Manual Transmission - Honda Civic Owner's Manual

06/08/05 22:26:05 32SMG610_325

Manual Transmission

The manual transmission is
synchronized in all forward gears for
smooth operation. It has a lockout so
you cannot accidentally shift from
any forward gear to reverse while
the vehicle is moving at a certain
speed (see page 325 ).
When shifting up or down, make
sure you push the clutch pedal down
all the way, shift to the next gear,
and let the pedal up gradually. When
you are not shifting, do not rest your
322
Driving
foot on the clutch pedal. This can
cause excessive clutch wear.
Come to a full stop before you shift
into reverse. You can damage the
transmission by trying to shift into
reverse with the vehicle moving.
Push down the clutch pedal, and
pause for a few seconds before
shifting into reverse, or shift into one
of the forward gears for a moment.
This stops the gears so they won't
''grind.''
When slowing down, you can get
extra braking from the engine by
shifting to a lower gear. This extra
braking can help you maintain a safe
speed and prevent your brakes from
overheating while going down a
steep hill. Before downshifting,
make sure the engine speed will not
go into the tachometer's red zone in
the lower gear. Refer to the
maximum allowable speeds charts.
Rapid slowing or speeding-
up can cause loss of control
on slippery surfaces. If you
crash, you can be injured.
Use extra care when driving
on slippery surfaces.