2003 Civic Coupe Online Reference Owner's Manual …techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/pubs/OM/AH/ACI0303AOM/enu/C10303OM.… · 2003 Civic Coupe Online Reference Owner's Manual . ... and

2003 Civic Coupe 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.

Contents

Owner's Identification Form

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

A Few Words About Safety .......................................................................................................................... ii

Your Car at a Glance ......................................................................................................................................2

Driver and Passenger Safety .......................................................................................................................5 Proper use and care of your car's seat belts, and Supplemental Restraint System.

Instruments and Controls...........................................................................................................................59 Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls.

Comfort and Convenience Features.......................................................................................................109 How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features.

Before Driving .............................................................................................................................................155What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new car, and how to load luggage and other cargo.

Driving ...........................................................................................................................................................169 The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, plus towing a trailer.

Maintenance .................................................................................................................................................189 The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your car to the dealer.

Appearance Care.........................................................................................................................................249 Tips on cleaning and protecting your car. Things to look for if your car ever needs body repairs.

Taking Care of the Unexpected...............................................................................................................257 This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, and how to handle them.

Technical Information ...............................................................................................................................285 ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.

Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada) ......................................................................299 A summary of the warranties covering your new Honda, and how to contact us.

Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)...............................................................................................................303 How to order manuals and other technical literature.

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

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

This Owners Manual should be considereda permanent part of the car, and shouldremain with the car when it is sold.

This Owners Manual covers all models ofthe Civic Coupe. You may find descriptionsof equipment and features that are not onyour particular model.

The information and specifications includedin this publication were in effect at the timeof approval for printing. Honda Motor Co.,Ltd. reserves the right, however, todiscontinue or change specifications ordesign at any time without notice andwithout incurring any obligation whatsoever.

Owners Identif ication

POUR CLIENTS CANADIENAVIS IMPORTANT: Si vous avezbesoin dun Manuel du Conducteuren franais, veuillez demander votre concessionnaire decommander le numro de pice33S5PC20

OWNER

ADDRESS

V. I. N.

DELIVERY DATE

DEALER NAME DEALER NO.

ADDRESS

OWNERS SIGNATURE

DEALERS SIGNATURE

STREET

CITY STATE/PROVINCE ZIP CODE/POSTAL CODE

(Date sold to original retail purchaser)

STREET

CITY STATE/PROVINCE ZIP CODE/POSTAL CODE

Several warranties protect your new Honda. Read the warranty bookletthoroughly so you understand the coverages and are aware of your rightsand responsibilities.

As you read this manual, you willfind information that is preceded bya symbol. Thisinformation is intended to help youavoid damage to your Honda, otherproperty, or the environment.

One of the best ways to enhance the enjoyment of your new Honda is toread this manual. In it, you will learn how to operate its driving controls andconvenience items. Afterwards, keep this owners manual in your car so youcan refer to it at any time.

Maintaining your car according to the schedules given in this manual helpsto keep your driving trouble-free while it preserves your investment. Whenyour car needs maintenance, keep in mind that your Honda dealers staff isspecially trained in servicing the many systems unique to your Honda. YourHonda dealer is dedicated to your satisfaction and will be pleased to answerany questions and concerns.

California Proposition 65 Warning

This product contains or emits chemicals known to the State ofCalifornia to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

Congratulations! Your selection of a 2003 Honda Civic was a wise investment.It will give you years of driving pleasure.

Introduction

WARNING:

i

To help you make informeddecisions about safety, we haveprovided operating procedures andother information on labels and inthis manual. This information alertsyou to potential hazards that couldhurt you or others.

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

These signal words mean:

preceded by a safety alert symbol and one ofthree signal words: , , or .

such as Driver and Passenger Safety.

This entire book is filled with important safety information please read itcarefully.

such as Important Safety Reminders or ImportantSafety Precautions.

Your safety, and the safety of others,is very important. And operating thiscar safely is an importantresponsibility.

Of course, it is not practical orpossible to warn you about all thehazards associated with operating ormaintaining your car. You must useyour own good judgement.

on the car.

how to use this car correctly and safely.

A Few Words About Safety

Safety Messages

Safety Section

Safety Headings

Safety Labels

Instructions

DANGER WARNING CAUTION

ii

You WILL be KILLED or SERIOUSLYHURT if you dont follow instructions.

You CAN be KILLED or SERIOUSLYHURT if you dont follow instructions.

You CAN be HURT if you dont followinstructions.

Your Car at a Glance

2

(P. 84)

(P. 96)

POWERDOOR LOCKSWITCH

POWER WINDOWSWITCHES

HOOD RELEASEHANDLE(P. 158)

(P. 110)HEATING/COOLING CONTROLS

FUEL FILL DOOR RELEASE(P. 157)

A/T model is shown.

TRUNK RELEASE(P. 88)

(P. 174)AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

MANUAL TRANSMISSION(P. 172)

(P. 118, 130)AUDIO SYSTEM

DIGITAL CLOCK(P. 123, 135)

GAUGESINDICATOR LIGHTS

AIRBAGS(P. 10, 49)

(P. 69)(P. 61)

Your Car at a Glance

3

HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS

MOONROOF

CRUISE CONTROLMASTER SWITCH

MIRROR CONTROLS TILT ADJUSTMENT CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS

REAR WINDOWDEFOGGER

HAZARD WARNING LIGHTS

WINDSHIELD WIPERS/WASHERS(P. 73, 75)

(P. 98)

(P. 151)

(P. 99) (P. 79) (P. 152)

(P. 78)

(P. 78)

(P. 76, 77)

This section gives you importantinformation about how to protectyourself and your passengers. Itshows you how to use seat beltsproperly. It explains your Supple-mental Restraint System. And it tellsyou how to properly restrain infantsand children in your car.

.........Important Safety Precautions . 6.............Your Cars Safety Features . 7

.......................................Seat Belts . 8.........................................Airbags . 10

..................Seats and Seat-Backs . 11..........................Head Restraints . 11

..................................Door Locks . 11........Pre-Drive Safety Checklist . 12

............................Protecting Adults . 13.....1. Close and Lock the Doors . 13

...........2. Adjust the Front Seats . 13

............3. Adjust the Seat-Backs . 14...4. Adjust the Head Restraints . 15

5. Fasten and Position the Seat.....................................Belts . 16

....6. Adjust the Steering Wheel . 177. Maintain a Proper Sitting

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

........................Protecting Children . 21All Children Must Be

...............................Restrained . 21Children Should Sit in the Back

...........................................Seat . 22The Passengers Front Airbag

Poses Serious Risks to...............................Children . 22

If You Must Drive with Several...................................Children . 24

If a Child Requires Close..................................Attention . 24

...Additional Safety Precautions . 25General Guidelines for Using

...............................Child Seats . 26.......................Protecting Infants . 30

.........Protecting Small Children . 34

.......Protecting Larger Children . 37Using Child Seats with

.....................................Tethers . 41.............................Using LATCH . 42

Additional Information About Your.................................Seat Belts . 45

..Seat Belt System Components . 45......................Lap/Shoulder Belt . 45

Automatic Seat Belt...............................Tensioners . 46

...............Seat Belt Maintenance . 47Additional Information About

...........................Your Airbags . 49........................SRS Components . 49

How Your Front Airbags.........................................Work . 49

...How Your Side Airbags Work . 51How the SRS Indicator Light

.......................................Works . 52How The Passenger Airbag

Cutoff Indicator Light...................................Works . 53

.............................Airbag Service . 54...Additional Safety Precautions . 54

.............Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 55...................................Safety Labels . 56

Driver and Passenger Safety


5

Excessive speed is a major factor incrash injuries and deaths. Generally,the higher the speed the greater therisk, but serious accidents can alsooccur at lower speeds. Never drivefaster than is safe for currentconditions, regardless of themaximum speed posted.

While airbags can save lives, theycan cause serious or fatal injuries tooccupants who sit too close to them,or are not properly restrained.Infants, young children, and shortadults are at the greatest risk. Besure to follow all instructions andwarnings in this manual. (See page

.)

Children are safest when they areproperly restrained in the back seat,not the front seat. A child who is toosmall for a seat belt must be properlyrestrained in a child safety seat. (Seepage .)

Having a tire blowout or amechanical failure can be extremelyhazardous. To reduce the possibilityof such problems, check your tirepressures and condition frequently,and perform all regularly scheduledmaintenance. (See page .)

Youll find many safetyrecommendations throughout thissection, and throughout this manual.The recommendations on this pageare the ones we consider to be themost important.

A seat belt is your best protection inall types of collisions. Airbagssupplement seat belts, but airbagsare designed to inflate only in amoderate to severe frontal collision.So even though your car is equippedwith airbags, make sure you andyour passengers always wear yourseat belts, and wear them properly.(See page .)

Alcohol and driving dont mix. Evenone drink can reduce your ability torespond to changing conditions, andyour reaction time gets worse withevery additional drink. So dont drinkand drive, and dont let your friendsdrink and drive, either.

16

21

14

194


Important Safety Precautions

Always Wear Your Seat Belt

Be Aware of Airbag Hazards Control Your Speed

Restrain All Children

Keep Your Car in Safe ConditionDont Drink and Drive

6

Your car is equipped with manyfeatures that work together toprotect you and your passengersduring a crash.

Some safety features do not requireany action on your part. Theseinclude a strong steel frameworkthat forms a safety cage around thepassenger compartment; front andrear crush zones that are designed tocrumple and absorb energy during acrash; a collapsible steering column;and seat belt tensioners thatautomatically tighten the front seatbelts in the event of a crash.

CONTINUED


Your Cars Safety Features

7

(7)(11)

(9)

(2)

(8)

(6)(4)(3)(1)(8)(10)

(7)

(5)

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

For your safety, and the safety ofyour passengers, your car isequipped with seat belts in all seatingpositions.

These safety features are designedto reduce the severity of injuries in acrash. However, you and yourpassengers cant take full advantageof these safety features unless youremain sitting in a proper positionand

In fact, some safetyfeatures can contribute to injuries ifthey are not used properly.

Your seat belt system alsoincludes a light on the

instrument panel to remind you andyour passengers to fasten your seatbelts.

Seat belts are the single mosteffective safety device for adults andlarger children. (Infants and smallerchildren must be properly restrainedin child seats.)

Not wearing a seat belt properlyincreases the chance of seriousinjury or death in a crash, eventhough your car has airbags.

In addition, most states and allCanadian provinces require you towear seat belts.



Seat Belts

always wear your seat beltsproperly.

Why Wear Seat Belts

8

When properly worn, seat belts:

Help protect you in almost everytype of crash, including frontal,side, and rear impacts androllovers.

Help keep you in a good positionshould the airbags ever deploy. Agood position reduces the risk ofinjury from an inflating airbag, andallows you to get the bestadvantage from the airbag.

Of course, seat belts cannotcompletely protect you in everycrash. But in most cases, seat beltscan reduce your risk of seriousinjury.

Always wearyour seat belt, and make sure youwear it properly.

Keep you connected to the vehicleso you can take advantage of thevehicles built-in safety features.

Help keep you from being thrownagainst the inside of the vehicleand against other occupants.

Keep you from being thrown outof the vehicle.

What you should do:


Driver and Passenger Safety 9

Not wearing a seat belt properlyincreases the chance of seriousinjury or death in a crash, evenif you have airbags.

Be sure you and yourpassengers always wear seatbelts and wear them properly.

The most important things you needto know about your airbags are:

Your car also has side airbags to helpprotect the upper torso of the driveror a front seat passenger during amoderate to severe side impact.

Always wearyour seat belt properly, and situpright and as far back as possiblefrom the steering wheel ordashboard.

To do their job, airbags mustinflate with tremendous force andspeed. So while airbags help savelives, they can cause minor injuries,or more serious or even fatalinjuries if occupants are notproperly restrained or sittingproperly.

They are designed to supplementthe seat belts.

Your car has a SupplementalRestraint System (SRS) with dual-stage, dual-threshold front airbags tohelp protect the heads and chests ofthe driver and a front seat passengerduring a moderate to severe frontalcollision.

Only on models equipped with sideairbags.

Airbags



What you should do:

Airbags can pose serious hazards.

Airbags offer no protection in rearimpacts, rollovers, or minorfrontal or side collisions.

Airbags do not replace seat belts.

10

Head restraints can help protect youfrom whiplash and other injuries. Formaximum protection, the back ofyour head should rest against thecenter of the head restraint.

Move the frontseats as far back as possible, andkeep adjustable seat-backs in anupright position whenever the car ismoving.

Keeping your doors locked reducesthe chance of being thrown out ofthe car during a crash. It also helpsprevent occupants from accidentallyopening a door and falling out, andoutsiders from unexpectedly openingyour doors.

Your cars seats are designed to keepyou in a comfortable, uprightposition so you can take fulladvantage of the protection offeredby seat belts and the energyabsorbing materials in the seats.

How you adjust your seats and seat-backs can also affect your safety. Forexample, sitting too close to thesteering wheel or dashboardincreases the risk of you or yourpassenger being injured by strikingthe inside of the car, or by aninflating airbag.

Reclining a seat-back too far reducesthe seat belts effectiveness andincreases the chance that the seatsoccupant will slide under the seatbelt in a crash and be seriouslyinjured.

Head Restraints

Door LocksSeats and Seat-Backs What you should do:



11

All adults, and children who haveoutgrown child safety seats, arewearing their seat belts andwearing them properly (see page

).

Any infant or small child isproperly restrained in a child seatin the back seat (see page ).

To make sure you and yourpassengers get the maximumprotection from your cars safetyfeatures, check the following eachtime before you drive away:

Front seat occupants are sittingupright and as far back as possiblefrom the steering wheel anddashboard (see page ).

Seat-backs are upright (see page).

Head restraints are properlyadjusted (see page ).

Both doors are closed and locked(see page ).

All cargo is properly stored orsecured (see page ).

Remember, however, that no safetysystem can prevent all injuries ordeaths that can occur in severecrashes, even when seat belts areproperly worn and the airbags deploy.

The rest of this section gives moredetailed information about how youcan maximize your safety.

The following pages provideinstructions on how to properlyprotect the driver and other adultoccupants.

These instructions also apply tochildren who have outgrown childseats and are large enough to wearlap/shoulder belts. (See page forimportant additional guidelines onhow to properly protect largerchildren.)

16

21

13

14

15

13

37165

Pre-Drive Safety Checklist Introduction


Driver and Passenger Safety12

CONTINUED

After everyone has entered the car,be sure the doors are closed andlocked.

For safety, locking the doors reducesthe chance that a passenger,especially a child, will open a doorwhile the car is moving andaccidentally fall out. It also reducesthe chance of someone being thrownout of the car during a crash.

For security, locked doors canprevent an outsider fromunexpectedly opening a door whenyou come to a stop.

See page for how to lock thedoors.

Any driver who sits too close to thesteering wheel is at risk of beingseriously injured or killed by strikingthe steering wheel or from beingstruck by an inflating front airbagduring a crash.

To reduce the chance of injury, wearyour seat belt properly, sit uprightwith your back against the seat, andmove the seat away from thesteering wheel to the farthestdistance that allows you to maintainfull control of the car.

84

Protecting Adults


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

13

Most shorter drivers can get farenough away from the steeringwheel and still reach the pedals.However, if you are concerned aboutsitting too close, we recommend thatyou investigate whether some typeof adaptive equipment may help.

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

See page for how to adjust thefront seats.

Adjust the drivers seat-back to acomfortable, upright position,leaving ample space between yourchest and the airbag cover in thecenter of the steering wheel. If yousit too close to the steering wheel,you could be injured if the frontairbag inflates.

A front passenger should also adjustthe seat-back to an upright position,but as far from the dashboard aspossible. A passenger who sits tooclose to the dashboard could beinjured if the front airbag inflates.

The National Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration and TransportCanada recommend that driversadjust the seat so the center of thechest is at least 10 inches (25 cm)away from the center of the steeringwheel. Also make sure your frontseat passenger moves the seat as farto the rear as possible.

90

Adjust the Seat-Backs3.

Protecting Adults


Sitting too close to a frontairbag can result in seriousinjury or death if the frontairbags inflate.

Always sit as far back from thefront airbags as possible.

Before driving, make sure everyonewith an adjustable head restraint hasproperly positioned the headrestraint. The restraint should bepositioned so the back of theoccupants head rests against thecenter of the restraint. A tallerperson should adjust the restraint ashigh as possible.

See page for how to adjust seat-backs.

Reclining a seat-back so that theshoulder part of the belt no longerrests against the occupants chestreduces the protective capability ofthe belt. It also increases the chanceof sliding under the belt in a crashand being seriously injured. Thefarther a seat-back is reclined, thegreater the risk of injury.

See page for how to adjust thehead restraints.

Properly adjusted head restraintswill help protect occupants fromwhiplash and other crash injuries.

90

92

Adjust the Head Restraints4.

Protecting Adults


Improperly positioning headrestraints reduces theireffectiveness and you can beseriously injured in a crash.

Make sure head restraints arein place and positioned properlybefore driving.

Reclining the seat-back too farcan result in serious injury ordeath in a crash.

Adjust the seat-back to anupright position and sit wellback in the seat.

If necessary, pull up on the belt againto remove any slack from theshoulder part, then check that thebelt rests across the center of yourchest and over your shoulder. This

spreads the forces of a crash overthe strongest bones in your upperbody.

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

Insert the latch plate into the buckle,then tug on the belt to make sure thebelt is securely latched. Also checkthat the belt is not twisted, because atwisted belt can cause seriousinjuries in a crash.

This could causevery serious injuries in a crash.

Fasten and Position the SeatBelts

5.

Protecting Adults


Never place the shoulder portion of alap/shoulder belt under your arm orbehind your back.

16

Improperly positioning the seatbelts can cause serious injuryor death in a crash.

Make sure all seat belts areproperly positioned beforedriving.

Adjust the steering wheel, if needed,so that the wheel points toward yourchest, not toward your face.

Pointing the steering wheel towardyour chest provides optimalprotection from the airbag.

See page for how to adjust thesteering wheel.

If a seat belt does not seem to workas it should, it may not protect theoccupant in a crash.

Anyone using a seat belt that isnot working properly can beseriously injured or killed. Have yourHonda dealer check the belt as soonas possible.

See page for additionalinformation about your seat beltsystem and how to take care of yourbelts.

45

79

Adjust the Steering Wheel6.

Protecting Adults


No one shouldsit in a seat with an inoperative seatbelt.

17

After all occupants have adjustedtheir seats and put on seat belts, it isvery important that they continue tosit upright, well back in their seats,with their feet on the floor, until thecar is parked and the engine is off.

Sitting improperly can increase thechance of injury during a crash. Forexample, if an occupant slouches,lies down, turns sideways, sitsforward, leans forward or sideways,or puts one or both feet up, thechance of injury during a crash isgreatly increased.

In addition, an occupant who is out ofposition in the front seat can beseriously or fatally injured bystriking interior parts of the car, orby being struck by an inflating frontairbag. Being struck by an inflatingside airbag can result in possiblyserious injuries.

Remember, to get the bestprotection from your cars airbagsand other safety features, you mustsit properly and wear your seat beltproperly.

Maintain a Proper SittingPosition

7.

Protecting Adults


Sitting improperly or out ofposition can result in seriousinjury or death in a crash.

Always sit upright, well back inthe seat, with your feet on thefloor.

Remember to keep the lap portion ofthe belt as low as possible acrossyour hips.

Pregnant women should also situpright and as far back as possiblefrom the steering wheel ordashboard. This will reduce the riskof injuries to both the mother andher unborn child that can be causedby a crash or an inflating airbag.

Each time you have a check-up, askyour doctor if its okay for you todrive.

If they do, theycould be very seriously injured in acrash.

Devices intended to improveoccupant comfort or reposition theshoulder part of a seat belt canseverely compromise theprotective capability of the seatbelt and increase the chance ofserious injury in a crash.

Because protecting the mother is thebest way to protect her unborn child,a pregnant woman should alwayswear a seat belt whenever she drivesor rides in a car.

CONTINUED

Protecting Adults


Advice for Pregnant Women Additional Safety PrecautionsTwo people should never use thesame seat belt.

Do not put any accessories on seatbelts.

19

Carrying hard or sharpobjects on your lap, or driving witha pipe or other sharp objects inyour mouth, can result in injuriesif your front airbag inflates.

Any objectattached to or placed on the coversmarked SRS AIRBAG in thecenter of the steering wheel andon top of the dashboard couldinterfere with the proper operationof the airbags. Or, if the airbagsinflate, the objects could bepropelled inside the car and hurtsomeone.

If a side airbaginflates, a cup holder or other hardobject attached on or near thedoor could be propelled inside thecar and hurt someone.

If yourhands or arms are close to theairbag cover in the center of thesteering wheel or on top of thedashboard, they could be injured ifthe front airbag inflates.

Protecting Adults


Do not place hard or sharp objectsbetween yourself and a frontairbag.

Do not attach or place objects onthe front airbag covers.

On models with side airbags, donot attach hard objects on or neara front door.

Keep your hands and arms awayfrom the airbag covers.

20

(See page.)

Children depend on adults to protectthem. However, despite their bestintentions, many parents and otheradults may not know how toprotect young passengers.

So if you have children, or if you everneed to drive with a grandchild orother children in your car, be sure toread this section. (See page .)

Each year, many children are injuredor killed in car crashes because theyare either unrestrained or notproperly restrained. In fact, caraccidents are the number one causeof death of children ages 12 andunder.

To reduce the number of childdeaths and injuries, every state andCanadian province requires thatinfants and children be restrainedwhenever they ride in a car.

26

37

properly

CONTINUED


Protecting Children

All Children Must Be Restrained

Any child who is too small to wear aseat belt should be properlyrestrained in a child seat.

A larger child should always berestrained with a seat belt, and use abooster, if needed.

21

Children who are unrestrainedor improperly restrained can beseriously injured or killed in acrash.

Any child too small for a seatbelt should be properlyrestrained in a child seat. Alarger child should be properlyrestrained with a seat belt.

Front airbags have been designed tohelp protect adults in a moderate tosevere frontal collision. To do this,the passengers front airbag is quitelarge, and it inflates with tremendousspeed.

Ifthe airbag inflates, it can hit the backof the child seat with enough forceto kill or very seriously injure aninfant.

According to accident statistics,children of all ages and sizes aresafer when they are restrained in theback seat, not the front seat. TheNational Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration and TransportCanada recommend that all childrenages 12 and under be properlyrestrained in the back seat.

In the back seat, children are lesslikely to be injured by striking hardinterior parts during a collision orhard braking. Also, children cannotbe injured by an inflating airbagwhen they ride in the back.

If you are not wearing aseat belt in a crash, you could bethrown forward into thedashboard and crush the child.

During acrash, the belt could press deepinto the child and cause veryserious injuries.

If you are wearing a seat belt, thechild can be torn from your armsduring a crash. For example, ifyour car crashes into a parked carat 30 mph (48 km/h), a 20-lb(9 kg) infant will become a 600-lb(275 kg) force, and you will not beable to hold on.


Protecting Children

The Passengers Front AirbagPoses Serious Risks to Children

Children Should Sit in the BackSeat

InfantsNever put a rear-facing child seat inthe front seat of a vehicle equippedwith a passengers front airbag.

Additional Precautions to ParentsNever hold an infant or child onyour lap.

Never put a seat belt over yourselfand an infant or child.

22

CONTINUED

To remind you of the passengersfront airbag hazards, and thatchildren must be properly restrainedin the back seat, your car haswarning labels on the dashboard andon the drivers and front passengersvisors. Please read and follow theinstructions on these labels.

If the vehicle seat istoo far forward, or the childs head isthrown forward during a collision, aninflating front airbag can strike thechild with enough force to kill orvery seriously injure a small child.

Whenever possible,larger children should sit in the backseat, in a booster seat if needed, andbe properly restrained with a seatbelt. (See page for importantinformation about protecting largerchildren.)

37


Protecting Children

U.S. ModelsSmall ChildrenPlacing a forward-facing child seat inthe front seat of a vehicle equippedwith a passengers front airbag canbe hazardous.

Larger ChildrenChildren who have outgrown childseats are also at risk of being injuredor killed by an inflating passengersfront airbag.

23

Many parents say they prefer to putan infant or small child in the frontpassenger seat so they can watch thechild, or because the child requiresattention.

Placing a child in the front seatexposes the child to hazards fromthe passengers front airbag, andpaying close attention to a childdistracts the driver from theimportant tasks of driving, placingboth of you at risk.

If a child requires physical attentionor frequent visual contact, westrongly recommend that anotheradult ride with the child in the backseat. The back seat is far safer for achild than the front.

Your car has three seating positionsin the back seat where children canbe properly restrained.

If you ever have to carry more thanthree children in your car:

Place the largest child in the frontseat, provided the child is largeenough to wear a seat beltproperly (see page ).

Move the vehicle seat as far to therear as possible (see page ).

Have the child sit upright and wellback in the seat (see page ).

Make sure the seat belt is properlypositioned and secured (see page

).

To remind you of the front airbaghazards, your car has warning labelson the drivers and front passengersvisors. Please read and follow theinstructions on these labels.

37

13

18

16


Protecting Children

If a Child Requires CloseAttention

If You Must Drive with SeveralChildren

Canadian Models

24

Leaving children withoutadult supervision is illegal in moststates and Canadian provinces,and can be very hazardous. Forexample, infants and smallchildren left in a vehicle on a hotday can die from heatstroke. Andchildren left alone with the key inthe ignition can accidentally setthe vehicle in motion, possiblyinjuring themselves or others.

Even very youngchildren learn how to unlockvehicle doors, turn on the ignition,and open the trunk, which canlead to accidental injury or death.

Children who play in cars canaccidentally get trapped inside thetrunk and be seriously injured orcould die. Teach your children notto play in or around cars. Knowhow to operate the emergencytrunk opener and decide if yourchildren should be shown how touse this feature (See page ).89

Protecting Children


Do not leave children alone in yourvehicle.

Keep car keys and remotetransmitters out of the reach ofchildren.

Lock both doors and the trunkwhen your car is not in use.

Additional Safety Precautions

25

The following pages give generalguidelines for selecting and installingchild seats for infants and smallchildren.

To provide proper protection, a childseat should meet threerequirements:

The child seat shouldmeet Federal Motor VehicleSafety Standard 213 (FMVSS 213)or Canadian Motor Vehicle SafetyStandard 213 (CMVSS 213). Lookfor the manufacturers statementof compliance on the box and seat.

Children up to about oneyear old should be restrained in arear-facing, reclining child seat. Onlya rear-facing seat provides theproper support to protect an infantshead, neck, and back. See page

for additional information onprotecting infants.30

General Guidelines for UsingChild Seats

Selecting a Child Seat

The child seat should meet safetystandards.

The child seat should be of theproper type and size to fit the child.

Infants:2.

1.

Protecting Children


Before purchasing a child seat, werecommend that parents test thechild seat in the specific vehicleseating position (or positions) wherethey intend to use the seat. If apreviously purchased child seat doesnot fit, you may need to buy adifferent one that will fit.

Due to variations in the design ofchild seats, vehicle seats, and seatbelts, all child seats will not fit allvehicle seating positions.

A child who is toolarge for a rear-facing child seat, andwho can sit up without support,should be restrained in a forward-facing child seat. See page foradditional information on protectingsmall children.

However, Honda is confident thatone or more child seat models can fitand be properly installed in allrecommended seating positions inyour car.

Your car has lower anchors installedfor use with LATCH (LowerAnchors and Tethers for Children) -compatible child seats. For moreinformation, see page .

34

43

CONTINUED

The child seat should fit thevehicle seating position (orpositions) where it will be used.

Small Children:

3.

Protecting Children


This page briefly summarizesHondas recommendations on whereto place rear-facing and forward-facing child seats in your car.

Never in the front seat, dueto the front airbag hazard.

The passengers front airbaginflates with enough force to killor seriously injure an infant in arear-facing child seat.

A small child in a forward-facingchild seat is also at risk. If thevehicle seat is too far forward,or the childs head is thrownforward during a collision, aninflating front airbag can kill orseriously injure the child.

If a small child must ride in thefront, follow the instructionsprovided in this section.

Not recommended,due to the front airbag hazard. If asmall 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 ).

Recommended positions.Properly secure a rear-facing childseat (see page ).

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

35

35

31

Placing a Child Seat Front Passengers SeatInfants:

Back Seats

Small children:

Infants:

Small children:

Airbags Pose SeriousRisks to Children

Protecting Children


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

Make sure the child is properlystrapped in the child seataccording to the child seat makersinstructions. A child who is notproperly secured in a child seatcan be thrown out of the seat in acrash and be seriously injured.

To provide security during normaldriving maneuvers as well as duringa collision, we recommend thatparents secure a child seat as firmlyas possible.

If the child seat is not secure, tryinstalling it in a different seatingposition, or use a different style ofchild seat that can be firmly securedin the desired seating position.

When you are not using a child seat,either remove it and store it in a safeplace, or make sure it is properlysecured. An unsecured child seat canbe thrown around the car during acrash or sudden stop and injuresomeone.

However, a child seat does not needto be rock solid. In some vehiclesor seating positions, it may bedifficult to install a child seat so thatit does not move at all. Some side-to-side or back-and-forth movement canbe expected and should not reducethe child seats effectiveness.

After installing a childseat, push and pull the seatforward and from side to side toverify that it is secure.

All child seats aredesigned to be secured to the carwith the lap part of a lap/shoulderbelt. Some child seats can besecured to the vehicles LATCHanchorage system instead. A childwhose seat is not properly securedto the car can be endangered in acrash. See pages , and forinstructions on how to properlysecure child seats in this car.

31 35 43

Installing a Child Seat Secure the child in the child seat.

Storing a Child Seat

Make sure the child seat is firmlysecured.

Properly secure the child seat tothe car.

1.

2.

3.

Protecting Children


Only a rear-facing child seat providesproper support for a babys head,neck, and back. Infants up to aboutone year of age must be restrained ina rear-facing child seat.

In this car, a rear-facing child seatcan be placed in any seating positionin the back seat, but not in the frontseat.

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

If the passengersfront airbag inflates, it can hit theback of the child seat with enoughforce to kill or seriously injure aninfant. If an infant must be closelywatched, we recommend thatanother adult sit in the back seatwith the baby.

If placedfacing forward, an infant could bevery seriously injured during afrontal collision.

We recommend that an infant berestrained in a rear-facing child seatuntil the infant is at least one yearold, reaches the seat makers weightor height limit, and is able to sit upwithout support.

Protecting Infants

Child Seat Type

Rear-Facing Child Seat Placement

Never put a rear-facing child seat inthe front seat.

Do not put a rear-facing child seat ina forward-facing position.

Protecting Children


Placing a rear-facing child seatin the front seat can result inserious injury or death if thepassengers front airbag inflates.

Always place a rear-facing childseat in the back seat, not thefront.

With the child seat in the desiredback seating position, route thebelt through the child seataccording to the seat makersinstructions, then insert the latchplate into the buckle.

The lap/shoulder belts in the backseats have a locking mechanism thatmust be activated to secure a childseat.

The following pages provideinstructions and tips on how tosecure a rear-facing child seat withthis type of seat belt.

When properly installed, a rear-facing child seat may prevent thedriver or a front-seat passenger frommoving the seat as far back asrecommended (see page ). Or itmay prevent them from locking theseat-back in the desired uprightposition (see page ).

In either case, we recommend thatyou place the child seat directlybehind the front passenger seat,move the front seat as far forward asneeded, and leave it unoccupied. Oryou may wish to get a smaller childseat that allows you to safely carry afront passenger.

If you have a child seat designed toattach to the vehicles LATCHanchorage system, follow theinstructions on page .

1.

13

14

43

CONTINUED

Rear-Facing Child Seat Installation

Protecting Children


Push and pull the child seatforward and from side to side toverify that it is secure enough tostay upright during normal drivingmaneuvers. If the child seat is notsecure, unlatch the belt, allow it toretract fully, then repeat thesesteps.

After confirming that the belt islocked, grab the shoulder part ofthe belt near the buckle and pullup to remove any slack from thelap part of the belt. Remember, ifthe lap part of the belt is not tight,the child seat will not be secure.To remove slack, it may help toput weight on the child seat, orpush on the back of the seat, whilepulling up on the belt.

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

After the belt has retracted, tug onit. If the belt is locked, you will notbe able to pull it out. If you can pullthe belt out, it is not locked andyou will need to repeat these steps.

4. 5.2.

3.

Protecting Children


For proper protection, an infant mustride in a reclined, or semi-reclinedposition. To determine the properreclining angle, check with the babysdoctor or follow the seat makersrecommendations.

To achieve the desired recliningangle, it may help to put a rolled uptowel under the toe of the child seat,as shown.

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

Rear-Facing Child Seat InstallationTips

Protecting Children


A child who can sit up withoutsupport, and who fits within the childseat makers weight and heightlimits, should be restrained in aforward-facing, upright child seat.

In this car, the best place to install aforward-facing child seat is in one ofthe seating positions in the back seat.

If the vehicle seat istoo far forward, or the childs head isthrown forward during a collision, aninflating front airbag can strike thechild with enough force to causevery serious or fatal injuries. If asmall child must be closely watched,we recommend that another adult sitin the back seat with the child.

We also recommend that a smallchild stay in the child seat as long aspossible, until the child reaches theweight or height limit for the seat.

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

Protecting Small Children

Child Seat Type

Child Seat Placement

Placing a forward-facing child seat inthe front seat of a vehicle equippedwith a passengers front airbag canbe hazardous.

Protecting Children


With the child seat in the desiredseating position, route the beltthrough the child seat accordingto the seat makers instructions,then insert the latch plate into thebuckle.

The lap/shoulder belts in the backand front passenger seating positionshave a locking mechanism that mustbe activated to secure a child seat.

The following pages provideinstructions on how to secure aforward-facing child seat with thistype of seat belt.

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

If you have a child seat designed toattach to the vehicles LATCHanchorage system, follow theinstructions on page .

1.43

CONTINUED

Child Seat Installation

Protecting Children


Improperly placing a forward-facing child seat in the frontseat can result in serious injuryor death if the front airbagsinflate.

If you must place a forward-facing child seat in front, movethe vehicle seat as far back aspossible and properly restrainthe child.

Push and pull the child seatforward and from side to side toverify that it is secure enough tostay upright during normal drivingmaneuvers. If the child seat is notsecure, unlatch the belt, allow it toretract fully, then repeat thesesteps.

After confirming that the belt islocked, grab the shoulder part ofthe belt near the buckle and pullup to remove any slack from thelap part of the belt. Remember, ifthe lap part of the belt is not tight,the child seat will not be secure. Itmay help to put weight on thechild seat, or push on the back ofthe seat, while pulling up on thebelt.

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

After the belt has retracted, tug onit. If the belt is locked, you will notbe able to pull it out. If you can pullthe belt out, it is not locked andyou will need to repeat these steps.

4. 5.2.

3.

Protecting Children


To deactivate the lockingmechanism in order to remove achild seat, unlatch the buckle,unroute the seat belt, and let the beltfully retract.

When a child reaches therecommended weight or height limitfor a forward-facing child seat, thechild should sit in the back seat on abooster and wear a lap/shoulder belt.

We recommend that the child use abooster seat until the child is tallenough to use the seat belt without abooster.

The following pages giveinstructions on how to check properseat belt fit, what kind of boosterseat to use if one is needed, andimportant precautions for a childwho must sit in the front seat.

CONTINUED

Protecting Larger Children

Protecting Children


Allowing a larger child to sitimproperly in the front seat canresult in injury or death if thepassengers front airbag inflates.

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

Devices intended to improveoccupant comfort or reposition theshoulder part of a seat belt, severelycompromise the protective capabilityof the seat belt and increase thechance of serious injury in a crash.

If they do, they couldbe very seriously injured in a crash.

To determine if a lap/shoulder beltproperly fits a child, have the childsit in the rear seat, all the way backagainst the seat and put on the seatbelt. Follow the instructions on page

. Then check how the belt fits.

If the shoulder part of the belt restsover the childs collarbone andagainst the center of the chest, andthe lap belt rests over the childshipbones and touches the tops of

their thighs as shown, the child isprobably big enough to wear the seatbelt.

However, if the shoulder belttouches or crosses the childs neck,or if the lap belt crosses the childsstomach, the child needs to use abooster seat.

This could result in serious neck andinternal injuries during a crash.

This could causevery serious injuries during a crash.It also increases the chance that thechild will slide under the belt in acrash and be injured.

16

Do not put any accessories on a seatbelt.

Two children should never use thesame seat belt.

Checking Seat Belt Fit

Do not let a child wear a seat beltacross the neck or over the stomach.

Do not let a child put the shoulderpart of a seat belt behind the back orunder the arm.

Protecting Children


The back seat is the safest place fora child of any age or size.

The National Highway Traffic SafetyAdministration and TransportCanada recommend that all childrenages 12 and under be properlyrestrained in a back seat.

In addition, the passengers frontairbag poses serious risks to children.If the seat is too far forward, or thechilds head is thrown forwardduring a collision, or the child isunrestrained or out of position, aninflating front airbag can kill orseriously injure the child.

The side airbag also poses risks. Ifany part of a larger childs body is inthe path of a deploying airbag, thechild could receive possibly seriousinjuries.

Whichever style you select, followthe booster seat makers instructions.

If a child needs a booster seat, werecommend choosing a high or low-back style that allows the child to bedirectly secured with the lap/shoulder belt.

A child should continue using abooster seat until the child exceedsthe booster seat manufacturersrequirements.

Even then, the child may still need touse a booster seat. Note that somestates now require children to useboosters until they reach a certainage and/or weight. Be sure to checkcurrent laws in the state or stateswhere you intend to drive.

CONTINUED

When Can a Larger Child Sit in FrontUsing a Booster Seat

Protecting Children


Supervise the child. Even maturechildren sometimes need to bereminded to fasten the seat beltsor sit properly.

If you decide that a child can safelyride up front, be sure to:

Carefully read the owners manualand make sure you understand allseat belt instructions and all safetyinformation.

Move the vehicle seat to the rear-most position.

Have the child sit up straight, backagainst the seat, and feet on ornear the floor.

Check that the childs seat belt isproperly positioned and secured.

Of course, children vary widely. Andwhile age may be one indicator ofwhen a child can safely ride in thefront, there are other importantfactors you should consider.

Physically, a child must be largeenough for the lap/shoulder belt toproperly fit over the hips, chest, andshoulder (see pages and ). Ifthe seat belt does not fit properly,the child should not sit in the front.

To safely ride in front, a child mustbe able to follow the rules, includingsitting properly and wearing the seatbelt properly throughout a ride. Remind the child not to lean

toward the door.

16 38

Physical Size

Maturity

Protecting Children


Your car has three tether anchoragepoints under the rear window forsecuring a tether-style child seat tothe car.

Since a tether can provide additionalsecurity, we recommend using atether whenever one is required oravailable.

The tether anchorage points arelocated under plastic covers. Pivotthe cover backward to access theanchorage point.

Lift the head restraint, then routethe tether strap over the seat-backbetween the legs of the headrestraint.

Attach the tether strap hook to thetether anchorage point as shown inthe illustration, then tighten thestrap according to the child seatmakers instructions. Make sure thestrap is not twisted.

CONTINUED

Using Child Seats with Tethers

Protecting Children


TETHER STRAPHOOK

ANCHORAGE POINTANCHORAGE POINT COVER

You can also remove the rear headrestraints (see page ). Theremoved head restraints should besecured so they will not be thrownwhile you are driving. Make sure toreplace the rear head restraintswhen the child seats are not in use.

To attach the tether to the child seat,follow the child seat makersinstructions.

When the child seat is used, followthe instructions that came with thechild seat.

The exact location of each loweranchor is marked with a small circleabove the lower anchor point.

Your car is equipped with LATCH(Lower Anchors and Tethers forChildren) at the rear seats. Thelower anchors are located betweenthe seat-back and seat bottom andare to be used only with a child seatdesigned for use with LATCH.

92

Protecting Children


Using LATCH

42

MARKS

LOWER ANCHORS

CONTINUED

To install a LATCH-compatible childseat:

Put the child seat in the rear leftor right vehicle seat and attach thechild seat to the lower anchorsaccording to the child seat makersinstructions.

Move the seat belt buckle or seatbelt tongue away from the loweranchors.

Make sure there are no foreignobjects around the anchors.Foreign objects could get in theway of a secure connectionbetween the child seat and theanchors.

Follow the child seat makersinstructions for any additionaladvice on adjusting or tighteningthe fit.

Lift the head restraint, then routethe tether strap over the seat-backbetween the legs of the headrestraint.

1.

2.

3. 4.

Protecting Children


Rigid type Flexible type

This symbol on rear or forwardfacing child seats or boostercushions indicates the presence ofLATCH compatible hardware.

Attach the tether strap hook to thetether anchorage point and tightenthe strap according to the childseat markers instruction. Makesure the strap is not twisted.

You can also remove the rear headrestraints (see page ). Theremoved head restraints should besecured so they will not be thrownwhile you are driving. Make sure toreplace the rear head restraintswhen the child seats are not in use.

Push and pull the child seatforward and from side to side toverify that it is secure enough tostay upright during normal drivingmaneuvers.

5.

6.

92

Protecting Children


Lower Universal AnchorageSystem Symbol

44

TETHER STRAP HOOK

ANCHORAGE POINT

This seat belt has a single belt thatgoes over your shoulder, across yourchest and across your hips.

Your seat belt system includes lap/shoulder belts in all five seatingpositions.

The seat belt system alsoincludes a light on the

instrument panel to remind you andyour passengers to fasten your belts.If the drivers seat belt is notfastened before the ignition is turnedON (II), the light will come on and abeeper will also sound. The beeperwill stop after a few seconds, but thelight will stay on until the driversseat belt is fastened.

The seat belts in all seating positionsexcept the drivers have an additionallocking mechanism that must beactivated to secure a child seat. (Seepages and for instructions onhow to secure child seats with thistype of seat belt.)

All seat belts have an emergencylocking retractor. In normal driving,the retractor lets you move freely inyour seat while it keeps sometension on the belt. During a collisionor sudden stop, the retractorautomatically locks the belt to helprestrain your body.

Guide the belt across your body tothe door pillar. After exiting the car,be sure the belt is out of the way andwill not get closed in the door.

To unlock the belt, push the redPRESS button on the buckle.

To fasten the belt, insert the latchplate into the buckle, then tug on thebelt to make sure the buckle islatched.

31 35

CONTINUED

Seat Belt System Components Lap/Shoulder Belt

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts


If the shoulder part of the belt ispulled all the way out, the lockingmechanism will activate. The beltwill retract, but it will not allow thepassenger to move freely.

To deactivate the lockingmechanism, unlatch the buckle andlet the seat belt fully retract. Torefasten the belt, pull it out only asfar as needed.

See page for instructions on howto wear the lap/shoulder beltproperly. For added protection, the front seat

belts are equipped with automaticseat belt tensioners. When activated,the tensioners immediately tightenthe belts to help hold the driver anda front passenger in place.

The tensioners are designed toactivate primarily in frontal collisions.The tensioners are independent ofthe airbag system, so they can beactivated during a collision thatmight not cause the airbags todeploy. In this case, the airbagswould not be needed but theadditional seat belt tension can behelpful.

The tensioners will be activated in acollision severe enough to cause thefront airbags to inflate.

16

Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners



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

Pull each belt out fully and look forfrays, cuts, burns, and wear. Checkthat the latches work smoothly andthat the lap/shoulder belts retracteasily. Any belt not in good conditionor not working properly will notprovide good protection and shouldbe replaced as soon as possible.

Honda provides a lifetime warrantyon seat belts. Honda will repair orreplace any seat belt component thatfails to function properly duringnormal use. Please see your

booklet fordetails.

The SRS indicator light willcome on if there is a

problem with your automatic seatbelt tensioners (see page ).

When the tensioners are activated,the seat belts will remain tight untilthey are unbuckled in the normalway.

52

HondaWarranty Information

CONTINUED

Seat Belt Maintenance U.S. Models



Not checking or maintainingseat belts can result in seriousinjury or death if the seat beltsdo not work properly whenneeded.

Check your seat belts regularlyand have any problemcorrected as soon as possible.

If a seat belt is worn during a crash,it must be replaced by the dealer. Abelt that has been worn during acrash may not provide the same levelof protection in a subsequent crash.The dealer should also inspect theanchors for damage and replacethem if needed.

Automatic seat belt tensioners thatdeployed during a crash must bereplaced.

For information on how to clean yourseat belts, see page .253



Your Supplemental Restraint System(SRS) includes:

Two front airbags. The driversairbag is stored in the center ofthe steering wheel; the frontpassengers airbag is stored in thedashboard. Both are marked SRSAIRBAG.

If you ever have a moderate tosevere frontal collision, the sensorswill detect the vehicles rapiddeceleration. If the rate ofdeceleration is high enough, thecontrol unit will instantly inflate thefront airbags.

A sophisticated electronic systemthat continually monitors andrecords information about thesensors, the control unit, theairbag activators, and driver andpassenger seat belt use when theignition is ON (II).

Sensors that can detect amoderate to severe frontalcollision.

Automatic seat belt tensioners(see page ).

An indicator light on theinstrument panel that alerts you toa possible problem with thesystem (see page ).

Emergency backup power in caseyour cars electrical system isdisconnected in a crash.

4652

CONTINUED

SRS Components How Your Front Airbags Work

Additional Information About Your Airbags


This can occur when the severity ofa collision is at the margin, orthreshold, that determines whetheror not the airbags will deploy. Insuch cases, the seat belt will providesufficient protection, and thesupplemental protection offered bythe airbag would be minimal.

Since both airbags use the samesensors, both airbags normallyinflate at the same time. However, itis possible for only one airbag toinflate.

After inflating, the front airbagsimmediately deflate, so they wontinterfere with the drivers visibility,or the ability to steer or operateother controls.

During a frontal crash, your seatbelts help restrain your lower bodyand torso. Your airbag provides acushion to help restrain and protectyour head and chest.

The total time for inflation anddeflation is approximately one-tenthof a second, so fast that mostoccupants are not aware that theairbags deployed until they see themlying in their laps.

After a crash, you may see whatlooks like smoke. This is actuallypowder from the airbags surface.Although the powder is not harmful,people with respiratory problemsmay experience some temporarydiscomfort. If this occurs, get out ofthe car as soon as it is safe to do so.



To get the best protection from theside airbags, front seat occupantsshould wear their seat belts and situpright and well back in their seats.

If you ever have a moderate tosevere side impact, the sensors willdetect rapid deceleration and signalthe control unit to instantly inflateeither the drivers or the passengersside airbag.

Only one airbag will deploy during aside impact. If the impact is on thepassengers side, the passengersside airbag will deploy even if thereis no passenger.

Your car is equipped with sideairbags for the driver and a frontseat passenger. The airbags arestored in the outer edges of the frontseat-backs, and both are markedSIDE AIRBAG.

U.S. Owners:For additional information on howyour airbags work, see the booklettitled

that came with yourowners manual.

Canadian Owners:For additional information on howyour airbags work, ask your dealerfor a copy of the booklet titled

SRS: What You Need to KnowAbout Airbags

SRS:What You Need to Know About Airbags.

Only on models equipped with sideairbags.

How Your Side Airbags Work



If the light comes on at any othertime, or does not come on at all, youshould have the system checked byyour dealer. For example:

If the SRS indicator light does notcome on after you turn the ignitionswitch to ON (II).

If the light stays on after theengine starts.

If the light comes on or flashes onand off while you drive.When you turn the ignition ON (II),

this indicator will light briefly thengo out. This tells you that the systemis working properly.

If you see any of these indications,your front or side airbags may notdeploy, your passengers side airbagautomatic cutoff system may notwork properly, or your seat belttensioners may not work when youneed them. See your Honda dealeras soon as possible.

The purpose of the SRSindicator light is to alert

you to a potential problem with yourfront airbags. On cars with sideairbags, this light will also alert youto a potential problem with yourautomatic seat belt tensioners (page

); or your side airbags orpassengers side airbag automaticcutoff system (page ).

46

53

How the SRS Indicator LightWorks



Ignoring the SRS indicator lightcan result in serious injury ordeath if the airbags, cutoffsystem, or tensioners do notwork properly.

Have your car checked by adealer as soon as possible ifthe SRS light alerts you to apotential problem.

This light alerts you thatthe passengers side airbag

has been automatically shut off.

A front seat passenger should notuse a cushion or other object as abackrest. It may prevent the cutoffsystem from working properly.

When you turn the ignition switch toON (II), the indicator should lightbriefly and go out (see page ). If itdoesnt light, stays on, or comes onwhile driving without a passenger inthe front seat, have the systemchecked.

If a small-statured adult leanssideways, or larger adult slouchesand leans sideways into thedeployment path of the side airbag,the system may also shut off the sideairbag.

To reduce the risk of injury from aninflating side airbag, your car has anautomatic cutoff system for thepassengers side airbag.

Although Honda does not encouragechildren to ride in the front, thissystem is designed to shut off theside airbag if a child leans sidewaysand the childs head is in the sideairbag deployment path.

It does not mean there is a problemwith your side airbags. It means thatthe side airbag cutoff system hasactivated to prevent the side airbagfrom deploying.

If the passenger airbag cutoffindicator light comes on, you shouldhave the passenger sit upright. Oncethe passenger is out of thedeployment path of the side airbag,the system will turn the airbag backon and the light will go out.

64

Only on models equipped with sideairbags



How the Passenger Airbag CutoffIndicator Light Works

53

Together, airbags andseat belts provide the bestprotection.

Tampering could causethe airbags to deploy, possiblycausing very serious injury.

See page for further informationand precautions relating to yourairbags.

If rain or spilled watersoaks into a seat-back, it canprevent the side airbag systemfrom working properly.

Improperlyreplacing or covering front seat-back covers can prevent your sideairbags from inflating during acollision.

Anyairbag that has deployed must bereplaced along with the seat belttensioners, control unit and otherrelated parts. Do not try to removeor replace any airbag by yourself.This must be done by a Hondadealer or a knowledgeable bodyshop.

Take your car to anauthorized Honda dealer as soonas possible. If you ignore thisindication, the airbags might notinflate when you need them.

Your front airbag system and sideairbag system (if equipped) arevirtually maintenance-free, and thereare no parts you can safely service.However, you must have your carserviced if:

164

Airbag Service Additional Safety PrecautionsDo not attempt to deactivate yourairbags.

Do not tamper with airbagcomponents or wiring for anyreason.

Do not expose the front seat-backsto water.

Do not cover or replace front seat-back covers without consulting aHonda dealer.

Your airbags ever inflate.

The SRS indicator light alerts youto a problem.



High levels of carbon monoxide cancollect rapidly in enclosed areas,such as a garage. Do not run theengine with the garage door closed.Even with the door open, run theengine only long enough to move thevehicle out of the garage.

Your cars exhaust contains carbonmonoxide gas. You should have noproblem with carbon monoxideentering the car in normal driving ifyou maintain your car properly.Have the exhaust system inspectedfor leaks whenever:

The car is raised for an oil change.You notice a change in the soundof the exhaust.The car was in an accident thatmay have damaged the underside.

If you must sit in your parked car,even in an unconfined area, with theengine running, adjust the heatingand cooling system as follows:

With the trunk lid open, air flow canpull exhaust gas into your carsinterior and create a hazardouscondition. If you must drive with thetrunk lid open, open all the windowsand set the heating and coolingsystem as shown below.

Select the Fresh Air mode.Select the mode.Turn the fan on high speed.Set the temperature control to acomfortable setting.

1.2.3.4.

Carbon Monoxide Hazard


Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.Breathing it can causeunconsciousness and even killyou.

Avoid any enclosed areas oractivities that expose you tocarbon monoxide.

These labels are in the locationsshown. They warn you of potentialhazards that could cause seriousinjury. Read these labels carefully.

If a label comes off or becomes hardto read, contact your Honda dealerfor a replacement.

U.S. models

Canadian models

U.S. models only

Safety Labels


RADIATOR CAP

SUN VISORDASHBOARD

On models without side airbags

On models with side airbags

Safety Labels


HOOD

This section gives information aboutthe controls and displays thatcontribute to the daily operation ofyour Honda. All the essentialcontrols are within easy reach.

...........................Control Locations . 60...............................Indicator Lights . 61

.............................................Gauges . 69...............................Speedometer . 69

.................................Tachometer . 69.....................................Odometer . 69...................................Trip Meter . 70..................................Fuel Gauge . 70

...................Temperature Gauge . 71Controls Near the Steering

.......................................Wheel . 72...................................Headlights . 73

............Daytime Running Lights . 74....Instrument Panel Brightness . 74

................................Turn Signals . 75.....................Windshield Wipers . 76

..................Windshield Washers . 77..........................Hazard Warning . 78

.............Rear Window Defogger . 78......Steering Wheel Adjustment . 79

...............................Keys and Locks . 80..............................................Keys . 80

....................Immobilizer System . 81............................Ignition Switch . 82

..................................Door Locks . 84......................Power Door Locks . 84

...................Remote Transmitter . 85...........................................Trunk . 88

........Emergency Trunk Opener . 89............................Seat Adjustments . 90

.............Front Seat Adjustments . 90Drivers Seat Height

..............................Adjustment . 91........................Rear Seat Access . 91

..........................Head Restraints . 92............................................Armrest . 93

...........................Folding Rear Seat . 94..............................Power Windows . 96

.........................................Moonroof . 98.............................................Mirrors . 99

....Adjusting the Power Mirrors . 99...............................Parking Brake . 100

......................................Glove Box . 101.........................Beverage Holders . 102

.................Console Compartment . 103........................................Coin Box . 103

...............................Center Pocket . 104.............Accessory Power Socket . 104

................................Vanity Mirror . 104......................................Coat Hook . 105

...............................Interior Lights . 105..............................Ceiling Light . 105

...................................Spotlights . 106..........................Courtesy Light . 107

Instruments and Controls

Instruments and Controls 59

Control Locations

Instruments and Controls60

MOONROOF MIRRORCONTROLS

HEATING/COOLING CONTROLS

HOOD RELEASEHANDLE

CRUISE CONTROLBUTTONS

FUEL FILL DOOR RELEASE

A/T model is shown.

POWER WINDOWSWITCHES

POWER DOOR LOCKSWITCH

(P. 98)(P. 99)

(P. 110)

(P. 152)(P. 158)(P. 157)

(P. 96)

CRUISE CONTROLMASTER SWITCH(P. 151)

(P. 84)

TRUNK RELEASE(P. 88)

DIGITAL CLOCK(P. 118, 130)AUDIO SYSTEM

(P. 123, 135)

CONTINUEDThe U.S. instrument panel is shown. Differences for the Canadian models are noted in the text.

Shift Lever Position Indicator for the HX is shown on page 179 .

Indicator Lights


U.S.: HX, LX, EX, Canada: LX, Si

61

(P. 64) (P. 67)

IMMOBILIZER SYSTEMINDICATOR

(P. 65)

(P. 65)

(P. 66)

MAINTENANCEREQUIRED INDICATOR(P. 67)

(P. 66)

SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINTSYSTEM INDICATOR

(P. 64)

HIGH BEAM INDICATOR(P. 66)

CHARGING SYSTEMINDICATOR

LOW OIL PRESSUREINDICATOR

MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP

CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR(P. 66)

SEAT BELT REMINDER LIGHT

TRUNK-OPEN INDICATOR

ANTI-LOCK BRAKESYSTEM INDICATOR

(P. 64)(P. 174)

LOW FUEL INDICATOR

PARKING BRAKE ANDBRAKE SYSTEMINDICATOR

SHIFT LEVER POSITION INDICATOR

(P. 64, 273)

(P. 64, 272)

(P. 274)

PASSENGER AIRBAG CUTOFF INDICATOR

Indicator Lights


Canada: DX

62


DAYTIME RUNNINGLIGHTS INDICATOR

(P. 64)

(P. 67)

MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP(P. 66)HIGH BEAM INDICATOR

(P. 64) (P. 67)

(P. 65)

(P. 66)

WASHER LEVELINDICATOR

TRUNK-OPEN INDICATOR

IMMOBILIZER SYSTEMINDICATOR


SEAT BELTREMINDER LIGHT

MAINTENANCE REQUIREDINDICATOR


(P. 66)

(P. 64)

LOW FUEL INDICATOR(P. 66)

SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM INDICATOR

(P. 65)

(P. 64, 272)

(P. 64, 273)

(P. 274)


Indicator Lights


U.S.: DX

63

(P. 64)SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM INDICATOR

IMMOBILIZER SYSTEMINDICATOR(P. 67)


SEAT BELT REMINDER LIGHT(P. 64)

MAINTENANCE REQUIRED INDICATOR(P. 67)

(P. 65)

(P. 64)

(P. 66)TRUNK-OPEN INDICATOR


HIGH BEAM INDICATOR(P. 66)

LOW FUEL INDICATOR(P. 66)


MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP

(P. 64, 272)

(P. 64, 273)

(P. 274)


The instrument panel has manyindicators to give you importantinformation about your car.

This indicator lights when you turnthe ignition switch ON (II). It is areminder to you and your passengersto protect yourselves by fasteningthe seat belts. A beeper also soundsif you have not fastened your seatbelt.

If you do not fasten your seat belt,the beeper will stop after a fewseconds but the light stays on untilyou do. Both the light and the beeperstay off if you fasten your seat beltbefore turning on the ignition.

This indicator lights when you turnthe ignition switch ON (II). If itcomes on at any other time, itindicates a potential problem withyour front airbags or automatic seatbelt tensioners. On models equippedwith side airbags, this light will alsoalert you to a potential problem withyour side airbags or passengers sideairbag automatic cutoff system. Forcomplete information, see page .

This indicator lights when you turnthe ignition switch ON (II). If itcomes on at any other time, itindicates that the passengers sideairbag has automatically shut off.For complete information, see page

.

If this light comes on when theengine is running, the battery is notbeing charged. For completeinformation, see page .

The engine can be severely damagedif this light flashes or stays on whenthe engine is running. For completeinformation, see page .52

53

273

272

Only on models equipped with sideairbags

Seat Belt Reminder Light

Supplemental RestraintSystem Indicator

Charging SystemIndicator

Low Oil PressureIndicator

Passenger Airbag CutoffIndicator

Indicator Lights


This light has two functions:

This indicator comes on when youturn the ignition switch ON (II). Itis a reminder to check the parkingbrake. Driving with the parkingbrake not fully released candamage the brakes and tires.

If the indicator remains lit afteryou have fully released theparking brake while the engine isrunning, or if it comes on whiledriving, it can indicate a problemin the brake system. For completeinformation, see page .

This indicator lights when you turnthe ignition switch to ON (II) withthe headlight switch off and theparking brake set. It should go off ifyou turn on the headlights or releasethe parking brake. If it comes on atany other time, it means there is aproblem with the DRL. There mayalso be a problem with the highbeam headlights.

This light normally comes on for afew seconds when you turn theignition switch ON (II), and whenthe ignition switch is turned toSTART (III). If this light comes on atany other time, there is a problem inthe ABS. If this happens, take thecar to your dealer to have it checked.With the light on, your car still hasnormal braking ability but no anti-lock. For complete information, seepage .

1.

2.

186

275

Canadian models onlyOnly on models equipped with ABS (seepage )184

CONTINUED

Parking Brakeand BrakeSystemIndicator

Daytime RunningLights Indicator

Anti-lock Brake System(ABS) Indicator

Indicator Lights


U.S. Canada

This light comes on with the highbeam headlights. See page forinformation on the headlightcontrols.

This lights when you set the cruisecontrol. See page for informationon operating the cruise control.

On Canadian models, this indicatorcomes on with reduced brightnesswhen the Daytime Running Lights(DRL) are on (see page ).

See page .

The left or right turn signal lightblinks when you signal a lane changeor turn. If the light does not blink orblinks rapidly, it usually means oneof the turn signal bulbs is burned out(see page ). Replace the bulb assoon as possible, since other driverscannot see that you are signaling.

This light comes on if the trunk lid isnot closed tightly.

This light comes on as a reminderthat you must refuel soon.

When you turn on the HazardWarning switch, both turn signallights blink. All turn signals on theoutside of the car should flash.

This light comes on when thewasher fluid level is low. Add washerfluid when you see this light come on(see page ).

73

74

151

274

242

213

Only on models equipped with CruiseControl System

Canadian models only

High Beam Indicator

Cruise Control Indicator

Malfunction IndicatorLamp

Turn Signal andHazard WarningIndicators

Low Fuel Indicator

Washer Level Indicator

Trunk-open Indicator

Indicator Lights


This indicator comes on for a fewseconds when you turn the ignitionswitch ON (II). It will then go off ifyou have inserted a properly-codedignition key. If it is not a properly-coded key, the indicator will blinkand the engine will not start (seepage ).

This indicator also blinks severaltimes when you turn the ignitionswitch from ON (II) to ACCESSORY(I) or LOCK (0).

This indicator reminds you that it istime to take your car in forscheduled maintenance.

For the first 8,000 miles (12,800 km)after the Maintenance RequiredIndicator is reset, it will come on fortwo seconds when you turn theignition switch to ON (II).

Between 8,000 miles (12,800 km)and 10,000 miles (16,000 km) thisindicator will light for two secondswhen you first turn the ignitionswitch to ON (II), and then flash forten seconds.

If you exceed 10,000 miles (16,000km) without having the scheduledmaintenance performed, thisindicator will remain on as a constantreminder.

Refer to the Maintenance Schedulesfor Normal and Severe DrivingConditions on pages .

81

194 198

CONTINUED

Immobilizer SystemIndicator

Maintenance RequiredIndicator

Indicator Lights


Your dealer will reset this indicatorafter completing the scheduledmaintenance. If this maintenance isdone by someone other than yourHonda dealer, reset the indicator asfollows.

Turn off the engine.

Press and hold the Select/Resetknob in the instrument panel, thenturn the ignition switch ON (II).

Hold the knob until the indicatorresets (approximately tenseconds).

1.

2.

3.

Indicator Lights


This shows your speed in miles perhour (mph). The smaller innernumbers are the speed in kilometersper hour (km/h).

This shows your speed in kilometersper hour (km/h). The smaller innernumbers are the speed in miles perhour (mph).

The tachometer shows the enginespeed in revolutions per minute(rpm). To protect the engine fromdamage, never drive with thetachometer needle in the red zone.

The odometer shows the total dis-tance your car has been driven. Itmeasures miles in U.S. models andkilometers in Canadian models.It is illegal under U.S. federal law andCanadian provincial regulations todisconnect, reset, or alter theodometer with the intent to changethe number of miles or kilometersindicated.

On HX, LX and EX models in the U.S.,and all models in Canada

U.S. modelsCanadian modelsSpeedometer

Tachometer

Odometer

U.S.: HX, LX, EX, Canada: LX, Si

Gauges


TEMPERATURE GAUGE

FUEL GAUGE

ODOMETER/TRIP METERThe U.S. instrumentpanel is shown.

TACHOMETERSPEEDOMETER

SELECT/RESET KNOB

This meter shows the number ofmiles (U.S.) or kilometers (Canada)driven since you last reset it.

There are two trip meters: Trip Aand Trip B. Switch between thesedisplays and the odometer bypressing the Select/Reset knobrepeatedly. Each trip meter worksindependently, so you can keep trackof two different distances.

To reset a trip meter, display it, andthen press and hold the Select/Resetknob until the number resets to 0.0.

This shows how much fuel you have.It is most accurate when the car is onlevel ground. It may show slightlymore or less than the actual amountwhen you are driving on curvy orhilly roads.

The needle returns to the bottomafter you turn off the ignition. Thegauge shows the fuel level readingimmediately after you turn theignition switch back ON (II).

Trip Meter

Fuel Gauge

Canada: DX

Gauges


ODOMETER/TRIP METER

TEMPERATURE GAUGEFUEL GAUGE

TACHOMETER SPEEDOMETER

SELECT/RESET KNOB

Avoid driving with an extremely lowf uel level. Running out of f uel couldcause the engine to misf ire, damagingthe catalytic converter.

This shows the temperature of theengines coolant. During normaloperation, the pointer should risefrom the bottom white mark to aboutthe middle of the gauge. In severedriving conditions, such as very hotweather or a long period of uphilldriving, the pointer may rise to theupper zone. If it reaches the red(Hot) mark, pull safely to the side ofthe road. Turn to page forinstructions and precautions onchecking the engines coolingsystem.

269

Temperature GaugeU.S.: DX

Gauges


SELECT/RESET KNOBODOMETER/TRIP METER

FUEL GAUGE SPEEDOMETERTEMPERATURE GAUGE

The two levers on the steeringcolumn contain controls for drivingfeatures you use most often. The leftlever controls the turn signals,headlights, and high beams. Theright lever controls the windshieldwashers and wipers.

The hazard warning lights switch ison the dashboard between thecenter air vents.

The controls under the left air ventare for the moonroof, mirrors andcruise control.

The tilt adjustment lever on theunderside of the steering columnallows you to tilt the steering wheel.

To use the horn, press the centerpad of the steering wheel.

Controls Near the Steering Wheel


HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS(P.73/75)MOONROOF

(P.98)

CRUISE CONTROLMASTERSWITCH(P.151)

(P.99)MIRROR CONTROLS

TILT ADJUSTMENT(P.79)

HORN

CRUISE CONTROLBUTTONS(P.152)

(P.78)

REAR WINDOWDEFOGGER

(P.78)

HAZARD WARNINGLIGHTS

WINDSHIELDWIPERS/WASHERS(P.76/77)

The rotating switch on the left levercontrols the lights. Turning thisswitch to the position turnson the parking lights, taillights,instrument panel lights, side-markerlights, and rear license plate lights.Turning the switch to the position turns on the headlights.

To change from low beams to highbeams, push the turn signal leverforward until you hear a click. Theblue high beam indicator will light(see page ). To return to lowbeams, pull the turn signal leverback.

If you leave the lights on with theignition switch in ACCESSORY (I)or LOCK (0), you will hear areminder tone when you open thedrivers door.

To flash the high beams, pull theturn signal lever back lightly, thenrelease it. The high beams will comeon and go off. The high beams willstay

Documents

2003 Civic Coupe Online Reference Owner's Manual …techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/pubs/OM/AH/ACI0303AOM/enu/C10303OM.… · 2003 Civic Coupe Online Reference Owner's Manual . ... and