Honda 1996 Civic Coupe Owner's Manual page 107

Second (2) — To shift to Second,
press the release button on the side
of the shift lever. This position locks
the transmission in second gear. It
does not downshift to first gear
when you come to a stop. Second
gives you more power when climbing,
and increased engine braking when
going down steep hills. Use second
gear when starting out on a slippery
surface or in deep snow. It will help
reduce wheelspin.
Whenever you move the shift lever
to a lower gear, the transmission
downshifts only if the engine's
redline will not be exceeded in the
lower gear.
Maximum Speeds
The speeds in this table are the
maximums for the given position. If
you exceed these speeds, the engine
speed will enter into the tachometer's
red zone. If this occurs, you will feel
the engine cut in and out. This is
caused by a limiter in the engine's
computer controls. The engine will
run normally when you reduce the
RPM below the red zone.
(DX)
Automatic Transmission
(U.S.: EX, Canada: Si)
Driving