Emergency Response Guide

Prepared for Fire Service, Law Enforcement, Emergency Medical, and ProfessionalTowing Personnel by American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

Honda CNG Vehicle

Contents

Key Components 1

Vehicle Description

Type, Size, and Appearance 2Curb Weight 2Fuel Tank 2High-pressure CNG Line 3Engine 3Battery 3

Built-In Safety Features

Occupant Protection Features 4CNG Safety Features 4CNG Manual Shutoff Valve 5

Potential Hazards

Flammable Fluids 6Compressed Natural Gas 6

Emergency Procedures

Incidents Involving Fire 7Damaged Vehicle 7Best Method for Stopping Fuel Flow and Turning Off the Engine 8Second-Best Method for Stopping Fuel Flow and Turning Off

the Engine 8Least-Desirable Method for Stopping Fuel Flow and Turning Off

the Engine 10Extricating Occupants 11

Towing 12

Key Components

1

CNG ManualShutoff Valve

FuelTank

FuelInjectors

Engine

CNGEngine

Components

High-pressureCNG Line

BrakeLines

Battery

Under-HoodFuse Box

2

Type, Size, and AppearanceThe Civic GX is a four-door, four-passenger carwith a conventional internal combustion enginefueled by compressed natural gas (CNG). TheGX is identical in appearance to the gasoline-powered Civic 4-door except for theseidentifying marks: • A blue-and-white CNG label near the trunk

lock • A green NGV (Natural Gas Vehicle) label on

each rear door

Curb WeightThe Civic GX curb weight is 2,729 lb(1,238 kg).

Fuel TankThe fuel tank is in the trunk, behind aremovable divider that separates it from thecargo area. The 36.6-inch-long (927 mm) and18-inch-diameter (460 mm) tank is securelymounted between two frames attached to thetrunk floor. The tank is made of flame-resistantmaterials and certified to have passed rigiddropping, bullet-impact, and crash tests.

The natural gas in the tank is compressed up to3,600 psi. Fuel capacity is equivalent to8 gallons of gasoline.

Vehicle Description

CNG Label

NGV Label

RemovableDivider

Fuel Tank

3

Vehicle Description Continued

driver’s side of the car. The high-pressure CNGline is certified to an internal pressure of10,000 psi.

EngineIn the engine compartment, CNG pressure isreduced to about 40 psi. At this pressure, theCNG flows into the engine through the fourfuel injectors.

BatteryA conventional 12-volt battery is located underthe hood, on the passenger’s side of the car.This battery powers the lights, audio system,airbags, seat-belt tensioners, and other standardelectronics. It also powers a solenoid valveinside the fuel tank (see page 4).

High-pressure CNG Line

12-Volt Battery

High-pressure CNG LineCompressed natural gas (CNG) flows from thefuel tank to the engine through a stainless-steel,high-pressure CNG line that is visible under the

4

battery must be disconnected for at least 3minutes.

CNG Safety FeaturesThe fuel tank has an internal solenoid valve thatautomatically shuts off the flow of CNGwhenever the ignition switch is in the LOCK (0)or ACCESSORY (I) position, or when one ofseveral sensors in the fuel system detects asignificant fuel leak.

The fuel tank also has an internal pressure reliefdevice to release all CNG if the temperature inthe tank exceeds 216ºF (102ºC). When thisdevice is activated, the CNG is routed out of thecar through a pressure relief outlet on the right ofthe CNG manual shutoff valve.

Built-In Safety Features

CNG ManualShutoff Valve

PressureRelief Outlet

Occupant Protection FeaturesThe Civic GX has lap/shoulder belts in all fourseating positions, dual front airbags, andpyrotechnic seat belt tensioners for the driverand a front passenger. Some models also haveside airbags. To disable the airbags andtensioners, the ignition switch must be in theLOCK (0) position for at least 3 minutes, or the

Built-In Safety Features Continued

5

To access the handle, reach through the spacebetween the left rear wheel and the splashguard. To stop the flow of CNG, turn thehandle one-quarter turn clockwise.

CNG ManualShutoff Valve

CNG ManualShutoff Valve

CNG Manual Shutoff ValveThe Civic GX has a CNG manual shutoff valveto stop the flow of CNG from the fuel tank. Thered handle of the valve is on the bottom of thecar, near the left rear tire and the splash guard.

Potential Hazards

6

vehicles. Fluid capacities are

Engine Oil: 3.7 quarts (3.5 Liters)Transmission Fluid: 5.9 quarts (5.6 Liters)

Compressed Natural GasThe CNG used in the Civic GX is a nontoxic gas thatcannot spill and cannot contaminate the ground water.

Like other fuels, however, CNG is both flammable andexplosive. As illustrated in the graph, when mixed withair, CNG has much higher flammability andexplosivity limits than gasoline. Its ignitiontemperature is also very high (1,200ºF), twice as highas gasoline.

To reduce the chance of CNG leakage, the Civic GXhas many built-in safety features to help contain thefuel, detect a leak, and automatically shut off fuel flowif a leak is detected (see pages 4-5). As with the naturalgas used in homes and industry, an odor is added to theCNG that helps you detect a leak before it can becomea problem.

Since CNG is much lighter than air, a leak occurring inan open area would quickly rise and dissipate into theatmosphere. In an enclosed space, CNG would collectin the uppermost areas.

50

40

30

20

10

0

Gasoline

Flammability in Air(Volume %)

Explosivity in Air(Volume %)

5.3 to 15%

1.1 to 3.3%

CompressedNatural Gas

6.3 to 13.5%

1 to 7.6%

The Civic GX does not present any greaterhazards than a conventional gasoline-poweredvehicle. It received a five-star rating forfrontal impacts from the National HighwayTraffic Safety Administration, and it wasrated good in side- and rear-impact crashtests. As a fuel, CNG also has a long recordof safe use in private, corporate, andgovernment vehicles.

Flammable FluidsThe Civic GX carries far less flammablefluids than gasoline-powered passenger

7

Damaged VehicleBefore attempting to rescue occupants from a damagedcar, or before moving it, you must stop the flow ofCNG and turn off the engine.

You have three ways to do this, ranging from the bestmethod to the least desirable:

Best method for stopping CNG flow and turning offthe engine:Turn off the ignition switch, and remove the key (seepage 8).

Second-best method for stopping CNG flow andturning off the engine: Remove the main fuse, and disconnect the batterynegative cable (see page 8).

Least-desirable method for stopping CNG flow andturning off the engine: Turn off the CNG manual shutoff valve (see page 10).

Emergency Procedures

Based on discussions with rescue professionals, werecommend that emergency response personnel followstandard procedures developed by their ownorganization for assessing situations and dealing withpotential hazards. Given our knowledge of the CivicGX, we also recommend the procedures outlined in thissection.

Incidents Involving FireIf a Civic GX is involved in a fire, follow standard fire-fighting procedures, but keep away from the rear ofthe car until the fire is completely out. Remember thathigh temperatures can cause all CNG in the fuel tank tobe released through the pressure relief outlet at the leftrear of the car (see page 4).

Emergency Procedures Continued

8

Remove the main fuse, and disconnect thebattery negative cable.

This method should be used if the ignition switchis in the ON (II) position, you cannot reach the keyor the CNG manual shutoff valve, but you canreach under the hood.

Removing the main fuse shuts off the flow of CNGfrom the fuel tank and turns off the engine.Disconnecting the battery negative cable cutspower to the airbags and the seat belt tensionerswithin 3 minutes. It also prevents the engine frombeing restarted.

Best Method for Stopping CNG Flowand Turning Off the Engine

Turn off the ignition switch, and remove the key.

Turning off the ignition switch automatically shuts offthe flow of CNG from the fuel tank. It also turns offpower to the airbags and the seat belt tensioners within3 minutes.

To use this method, turn the ignition switch to theLOCK (0) position, and remove the key. (Removing thekey prevents the vehicle from being inadvertentlyrestarted.)

Second-Best Method for Stopping CNG Flowand Turning Off the Engine

9

Emergency Procedures Continued

4. Disconnect the negative terminal from thebattery with a 10 mm wrench or pliers.

BatteryUnder-HoodFuse Box

Main Fuse

NegativeTerminal

To use this method, do this:

1. Open the hood. On the passenger’s side of thecar, locate the under-hood fuse box and thebattery.

2. Remove the fuse box cover, and locate themain fuse.

3. Remove the screws from the main fuse with aPhillips screwdriver, then remove the mainfuse.

Emergency Procedures Continued

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2. Turn the handle one-quarter turn clockwiseto stop the flow of CNG.

CNG Manual Shutoff Valve

CNG Manual Shutoff Valvein Off Position

Least-Desirable Method for StoppingCNG Flow and Turning Off the Engine

Turn off the CNG manual shutoff valve.

This method does not disable the airbags orthe seat belt tensioners. It should be usedonly if the engine is running, you cannotreach the key, and you cannot reach under thehood.

Turning off the CNG manual shutoff valveimmediately stops the flow of CNG from thefuel tank. The engine will stop within 1minute of turning off the valve.

To use this method, do this:

1. Locate the red handle of the CNG manualshutoff valve. It’s on the bottom of thecar, near the left rear tire and the splashguard.

11

Emergency Procedures Continued

High-pressureCNG Line

Cut Zone

Fuel Tank

Extricating OccupantsIf you need to break windows, cut into thebody, or use “Jaws of Life”-type equipment toremove occupants from a damaged car, be sureto stay within the cut zone (the area on theillustration with light blue/dark blue diagonallines).

Towing

12

If you need to move the Civic GX only a shortdistance, such as to the side of the road, and itcan still roll on the ground, the easiest way is toshift the transmission to neutral, then push thecar manually.

The preferred method for transporting the CivicGX away from an emergency location is on aflatbed truck.

If a flatbed is not available, wheel-liftequipment may be used, preferably with thefront wheels lifted. If the rear wheels must beraised, set the parking brake, and shift thetransmission to neutral before towing.

Copyright © 2003, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.Reorder Number Y0661AXX 25203-47110 (1109)