2003 Honda Civic Owner's Manual - Page 182

Automatic Transmission (CVT) Reverse (R) To shift from Reverse to Park, see the explanation under Park. To shift to Reverse from Neutral, come to a complete stop first. Press the release button before shifting into Reverse from Neutral. Neutral (N) Use Neutral if you need to restart a stalled engine, or if it is necessary to stop briefly with the engine idling. Always shift to Park position if you need to leave the vehicle for any reason. Press on the brake pedal when you are moving the shift lever from Neutral to another position. Drive (D) Use this position for your normal driving. The transmission automatically adjusts to keep the engine at the best speed for driving conditions. To help the engine warm up faster, the transmission will select ratios that allow the engine to run at higher speeds when it is cold. Second (S) Selecting Second shifts the transmission into a lower range of ratios for better acceleration and increased engine braking. Use Second when you are going down a steep hill, or in stop-and-go driving. Low (L) To shift to Low, press the release button on the front of the shift lever. Use Low to get more power when climbing, and for maximum engine braking when going down steep hills. For faster acceleration when in D, S or L, the transmission will automatically ''kick down'' to a lower range of ratios by pushing the accelerator pedal to the floor. Maximum Allowable Speeds The CVT shifts automatically to maintain proper engine speed in any shift position. When the vehicle reaches the maximum speed in any shift position, you may feel the engine cut in and out. This is caused by a limiter (112 mph, 180 km/h) in the engine's computer controls. The engine will run normally when you reduce the speed to below the maximum. Driving 181