HONDA CR-V 2000 RD1-RD3 / 1.G Owners Manual

Accessorie
s an d Modification s

Modification s
D o no t remov e an y origina l
equipmen t o r modif y you r vehicl e i n
an y wa y tha t woul d alte r it s desig n o r
operation . Thi s coul d mak e you r
vehicl e unsaf e an d illega l t o drive .
Fo r example , d o no t mak e an y
modification s tha t woul d chang e th e
rid e heigh t o f you r vehicle , o r instal l
wheel s an d tire s wit h a differen t
overal l diameter .
Suc h modification s ca n adversel y
affec t handling , an d interfer e wit h
th e operatio n o f th e vehicle' s anti -
loc k brake s an d othe r systems . I
n addition , an y modification s tha t
decreas e groun d clearanc e increas e
th e chanc e o f undercarriag e part s
strikin g a curb , spee d bump , o r othe r
raise d object , whic h coul d caus e
you r airbag s t o deploy .
D o no t modif y you r steerin g whee l
o r an y othe r par t o f you r
Supplementa l Restrain t System .
Modification s coul d mak e th e
syste m ineffective . Additiona
l Safet y Precautio n
D o no t attac h o r plac e object s o n th e
airba g covers . An y objec t attache d t o
o r place d o n th e cover s marke d "SR S
AIRBAG, " i n th e cente r o f th e
steerin g whee l an d o n to p o f th e
dashboard , coul d interfer e wit h th e
prope r operatio n o f th e airbags . Or ,
i f th e airbag s inflate , th e object s
coul d b e propelle d insid e th e vehicl e
an d hur t someone .

Befor e Drivin g

Carryin
g Carg o

Your vehicl e ha s severa l convenien t
storag e area s s o yo u ca n sto w carg o

safely .

Th e glov e box , an d th e pocket s i n
th e fron t door s an d seat-backs , ar e
designe d fo r small , lightweigh t items .
Th e carg o are a is intende d fo r larger ,
heavie r items . I n addition , th e bac k
sea t ca n b e folde d dow n t o allo w yo u
t o can y mor e carg o o r longe r items .
However , carryin g to o muc h cargo ,
o r improperl y storin g it , ca n affec t
you r vehicle' s handling , stabilit y an d
operatio n an d mak e it unsafe . Befor e
carryin g an y typ e o f cargo , b e sur e t o
rea d th e followin g pages .
Befor e Drivin g

TAILGAT
E

POCKE T
CARG
O FLOO R POCKE T

DOO R POCKE T
SEA
T UNDER-BO X

CENTE R POCKE T
GLOV
E BO X

CARG O ARE A

Carryin
g Carg o

Loa d Limi t

Th e maximu m loa d fo r you r vehicl e

i s 85 0 Ib s (39 5 kg) .

Thi s figur e include s th e tota l weigh t

o f al l occupants , cargo , accessories ,

an d th e tongu e weigh t i f yo u ar e

towin g a trailer .

T o figur e ou t ho w muc h carg o yo u

ca n cany : Ad
d u p th e weigh t o f al l occupants .
I
f yo u ar e towin g a trailer , ad d th e

tongu e weigh t t o th e numbe r

above .
Subtrac
t th e tota l fro m 85 0 Ib s

(39 5 kg) .

Th e fina l numbe r i s th e tota l weigh t

o f carg o yo u ca n carry .
Carryin
g Item s i n th e Passenge r
Compartmen t Stor
e o r secur e al l item s tha t coul d
b e throw n aroun d an d hur t
someon e durin g a crash . B
e sur e item s place d o n th e floo r
behin d th e fron t seat s canno t rol l
unde r th e seat s an d interfer e wit h
th e driver' s abilit y t o operat e th e
pedals , o r wit h th e prope r
operatio n o f th e seats . Kee
p th e glov e bo x close d whil e
driving . I f th e li d is open , a
passenge r coul d injur e thei r knee s
durin g a cras h o r sudde n stop .

Befor e Drivin g

Overloadin
g o r imprope r
loadin g ca n affec t handlin g an d
stabilit y an d caus e a cras h i n
whic h yo u ca n b e hur t o r killed .
Follo w al l loa d limit s an d othe r
loadin g guideline s i n thi s
manual .

Carryin
g Carg o

Carryin g Carg o in th e Carg o Are a
o r o n a Roo f Rac k
Distribut e carg o evenl y o n th e
floo r o f th e carg o area , placin g th e
heavies t item s o n th e botto m an d
a s fa r forwar d a s possible . Ti e
dow n item s tha t coul d b e throw n
abou t th e vehicl e durin g a cras h o r
sudde n stop . I
f yo u carr y larg e item s tha t
preven t yo u fro m closin g th e
tailgate , exhaus t ga s ca n ente r th e
passenge r area . T o avoi d th e
possibilit y o f carbo n monoxid e
poisoning , follo w th e instruction s
o n pag e 4 9 .
I f yo u ca n carr y an y item s o n a
roo f rack , b e sur e th e tota l weigh t
o f th e rac k an d th e item s doe s no t
excee d 7 5 Ib s (3 4 kg) . Pleas e
contac t you r Hond a deale r fo r

furthe r information .

Befor e Drivin g

Drivin
g
Thi s sectio n give s yo u tip s o n
startin g th e engin e unde r variou s
conditions , an d ho w to operat e th e
5-spee d manua l an d automati c
transmissions . I t als o include s
importan t informatio n o n parkin g
you r vehicle , th e brakin g system ,
an d fact s yo u nee d if yo u ar e plan -

nin g to to w a traile r o r driv e off -

highway . Drivin
g Guidelines........................ . 15 2
Preparin g to Drive........................ . 15 3
Stallin g th e Engine....................... . 15 4
Startin g i n Col d Weathe r
a t Hig h Altitude.................... . 15 5
5-spee d Manua l Transmission.... . 15 6
Recommende d Shif t Points..... . 15 7
Maximu m Allowabl e Speeds... . 15 7
Automati c Transmission.............. . 15 8
Shif t Leve r Positio n Indicator. . 15 8
Shif t Leve r Positions................ . 15 8
Maximu m Allowabl e Speeds... . 16 1
Shif t Loc k Release.................... . 16 2

Parking........................................... . 16 3

Th e Brakin g System..................... . 16 4
Brak e Wea r Indicators............. . 16 4

Brak e Syste m Design............... . 16 5

Anti-loc k Brakes....................... . 16 5
Importan t Safet y

Reminders......................... . 16 6

AB S Indicator........................ . 16 7
Drivin g i n Ba d Weather............... . 16 8
Towin g a Trailer........................... . 17 0
Towin g You r Vehicl e Behin d a
Motorhome................................ . 17 6 Off-Highwa
y Guidelines.............. . 17 8
Genera l Information................. . 17 8
Importan t Safet y

Precautions............................ . 17 9

Drivin g Tips............................... . 18 0

Drivin g

Drivin
g Guideline s

You r CR- V ha s highe r groun d
clearanc e tha n a passenge r vehicl e
designe d onl y fo r us e o n pavement .
Highe r groun d clearanc e ha s man y
advantage s fo r off-highwa y driving .
I t allow s yo u t o trave l ove r bump s
an d unpave d roads . I t als o provide s
goo d visibilit y s o yo u ca n anticipat e
problem s earlier .
Thes e advantage s com e a t som e cost .
Becaus e you r vehicl e i s talle r an d
ride s highe r of f th e ground , i t ha s a
hig h cente r o f gravity . Thi s mean s
tha t you r vehicl e ca n ti p o r rol l ove r
i f yo u mak e abrup t turns . Utilit y
vehicle s hav e a significantl y highe r
rollove r rat e tha n othe r type s o f
vehicles .
T o preven t th e ris k o f rollove r o r
los s o f control : Tak
e corner s a t slowe r speed s
tha n yo u woul d wit h a passenge r
vehicle .
Avoi
d shar p turn s an d abrup t
maneuver s wheneve r possible . D
o no t modif y you r vehicl e in an y
wa y tha t woul d rais e th e cente r o f
gravity . D
o no t can y heav y carg o o n th e

roof .
Four-wheel
Drive Models

You r CR- V is equippe d wit h a uniqu e
four-whee l driv e (4WD ) system .
Normally , powe r i s delivere d onl y t o
th e fron t wheels . Whe n th e syste m
sense s a los s o f front-whee l traction ,
i t automaticall y transfer s som e
powe r t o th e rea r wheels . Thi s give s
yo u bette r tractio n an d mobility .
Whil e thi s syste m ca n provid e
increase d tractio n o n slipper y
surfaces , yo u stil l nee d t o exercis e
th e sam e car e whe n accelerating ,
steering , an d brakin g tha t yo u woul d
i n a two-whee l driv e vehicle .

Se e page 177 for additional guidelines
for driving off-highway.
Drivin g

Preparin
g to Driv e

Yo u shoul d d o th e followin g check s
an d adjustment s ever y da y befor e
yo u driv e you r vehicle .
1 . Mak e sur e al l windows , mirrors ,
an d outsid e light s ar e clea n an d
unobstructed . Remov e frost , snow ,
o r ice .
2 . Chec k tha t th e hoo d an d tailgat e
ar e full y closed .
3 . Visuall y chec k th e tires . I f a tir e
look s low , us e a gaug e to chec k it s

pressure .

4 . Chec k tha t an y item s yo u ma y b e
carryin g wit h yo u insid e ar e store d
properl y o r fastene d clow n

securely .
5
. Chec k th e adjustmen t o f th e sea t
(se e pag e 7 7 ) .
6 . Chec k th e adjustmen t o f th e
insid e an d outsid e mirror s (se e
pag e 8 5 ) .
7 . Chec k th e adjustmen t o f th e
steerin g whee l (se e pag e 64 ).
8 . Mak e sur e th e door s ar e securel y
close d an d locked .
9 . Faste n you r sea t belt . Chec k tha t
you r passenger s hav e fastene d
thei r sea l belt s (se e pag e 1 5 ) .
10.Tur
n th e ignitio n switc h O N (II) .
Chec k th e indicato r light s i n th e
instrumen t panel .
11.Star t th e engin e (se e pag e 15 4 ) .
12.Chec k the gauge s an d indicato r
light s in th e instrumen t pane l (se e
pag e 5 3 ).
Driving

Startin
g th e Engin e

1 . Appl y th e parkin g brake .
2 . I n col d weather , tur n of f al l
electrica l accessorie s t o reduc e
th e drai n o n th e battery .

3 . Manual Transmission:

Pus h th e clutc h peda l dow n al l th e
way . STAR T (III ) doe s no t
functio n unles s th e clutc h peda l i s

depressed .

Automatic Transmission:

Mak e sur e th e shif t leve r i s i n
Park . Pres s o n th e brak e pedal . 4
. Withou t touchin g th e accelerato r
pedal , tur n th e ignitio n ke y t o th e
STAR T (III ) position . I f th e engin e
doe s no t star t righ t away , d o no t
hol d th e ke y i n STAR T (III ) fo r
mor e tha n 1 5 second s a t a time .
Paus e fo r a t leas t 1 0 second s
befor e tryin g again .
5 . I f th e engin e doe s no t star t withi n
1 5 seconds , o r start s bu t stall s
righ t away , repea t ste p 4 wit h th e
accelerato r peda l presse d half-wa y
down . I f th e engin e starts , releas e
pressur e o n th e accelerato r peda l
s o th e engin e doe s no t race . 6
. I f th e engin e stil l doe s no t start ,
pres s th e accelerato r peda l al l th e
wa y dow n an d hol d i t ther e whil e
startin g in orde r t o clea r flooding .
A s before , kee p th e ignitio n ke y i n
th e STAR T (III ) positio n fo r n o
mor e tha n 1 5 seconds . Retur n to
ste p 5 if the engin e doe s no t start .
I f i t starts , lif t you r foo t of f th e
accelerato r peda l s o th e engin e
doe s no t race .

Drivin g

Startin
g th e Engin e

Startin g in Col d Weathe r a t Hig h
Altitud e (Abov e 8,00 0 feet /
2,40 0 meters )

A n engin e is harde r t o star t i n col d
weather . Th e thinne r ai r foun d a t
hig h altitud e abov e 8,00 0 fee t (2,40 0
meters ) add s t o th e problem .
Us e th e followin g procedure :
1 . Tur n of f al l electrica l accessorie s
t o reduc e th e drai n o n th e battery .
2 . Pus h th e accelerato r peda l half -
wa y t o th e floo r an d hol d it ther e
whil e startin g th e engine . D o no t
hol d th e ignitio n ke y i n STAR T
(III ) fo r mor e tha n 1 5 seconds .
Whe n th e engin e starts , releas e
th e accelerato r peda l graduall y a s
th e engin e speed s u p an d smooth s
out . 3
. I f th e engin e fail s t o star t i n ste p 2 ,
pus h th e accelerato r peda l t o th e
floo r an d hol d it ther e whil e yo u
tr y t o star t th e engin e fo r n o mor e
tha n 1 5 seconds . I f th e engin e
doe s no t start , retur n to ste p 2 .

Driving

5-spee
d Manua l Transmissio n

Th e manua l transmissio n is syn -
chronize d in al l forwar d gear s fo r
smoot h operation . I t ha s a lockou t s o
yo u canno t shif t directl y fro m Fift h
t o Reverse . Whe n shiftin g u p o r
down , mak e sur e yo u pus h th e clutc h
peda l dow n al l th e way , shif t t o th e
nex t gear , an d le t th e peda l u p
gradually . Whe n yo u ar e no t shifting ,
d o no t res t you r foo t o n th e clutc h
pedal . Thi s ca n caus e you r clutc h to
wea r ou t faster . Com
e to a ful l sto p befor e yo u shif t
int o Reverse . Yo u ca n damag e th e
transmissio n b y tryin g to shif t int o
Revers e wit h th e vehicl e moving .
Pus h dow n th e clutc h pedal , an d
paus e fo r a fe w second s befor e
shiftin g int o Reverse , o r shif t int o
on e o f th e forwar d gear s fo r a
moment . Thi s stop s th e gear s s o
the y won' t "grind. "
Whe n slowin g down , yo u ca n ge t
extr a brakin g fro m th e engin e b y
shiftin g to a lowe r gear . Thi s extr a
brakin g ca n hel p yo u maintai n a saf e
spee d an d preven t you r brake s fro m
overheatin g whil e goin g dow n a
stee p hill . Befor e downshifting ,
mak e sur e engin e spee d wil l no t g o
int o th e tachometer' s re d zon e in th e
lowe r gear .

Drivin g
Rapi
d slowin g o r speeding-u p
ca n caus e los s o f contro l o n
slipper y surfaces . I f yo u crash ,
yo u ca n b e injured .
Us e extr a car e whe n drivin g o n
slipper y surfaces .