Honda Civic Sedan 1998 Owner's Manual
Index
Main Menu
▲
▼
Accessories and Modifications.... 114
Accessories................................. 114
Additional Safety Precaution.... 115
Modifications............................. 115
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key
Position)........................................ 68
Accessory Power Socket................ 83
Adding
Automatic Transmission
Fluid........................................ 161
Brake Fluid................................. 162
Clutch Fluid................................ 163
Engine Coolant........................... 155
Engine Oil................................... 151
Manual Transmission Fluid ..... 162
Power Steering Fluid................. 164
Windshield Washer Fluid......... 160
Additional Information About
Your Seat Belts........................ 40
Lap Belt......................................... 41
Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 40
Seat Belt Maintenance................ 42
Seat Belt System Components... 40
Additional Information About
Your SRS................................... 43
Additional Safety Precautions.... 46
How Your Airbags Work............ 43
How Your SRS Indicator
Works........................................ 45
SRS Components......................... 43
Additives, Engine Oil..................... 152
Adjustments
Headlights.................................. 184
Head Restraints........................... 75
Mirrors.......................................... 79
Seats.............................................. 74
Steering Wheel............................ 63
Airbag (SRS)...................................... 7
Air Cleaner Element...................... 165
Air Conditioning............................... 86
Maintenance............................... 173
Usage............................................. 86
Air Outlets (Vents).......................... 88
Air Pressure, Tires........................ 175
High Speed Driving................... 231
Normal Driving.......................... 176
Alcohol in Gasoline........................ 233
Antifreeze....................................... 155
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
Indicator Light.....................
53, 132
Operation.................................... 13
Anti-theft Steering Column
Lock.............................................. 68
Appearance Care........................... 195
Ashtrays (Optional)......................... 83
Audio System................................... 94
Automatic Speed Control................ 64
Automatic Transmission............... 124
Capacity, Fluid........................... 228
Checking Fluid Level................ 161
Shifting........................................125
Shift Lever Position Indicator.. 124
Shift Lever Positions................. 125
Shift Lock Release..................... 128
Battery
Charging System
Indicator............................ 53, 214
Jump Starting............................. 209
Maintenance............................... 169
Specifications............................. 229
CONTINUED
1
Index
Main Menu
▲
▼
Before Driving............................... 107
Belts, Seat........................................... 6
Beverage Holder.............................. 82
Body Repair.................................... 200
Brakes
Anti-lock System (ABS)............ 131
Break-in, New Linings .............. 108
Fluid............................................ 162
Light, Burned-out...................... 188
Parking.......................................... 80
System Indicator.......................... 53
Wear Indicators......................... 130
Brakes, ABS
Operation.................................... 131
System Indicator................. 53, 132
Braking System.............................. 130
Break-in, New Car......................... 108
Brightness Control, Instruments... 60
Brights, Headlights......................... 59
Bulb Replacement
Back-up Lights........................... 189
Brake Lights............................... 188
Front Parking Lights................. 187
Front Side Marker Lights......... 187
Headlights.................................. 185
High-mount Brake Light.......... 190
Interior Light.............................. 191
License Plate Lights.................. 191
Rear Side Marker Lights.......... 189
Specifications............................. 229
Trunk Light................................ 192
Turn Signal Lights..................... 187
Bulbs, Halogen............................... 185
Cables, Jump Starting With.......... 210
Capacities Chart............................. 228
Carbon Monoxide Hazard.............. 47
Carrying Cargo.............................. 116
Cassette Player
Care............................................. 102
Operation.................................... 100
CAUTION, Explanation of............... ii
CD Changer.................................... 103
CD Player........................................ 103
Certification Label......................... 226
Chains............................................. 181
Change Oil
How to......................................... 153
When to....................................... 142
Changing a Flat Tire..................... 203
Changing Engine Coolant............. 157
Charging System Indicator.... 53, 214
Checking
Automatic Transmission
Fluid........................................ 161
Battery Condition...................... 169
Brake Fluid................................. 162
Clutch Fluid................................ 163
Drive Belts.................................. 174
Engine Coolant........................... 112
Engine Oil...................................
111
Fuses........................................... 219
l Transmission Fluid..... 162
Manua
Power Steering Fluid................. 164
Checklist, Before Driving............. 120
Childproof Door Locks................... 73
Cleaner, Air.................................... 165
Cleaning
Exterior....................................... 196
Interior........................................ 198
Seat Belts.................................... 198
Vinyl............................................ 198
Windows..................................... 199
Clock, Setting the............................ 99
Clutch Fluid.................................... 163
CO in the Exhaust......................... 235
Index
Main Menu
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▼
Cold Weather, Starting in............. 121
Compact Spare............................... 202
Consumer Information*................ 240
Controls, Instruments and.............. 49
Coolant
Adding......................................... 155
Checking..................................... 112
Proper Solution.......................... 155
Replacing.................................... 157
Temperature Gauge.................... 56
Corrosion Protection..................... 199
Crankcase Emissions Control
System......................................... 235
Cruise Control Operation............... 64
Customer Relations Office........... 240
DANGER, Explanation of................. ii
Dashboard........................................ 50
Daytime Running Lights................. 59
Dead Battery, What to Do............ 209
Defects, Reporting Safety............. 244
Defog and Defrost........................... 91
Defogger, Rear Window................. 62
Defrosting the Windows................. 91
DEXRON® III Automatic
Transmission Fluid.................... 161
Dimensions..................................... 228
Dimming the Headlights................ 59
Dipstick
Automatic Transmission........... 161
Engine Oil................................... 112
Directional Signals........................... 60
Disabled, Towing Your Car If...... 223
Disc Brake Wear Indicators......... 130
Disposal of Used Oil...................... 154
Doors
Locking and Unlocking............... 68
Power Door Locks....................... 69
DOT Tire Quality Grading........... 231
Downshifting, 5-speed Manual
Transmission.............................. 122
Driver and Passenger Safety............ 3
Drive Belts...................................... 175
Driving............................................ 119
Economy..................................... 113
In Bad Weather.......................... 134
In Foreign Countries................. 234
Economy, Fuel............................... 113
Emergencies on the Road............. 201
Battery, Jump Starting.............. 209
Brake System Indicator............ 216
Changing a Flat Tire................. 203
Charging System Indicator ...... 214
Checking the Fuses................... 219
Low Oil Pressure Indicator...... 213
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.... 215
Manually Closing Moonroof.... 217
Overheated Engine................... 211
Emergency Brake............................ 80
Emergency Flashers....................... 62
Emissions Controls........................ 235
Engine
Coolant Temperature Gauge..... 56
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp................................. 54,
Oil Pressure
Indicator......... 53, 213
215
Oil, What Kind to Use............... 151
Overheating................................ 211
Specifications............................. 228
CONTINUED
Index
Main Menu
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Ethanol in Gasoline....................... 233
Evaporative Emissions Controls.. 235
Exhaust Fumes................................ 47
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
Belts by........................................ 17
Exterior, Cleaning the................... 196
Fabric, Cleaning............................. 198
Fan, Interior...................................... 86
Features, Comfort and
Convenience................................. 85
Filling the Fuel Tank..................... 109
Filters
Air................................................ 165
Oil................................................ 151
5-speed Manual Transmission
Checking Fluid Level................ 162
Shifting the................................. 122
Flashers, Hazard Warning.............. 62
Flat Tire, Changing a.................... 203
Fluids
Automatic Transmission........... 161
Brake........................................... 162
Clutch.......................................... 163
Manual Transmission............... 162
Power Steering........................... 164
Windshield Washer................... 160
FM Stereo Radio
Reception...................................... 94
Folding Rear Seat............................ 76
Foreign Countries, Driving in...... 234
Four-way Flashers........................... 62
Front End, Towing by
Emergency Wrecker................. 223
Fuel.................................................. 108
Fill Door and Cap....................... 109
Gauge............................................ 56
Octane Requirement................. 108
Oxygenated................................ 233
Reserve Indicator......................... 54
Tank, Filling the......................... 109
Fuses, Checking the...................... 219
Gas Mileage, Improving................ 113
Gasohol........................................... 233
Gasoline.......................................... 108
Fuel Reserve Indicator................ 54
Gauge............................................
56
Octane Requirement.................
108
Tank, Filling the......................... 109
Gas Station Procedures................. 109
Gauges
Engine Coolant Temperature .... 56
Fuel................................................ 56
Gearshift Lever Positions
Automatic Transmission........... 125
5-speed Manual
Transmission.......................... 122
Glass Cleaning............................... 199
Glove Box......................................... 81
Halogen Headlight Bulbs.............. 185
Hazard Warning Flashers............... 62
Headlights
Aiming......................................... 184
Daytime Running Lights............. 59
High Beam Indicator................... 54
High Beams, Turning on............ 59
Low Beams, Turning on............. 59
Reminder Beeper......................... 59
Replacing Halogen Bulbs......... 185
Turning on....................................
59
Index
Main Menu
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▼
Head Restraints............................... 75
Heating and Cooling........................ 86
High Altitude, Starting at.............. 121
High-Low Beam Switch .................. 59
High-mount Brake Light............... 190
Hood, Opening the ........................ 110
Horn................................................... 58
Hot Coolant, Warning about........ 155
Hydraulic Clutch............................ 163
Hydroplaning.................................. 135
Identification Number, Vehicle.... 226
If Your Car Has to be Towed....... 223
Ignition
Keys............................................... 67
Switch........................................... 67
Timing Control System............. 236
Important Safety Precautions .......... 4
Indicator Lights, Instrument
Panel............................................. 51
Infant Restraint................................ 27
Inflation, Proper Tire .................... 175
High Speed Driving................... 231
Normal Driving.......................... 176
Inside Mirror.................................... 79
Inspection, Tire.............................. 177
Instrument Panel............................. 50
Instrument Panel Brightness......... 60
Interior Cleaning............................ 198
Interior Light.................................... 84
Introduction......................................... i
Jacking up the Car......................... 204
Jack, Tire........................................ 203
Jump Starting................................. 209
Keys................................................... 67
Label, Certification........................ 226
Lane Change, Signaling.................. 60
Lap Belt............................................. 41
Lap/Shoulder Belts......................... 40
Leaking of Exhaust into Car.......... 47
Lights
Bulb Replacement..................... 185
Indicator........................................ 51
Parking.......................................... 59
Turn Signal................................... 60
LOCK (Ignition Key Position)....... 68
Locks
Anti-theft Steering Column........ 68
Fuel Fill Door............................. 109
Power Door.................................. 69
Trunk............................................ 73
Low Coolant Level......................... 112
Low Fuel Indicator.......................... 54
Lower Gear, Downshifting to a.... 122
Low Oil Pressure Indicator.... 53, 213
Lubricant Specifications Chart.... 228
Luggage.......................................... 116
Maintenance................................... 137
Owner Maintenance Checks.... 149
Record.................................. 147-148
Required Indicator....................... 57
CONTINUED
Driver and Passenger Safety
Main Menu
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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 your Supple-
mental Restraint System. And it tells
you how to properly restrain infants
and children in your vehicle.
Important Safety Precautions .......... 4
Your Vehicle's Safely Features........ 5
Seat Belts........................................ 6
Airbags............................................ 7
Seats & Seat-Backs........................ 8
Head Restraints............................. 8
Door Locks..................................... 9
Pre-Drive Safety Checklist........... 9
Protecting Adults............................. 10
1. Close and Lock the Doors...... 10
2. Adjust the Front Seats............ 10
3. Adjust the Seat-Backs............. 11
4. Adjust the Head Restraints.... 12
5. Fasten and Position the Seat
Belts...................................... 13
6. Adjust the Steering Wheel..... 16
7. Maintain a Proper Sitting
Position................................. 16
Advice for Pregnant Women...... 17
Additional Safety Precautions.... 17
Pretecting Children......................... 19
All Children Must Be
Restrained ................................ 19
Children Should Sit in the Back
Seat............................................20
The Passenger's Airbag Poses
Serious Risks to Children....... 20
If You Must Drive With Several
Children.................................... 21
If A Child Requires Close
Attention.................................. 22
Additional Safety Precautions.... 22
General Guidelines for Using
Child Seats................................ 23
Protecting Infants........................ 27
Protecting Small Children.......... 31
Protecting Larger Children........ 35
Using Child Seats with
Tethers......................................38
Additional Information About Your
Seat Belts.................................. 40
Seat Belt System Components... 40
Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 40
Lap Belt......................................... 41
Seat Belt Maintenance................ 42
Additional Information About Your
SRS............................................ 43
SRS Components......................... 43
How Your Airbags Work............ 43
How Your SRS Indicator Light
Works........................................ 45
SRS Service................................... 45
Additional Safety Precautions.... 46
Carbon Monoxide Hazard.............. 47
Safety Labels.................................... 48
Driver and Passenger Safety
1998 Civic Sedan 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.
If you have a Civic GX refer to Civic GX Owner’s Manual Supplement for additional information.
Contents
Owner's Identification Form
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... i
ew Words About Safety ..........................................................................................................................ii
A F
Driver and Passenger Safety .......................................................................................................................3
Proper use and care of your car's seat belts, and Supplemental Restraint System.
Instruments and Controls...........................................................................................................................49
Instrument panel indic
Comfort and Convenience Features.........................................................................................................85
How to op
Before Driving .............................................................................................................................................107
What gasolin
Driving...........................................................................................................................................................119
The proper way to
Maintenance
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your car to the dealer.
Appearance Care.........................................................................................................................................195
Tips on cl
Taking Care of the Unexpected...............................................................................................................201
This section
Technical Information...............................................................................................................................225
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and techn
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)......................................................................239
A summary
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)...............................................................................................................245
How to order
Index ...............................................................................................................................
Servic
A summary of information you n
erate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features.
e to us
..............................................................................................................................
eaning and protecting your car. Things to look for if your car ever needs body repairs.
covers sever
of th
manuals and other technical literature.
ormation Summary
e Inf
ator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls.
to break-in your new car, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
e, how
start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, plus towing a trailer.
l problems motorists sometimes experience, and how to handle them.
a
ical information.
anties covering your new Honda, and how to contact us.
e warr
.................................. I
eed when you pull up to the fuel pump.
..................137
.
Important Safety Precautions
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
You'll find many safety
recommendations throughout this
section, and throughout this manual.
Following are a few
recommendations we consider 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
severe frontal collision. So even with
airbags, make sure you and your
passengers always wear your seat
belts, and wear them properly. (See
page 13.)
Restrain All Children
Children are safest when they are
properly restrained in the back seat,
not the front seat. A child who is too
small for a seat belt must be properly
restrained in a child safety seat. (See
page 19.)
Driver and Passenger Safety
Be Aware of Airbag Hazards
While airbags 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 follow all instructions and
warnings in this manual. (See page 5.
Don't Drink
and Drive
Alcohol and driving don't mix. Even
one drink can reduce your ability to
respond to changing conditions.
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 accidents can also
occur at lower speeds. Never drive
faster than is safe for current
conditions, regardless of the
maximum speed posted.
)
Keep Your Vehicle in Safe
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 142.)
(1) Safety Cage
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
(2) Crush Zones
(3) Seats & Seat-Backs
(4) Head Restraints
(5) Collapsible Steering Column
(6) Seat Belts
(7) Airbags
(8) Door Locks
Your Vehicle's Safety Features
Your vehicle is equipped with many
features that work together to
protect you and your passengers
during a crash.
Some safety 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 that are designed to
crumple and absorb energy during a
crash; and a collapsible steering
column.
These safety features are designed
to reduce the severity of injuries in a
crash. 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. In fact, some safety
features can contribute to injuries if
they are not used properly.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Your Vehicle's Safety Features
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Seat Belts
For your safety, and the safety of
your passengers, your vehicle is
equipped with seat belts in all seating
positions.
Your seat belt system also
includes a light 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
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 car has airbags.
Driver and Passenger Safety
In addition, most states and all
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
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 side and
rear impacts and rollovers. (Your
airbags can only be helpful in
severe frontal collisions.)
Help keep you from being thrown
against the inside of the car and
against other occupants.
Keep you from being thrown
outside of the car.
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. But in most cases, seat belts
can reduce your risk of serious
injury.
What you should do: Always wear
your seat belt, and make sure you
wear it properly.
Your Vehicle's Safety Features
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Airbags
Your vehicle has a Supplemental
Restraint System (SRS) with frontal
airbags to help protect the driver and
a front seat passenger.
SRS
This system also includes
an indicator light on the
instrument panel to alert you to a
possible problem with the system.
Following are the most important
things you need to know about your
airbags.
Airbags do not replace seat belts.
They supplement seat belts by
providing extra protection for the
heads and chests of front seat
occupants.
Airbags offer no protection in side
impacts, rear impacts, rollovers,
or minor or moderate collisions.
Airbags are designed to deploy
only during a severe frontal
collision (such as a 25 mph [40
km/h] crash into a parked car of
similar size and weight).
Airbags can pose serious hazards.
To do their job, airbags must
inflate with tremendous force and
speed. So while airbags save lives,
they can cause serious injuries to
adults and larger children who are
not wearing seat belts, are not
wearing them properly, are sitting
too close to the airbag, or are not
sitting in a good position. Infants
and small children are at an even
greater risk of injury or death.
What you should do: Always wear
your seat belt properly and sit
upright and as far back as possible
from the steering wheel or
dashboard.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Your Vehicle's Safety Features
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Seats & Seat-Backs
Your vehicle seats are designed to
keep you in a comfortable, upright
position so you can take full
advantage of the protection offered
by seat belts and the seats' energy
absorbing materials.
How you adjust your seats and seatbacks can also affect your safety. For
example, sitting too close to the
steering wheel or dashboard
increases your risk of being injured
by striking the inside of the vehicle
or being injured by an inflating
airbag.
Reclining a seat-back too far makes
your seat belt less effective and
increases your chance of sliding
under the seat belt and being
seriously injured in a crash.
Driver and Passenger Safety
What you should do: Move the front
seats as far back as practical, and
keep adjustable seat-backs in an
upright position whenever the
vehicle is moving.
Head Restraints
Head restraints can help protect you
from whiplash and other injuries. For
maximum protection, the back of
your head should rest against the
center of the head restraint.
Your Vehicle's Safety Features
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Door Locks
Keeping your doors locked reduces
the chance of being thrown out of
the vehicle during a crash. It also
helps prevent occupants from
accidentally opening a door and
falling out, and outsiders from
unexpectedly opening your doors.
Pre-Drive Safety Checklist
To make sure you and your
passengers get the maximum
protection from your vehicle's safety
features, check the following each
time before you drive away:
All adults, and children who have
outgrown child safety seats, are
wearing their seat belts and
wearing them properly (see page
13).
Any infant or small child is
properly restrained in a child seat
in the back seat (see page 19).
Front seat occupants are sitting as
far back as possible from the
steering wheel and dashboard
(see page 10).
Seat-backs are upright (see page
11).
Head restraints are properly
adjusted (see page 12).
All doors are closed and locked
(see page 10).
All cargo is properly stored or
secured (see page 116).
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 can occur in severe
crashes, even when seat belts are
properly worn and the airbags deploy.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Protecting Adults
Main Menu
Table of Contents
▲
▼
Introduction
The following pages provide
instructions on how to properly
protect the driver and other adult
occupants.
These instructions also apply to
children who have outgrown child
seats and are large enough to wear
lap/shoulder belts. (See page 35 for
important additional guidelines on
how to properly protect larger
children.)
1.Close and Lock the Doors
After everyone has entered the
vehicle, be sure the doors are closed
and locked.
For safety, locking the doors reduces
the chance of a passenger, especially
a child, opening a door while the
vehicle is moving and accidentally
falling out. It also reduces the
chance of someone being thrown out
of the vehicle during a crash.
Driver and Passenger Safety
For security, locked doors can
prevent an outsider from
unexpectedly opening a door when
you come to a stop.
See page 68 for how to lock the
doors.
2.Adjust the Front Seats
Any driver who sits too close to the
steering wheel is at risk of being
seriously injured or killed by striking
the steering wheel or being struck
by an inflating airbag during a crash.
To reduce the chance of injury, wear
your seat belt properly, sit upright
with your back against the seat, and
move the seat as far back as possible
from the steering wheel while still
maintaining full control of the car.
Also make sure your front seat
passenger moves their seat as far to
the rear as possible.
Protecting Adults
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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Sitting too close to an airbag
can result in serious injury or
death if the airbags inflate.
Always sit as far back from the
airbags as possible.
Most shorter drivers can get far
enough away from the steering
wheel and still reach the pedals.
However, if you are concerned about
sitting too close, we recommend that
you investigate whether some type
of adaptive equipment may help.
Once your seat is adjusted correctly,
rock it forward and back to make
sure the seat is locked in position.
See page 74 for how to adjust the
front seats.
3.Adjust the Seat-Backs
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. If you
sit too close to the steering wheel,
you could be injured if the airbag
inflates.
A front passenger should also adjust
the seat-back to an upright position,
but not too close to the dashboard. If
the passenger sits too close to the
dashboard, they could be injured if
the airbag inflates.
Reclining a seat-back so that the
shoulder part of the belt no longer
rests against an occupant's chest
reduces the protective capability of
the belt. It also increases the chance
of sliding under the belt and being
seriously injured in a crash. 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 75 for how to adjust seatbacks.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Protecting Adults
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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4.Adjust the Head Restraints
Before driving, make sure everyone
with an adjustable head restraint has
properly positioned the head
restraint. The restraint should be
positioned so the back of the
occupant's head rests against the
center of the restraint. A taller
person should adjust the restraint as
high as possible.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Improperly positioned head
restraints reduce 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 you from whiplash
and other crash injuries.
See page 75 for how to adjust the
head restraints.
5.Fasten and Position the Seat
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Belts
Using a Lap/Shoulder Belt
Insert the latch plate into the buckle,
then tug on the belt to make sure the
belt is securely latched. Also check
that the belt is not twisted, because a
twisted belt can cause serious
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
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.
Protecting Adults
Improperly positioning the seat
belts can cause serious injury
or death in a crash.
Make sure all seat belts are
properly positioned before
driving.
If necessary, pull up on the belt again
to remove any slack from the
shoulder part, 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.
CONTINUED
Driver and Passenger Safety
Protecting Adults
Main Menu
Table of Contents
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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.
An improperly positioned seat belt
can cause severe neck injuries if the
belt is positioned too high, or serious
chest or internal injuries if the belt is
positioned too low.
Driver and Passenger Safety
To adjust the height of a front seat
belt anchor, squeeze the two 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.
very serious injuries in a crash.
This could cause
Using the Lap Belt
the latch plate into the buckle
Insert
marked CENTER.
If the belt is too short, hold the latch
plate at a right angle and pull on the
plate to extend the belt. Then insert
the latch plate into the buckle, and
tug on the belt to make sure the belt
is securely latched.
Protecting Adults
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Position the belt as low as possible
across your hips. This lets your
strong pelvic bones take the force of
a crash and reduces the chance of
internal injuries.
Pull on the loose end of the belt for a
snug but comfortable fit.
If a Seat Belt Doesn't Work Properly.
If your seat belt does not seem to
work as it should, it may not protect
you in a crash. Anyone using an
inoperative seat belt can be seriously
injured or killed. No one should sit in a
seat with an inoperative seat belt. Have
your Honda dealer check the belt as
soon as possible.
See page 40 for additional
information about your seat belt
system and how to take care of your
belts.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Protecting Adults
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6.Adjust the Steering Wheel
Adjust the steering wheel, if needed,
so that the wheel points toward your
chest, not toward your face.
Pointing the steering wheel toward
your face decreases the protective
capability of the driver's airbag.
See page 63 for how to adjust the
steering wheel.
Driver and Passenger Safety
7.Maintain a Proper Sitting
Position
After all occupants have adjusted
their seats and put on seat belts, it is
very important that they continue to
sit upright, with their bodies well
back in their seats and both feet on
the floor, until the car 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 puts one
or both feet up, their chance of
injury during a crash is greatly
increased.
In addition, if an occupant is out of
position in the front seat, they can be
seriously or fatally injured by
striking interior parts of the vehicle,
or by being struck by an inflating
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.
Remember, to get the best
protection from your vehicle's
airbags and other safety features,
you must sit properly and wear your
seat belt properly.
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Advice for Pregnant Women
Because protecting the mother is the
best way to protect her unborn child,
a pregnant woman should always
wear a seat belt whenever she drives
or rides in a car.
We recommend that pregnant
women use a lap/shoulder belt
whenever possible. Remember to
keep the lap portion of the belt as
low as possible across your hips.
Pregnant women should also sit as
far back as practical from the
steering wheel or dashboard. This
will reduce the risk of injuries to
both the mother and her unborn
child that can be caused by a crash
or an inflating airbag.
Each time you have a checkup, ask
your doctor if it's okay for you to
drive.
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 severely compromise the
protective capability of seat belts
and increase the chance of serious
injury in a crash.
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Driver and Passenger Safety
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Do not place hard or sharp objects
between yourself and an 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
airbags inflate.
Keep your hands and arms away
from the airbag covers.
If your hands or arms are close to
the SRS covers in the center of the
steering wheel and on top of the
dashboard, they could be injured if
the airbags inflate.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Children depend on adults to protect
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them. However, despite their best
intentions, many parents and other
adults do not know how to properly
protect young passengers.
So if you have children, or if you ever
need to drive with a grandchild or
other children in your vehicle, be
sure to read this section.
Childre
n 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.
Larger children should be
properly restrained with a seat
belt.
Protecting Children
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 death of children age 12 and
under.
To reduce the number of child
deaths and injuries, every state and
Canadian province requires that
infants and children be restrained
whenever they ride in a vehicle.
Any child who is too small to wear a
seat belt should be properly
restrained in a child seat.
23.)
Larger children should always
restrained with a seat belt.
35.)
(See page
be
(See page
Driver and Passenger Safety
Protecting Children
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Children Should Sit in the Back
Seat
According to accident statistics,
children of all ages and sizes are
safer when they are restrained in the
back seat, not the front seat. The
National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration recommends that all
children age 12 and under ride in the
back seat, properly restrained.
In the back seat, children are less
likely to be injured by striking hard
interior vehicle parts during a
collision or hard braking. Also,
children cannot be injured by an
inflating airbag when they ride in the
back.
Driver and Passenger
Safety
The Passenger's Airbag Poses
Serious Risks to Children
Airbags have been designed to help
protect adults in a severe frontal
collision. To do this, the passenger's
airbag is quite large, and it inflates
with tremendous speed.
Infants
Never put a rear-facing child seat in
the front seat of a vehicle equipped
with a passenger's airbag. If the
airbag inflates, it can hit the back of
the child seat with enough force to
kill or very seriously injure an infant.
Small Children
Placing a forward-facing child seat in
the front seat of a vehicle equipped
with a passenger's airbag can be
hazardous. If the vehicle seat is too
far forward, or the child's head is
thrown forward during a collision, an
inflating 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
airbag. Whenever possible, larger
children should sit in the back seat,
properly restrained with a seat belt.
(See page 35 for important
information about protecting larger
children.)
Protecting Children
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U.S. Models
To remind you of the passenger
airbag hazards, and that children
must be properly restrained in the
back seat, your vehicle has warning
labels on the dashboard and on the
driver's and front passenger's visors.
Please read and follow the
instructions on these labels.
Children Can Be KILLED or INJURED
by Passenger Airbag
The back seat is the safest place for children 12 and under.
Make sure all children use seat belts or child seats.
If You Must Drive With Several
Children
Your vehicle has three seating
positions in the back seat where
children can be properly restrained.
If you ever have to carry more than
three children in your vehicle:
Place the largest child in the front
seat, provided the child is large
enough to wear a seat belt
properly (see page 35).
Move the vehicle seat as far to the
rear as possible (see page 10).
Have the child sit upright and well
back in the seat (see page 16).
Make sure the seat belt is properly
positioned and secured (see page
13).
Driver and Passenger Safety
Protecting Children
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If A Child Requires Close
Attention
Many parents say they prefer to put
an infant or small child in the front
passenger seat so they can watch the
child, or because the child requires
attention.
Placing a child in the front seat
exposes them to hazards from the
airbag, and paying close attention to
a child distracts the driver from the
important tasks of driving, creating
serious safety risks.
If a child requires physical attention
or frequent visual contact, we
strongly recommend that another
adult ride with the child in the back
seat. The back seat is far safer for a
child than the front.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Additional Safety Precautions
Use childproof door locks to
prevent children from opening the
doors. Using this feature will
prevent children from opening the
doors and accidentally falling out
(see page 73).
Use the main power window
switch to prevent children from
opening the rear windows. Using
this feature will prevent children
from playing with the windows,
which could expose them to
hazards or distract the driver (see
page 77).
Do not leave children alone in your
vehicle. Leaving children without
adult supervision is illegal in most
states and can be very hazardous.
For example, infants and small
children left in a vehicle on a hot
day can die from heatstroke. And
children left alone with the key in
the ignition can accidentally set
the vehicle in motion, possibly
injuring themselves or others.
General Guidelines for Using
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Child Seats
The following pages give general
guidelines for selecting and installing
child seats for infants and small
children.
Selecting a Child Seat
To provide proper protection, a child
seat should meet three
requirements:
1. The child seat should meet safety
standards. The child seat should
meet Federal Motor Vehicle
Safety Standard 213 (FMVSS 213)
or Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards. Look for the
manufacturer's statement of
compliance on the box and seat.
2. The child seat should be of the
proper type and size to fit the child.
Infants: Children up to about one
year old should be restrained in a
rear-facing, reclining child seat. Only
rear-facing seats provide the support
an infant needs to protect their head,
neck, and back. See page 27 for
additional information on protecting
infants.
Protecting Children
Small Children:
large for
a rear-facing child seat, and
who can sit up without support,
should be restrained in a forward-
facing child seat. See page 31 for
additional information on protecting
small children.
A
child who is too
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3. The child seat should fit the
vehicle seating position (or
positions) where it will be used.
Due to variations in the design of
child seats, vehicle seats, and seat
belts, all child seats will not fit all
vehicle seating positions.
However, Honda is confident that
one or more child seat models can fit
and be properly installed in all
recommended seating positions in
your vehicle.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Whenever possible, we recommend
that parents test a child seat in the
specific vehicle seating position (or
positions) where they intend to use
the seat before making a purchase. If
a previously purchased child seat
does not fit, you may need to buy a
different one that will fit.
Protecting Children
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Placing a Child Seat
This page briefly summarizes
Honda's recommendations on where
to place rear-facing and forwardfacing child seats in your vehicle.
Airbags Pose Serious
Risks to Children
The passenger's airbag inflates
with enough force to kill or
seriously injure an infant in a
rear-facing child seat.
A small child in a forward-facing
child seat is also at risk. If the
vehicle seat is too far forward,
or the child's head is thrown
forward during a collision, an
inflating airbag can kill or
seriously injure the child.
If a small child must ride in the
front, follow the instructions
provided.
Front Passenger's Seat
Infants: Never in the front seat, due
to the passenger airbag hazard.
Small children: Not recommended,
due to the passenger's airbag
hazard. If a small child must ride
in front, move the vehicle seat to
the rear-most position and secure
a front-facing child seat with the
seat belt. (see page 32).
Back Seats
Infants: Recommended positions.
Secure a rear-facing child seat
with the seat belt. (see page 28).
Small children: Recommended
positions. Secure a front-facing
child seat with the seat belt. (see
page 32).
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Protecting Children
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Installing a Child Seat
After selecting a proper child seat,
and a good place to install the seat,
there are three main steps in
installing the seat:
1. Secure the child seat to the car
with a seat belt. All child seats
must be secured to the car with
the lap belt or the lap part of a lap/
shoulder belt. A child whose seat
is not properly secured to the car
can be endangered in a crash. See
pages 28 and 32 for instructions on
how to secure child seats in this
vehicle.
2. Make sure the child seat is firmly
secured. After installing a child
seat, push and pull the seat
forward and from side to side to
verify that it is secure.
Driver and Passenger
Safety
To provide security during normal
driving maneuvers, as well as during
a collision, we recommend that
parents secure a child seat as firmly
as possible.
However, a child seat does not need
to be "rock solid." In some vehicles
or seating positions, it may be
difficult to install a child seat so that
it does not move at all. Some side-toside or forward-and-backward
movement can be expected and
should not reduce the child seat's
effectiveness.
If the child seat is not secure, try
installing it in a different seat
position, or use a different style of
child seat that can be firmly secured
in the desired seating position.
3. Secure the child in the child seat.
Make sure the child is properly
strapped in the child seat
according to the child seat maker's
instructions. A child who is not
properly secured in a child seat
can be thrown out of the seat and
be seriously injured in a crash.
Storing a Child Seat
When you are not using a child seat,
either remove it and store it in a safe
place, or make sure it is properly
secured. An unsecured child seat can
be thrown around the vehicle during
a crash or sudden stop and injure
someone.
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