Adults and Teens
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
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
thebeltandincreasethechanceof
serious injury in a crash.
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 object in
your mouth, can result in injuries
if your front airbag inflates.
Keep your hands and arms away
from the airbag covers.
If your
handsor arms are close t o an
airbagcover, they couldbe injured
if the 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 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.
Driver and Passenger Safety
17
Additional Information About Your Seat Belts
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
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
14
properly position the belt).
remind you to fasten your seat belt.
To unlock the belt, push the red
If you turn the ignition to ON (II)
before fastening your seat belt, the
beeper will sound and the indicator
will flash. If you do not fasten your
seat belt before the beeperstops, the
indicator will stop flashing but
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.
remain on.
If you continue driving without
fastening your seat belt, the beeper
will sound and the indicator will flash
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 child seat ( see
page
38).
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.
18
Additional Information About Your Seat Belts
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
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.
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 helpholdthe 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.
The tensionerscan alsobe activated
during a collision in which the front
airbags do not deploy. In this case,
the airbags would not be needed, but
the additional restraint could be
helpful.
When the tensioners are activated,
theseat belts will remaintightuntil
they are unbuckled in the normal
manner.
Driver and Passenger Safety
19
Additional Information About Your Seat Belts
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
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
that the latches work smoothly and
the belts retract easily. 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
Honda Warranty Information
your
booklet for details.
If a seat belt is worn during a crash,
it must be replaced by your 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 information on how to clean your
seat belts, see page .164
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.
20
Additional Information About Your Airbags
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
Airbag System Components
Your airbag system includes:
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 ).
22
In models with side airbags, one
for 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 ).
24
Automatic front seat belt
tensioners (see page ).
19
Sensors that can detect a
moderate to severe front impact,
or side impact in models equipped
with side airbags.
In models with side airbags,
sensors that can detect whether a
child is in the passenger’s side
airbag path and automatically turn
the airbag off (see page
24).
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 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 ).
25
In models with side airbags, an
indicator on the instrument panel
that alerts you that the passenger’s
side airbag has been turned off
(see page ).
26
Emergency backup power in case
your vehicle’s electrical system is
disconnected in a crash.
Driver and Passenger Safety
21
Additional Information About Your Airbags
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
How Your Front Airbags Work
If you ever have a moderate to
severe frontal collision, sensors will
detect thevehicle’srapid
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.
During a frontal crash, your seat belt
restrains your lower body and torso,
and the front airbag helps protect
yourhead and 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, so they 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 lyingin their laps.
22
Additional Information About Your Airbags
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
After a crash, youmay 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 thisoccurs, get out of
the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do
so.
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 secondstage
will ignite a split second later. This
provides longer airbag inflation time
witha littleless force.
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 a slightly
lower threshold, because the
occupant would need extra
protection.
If the occupant’s belt , the
is latched
airbag will inflate at a slightly higher
threshold,whenthe airbagwould be
needed to supplement the protection
provided by the seat belt.
Driver and Passenger Safety
23
Additional Information About Your Airbags
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
How Your Side Airbags Work
Standard for U.S. models
Optionalfor Canadianmodels
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
sideairbag.
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
sideairbags, front seat occupants
shouldwear their seat belts and sit
upright and well back in their seats.
Side Airbag Cutoff System
To reduce the risk of injury from an
inflating side airbag, your vehicle has
anautomatic cutoff systemf or 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 into the side
airbag’spath.
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.
24
Additional Information About Your Airbags
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
If the Side Airbag Off Indicator
comeson (see page ), have the
26
passenger sit upright. Once the
passenger is out of the airbag’s
deployment path, the system will
turnthe airbagbackon,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 from working properly.
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
ON (II), this indicator will come on
briefly then go out. This tells you the
system is workingproperly.
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
flashes on and off while you drive.
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 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.
Driver and Passenger Safety
25
Additional Information About Your Airbags
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
Indicator Works
Standard for U.S. models
Optionalfor Canadianmodels
This indicator alerts you
that the passenger’s side
airbag has been automatically shut
off. It does mean there is a
not
problem with your side airbags.
When you turn the ignition switch to
ON (II), the indicator should light
briefly and go off (see page ). If it
53
doesn’t light, stays on, or comes on
while driving without a passenger in
thef ront seat,havethe system
checked.
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.
that has deployed must be
replaced along with the control
unit and other related parts. If a
front airbag inflates, the seat belt
tensioners must also be replaced.
Do not try to remove or replace
anyairbagbyyourself.Thismust
be done by your dealer or a
knowledgeable body shop.
The SRS indicator alerts you to a
problem.
Take your vehicle to an
authorized dealer as soon as
possible. If you ignore this
indication, your airbags may not
operate properly.
Any airbag
Additional Safety PrecautionsAirbag ServiceHow the Side Airbag Off
Donotattempttodeactivateyour
airbags.
Together, airbags and
seat belts provide the best
protection.
Do not tamper with airbag
components or wiring for any
reason.
Tampering could cause
the airbags to deploy, possibly
causing very serious injury.
Do not expose the front seat-backs
to liquid.
If water or another liquid
soaks into a seat-back, it can
prevent the side airbag cutoff
system from working properly.
Do not cover or replace f ront seatback covers without consulting
your dealer.
Improperly replacing
or covering front seat-back covers
can prevent your side airbags from
inflating during a side impact.
26
Children depend on adults to protect
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
them. However, despite their best
intentions, many adults do not know
how to protect child
properly
passengers.
If you have children, or ever need to
drive with a child in your vehicle, be
sure to read this section. It begins
with important general guidelines,
then presents special information for
infants, small children, and larger
children.
Protecting Children General Guidelines
All Children Must Be Restrained
Each year, many children are injured
or killed in vehicle crashes because
they are either unrestrained or not
properly restrained. In fact, vehicle
accidents are the number one cause
of the death of children ages 12 and
under.
To reduce the number of child
deaths and injuries, every state and
Canadian province requires that
infants and children be properly
restrained when they ride in a
vehicle.
Infants and small children must be
restrained in an approved child seat
that is properly secured to the
vehicle
(see pages ).32 40
−
−
Children who are unrestrained
or improperly restrained can be
seriously injured or killed in a
crash.
Any child too small for a seat
belt should be properly
restrained in a child seat. A
larger child should be properly
restrained with a seat belt and
use a booster seat if necessary.
Larger children must be restrained
with a lap/shoulder belt and ride on
a booster seat until the seat belt fits
them properly
(see pages ).
−
4441
Driver and Passenger Safety
27
Protecting Children General Guidelines
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
−
All Children Should Sit in a Back
Seat
According to accident statistics,
children of all ages and sizes are
safer whenthey are rest rained in a
back seat. The NationalHighway
Traffic Safety Administration and
Transport Canada recommendthat
all children age 12 and under be
properly restrained in a back seat.
Children who ride in back are less
likely to be injured by striking
interiorvehicleparts during a
collision or hard braking. Also,
children cannot be injured by an
inflating front airbag when they ride
in the back.
The Passenger’s Front Airbag
Poses Serious Risks
Front airbags have been designed to
help protect adults in a moderate to
severe frontal collision. To do this,
the passenger’s front airbag is quite
large,and it can inflate with enough
force to cause very serious injuries.
Infants
Never put a rear-f acing child seat in
the front seat of a vehicle equipped
with a passenger’s front airbag.
If
the airbag inflates, it can hit the back
of the childseat with enoughforce
to kill or very seriously injure an
infant.
Small Children
Placing a f orward-f acing child seat in
the front seat of a vehicle equipped
with passenger’s front airbag can be
hazardous.
If the vehicle seat is too
farforward,orthechild’sheadis
thrown forward during a collision, an
inflating front airbag can strike the
child with enough force to kill or
very seriously injure a small child.
Larger Children
Children who have outgrown child
seats are also at risk of being injured
or killed by an inflating passenger’s
front airbag.
Whenever possible,
larger children should sit in the back
seat, on a booster seat if needed, and
be properly restrained with a seat
belt (see page for important
41
information about protecting larger
children).
28
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▼
▲
Canadian Models
SUN VISOR
Loading...