2001 Honda Civic Coupe Owners Manual

00/08/10 11:51:24 31S5P600_002

Congratulations Your selection of a 2001 Honda Civic 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 car so you can refer to it at any time.

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 car according to the schedules given in this manual helps to keep your driving trouble-free while it preserves your investment. When your car 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: California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

This product contains or emits chemicals known to the State of

Introduction

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

symbol. This

00/08/10 11:51:36 31S5P600_003

A Few Words About Safety

Your safety, and the safety of others, is very important. And operating this car 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 car. You must use your own good judgement.

ii

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

Safety Labels − Safety Messages

on the car. − three signal words: These signal words mean:

preceded by a safety alert symbol DANGER WARNING

, or

CAUTION

and one of

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

− Safety Precautions.

such as Important Safety Reminders or Important

Safety Section Instructions −

such as Driver and Passenger Safety. − how to use this car correctly and safely.

This entire book is filled with important safety information carefully.

−

please read it

00/08/10 11:51:55 31S5P600_004

Contents

Turn to the beginning of each section for a complete list of subjects. Your Car at a Glance

load luggage and other cargo.

...............

. 2

. 5

Driver and Passenger Safety

.... Important information about the proper use and care of your car’s seat belts, an overview of the Supplemental Restraint System, and valuable information on how to protect children with child restraints.

Instruments and Controls

.....

. 57

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

Comfort and Convenience Features

............................

. 107
How to operate the heating and air conditioning system, and the audio system.

Before Driving

................... What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new car, and how to

. 161

Driving

..............................

. 175
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park.

Maintenance

......................

. 195
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your car to the dealer. There is also a list of things to check and instructions on how to check them.

Appearance Care

................

. 255

Tips on cleaning and protecting your car. Also some things to look for if your car ever needs body repairs.

Taking Care of the Unexpected

.......................

. 263

This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, and details how to handle them.

Technical Information

.........

. 291

ID numbers, dimensions, capaci- ties, and technical information.

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

. 305

........ A summary of the 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)

.........................

How to order manuals and other technical literature.

. 311

Index

.....................................

. I

Service Information Summary A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.

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Your Car at a Glance

PPOOWWEERR DDOOOORR LLOOCCKK SSWWIITTCCHH ((PP.. 8844))

PPOOWWEERR WWIINNDDOOWW SSWWIITTCCHHEESS ((PP.. 9966))

FFUUEELL FFIILLLL DDOOOORR RREELLEEAASSEE ((PP.. 116633)) TTRRUUNNKK RREELLEEAASSEE ((PP.. 8888))

AAIIRRBBAAGGSS ((PP.. 1100,, 4477))

AAUUDDIIOO SSYYSSTTEEMM ((PP.. 111166,, 112288,, 114400)) DDIIGGIITTAALL CCLLOOCCKK ((PP.. 112211,, 113333,, 114455))

HHOOOODD RREELLEEAASSEE HHAANNDDLLEE ((PP.. 116644))

AAUUTTOOMMAATTIICC TTRRAANNSSMMIISSSSIIOONN ((PP.. 118800)) MMAANNUUAALL TTRRAANNSSMMIISSSSIIOONN ((PP.. 117788))

HHEEAATTIINNGG//CCOOOOLLIINNGG CCOONNTTRROOLLSS ((PP.. 110088))

00/08/10 11:52:08 31S5P600_006

Your Car at a Glance

HHEEAADDLLIIGGHHTTSS//TTUURRNN SSIIGGNNAALLSS ((PP.. 7700,, 7722))

WWIINNDDSSHHIIEELLDD WWIIPPEERRSS//WWAASSHHEERRSS ((PP.. 7722,, 7733))

HHAAZZAARRDD WWAARRNNIINNGG LLIIGGHHTTSS ((PP.. 7744))

MMOOOONNRROOOOFF ((PP.. 9988))

CCRRUUIISSEE CCOONNTTRROOLL MMAASSTTEERR SSWWIITTCCHH ((PP.. 7766))

RREEAARR WWIINNDDOOWW DDEEFFOOGGGGEERR ((PP.. 7744))

MMIIRRRROORR CCOONNTTRROOLLSS ((PP.. 9999))

TTIILLTT AADDJJUUSSTTMMEENNTT ((PP.. 7755))

CCRRUUIISSEE CCOONNTTRROOLL SSWWIITTCCHHEESS ((PP.. 7777))

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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 car.

Important Safety Precautions Your Car’s Safety Features

Seat Belts Airbags Seats & Seat-Backs Head Restraints Door Locks Pre-Drive Safety Checklist

......... ............. ....................................... ......................................... ..................... .......................... .................................. ........ ............................ .....

1. Close and Lock the Doors

Protecting Adults

. 6
. 7
. 8
. 10
. 11
. 11
. 11
. 12
. 13
. 13

2. Adjust the Front Seats ........... 3. Adjust the Seat-Backs ............ 4. Adjust the Head Restraints ... 5. Fasten and Position the Seat ..................................... ....

6. Adjust the Steering Wheel 7. Maintain a Proper Sitting

Belts

. 13
. 14
. 15

. 16
. 17

Position

. 18
Advice for Pregnant Women . 19
Additional Safety Precautions . 19
. 21

................................ ..... ... ........................

Protecting Children

All Children Must Be

Restrained

............................... Children Should Sit in the Back ........................................... The Passenger’s Front Airbag

Seat

. 21

. 22

Poses Serious Risks to

Children

............................... If You Must Drive with Several ...................................

Children

If a Child Requires Close

. 22

. 24

Attention

. 24
Additional Safety Precautions . 25
General Guidelines for Using

.................................. ...

Child Seats

Protecting Infants

............................... .......................

. 26
. 30

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Small Children Protecting Larger Children Using Child Seats with

......... .......

. 34
. 37

. 41
. 42

Tethers

Using the Lower Anchorages

..................................... ... Additional Information About Your ................................. . 44
.. Seat Belt System Components . 44
...................... . 44
Lap/Shoulder Belt Automatic Seat Belt

Seat Belts

Tensioners

Seat Belt Maintenance

Additional Information About

............................... ...............

. 45
. 46

Your Airbags

SRS Components How Your Front Airbags

........................... ........................

. 48
. 48

Work

. 48
How Your Side Airbags Work . 50
How the SRS Indicator Light

......................................... ...

. 51

Works

....................................... How The Side Airbag Indicator ............................ ............................. ... ............. ...................................

. 52
Light Works Airbag Service . 53
Additional Safety Precautions . 53
. 54
. 55

Carbon Monoxide Hazard Safety Labels

Driver and Passenger Safety

00/08/10 11:52:27 31S5P600_009

Important Safety Precautions

You’ll find many safety recommendations throughout this section, and throughout this manual. The recommendations on this page 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 car is equipped with airbags, make sure you and your passengers always wear your seat belts, and wear them properly. (See page

16

.)

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

21

.)

Driver and Passenger Safety

Be Aware of Airbag Hazards While airbags can save lives, they can cause serious or fatal injuries to occupants who sit too close to them, or are not properly restrained. Infants, young children, and short adults are at the greatest risk. Be sure to follow all instructions and warnings in this manual. (See page 14

.)

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 accidents can also occur at lower speeds. Never drive faster than is safe for current conditions, regardless of the maximum speed posted.

Keep Your Car 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

200

.)

00/08/10 11:52:35 31S5P600_010

((11))

((33))

((44))

((66))

((1100))

((88))

((77))

((55))

((88))

((22))

((99))

((77))

((22))

((11)) SSaaffeettyy CCaaggee ((22)) CCrruusshh ZZoonnee ((33)) SSeeaattss && SSeeaatt--BBaacckkss ((44)) HHeeaadd RReessttrraaiinnttss ((55)) CCoollllaappssiibbllee SStteeeerriinngg CCoolluummnn ((66)) SSeeaatt BBeellttss ((77)) FFrroonntt AAiirrbbaaggss ((88)) SSiiddee AAiirrbbaaggss ((OOppttiioonnaall)) ((99)) SSeeaatt BBeelltt TTeennssiioonneerrss ((1100)) DDoooorr LLoocckkss

Your Car’s Safety Features

Your car 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; a collapsible steering column; and seat belt tensioners that automatically tighten the front seat belts in the event of a crash.

CONTINUED

Driver and Passenger Safety

00/08/10 11:52:44 31S5P600_011

Your Car’s Safety Features

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

alwayswearyourseatbelts

In fact, some safety

Driver and Passenger Safety

Seat Belts For your safety, and the safety of your passengers, your car 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.

WhyWearSeatBelts 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.

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

00/08/10 11:52:53 31S5P600_012

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 car’s built-in safety features.

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

Your Car’s Safety Features

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

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

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.

Driver and Passenger Safety

00/08/10 11:53:04 31S5P600_013

Your Car’s Safety Features

Airbags

Your car 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.

Onlyonmodelsequippedwithside airbags. Your car 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.

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

Airbagsdonotreplaceseatbelts. They are designed to supplement

10

Driver and Passenger Safety

the seat belts.

Airbagsoffernoprotectioninrear impacts,rollovers,orminor frontalorsidecollisions.

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

Always wear

Whatyoushoulddo: your seat belt properly, and sit upright and as far back as possible from the steering wheel or dashboard.

Your Car’s Safety Features

Door Locks Keeping your doors locked reduces the chance of being thrown out of the car during a crash. It also helps prevent occupants from accidentally opening a door and falling out, and outsiders from unexpectedly opening your doors.

Move the front

Whatyoushoulddo: seats as far back as possible, and keep adjustable seat-backs in an upright position whenever the car 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.

00/08/10 11:53:13 31S5P600_014

Seats & Seat-Backs Your car’s 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 energy absorbing materials in the seats.

How you adjust your seats and seat- backs can also affect your safety. For example, sitting too close to the steering wheel or dashboard increases the risk of you or your passenger being injured by striking the inside of the car, or by an inflating airbag.

Reclining a seat-back too far reduces the seat belt’s effectiveness and increases the chance that the seat’s occupant will slide under the seat belt in a crash and be seriously injured.

Driver and Passenger Safety

11

00/08/10 11:53:25 31S5P600_015

Your Car’s Safety Features

Pre-Drive Safety Checklist To make sure you and your passengers get the maximum protection from your car’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 16

).

Any infant or small child is properly restrained in a child seat in the back seat (see page

21

).

12

Driver and Passenger Safety

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.

Front seat occupants are sitting upright and as far back as possible from the steering wheel and dashboard (see page

13

).

Seat-backs are upright (see page 14

).

Head restraints are properly adjusted (see page

15

).

Both doors are closed and locked (see page

13

).

All cargo is properly stored or secured (see page

171

).

00/08/10 11:53:36 31S5P600_016

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 for important additional guidelines on how to properly protect larger children.)

37

Close and Lock the Doors

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

For safety, locking the doors reduces the chance that a passenger, especially a child, will open a door while the car is moving and accidentally fall out. It also reduces the chance of someone being thrown out of the car during a crash.

For security, locked doors can prevent an outsider from unexpectedly opening a door when you come to a stop.

See page doors.

83

for how to lock the

Protecting Adults

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 from being struck by an inflating front airbag during a crash.

CONTINUED

Driver and Passenger Safety

13

00/08/10 11:53:46 31S5P600_017

Protecting Adults

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 the seat as far to the rear as possible.

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.

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 back and forth to make sure the seat is locked in position.

See page 90
front seats.

for how to adjust the

Adjust the Seat-Backs

3. 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 front airbag inflates.

14

Driver and Passenger Safety

A front passenger should also adjust the seat-back to an upright position, but as far from the dashboard as possible. A passenger who sits too close to the dashboard could be injured if the front airbag inflates.

00/08/10 15:22:43 31S5P600_018

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 backs.

90

for how to adjust seat-

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.

Protecting Adults

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 head restraints.

93

for how to adjust the

Driver and Passenger Safety

15

00/08/10 11:54:04 31S5P600_019

Protecting Adults

5.

Fasten and Position the Seat Belts

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.

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

16

Driver and Passenger Safety

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.

Make sure all seat belts are properly positioned before driving.

00/08/10 11:54:14 31S5P600_020

Neverplacetheshoulderportionofa lap/shoulderbeltunderyourarmor behindyourback. very serious injuries in a crash.

This could cause

If a seat belt does not seem to work as it should, it may not protect the occupant in a crash. Nooneshould sitinaseatwithaninoperativeseat Anyone using a seat belt that is belt. not working properly can be seriously injured or killed. Have your Honda dealer check the belt as soon as possible.

43

for additional

See page information about your seat belt system and how to take care of your belts.

Protecting Adults

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 chest provides optimal protection from the airbag.

See page steering wheel.

75

for how to adjust the

Driver and Passenger Safety

17

00/08/10 11:54:21 31S5P600_021

Protecting Adults

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, well back in their seats, with their feet on the floor, until the car is parked and the engine is off.

18

Driver and Passenger Safety

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.

In addition, an occupant who is out of position in the front seat can be seriously or fatally injured by striking interior parts of the car, or by being struck by an inflating front airbag. Being struck by an inflating side airbag can result in possibly serious injuries.

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 car’s airbags and other safety features, you must sit properly and wear your seat belt properly.

00/08/10 11:54:32 31S5P600_022

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 vehicle.

Remember to keep the lap portion of the belt as low as possible across your hips.

Pregnant women should also sit upright and as far back as possible 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 check-up, ask your doctor if it’s okay for you to drive.

Protecting Adults

Additional Safety Precautions

Twopeopleshouldneverusethe sameseatbelt. could be very seriously injured in a crash.

If they do, they

Donotputanyaccessoriesonseat Devices intended to improve belts. occupant comfort or reposition the shoulder part of a seat belt can severely compromise the protective capability of the seat belt and increase the chance of serious injury in a crash.

CONTINUED

Driver and Passenger Safety

19

00/08/10 11:54:38 31S5P600_023

Protecting Adults

Donotplacehardorsharpobjects betweenyourselfandafront Carrying hard or sharp airbag. 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.

Donotattachorplaceobjectson Any object thefrontairbagcovers. attached to or placed on the covers marked ‘‘SRS AIRBAG’’ in the center of the steering wheel and on top of the dashboard could interfere with the proper operation of the airbags. Or, if the airbags inflate, the objects could be propelled inside the car and hurt someone.

If a side airbag

Onmodelswithsideairbags,do notattachhardobjectsonornear afrontdoor. inflates, a cup holder or other hard object attached on or near the door could be propelled inside the car and hurt someone.

Keepyourhandsandarmsaway If your fromtheairbagcovers. hands or arms are close to the airbag cover in the center of the steering wheel or on top of the dashboard, they could be injured if the front airbags inflate.

20

Driver and Passenger Safety

00/08/10 11:54:49 31S5P600_024

Children depend on adults to protect them. However, despite their best intentions, many parents and other adults may not know how to protect young passengers.

properly

So if you have children, or if you ever need to drive with a grandchild or other children in your car, be sure to read this section.

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.

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 ages 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.

Anychildwhoistoosmalltoweara seatbeltshouldbeproperly restrainedinachildseat. 26

(See page

.)

Alargerchildshouldalwaysbe restrainedwithaseatbelt. 37

.)

(See page

CONTINUED

Driver and Passenger Safety

21

00/08/10 11:55:00 31S5P600_025

Protecting Children

AdditionalPrecautionstoParents Neverholdaninfantorchildon If you are not wearing a yourlap. seat belt in a crash, you could be thrown forward into the dashboard and crush the child.

If you are wearing a seat belt, the child can be torn from your arms during a crash. For example, if your car crashes into a parked vehicle at 30 mph (48 km/h), a 20-lb (9 kg) infant will become a 600-lb (275 kg) force, and you will not be able to hold on.

Neverputaseatbeltoveryourself During a andaninfantorchild. crash, the belt could press deep into the child and cause very serious injuries.

22

Driver and Passenger Safety

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 and Transport Canada recommend that all children ages 12 and under be properly restrained in the back seat.

In the back seat, children are less likely to be injured by striking hard interior parts during a collision or hard braking. Also, children cannot be injured by an inflating airbag when they ride in the back.

The Passenger’s Front Airbag Poses Serious Risks to Children 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 inflates with tremendous speed.

Infants Neverputarear-facingchildseatin thefrontseatofavehicleequipped If withapassenger’sfrontairbag. the airbag inflates, it can hit the back of the child seat with enough force to kill or very seriously injure an infant.

00/08/10 11:55:12 31S5P600_026

Protecting Children

SmallChildren Placingaforward-facingchildseatin thefrontseatofavehicleequipped withapassenger’sfrontairbagcan If the vehicle seat is behazardous. too far forward, or the child’s head is 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.

U.S.Models To remind you of the passenger’s front airbag hazards, and that children must be properly restrained in the back seat, your car 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.

LargerChildren Childrenwhohaveoutgrownchild seatsarealsoatriskofbeinginjured orkilledbyaninflatingpassenger’s frontairbag. larger children should sit in the back seat, properly restrained with a seat belt. (See page information about protecting larger children.)

Whenever possible,

for important

37

CONTINUED

Driver and Passenger Safety

23

00/08/10 11:55:28 31S5P600_027

Protecting Children

CanadianModels To remind you of the front airbag hazards, your car has warning labels on the driver’s and front passenger’s visors. Please read and follow the instructions on these labels.

If You Must Drive with Several Children Your car 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 car:

Place the largest child in the front seat, provided the child is large enough to wear a seat belt properly (see page

37

).

Move the vehicle seat as far to the rear as possible (see page

13

).

Have the child sit upright and well back in the seat (see page

18

).

Make sure the seat belt is properly positioned and secured (see page 16

).

24

Driver and Passenger Safety

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 the child to hazards from the passenger’s front airbag, and paying close attention to a child distracts the driver from the important tasks of driving, placing both of you at risk.

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.

00/08/10 15:22:49 31S5P600_028

Protecting Children

Even very young

Keepcarkeysandremote transmittersoutofthereachof children. children learn how to unlock vehicle doors, turn on the ignition, and open the trunk, which can lead to accidental injury or death.

Additional Safety Precautions

Donotleavechildrenaloneinyour Leaving children without vehicle. adult supervision is illegal in most states and Canadian provinces, 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.

Lockbothdoorsandthetrunk whenyourcarisnotinuse. Children who play in cars can accidentally get trapped inside the trunk. Teach your children not to play in or around cars. Know how to operate the emergency trunk opener and decide if your children should be shown how to use this feature (See page

89

).

Driver and Passenger Safety

25

00/08/10 11:55:43 31S5P600_029

Protecting Children

General Guidelines for Using Child Seats The following pages give general guidelines for selecting and installing child seats for infants and small children.

26

Driver and Passenger Safety

SelectingaChildSeat To provide proper protection, a child seat should meet three requirements:

1.

Thechildseatshouldmeetsafety The child seat should standards. meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 (FMVSS 213) or Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 213 (CMVSS 213). Look for the manufacturer’s statement of compliance on the box and seat.

2.

Thechildseatshouldbeofthe propertypeandsizetofitthechild.

Children up to about one Infants: year old should be restrained in a rear-facing, reclining child seat. Only a rear-facing seat provides the proper support to protect an infant’s head, neck, and back. See page 30
for additional information on protecting infants.

00/08/10 11:55:52 31S5P600_030

3.

Thechildseatshouldfitthe vehicleseatingposition(or positions)whereitwillbeused.

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 car.

A child who is too

SmallChildren: 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 for additional information on protecting small children.

34

Protecting Children

Before purchasing a child seat, we recommend that parents test the child seat in the specific vehicle seating position (or positions) where they intend to use the seat. If a previously purchased child seat does not fit, you may need to buy a different one that will fit.

Your car has lower anchorages installed for use with Child Restraint Anchorage System-compatible child seats. For more information, see page

42

CONTINUED

Driver and Passenger Safety

27

00/08/10 15:23:02 31S5P600_031

Protecting Children

PlacingaChildSeat This page briefly summarizes Honda’s recommendations on where to place rear-facing and forward- facing child seats in your car.

Airbags Pose Serious

Risks to Children

The passenger’s front 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 front airbag can kill or seriously injure the child.

If a small child must ride in the front, follow the instructions provided in this section.

28

Driver and Passenger Safety

FrontPassenger’sSeat Infants:

Never in the front seat, due

to the front airbag hazard.

Smallchildren:

Not recommended,

due to the front 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

35

).

BackSeats Infants:

Recommended positions.

Properly secure a rear-facing child seat (see page

31

).

Smallchildren:

Recommended

positions. Properly secure a front- facing child seat (see page

35

).

00/08/10 11:56:15 31S5P600_032

InstallingaChildSeat After selecting a proper child seat, and a good position to install the seat, there are three main steps in installing the seat:

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.

1.

All child seats are

Properlysecurethechildseatto thecar. designed to be secured to the car with the lap part of a lap/shoulder belt. Some child seats can be secured to the vehicle’s lower anchorages instead. A child whose seat is not properly secured to the car can be endangered in a crash. See pages instructions on how to properly secure child seats in this car.

and

for

31

35

42

2.

After installing a child

Makesurethechildseatisfirmly secured. seat, push and pull the seat forward and from side to side to verify that it is secure.

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-to- side or back-and-forth 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 seating position, or use a different style of child seat that can be firmly secured in the desired seating position.

Protecting Children

3.

Securethechildinthechildseat. 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 in a crash and be seriously injured.

StoringaChildSeat 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 car during a crash or sudden stop and injure someone.

Driver and Passenger Safety

29

00/08/10 11:56:26 31S5P600_033

Protecting Children

Protecting Infants

ChildSeatType Only a rear-facing child seat provides proper support for a baby’s head, neck, and back. Infants up to about one year of age must be restrained in a rear-facing child seat.

Two types of seats may be used: a seat designed exclusively for infants, or a convertible seat used in the rear- facing, reclining mode.

30

Driver and Passenger Safety

Placing a rear-facing child seat in the front seat can result in serious injury or death if the passenger’s front airbag inflates.

Always place a rear-facing child seat in the back seat, not the front.

We recommend that an infant be restrained in a rear-facing child seat until the infant reaches the seat maker’s weight or height limit and is able to sit up without support.

Rear-FacingChildSeatPlacement In this car, a rear-facing child seat can be placed in any seating position in the back seat, but not in the front seat.

Neverputarear-facingchildseatin If the passenger’s thefrontseat. front airbag inflates, it can hit the back of the child seat with enough force to kill or seriously injure an infant. If an infant must be closely watched, we recommend that another adult sit in the back seat with the baby.

Donotputarear-facingchildseatin If placed aforward-facingposition. facing forward, an infant could be very seriously injured during a frontal collision.

00/08/10 11:56:36 31S5P600_034

When properly installed, a rear- facing child seat may prevent the driver or a front-seat passenger from moving the seat as far back as recommended (see page ). Or it may prevent them from locking the seat-back in the desired upright position (see page

13

14

).

In either case, we recommend that you place the child seat directly behind the front passenger seat, move the front seat as far forward as needed, and leave it unoccupied. Or you may wish to get a smaller child seat that allows you to safely carry a front passenger.

Rear-FacingChildSeatInstallation The lap/shoulder belts in the back seats have a locking mechanism that must be activated to secure a child seat.

The following pages provide instructions and tips on how to secure a rear-facing child seat with this type of seat belt.

If you have a child seat designed to attach to the vehicle’s lower anchorages, follow the instructions on page

42

Protecting Children

1.

With the child seat in the desired back seating position, route the belt through the child seat according to the seat maker’s instructions, then insert the latch plate into the buckle.

CONTINUED

Driver and Passenger Safety

31

00/08/10 11:56:44 31S5P600_035

Protecting Children

2.

To activate the lockable retractor, slowly pull the shoulder part of the belt all the way out until it stops, then let the belt feed back into the retractor (you might hear a clicking noise as the belt retracts).

3.

After the belt has retracted, tug on it. If the belt is locked, you will not be able to pull it out. If you can pull the belt out, it is not locked and you will need to repeat these steps.

4.

After confirming that the belt is locked, grab the shoulder part of the belt near the buckle and pull up to remove any slack from the lap part of the belt. Remember, if the lap part of the belt is not tight, the child seat will not be secure. To remove slack, it may help to put weight on the child seat, or push on the back of the seat, while pulling up on the belt.

5.

Push and pull the child seat forward and from side to side to verify that it is secure enough to stay upright during normal driving maneuvers. If the child seat is not secure, unlatch the belt, allow it to retract fully, then repeat these steps.

32

Driver and Passenger Safety

00/08/10 11:56:50 31S5P600_036

To deactivate the locking mechanism and remove a child seat, unlatch the buckle, unroute the seat belt, and let the belt fully retract.

Rear-FacingChildSeatInstallation Tips

Protecting Children

For proper protection, an infant must ride in a reclined, or semi-reclined position. To determine the proper reclining angle, check with the baby’s doctor or follow the seat maker’s recommendations.

To achieve the desired reclining angle, it may help to put a rolled up towel under the toe of the child seat, as shown.

Driver and Passenger Safety

33

00/08/10 11:56:59 31S5P600_037

Protecting Children

Protecting Small Children

ChildSeatType A child who can sit up without support, and who fits within the child seat maker’s weight and height limits, should be restrained in a forward-facing, upright child seat.

34

Driver and Passenger Safety

Of the different seats available, we recommend those that have a five- point harness system as shown.

We also recommend that a small child stay in the child seat as long as possible, until the child reaches the weight or height limit for the seat.

ChildSeatPlacement In this car, the best place to install a forward-facing child seat is in one of the seating positions in the back seat.

Placingaforward-facingchildseatin thefrontseatofavehicleequipped withapassenger’sfrontairbagcan If the vehicle seat is behazardous. too far forward, or the child’s head is thrown forward during a collision, an inflating front airbag can strike the child with enough force to cause very serious or fatal injuries. If a small child must be closely watched, we recommend that another adult sit in the back seat with the child.

00/08/10 11:57:09 31S5P600_038

Improperly placing a forward- facing child seat in the front seat can result in serious injury or death if the front airbags inflate.

If you must place a forward- facing child seat in front, move the vehicle seat as far back as possible and properly restrain the child.

If it is necessary to put a forward- facing child seat in the front, move the vehicle seat as far to the rear as possible, be sure the child seat is firmly secured to the car, and the child is properly strapped in the seat.

ChildSeatInstallation The lap/shoulder belts in the back and front passenger seating positions have a locking mechanism that must be activated to secure a child seat.

The following pages provide instructions on how to secure a forward-facing child seat with this type of seat belt.

If you have a child seat designed to attach to the vehicle’s lower anchorages, follow the instructions on page

42

Protecting Children

1.

With the child seat in the desired seating position, route the belt through the child seat according to the seat maker’s instructions, then insert the latch plate into the buckle.

CONTINUED

Driver and Passenger Safety

35

00/08/10 11:57:17 31S5P600_039

Protecting Children

2.

To activate the lockable retractor, slowly pull the shoulder part of the belt all the way out until it stops, then let the belt feed back into the retractor (you might hear a clicking noise as the belt retracts).

3.

After the belt has retracted, tug on it. If the belt is locked, you will not be able to pull it out. If you can pull the belt out, it is not locked and you will need to repeat these steps.

4.

After confirming that the belt is locked, grab the shoulder part of the belt near the buckle and pull up to remove any slack from the lap part of the belt. Remember, if the lap part of the belt is not tight, the child seat will not be secure. It may help to put weight on the child seat, or push on the back of the seat, while pulling up on the belt.

5.

Push and pull the child seat forward and from side to side to verify that it is secure enough to stay upright during normal driving maneuvers. If the child seat is not secure, unlatch the belt, allow it to retract fully, then repeat these steps.

36

Driver and Passenger Safety

00/08/10 11:57:25 31S5P600_040

To deactivate the locking mechanism in order to remove a child seat, unlatch the buckle, unroute the seat belt, and let the belt fully retract.

Protecting Larger Children When a child reaches the recommended weight or height limit for a forward-facing child seat, the child should sit in the back seat and wear a lap/shoulder belt.

If a child is too short for the shoulder part of the belt to properly fit, we recommend that the child use a booster seat until the child is tall enough to use the seat belt without a booster.

The following pages give instructions on how to check proper seat belt fit, what kind of booster seat to use if one is needed, and important precautions for a child who must sit in the front seat.

Protecting Children

Allowing a larger child to sit improperly in the front seat can result in injury or death if the passenger’s front airbag inflates.

If a larger child must sit in front, make sure the child moves the seat as far back as possible and wears the seat belt properly.

Driver and Passenger Safety

37

00/08/10 11:57:34 31S5P600_041

Protecting Children

CheckingSeatBeltFit

To determine if a lap/shoulder belt properly fits a child, have the child put on the seat belt. Follow the instructions on page how the belt fits.

. Then check

16

If the shoulder part of the belt rests over the child’s collarbone and against the center of the chest, as shown, the child is large enough to wear the seat belt.

38

Driver and Passenger Safety

However, if the belt touches or crosses the child’s neck, the child needs to use a booster seat.

Donotletachildwearaseatbelt This could result in acrosstheneck. serious neck injuries during a crash.

Donotletachildputtheshoulder partofaseatbeltbehindthebackor underthearm. very serious injuries during a crash. It also increases the chance that the child will slide under the belt in a crash and be injured.

This could cause