Honda 2005 Civic Owner's Manual page 136

Recommended Shift Points
Drive in the highest gear that lets
the engine run and accelerate
smoothly. This will give you good
fuel economy and effective
emissions control. The following
shift points are recommended:
Shift up Normal acceleration
1st to 2nd 15 mph (24 km/h)
2nd to 3rd 27 mph (43 km/h)
3rd to 4th 39 mph (63 km/h)
4th to 5th 53 mph (85 km/h)
Engine Speed Limiter
All models except U.S. DX and Value
Package
If you exceed the maximum speed
for the gear you are in, the engine
speed will enter into the tachometer's
red zone. If this occurs, you may 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.
Before downshifting, make sure the
engine will not go into the
tachometer's red zone.
Manual Transmission
U.S. DX and Value Package models
If you exceed the maximum speed
for the gear you are in, you may 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
engine speed by upshifting or
slowing down.
Before downshifting, make sure the
vehicle speed is low enough that you
will not activate the engine speed
limiter in the lower gear.
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