Honda Civic Si Coupe (2004 year). Instruction

After all occupants have adjusted
their seats and put on seat belts, it is
very important that they continue to
sit upright, well back in their seats,
with their feet on the floor, until the
vehicle is parked and the engine is
off.

Sitting improperly can increase the
chance of injury during a crash. For
example, if an occupant slouches,
lies down, turns sideways, sits
forward, leans forward or sideways,
or puts one or both feet up, the
chance of injury during a crash is
greatly increased.

This could cause

very serious injuries in a crash.

See page

for additional

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

If a seat belt does not seem to work
properly, it may not protect the
occupant in a crash.

Using a seat

belt that is not working properly can
result in serious injury or death.
Have your dealer check the belt as
soon as possible.

Maintain a Proper Sitting
Position

Protecting Adults and Teens

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

No one should sit in a seat with an
inoperative seat belt.

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If you are pregnant, the best way to
protect yourself and your unborn
child when driving or riding in a
vehicle is to always wear a seat belt,
and keep the lap part of the belt as
low as possible across the hips.

When driving, remember to sit
upright and adjust the seat as far
back as possible while allowing full
control of the vehicle. When riding
as a front passenger, adjust the seat
as far back as possible.

This will reduce the risk of injuries
to both you and your unborn child
that can be caused by a crash or an
inflating front airbag.

Each time you have a checkup, ask
your doctor if it’s okay for you to
drive.

In addition, an occupant who is out of
position in the front seat can be
seriously or fatally injured in a crash
by striking interior parts of the
vehicle or being struck by an
inflating front airbag.

Advice f or Pregnant Women

Protecting Adults and Teens

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.

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If your

hands or arms are close to an
airbag cover, they could be injured
if the airbag inflates.

Carrying hard or sharp

objects on your lap, or driving with
a pipe or other sharp object in
your mouth, can result in injuries
if your front airbag inflates.

Objects on

the covers marked ‘‘SRS AIRBAG’’
could interfere with the proper
operation of the airbags or be
propelled inside the vehicle and
hurt someone if the airbags inflate.

If they do, they

could be very seriously injured in a
crash.

If a side airbag

inflates, a cup holder or other hard
object attached on or near the
door could be propelled inside the
vehicle and hurt someone.

All passengers

must sit in locked, upright seats
and be properly restrained by seat
belts.

Devices intended to improve

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

Keep your hands and arms away
f rom the airbag covers.

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

Do not attach or place objects on
the f ront airbag covers.

Two people should never use the
same seat belt.

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

Never let passengers ride in the
cargo area or on top of a f olded-
down back seat.

Do not put any accessories on seat
belts.

Additional Saf ety Precautions

Protecting Adults and Teens

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Your seat belt system includes lap/
shoulder belts in all five seating
positions. The front seat belts are
also equipped with automatic seat
belt tensioners.

To fasten the belt, insert the latch
plate into the buckle, then tug on the
belt to make sure the buckle is
latched (see page

for how to

properly position the belt).

To unlock the belt, push the red
PRESS button on the buckle. Guide
the belt across your body so that it
retracts completely. After exiting the
vehicle, be sure the belt is out of the
way and will not get closed in the
door.

All seat belts have an emergency
locking retractor. In normal driving,
the retractor lets you move freely in
your seat while it keeps some
tension on the belt. During a collision
or sudden stop, the retractor
automatically locks the belt to help
restrain your body.

The seat belts in all positions except
the driver’s have an additional
locking mechanism that must be
activated to secure a child seat (see
page

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

The seat belt system
includes an indicator on the

instrument panel and a beeper to
remind you and your passengers to
fasten your seat belts.

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

If you continue driving without
fastening your seat belt, the beeper
will sound and the indicator will flash
again at regular intervals.

The lap/shoulder belt goes over
your shoulder, across your chest,
and across your hips.

Seat Belt System Components

Lap/Shoulder Belt

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

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

For added protection, the front seat
belts are equipped with automatic
seat belt tensioners. When activated,
the tensioners immediately tighten
the belts to help hold the driver and
a front passenger in place.

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

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

The tensioners can also be activated
during a collision in which the front
airbags do not deploy. In this case,
the airbags would not be needed, but
the additional restraint could be
helpful.

Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

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

Honda provides a lifetime warranty
on seat belts for U.S. models. See
your
booklet for details.

If a seat belt is worn during a crash,
it must be replaced by the dealer. A
belt that has been worn during a
crash may not provide the same level
of protection in a subsequent crash.

Pull each belt out fully and look for
frays, cuts, burns, and wear. Check
that the latches work smoothly and
the belts retract easily. Any belt that
is not in good condition or working
properly will not provide good
protection and should be replaced as
soon as possible.

The dealer should also inspect the
anchors for damage and replace
them if needed. If the automatic seat
belt tensioners activate during a
crash, they must be replaced.

For information on how to clean your
seat belts, see page

153

Honda Warranty Information

Seat Belt Maintenance

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

Not checking or maintaining
seat belts can result in serious
injury or death if the seat belts
do not work properly when
needed.

Check your seat belts regularly
and have any problem
corrected as soon as possible.

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Two SRS (Supplemental Restraint
System) front airbags. The driver’s
airbag is stored in the center of
the steering wheel; the front
passenger’s airbag is stored in the
dashboard. Both are marked ‘‘SRS
AIRBAG.’’

Automatic seat belt tensioners
(see page

Your Airbag System includes:

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

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

In models with side airbags,
sensors that can detect whether a
child is in the passenger’s side
airbag path and automatically turn
the airbag off (see page

A sophisticated electronic system
that continually monitors and
records information about the
sensors, the control unit, the
airbag activators, the seat belt
tensioners, and driver and front
passenger seat belt use when the
ignition is in the ON (II) position.

An indicator on the instrument
panel that alerts you to a possible
problem with your airbags,
sensors, or seat belt tensioners
(see page

In models with side airbags, one
for the driver and one for a front
passenger. The airbags are stored
in the outer edges of the seat-
backs. Both are marked ‘‘SIDE
AIRBAG’’ (see page

Sensors that can detect a
moderate to severe front impact,
or side impact in models with side
airbags.

In models with side airbags,

Airbag System Components

Additional Information About Your Airbags

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

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

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

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

If you ever have a moderate to
severe frontal collision, sensors will
detect the vehicle’s rapid
deceleration. If the rate of
deceleration is high enough, the
control unit will instantly inflate the
driver’s and front passenger’s front
airbags, at the time and with the
force needed.

Additional Information About Your Airbags

How Your Front Airbags Work

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Your front airbags are also dual-
threshold airbags. Airbags with this
feature have two deployment
thresholds that depend on whether
or not the occupant is wearing a seat
belt.

It the occupant belt is

the airbag will deploy at a slightly
lower threshold, because the
occupant would need extra
protection.

It the occupant’s belt is

, the

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

Your front airbags are dual-stage
airbags. This means they have two
inflation stages that can be ignited
sequentially or simultaneously,
depending on crash severity.

In a

crash, both stages

will ignite simultaneously to provide
the quickest and greatest protection.

In a

crash, one stage will

ignite first, then the second stage
will ignite a split second later. This
provides longer airbag inflation time
with a little less force.

The total time for inflation and
deflation is one-tenth of a second, so
fast that most occupants are not
aware that the airbags deployed until
they see them lying in their laps.

After a crash, you may see what
looks like smoke. This is actually
powder from the airbag’s surface.
Although the powder is not harmful,
people with respiratory problems
may experience some temporary
discomfort. If this occurs, get out of
the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do
so.

Dual-Threshold Airbags

not latched

latched

Dual-Stage Airbags

more severe

less severe

Additional Information About Your Airbags

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(On models equipped)

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

Only one airbag will deploy during a
side impact. If the impact is on the
passenger’s side, the passenger’s
side airbag will deploy even if there

is no passenger.

Objects placed on the front
passenger seat can also cause the
side airbag to be shut off.

The side airbag may also shut off if a
short adult leans sideways, or a
larger adult slouches and leans
sideways into the airbag’s
deployment path.

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

To reduce the risk of injury from an
inflating side airbag, your vehicle has
an automatic cutoff system for the
passenger’s side airbag.

If the Side Airbag Off Indicator
comes on (see page

), have the

passenger sit upright. Once the
passenger is out of the airbag’s
deployment path, the system will
turn the airbag back on, and the
indicator will go out.

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

There will be some delay between
the moment the passenger moves
into or out of the airbag deployment
path and when the indicator comes
on or goes off.

How Your Side Airbags Work

Additional Information About Your Airbags

Side Airbag Cutof f System

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In models with side airbags

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

This indicator alerts you
that the passenger’s side

airbag has been automatically shut
off. It does

mean there is a

problem with your side airbags.

When you turn the ignition to ON
(II), the indicator should light briefly
and go out (see page

). If it doesn’t

light, it stays on or comes on while
driving without a passenger in the
front seat, have the system checked.

The SRS indicator alerts you to a

potential problem with your
airbags or seat belt

tensioners (see page

When you turn the ignition to ON
(II), this indicator will come on
briefly then go out. This tells you the
system is working properly.

If the indicator comes on at any
other time, or does not come on at all,
you should have the system checked
by your dealer. For example:

If the SRS indicator does not come
on after you turn the ignition to
ON (II).

If the indicator stays on after the
engine starts.

If the indicator comes on or
flashes on and off while you drive.

How the Side Airbag Of f
Indicator Works

How the SRS Indicator Works

Additional Information About Your Airbags

not

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Ignoring the SRS indicator can
result in serious injury or death
if the airbag systems or
tensioners do not work properly.

Have your vehicle checked by a
dealer as soon as possible if
the SRS indicator alerts you to
a possible problem.

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Your airbag systems are virtually
maintenance free, and there are no
parts you can safely service.
However, you must have your
vehicle serviced if:

Together, airbags and

seat belts provide the best
protection.

Improperly replacing

or covering front seat-back covers
can prevent your side airbags from
inflating during a side impact.

Tampering could cause

the airbags to deploy, possibly
causing very serious injury.

Any airbag

that has deployed must be
replaced along with the control
unit and other related parts. If a
front airbag inflates, the seat belt
tensioners must also be replaced.

Do not try to remove or replace
any airbag by yourself. This must
be done by a Honda dealer or a
knowledgeable body shop.

Take your vehicle to an

authorized your dealer as soon as
possible. If you ignore this
indication, your airbags may not
operate properly.

Additional Information About Your Airbags

Airbag Service

Additional Saf ety Precautions

Do not attempt to deactivate your
airbags.

Do not cover or replace f ront seat-
back covers without consulting
your dealer.

Models with side airbags:

Do not tamper with airbag
components or wiring f or any
reason.

An airbag ever inf lates.

The SRS indicator alerts you to a
problem.

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Children depend on adults to protect
them. However, despite their best
intentions many adults do not know
how to properly protect child
passengers.

If you have children, or ever need to
drive with a child in your vehicle, be
sure to read this section. It begins
with important general guidelines,
then presents special information for
infants, small children, and larger
children.

Each year, many children are injured
or killed in vehicle crashes because
they are either unrestrained or not
properly restrained. In fact, vehicle
accidents are the number one cause
of the death of children ages 12 and
under.

To reduce the number of child
deaths and injuries, every state and
Canadian province requires that
infants and children be properly
restrained when they ride in a
vehicle.

(see pages

Protecting Children

General Guidelines

All Children Must Be Restrained

Inf ants and small children must be
restrained in an approved child seat
that is properly secured to the
vehicle

Larger children must be restrained
with a lap/shoulder belt and ride on
a booster seat until the seat belt f its
them properly

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Children who are unrestrained
or improperly restrained can be
seriously injured or killed in a
crash.

Any child too small for a seat
belt should be properly
restrained in a child seat. A
larger child should be properly
restrained with a seat belt and
use a booster seat if necessary.

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If the vehicle seat is 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.

Whenever possible,

larger children should sit in the back
seat, on a booster seat if needed, and
be properly restrained with a seat
belt (see page

for important

information about protecting larger
children).

According to accident statistics,
children of all ages and sizes are
safer when they are restrained in a
back seat.

Front airbags have been designed to
help protect adults in a moderate to
severe frontal collision. To do this
the passenger’s front airbag is quite
large, and it can inflate with enough
force to cause very serious injuries.

the airbag inflates, it can hit the back
of the child seat with enough force
to kill or very seriously injure an
infant.

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

The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport
Canada recommend that all children
age 12 and under be properly
restrained in a back seat. Some
states have lows restricting where
children may ride.

Placing a f orward-f acing child seat in
the f ront seat of a vehicle equipped
with passenger’s f ront airbag can be
hazardous.

Children who have outgrown child
seats are also at risk of being injured
or killed by an inf lating passenger’s
f ront airbag.

Inf ants
Never put a rear-f acing child seat in
the f ront seat of a vehicle equipped
with a passenger’s f ront airbag.

Small Children

Larger Children

Protecting Children

General Guidelines

All Children Should Sit in the
Back Seat

The Passenger’s Front Airbag
Poses Serious Risks

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To remind you of the passenger’s
front airbag hazards, and that
children must be properly restrained
in a back seat, your vehicle has
warning labels on the dashboard
(U.S. models) and on the front visors.
Please read and follow the
instructions on these labels.

Protecting Children

General Guidelines

Canadian Models

U.S. Models

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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 in a
frontal collision, 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 close 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.

Your vehicle has a back seat where
children can be properly restrained.
If you ever have to carry a group of
children, and a child must ride in
front:

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

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

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

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

and

If You Must Drive with Several
Children

If a Child Requires Close
Attention

Protecting Children

General Guidelines

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Honda Civic Si Coupe (2004 year). Instruction - part 2