Contents: Cars with continuously variable…⇊ Cars without selector lever release…⇊ Vehicles with selector lever release…⇊ Selector lever positions ⇊ Range selector lever release device…⇊
Your Honda may be equipped with a four-speed hydromechanical automatic transmission with a lock-up torque converter. The lock-up torque converter improves the fuel economy of the vehicle. Subjectively, engaging the lock-up clutch of the torque converter is similar to a normal gear shift.
Cars with continuously variable transmission
The features of driving a vehicle with a continuously variable transmission are described in Section Continuously variable transmission (individual models).
Positions of the range selector lever
The instrument panel contains indicators that allow you to easily monitor the position of the automatic transmission range selector.
On some vehicle modifications, the D4 indicator is provided to turn on for a few seconds when the ignition is turned on (the key is turned in the lock to position II). If the D4 indicator flashes while the vehicle is moving (regardless of the position of the range selector lever), this indicates a possible malfunction of the automatic transmission. In this case, avoid sudden acceleration of the car and contact a Honda service station.
Sometimes the D4 indicator can be located together with a separate fuel level indicator.
Depending on the vehicle modification, the range selector lever may have seven or six locking positions. When starting the engine, the selector lever should only be in the P (Park) or N (Neutral) position. If you stop the vehicle when one of the D4, D3, 2, 1 ranges is engaged in the automatic transmission, (available on some vehicle modifications), N or R, then you must completely release the accelerator pedal and press the brake pedal to reliably brake the car.
Certain shifts of the range selector lever can only be made by simultaneously pressing the locking button, which is located on the side of the handle.
Cars without selector lever release device
Shifting the range selector lever with the lock button pressed
- From position P to R
- From position R to P
- From position N to R
- From position D3 to 2
- From 2 to 1*
Range selector lever shifts that do not require pressing the release button
- From position 1* to 2
- From position 2 to D3
- From position D3 to D4
- From position D4 to N
- From position D4 to D3
- From position N to D4
- From position R to N
*Position 1 may be available on select models.
Vehicles with selector lever release device
To shift the gear selector lever from position P to position R, you must simultaneously press the brake pedal and the release button.
Shifting the range selector lever with the lock button pressed
- From position R to P
- From position N to R
- From position D3 to 2
- From 2 to 1*
Range selector lever shifts that do not require pressing the release button
- From position 1 to 2
- From position 2 to D3
- From position D3 to D4
- From position D4 to N
- From position D4 to D3
- From position N to D4
- From position R to N
Selector lever positions
R (Parking)
In this position of the selector lever, the output shaft of the transmission is mechanically locked. Always engage the selector lever in the P (Park) position when switching off or starting the engine. In order to move the selector lever out of the P (Park) position, it is necessary to press the brake pedal, having previously released the accelerator pedal. Press the locking button located on the side of the lever handle and disengage the lever from the P (Park) position.
If, on a vehicle equipped with a selector lever release device, after all the above steps it is still not possible to move the lever out of the P (Park) position, it is necessary to release the selector lever using the ignition key, see below.
To engage the range selector lever in the P (Park) position, you must also press the locking button. To avoid damage to the transmission, engage the lever in the P (Park) position only after the vehicle has come to a complete stop.
On a vehicle equipped with a selector lever release device, you can remove the key from the ignition switch only when the selector lever is in the P (Park) position.
R (Reverse)
Methods of switching the range selector lever between the R positions (Reverse) and P (Parking) are described above. Switch the lever to position R from position N (Neutral) only after the car has come to a complete stop, and you must press the locking button located on the side of the lever handle. (Neutral)
Use the N (Neutral) position when starting a stalled engine while the vehicle is moving and when briefly stopping the vehicle with the engine running. If you need to leave the vehicle for any reason, first move the selector lever to the P (Park) position. Press the brake pedal when disengaging the range selector lever from the N (Neutral) position.
D4 (Movement)
The selector lever should be in this position at all times when the vehicle is moving under normal road conditions. In the D4 (Drive) range, automatic forward gear shifting is provided depending on the vehicle speed and the degree of pressure on the accelerator pedal. Some vehicle modifications are equipped with an adjustment of the shift times to higher gears towards higher driving speeds if the engine has not warmed up to normal temperature. This ensures faster engine warming up.
D3
If the range selector lever is in the D3 position, the automatic transmission functions in the same way as in the D4 range. The difference is that the shift to 4th gear is excluded. The D3 range is recommended for towing a trailer in hilly terrain or for engine braking on a descent. The D3 range is also useful for eliminating unnecessary cyclic shifts of the automatic transmission between third and fourth gears, which can occur, for example, when driving in dense traffic with frequent slowdowns and stops.
To accelerate the car sharply when the gearbox is operating in the D4 or D3 range, press the accelerator pedal all the way down. The gearbox will automatically shift to the next lower gear. If the car speed is low, the gearbox may immediately shift down two gears.
2
To move the range selector lever to position 2, press the locking button, which is located on the side of the lever handle. When range 2 is engaged, the automatic transmission will constantly operate in second gear. When the car stops, the gearbox does not shift to first gear. Constant engagement of second gear ensures good traction dynamics of the car on climbs and the possibility of intensive engine braking on descents. Range 2 is recommended to be engaged when starting the car on a slippery road surface, as well as when driving in deep snow. This helps prevent severe slippage of the drive wheels of the car.
When the D3 or 2 ranges are engaged while the vehicle is moving, the engagement of lower gears in the transmission is automatically delayed and occurs only after the vehicle speed has decreased to a safe level at which the maximum permissible engine crankshaft speed will not be exceeded.
1 (individual models)
To move the range selector lever to position 1 from position 2, press the release button, which is located on the side of the lever handle. When range 1 is engaged, the automatic transmission will constantly operate in first gear. By switching the range selector lever between positions 1, 2, D3 and D4, you can operate the automatic transmission in the same way as a manual transmission (but without the need to use the clutch pedal).
Range selector lever release device (individual models)
The release device allows the range selector lever to be moved out of the P (Park) position if the normal disengagement method (by simultaneously pressing the brake pedal and the locking button) proved ineffective.
1. Set the parking brake.
2. Remove the key from the ignition switch.
3. Insert the ignition key into the slot of the lever release device lock. The lock is located next to the lever.
4. Press the key down while pressing the release button and move the selector lever from position P (Park) to position N (Neutral).
5. Remove the key from the selector lever release device. Press the brake pedal and start the engine. If you had to use the lever release device to disengage the range selector lever from the P (Park) position, the possible cause is a transmission malfunction. Contact a service station to have the vehicle checked and repaired.