Honda Fit (2019 year). Instruction

400

Driving

Before Driving

Driving Preparation

Check the following items before you start driving.

• Make sure there are no obstructions on the windows, door mirrors, exterior

lights, or other parts of the vehicle.

Remove any frost, snow, or ice.

Remove any snow on the roof, as this can slip down and obstruct your field of
vision while driving. If frozen solid, remove ice once it has softened.

When removing ice from around the wheels, be sure not to damage the wheel
or wheel components.

• Make sure the hood is securely closed.

If the hood opens while driving, your front view will be blocked.

• Make sure the tires are in good condition.

Check air pressure and check for damage and excessive wear.

2 Checking and Maintaining Tires P. 522

• Make sure there are no people or objects behind or around the vehicle.

There are blind spots from the inside.

■

Exterior Checks

Exterior Checks

NOTICE

When doors are frozen shut, use warm water around
the door edges to melt any ice. Do not try to force
them open, as this can damage the rubber trim
around the doors. When done, wipe dry to avoid
further freezing.

Do not pour warm water into the key cylinder.
You will be unable to insert the key if the water
freezes in the hole.

Heat from the engine and exhaust can ignite
flammable materials left under the hood, causing a
fire. If you've parked your vehicle for an extended
period, inspect and remove any debris that may have
collected, such as dried grass and leaves that have
fallen or have been carried in for use as a nest by a
small animal. Also check under the hood for leftover
flammable materials after you or someone else has
performed maintenance on your vehicle.

Continued

401

Before Driving

Driving Preparation

Driving

• Store or secure all items on board properly.

Carrying too much cargo, or improperly storing it, can affect your vehicle’s
handling, stability, stopping distance, and tires, and make it unsafe.

2 Maximum Load Limit P. 403

• Do not pile items higher than the seat height.

They can block your view and may be thrown forward in the event of sudden
braking.

• Do not place anything in the front seat footwells. Make sure to secure the floor

mat

An object or unsecured floor mat can interfere with your brake and accelerator
pedal operation while driving.

• If you have any animals on board, do not let them move around in the vehicle.

They may interfere with driving and a crash could occur.

• Securely close and lock all doors and the tailgate.

2 Locking/Unlocking the Doors from the Inside P. 135

• Adjust your seating position properly.

Adjust the head restraint, too.

2 Adjusting the Seats P. 175
2 Adjusting the front head restraint positions P. 182

• Adjust the mirrors and steering wheel properly for your driving.

Adjust them while sitting in the proper driving position.

2 Adjusting the Mirrors P. 174
2 Adjusting the Steering Wheel P. 173

■

Interior Checks

Interior Checks

The headlight aim is set by the factory, and does not
need to be adjusted. However, if you regularly carry
heavy items in the cargo area, have the aiming
readjusted at a dealer or by a qualified technician.

* Not available on all models

402

Before Driving

Driving Preparation

Driving

• Be sure items placed on the floor behind the front seats cannot roll under the

seats.

They can interfere with the driver’s ability to operate the pedals, the operation
of the seats, or the operation of the sensors under the seats.

• Everyone in the vehicle must fasten their seat belt.

2 Fastening a Seat Belt P. 40

• Make sure that the indicators in the instrument panel come on when you start the

vehicle, and go off soon after.

Always have a dealer check the vehicle if a problem is indicated.

2 Indicators P. 76

403

Before Driving

Maximum Load Limit

Continued

Driving

Maximum Load Limit

The maximum load for your vehicle is 850 lbs (385 kg).
See the Tire and Loading Information label attached to the driver’s doorjamb.

This figure includes the total weight of all occupants, cargo, and
accessories, and the tongue load if you are towing a trailer.

Steps for Determining Correct Load Limit -
(1) Locate the statement “The combined weight of occupants and

cargo should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs.” on your
vehicle’s placard.

(2) Determine the combined weight of the driver and passengers

that will be riding in your vehicle.

(3) Subtract the combined weight of the driver and passengers

from XXX kg or XXX lbs.

(4) The resulting figure equals the available amount of cargo and

luggage load capacity. For example, if the “XXX” amount
equals 1,400 lbs. and there will be five 150 lb. passengers in
your vehicle, the amount of available cargo and luggage load
capacity is 650 lbs.
(1,400 - 750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs.)

Maximum Load Limit

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR):
The maximum allowable weight of the vehicle, all
occupants, all accessories, all cargo, and the tongue
load.

2 Specifications P. 574

Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR):
The maximum allowable weight of the vehicle axle.

2 Specifications P. 574

WARNING

Overloading or improper loading
can affect handling and stability
and cause a crash in which you
can be hurt or killed.

Follow all load limits and other
loading guidelines in this manual.

Label Example

Before Driving

Maximum Load Limit

404

Driving

(5) Determine the combined weight of luggage and cargo being

loaded on the vehicle. That weight may not safely exceed the
available cargo and luggage load capacity calculated in step 4.

(6) If your vehicle will be towing a trailer, load from your trailer will

be transferred to your vehicle. Consult this manual to
determine how this reduces the available cargo and luggage
load capacity of your vehicle.

In addition, the total weight of the vehicle, all occupants,
accessories, cargo, and trailer tongue load must not exceed the
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR). Both are on a label on the driver’s doorjamb.

Maximum Load Limit

Towing a Trailer:
See Towing a Trailer to determine whether your
vehicle is designed to tow a trailer.

2 Towing a Trailer P. 405

Load Limits Example

Example1

Max Load

850 lbs

(385 kg)

Passenger Weight

150 lbs x 2 = 300 lbs

(68 kg x 2 = 136 kg)

Cargo Weight

550 lbs

(249 kg)

Example2

Max Load

850 lbs

(385 kg)

Passenger Weight

150 lbs x 5 = 750 lbs

(68 kg x 5 = 340 kg)

Cargo Weight

100 lbs
(45 kg)

406

Towing a Trailer

Towing Your Vehicle

Driving

Towing Your Vehicle

Your vehicle is not designed to be towed behind a motorhome. If your vehicle needs
to be towed in an emergency, refer to the emergency towing information.

2 Emergency Towing P. 569

Your vehicle can be towed behind a motorhome.

Perform the following procedure before towing your vehicle.
1. Shift to

(

2. Release the parking brake.
3. Turn the ignition switch to ACCESSORY

(

Make sure the steering wheel does not lock.

4. Turn off all the electric devices. Do not use any accessory power sockets.

This can prevent the battery from running down.

*1 : Models with the smart entry system have an ENGINE START/STOP button instead of an ignition switch.

■

When Your Vehicle is Towed Behind a Motorhome

Towing Your Vehicle

Do not exceed 65 mph (100 km/h).

Consult your towing parts sales or rental agency if
any other items are recommended or required for
your towing situation.

Continuously variable transmission models

Manual transmission models

Continued

407

Towing a Trailer

Towing Your Vehicle

Driving

■

Extended Towing

If you tow more than eight hours in one day, you should repeat the “When Your
Vehicle is Towed Behind a Motorhome” procedure from the previous page at least
every eight hours.
You also need to perform the following procedure to prevent the battery from
running down.

1. Remove the 20 A Front ACC Socket and

7.5 A ACC fuses. These fuses are located in
the interior fuse box.

2 Interior Fuse Boxes P. 566

2. Remove the 15 A Back Up Main fuse. This

fuse is located in the engine compartment
fuse box.

2 Engine Compartment Fuse Box P. 564

3. Store the fuses in a safe place so you do not

lose them.

Make sure to reinstall the fuses before
you start driving your vehicle.

4. Shift to

(

5. Turn the ignition switch to ACCESSORY

(

Make sure the steering wheel does not
lock.

Towing Your Vehicle

Make sure to reinstall the fuses before you start
driving your vehicle.

Engine Compartment Fuse Box

15 A Back Up Fuse

Interior Fuse Box

20 A Accessory
Power Socket Fuse
7.5 A ACC fuse

Models without smart entry system

408

Towing a Trailer

Towing Your Vehicle

Driving

1. Remove the 20 A Front ACC Socket and 7.5 A ACC fuses. These fuses are located in the interior

fuse box.

2 Interior Fuse Boxes P. 566

2. Remove the 15 A Back Up Main fuse. This fuse is located in the engine compartment fuse box.

2 Engine Compartment Fuse Box P. 564

3. Store the fuses in a safe place so you do not lose them.

Make sure to reinstall the fuses before you start driving your vehicle.

4. Push the ENGINE START/STOP button without depressing the clutch pedal.

The indicator on the ENGINE START/STOP button blinks.

5. Touch the center of the ENGINE START/STOP button with the H logo on the smart entry remote

while the indicator is blinking.

The indicator stop blinking, then stays on.

6. Shift to

(

7. Push the ENGINE START/STOP button once without depressing the clutch pedal.

Make sure the steering wheel does not lock.

Engine Compartment Fuse Box

15 A Back Up Fuse

Interior Fuse Box

20 A Accessory
Power Socket Fuse
7.5 A ACC fuse

Models with smart entry system

409

Continued

Driving

When Driving

Starting the Engine

1. Make sure the parking brake is applied.

2. Check that the transmission is in

(

P, then

depress the brake pedal.

Although it is possible to start the vehicle
in

(

N, it is safer to start it in

(

2. Check that the transmission is in

(

N. Then

depress the brake pedal with your right
foot, and the clutch pedal with your left
foot.

The clutch pedal must be fully depressed
to start the engine.

Models without smart entry system

Starting the Engine

Keep your foot firmly on the brake pedal when
starting the engine.

The engine is harder to start in cold weather and in
thinner air found at altitudes above 8,000 feet (2,400
meters).

When starting the engine in cold weather, turn off all
electrical accessories such as the lights, heating and
cooling

system, and rear defogger in order to reduce

battery drain.

If you live in a region where winter is extremely cold,
an engine block heater will improve starting and
warming of the engine. Consult a dealer for details.

If the exhaust system sounds abnormal or you can
smell exhaust gas inside the vehicle, have your vehicle
checked by a dealer. There may be a problem with
the engine or exhaust system.

Brake Pedal

Continuously variable transmission models

Brake Pedal

Clutch Pedal

Manual transmission models

* Not available on all models

When Driving

Starting the Engine

410

Driving

3. Turn the ignition switch to START

(

without depressing the accelerator pedal.

1. Keeping your right foot on the brake pedal, release the parking brake. Check that

the parking brake and brake system indicator has gone off.

2 Parking Brake P. 468

2. Put the shift lever in

(

D. Select

(

R when reversing.

3. Gradually release the brake pedal and gently depress the accelerator pedal to pull

away.

■

Hill start assist system

Hill start assist keeps the brake engaged briefly to help prevent the vehicle from
rolling on inclines as you move your foot from the brake pedal to the accelerator.

Depress the clutch pedal, and shift to one of the forward gears when facing uphill,
or

(

R when facing downhill, then release the brake pedal.

Move the shift lever to

(

S, or

(

L when facing uphill, or

(

R when facing

downhill, then release the brake pedal.

Starting the Engine

Do not hold the key in START

(

e for more than 10

seconds.

•

If the engine does not start right away, wait for at
least 30 seconds before trying again.

•

If the engine starts, but then immediately stops,
wait at least 30 seconds before repeating step 3
while gently depressing the accelerator pedal.
Release the accelerator pedal once the engine
starts.

The immobilizer system protects your vehicle from
theft. If an improperly coded device is used, the
engine’s fuel system is disabled.

2 Immobilizer System P. 148

■

Starting to Drive

Continuously variable transmission models

Manual transmission models

Continuously variable transmission models

Hill start assist system

Hill start assist may not prevent the vehicle from
rolling downhill on a very steep or slippery slope, and
does not operate on small inclines.

Hill start assist is not a replacement for the parking
brake.

Hill start assist will operate even when VSA® is
switched off.

411

When Driving

Starting the Engine

Continued

Driving

Starting the Engine

1. Make sure the parking brake is applied.

2. Check that the transmission is in

(

P, then

depress the brake pedal.

Although it is possible to start the vehicle
in

(

N, it is safer to start it in

(

2. Check that the transmission is in

(

N. Then

depress the brake pedal with your right
foot, and the clutch pedal with your left
foot.

The clutch pedal must be fully depressed
to start the engine.

Models with smart entry system

Starting the Engine

Keep your foot firmly on the brake pedal when
starting the engine.

The engine is harder to start in cold weather and in
thinner air found at altitudes above 8,000 feet (2,400
meters).

When starting the engine in cold weather, turn off all
electrical accessories such as the lights, heating and
cooling system/climate control system, and rear
defogger in order to reduce battery drain.

If you live in a region where winter is extremely cold,
an engine block heater will improve starting and
warming of the engine. Consult a dealer for details.

If the exhaust system sounds abnormal or you can
smell exhaust gas inside the vehicle, have your vehicle
checked by a dealer. There may be a problem with
the engine or exhaust system.

The immobilizer system protects your vehicle from
theft.If an improperly coded device is used, the
engine’s fuel system is disabled.

2 Immobilizer System P. 148

Brake Pedal

Continuously variable transmission models

Brake Pedal

Clutch Pedal

Manual transmission models

When Driving

Starting the Engine

412

Driving

3. Press the ENGINE START/STOP button

without depressing the accelerator pedal.

Starting the Engine

Bring the smart entry remote close to the ENGINE
START/STOP button if the battery in the smart entry
remote is weak.

2 If the Smart Entry Remote Battery is Weak

P. 553

The engine may not start if the smart entry remote is
subjected to strong radio waves.

Do not hold the ENGINE START/STOP button to
start the engine.
If the engine does not start, wait at least 30 seconds
before trying again.

413

When Driving

Starting the Engine

Continued

Driving

You can turn the engine off when the vehicle is completely stopped.

1. Put the transmission into to

(

2. Press the ENGINE START/STOP button.

• If the transmission is in

(

N, press the ENGINE START/STOP button.

• If the transmission is in any gear other than

(

N, depress the clutch pedal, then

press the ENGINE START/STOP button.

1. Keeping your right foot on the brake pedal, release the parking brake. Check that

the parking brake and brake system indicator has gone off.

2 Parking Brake P. 468

2. Put the shift lever in

(

D. Select

(

R when reversing.

3. Gradually release the brake pedal and gently depress the accelerator pedal to pull

away.

■

Stopping the Engine

■

Starting to Drive

Continuously variable transmission models

Manual transmission models

Continuously variable transmission models

When Driving

Starting the Engine

414

Driving

■

Hill start assist system

Hill start assist keeps the brake engaged briefly to help prevent the vehicle from
rolling on inclines as you move your foot from the brake pedal to the accelerator.

Depress the clutch pedal, and shift to one of the forward gears when facing uphill,
or

(

R when facing downhill, then release the brake pedal.

Move the shift lever to

(

D or

(

S when facing uphill, or

(

R when facing downhill,

then release the brake pedal.

Hill start assist system

Hill start assist may not prevent the vehicle from
rolling downhill on a very steep or slippery slope, and
does not operate on small inclines.

Hill start assist is not a replacement for the parking
brake.

Hill start assist will operate even when VSA® is
switched off.

Manual transmission models

Continuously variable transmission models

Honda Fit (2019 year). Instruction - part 26