Honda 1995 Civic Coupe Online Reference Owner's Manual page 84

5-Speed Manual Transmission
The manual transmission is
synchronized in all forward gears
for smooth operation. It has a
lockout so you cannot shift
directly from Fifth to Reverse.
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 foot on
the clutch pedal. This can cause
your clutch to wear out faster.
Driving
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.
Come to a full stop before you
shift into reverse. You can
damage the transmission by
trying to shift into reverse with
the car moving. Depress 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 down 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 engine speed will not
go into the red zone in the lower
gear. Refer to the Maximum
Speeds chart.
Recommended Shift Points
Drive in the highest gear that lets
the engine run and accelerate
smoothly. This will give you the
best fuel economy and effective
emissions control. The following
shift points are recommended: