HONDA CR-V 2001 RD1-RD3 / 1.G Owners Manual

Towin
g a Traile r

Drivin g Safel y Wit h a Traile r
Th e adde d weight , length , an d
heigh t o f a traile r wil l affec t you r
vehicle' s handlin g an d performance ,
s o drivin g wit h a traile r require s
som e specia l drivin g skill s an d
techniques .
Fo r you r safet y an d th e safet y o f
others , tak e tim e t o practic e drivin g
maneuver s befor e headin g fo r th e
ope n road , an d follo w th e guideline s
discusse d below .
Towing Speeds and Gears
Driv e slowe r tha n norma l i n al l
drivin g situations , an d obe y poste d
spee d limit s fo r vehicle s wit h trailers .
I f yo u hav e a n automati c
transmission , us e th e Over-Driv e
(O/D ) mod e whe n towin g a traile r
o n leve l roads . Tur n of f th e Over -
Driv e (O/D ) mod e whe n towin g a
traile r in hill y terrai n (se e pag e 152 ).
(Se e "Driving on Hills" in th e nex t
colum n fo r additiona l gea r information.
)

Making Turns and Braking

Mak e turn s mor e slowl y an d wide r
tha n normal . Th e traile r track s a
smalle r ar c tha n you r vehicle , an d it
ca n hi t o r ru n ove r somethin g th e
vehicl e misses . Allo w mor e tim e an d
distanc e fo r braking . D o no t brak e o r
tur n suddenl y a s thi s coul d caus e th e
traile r t o jackknif e o r tur n over .

Driving on Hills

Whe n climbin g hills , closel y watc h
you r temperatur e gauge . I f i t near s
th e re d mark , tur n th e ai r
conditionin g off , reduc e spee d and , i f
necessary , pul l t o th e sid e o f th e
roa d to le t th e engin e cool .
I f th e automati c transmissio n shift s
frequentl y betwee n 3r d an d 4t h
gear s whil e goin g u p a hill , tur n of f
th e Over-Driv e (O/D ) mod e (se e
pag e 172 ). I
f yo u mus t sto p whe n facin g uphill ,
us e th e foo t brak e o r parkin g brake .
D o no t tr y t o hol d th e vehicl e i n
plac e b y pressin g o n th e accelerator ,
a s thi s ca n caus e th e automati c
transmissio n to overheat .
Whe n drivin g dow n hills , reduc e
you r spee d an d shif t dow n to 2n d
gear . D o no t "ride " th e brakes , an d
remembe r i t wil l tak e longe r t o slo w
dow n an d sto p whe n towin g a trailer .

CONTINUED

Drivin g

Towin
g a Traile r

Handling Crosswinds and Buffeting

Crosswind s an d ai r turbulenc e
cause d b y passin g truck s ca n disrup t
you r steerin g an d caus e traile r
swaying . Whe n bein g passe d b y a
larg e vehicle , kee p a constan t spee d
an d stee r straigh t ahead . D o no t tr y
t o mak e quic k steerin g o r brakin g

corrections .

Backing Up

Alway s driv e slowl y an d hav e
someon e guid e yo u whe n backin g up .
Gri p th e bottom of th e steerin g
wheel; then tur n th e whee l t o th e lef t
t o ge t th e traile r t o mov e to th e left ,
an d tur n th e whee l righ t t o mov e th e
traile r t o th e right .
Parking

Follo w al l norma l precaution s whe n
parking , includin g firml y settin g th e
parkin g brak e an d puttin g th e
transmissio n in Par k (automatic ) o r
i n 1s t o r Revers e (manual) . Also ,
plac e whee l chock s a t eac h o f th e
trailer' s tires .

Drivin g

Towin
g You r Vehicl e Behin d a Motorhom e

You r CR- V ca n b e towe d behin d a
motorhom e a t lega l highwa y speed s
u p to 6 5 mp h (10 0 km/h) . T o avoi d
damag e t o th e 4W D syste m it mus t
b e "fla t towed " wit h al l fou r wheel s
o n th e ground .
Whe n purchasin g a to w bar , mak e
sur e yo u selec t a reputabl e
manufacture r an d installer . Follo w
th e manufacturer' s attachmen t
instruction s carefully .
Afte r attachin g th e to w ba r t o you r
motorhome , d o th e followin g to
prepar e you r CR- V fo r "fla t towing" :
5-speed
Manual Transmission
Whe
n preparin g to to w you r CR-V ,

mak e sur e th e transmissio n is
fille d to th e correc t leve l (se e pag e

222 ). D o no t overfill . Releas
e th e parkin g brake . Shif
t th e transmissio n t o Neutral .
Leav
e th e ke y in th e ignitio n
switc h an d th e ignitio n switc h in

ACCESSOR Y (I ) s o th e steerin g

whee l doe s no t lock . Mak e sur e

th e radi o an d an y item s plugge d
int o th e accessor y powe r socket s
ar e turne d of f s o yo u d o no t ru n

dow n th e battery .
Automatic
Transmission

Whe n preparin g t o to w you r CR-V ,
mak e sur e th e transmissio n i s ful l o f
fluid . Maintainin g th e correc t leve l i s
ver y important . D o no t overfill . D o

th e followin g every day immediately

before you begin towing. Follow th e

procedur e exactly . Otherwise , sever e
automati c transmissio n damag e wil l
occur .
CONTINUED
Drivin g

Towin
g You r Vehicl e Behin d a Motorhom e
Star
t th e engine .
Pres s o n th e brak e pedal . Shif t th e
leve r throug h al l th e position s (P ,

R , N , D , 2,1 )

Shif t t o D , the n t o N . Le t th e
engin e ru n fo r thre e minutes , the n
tur n of f th e engine .
Releas e th e parkin g brake .
Leav e th e ignitio n switc h i n
ACCESSOR Y (I ) s o th e steering -
whee l doe s no t lock . Mak e sur e
th e radi o an d an y item s plugge d
int o th e accessor y powe r socket s
ar e turne d of f s o yo u d o no t ru n
dow n th e battery .
Extended
Towing
I f yo u to w mor e tha n 8 hour s in on e

day , repea t th e abov e procedur e a t

leas t ever y 8 hours , (whe n yo u sto p

fo r fuel , etc. )

The steering system can be damaged if
the steering wheel is locked. Leave the
ignition switch in Accessory (I), and
make sure the steering wheel turns
freelv before you begin towing.

Failure to follow the above instructions

exactly will result in severe automatic

transmission damage. If vou cannot

shift the transmission or start the

engine, your vehicle must be

transported on a flat-bed truck or

trailer.
Severe
automatic transmission damage
will occur if the vehicle is shifted from
reverse to neutral and then towed with
the drive wheels on the ground.

I f yo u to w a CR- V wit h a n automati c
transmission , th e transmissio n flui d
mus t b e change d ever y tw o year s o r
30,00 0 mile s (50,00 0 km) , whicheve r
come s first .

Drivin g
NOTIC
E
NOTIC E NOTIC
E

Off-Highwa
y Guideline s

Genera l Informatio n
You r CR- V ha s bee n designe d
primaril y fo r us e o n pavement . Bu t
it s highe r groun d clearanc e allow s
yo u t o occasionall y trave l o n unpave d
roads , t o campgrounds , picni c sites ,
an d simila r locations . I t i s no t
designe d fo r trailblazing , mountai n
climbing , o r othe r challengin g off -
roa d activities .
I f yo u decid e t o driv e o n unpave d
roads , yo u wil l fin d tha t i t require s
somewha t differen t drivin g skills .
You r CR- V wil l als o handl e
somewha t differentl y tha n it doe s o n
pavement . S o b e sur e to rea d thi s
owner' s manual , pa y specia l attentio n
t o th e precaution s an d tip s i n thi s
section , an d ge t acquainte d wit h
you r vehicl e befor e yo u leav e th e

pavement .

Driving

Off-Highwa
y Guideline s
Importan t Safet y Precaution s
Remembe r tha t you r CR- V ha s
highe r groun d clearanc e an d a
highe r cente r o f gravit y tha n
passenge r vehicle s designe d fo r us e
onl y o n pavement . Thi s mean s you r
vehicl e ca n mor e easil y ti p o r rol l
ove r i f yo u mak e abrup t turn s o r
driv e o n slopes .
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 avoi d los s o f contro l
o r rollover , b e sur e t o follo w al l
recommendation s an d precaution s
o n pag e 16 4 an d in thi s section .
Sea t belt s ar e jus t a s importan t off -
roa d a s o n pave d roads . Whereve r
yo u drive , mak e sur e yo u an d you r
passenger s alway s wea r sea t belts . I f
childre n o r infant s ar e alon g fo r th e
ride , se e tha t the y ar e properl y
secured . I n a rollove r crash , a n
unbelte d perso n is mor e likel y t o di e
tha n a perso n wearin g a sea t belt .
O
n man y unpave d roads , yo u won' t
fin d lan e markers , traffi c signals , o r
sign s to war n yo u o f possibl e troubl e
ahead . It' s u p to yo u to continuall y
asses s th e situatio n an d driv e withi n

limits .
Th
e rout e present s limit s (som e
road s ar e to o stee p an d bump y fo r
example) . Yo u hav e limit s (i n drivin g
skill s an d comfort) . An d you r vehicl e
als o ha s limit s (traction , stability , an d
power , fo r instance) .
Drivin g off-highwa y ca n b e
hazardou s i f yo u fai l t o recogniz e
limit s an d tak e prope r precautions .
Fo r example , yo u ca n hav e a n
acciden t o r rollove r durin g
maneuver s suc h a s turning , drivin g
o n hills , o r ove r larg e obstacles .
B e sur e t o stor e carg o properly , an d
d o no t excee d you r CR-V' s carg o o r
traile r loa d limit s (se e page s 16 1 an d

182 ).

Drivin g
Improperl
y operatin g thi s
vehicl e o n o r off-pavemen t ca n
caus e a n acciden t o r rollove r i n
whic h yo u an d you r passenger s
coul d b e seriousl y injure d o r
killed .
Follo w al l instruction s an d
guideline s i n th e owner' s

manual .

Kee p you r spee d lo w an d
don' t driv e faste r tha n
condition s permit .

Off-Highwa
y Guideline s

Drivin g Tip s
Th e followin g page s contai n practica l
tip s o n basi c off-highwa y operation .
Check Out Your Vehicle
Drivin g off-highwa y ca n b e har d o n a
vehicle . Befor e yo u leav e th e
pavement , b e sur e al l schedule d
maintenanc e an d servic e ha s bee n
done , an d tha t yo u hav e inspecte d
you r vehicle . Pa y specia l attentio n to
th e conditio n o f th e tires , an d us e a
gaug e t o chec k th e tir e pressures .
Afte r yo u retur n t o th e pavement ,
carefull y inspec t you r vehicl e t o
mak e sur e ther e is n o damag e tha t
coul d mak e drivin g it unsafe . Chec k
th e tire s fo r damag e an d fo r prope r

pressure .
Controlling
Speed
Off-highway , th e genera l rul e is t o
kee p you r spee d low . O f course ,
you'l l nee d enoug h spee d to kee p
movin g forward . Bu t a t highe r
speeds , yo u hav e les s tim e to asses s
condition s an d mak e good decisions .
There' s als o a greate r chanc e o f
slidin g if yo u brak e o r tur n to o
quickl y o n we t soil , gravel , o r ice . I n
an y situation , neve r g o faste r tha n
condition s allow .
Accelerating
and Braking

Fo r bette r tractio n o n al l surfaces ,
accelerat e slowl y an d graduall y buil d
u p speed . I f yo u tr y t o star t to o fas t
o n we t soil , mud , snow , o r ice , yo u
migh t no t hav e enoug h tractio n to
ge t underway . Yo u ma y eve n di g
yoursel f int o a hole .
Generally , th e bes t off-pavemen t
brakin g techniqu e is t o gentl y
depres s th e brak e pedal , the n
increas e pressur e a s mor e brakin g is
needed . Avoi d har d braking . Kee p in
min d tha t yo u wil l usuall y nee d mor e
tim e an d distanc e to brak e t o a sto p
o n unpave d surfaces .
Tes t you r brake s fro m tim e t o tim e
t o mak e sur e the y ar e operatin g
properly . Thi s wil l als o giv e yo u a
fee l fo r ho w muc h tractio n yo u hav e
o n a give n surface .

CONTINUED

Drivin g

Off-Highwa
y Guideline s

Turning

Off-highway , th e basi c turnin g
techniqu e is t o driv e a t lo w spee d
an d graduall y adjus t th e amoun t o f
steerin g to sui t th e surface .
Yo u shoul d hav e n o proble m makin g
shar p turn s a t lo w spee d o n leve l
ground . Bu t neve r mak e a n abrup t
tur n a t highe r speeds , o n o r of f
pavement . Wit h a highe r cente r o f
gravity , you r vehicl e ca n mor e easil y
ti p o r rol l over .
Drivin
g o n Slope s

Befor e drivin g u p o r dow n a hill , sto p
an d asses s th e situation . I f yo u can' t
clearl y se e al l roa d condition s (goo d
traction , n o bumps , hole s o r othe r
obstacles , a saf e wa y out , etc. ) wal k
th e slop e befor e yo u driv e o n it . I f
yo u hav e an y doub t abou t whethe r
yo u ca n safel y driv e o n th e slope ,
don't do it. Fin d anothe r route .
I f yo u ar e drivin g u p a hil l an d fin d
tha t yo u canno t continu e (becaus e o f
th e steepness , a larg e obstacle , etc.) ,

d o not try to turn around. Your vehicl e

coul d rol l over . Slowl y bac k dow n th e
hill , followin g th e sam e rout e yo u
too k u p th e hill .
Avoidin
g Obstacle s

Bumps , holes , rocks , an d othe r
obstacle s ca n b e hazardous . Debri s
i n th e roa d ca n damag e you r
suspensio n o r othe r components .
Eve n smal l rock s ca n cu t you r tires .
Mor e important , becaus e you r
vehicl e ha s a hig h cente r o f gravity ,
drivin g ove r a larg e obstacle , o r
allowin g a whee l t o dro p int o a dee p
hole , ca n caus e you r vehicl e t o ti p o r
rol l over .
Driv e slo w enoug h t o observ e
obstacle s ahea d an d maneuve r
aroun d them . I f yo u can' t avoi d a
seriou s obstacle , tur n aroun d an d
loo k fo r a bette r route .
Drivin g

Off-Highwa
y Guideline s

I f Yo u Encounte r Wate r
Avoi d drivin g throug h dee p water . I f
yo u encounte r wate r i n you r rout e ( a
smal l strea m o r larg e puddle , fo r
example) , evaluat e i t carefull y befor e
goin g ahead . Mak e sur e it i s shallow ,
flowin g slowly , an d ha s fir m groun d
underneath . I f yo u ar e no t sur e o f
th e dept h o r th e ground , tur n aroun d
an d fin d anothe r route . Drivin
g throug h dee p wate r ca n als o
damag e you r vehicle . Th e wate r ca n
ge t int o the transmissio n an d
differential , dilutin g th e lubrican t
an d causin g a n eventua l failure . I t
ca n als o was h th e greas e ou t o f th e
whee l bearings .
I f Yo u Ge t Stuc k
Avoi d drivin g o n sof t sand , dee p mud ,
o r othe r surface s wher e yo u coul d
ge t stuck . I f yo u d o happe n to ge t
stuc k becaus e o f inclemen t weathe ro
r othe r conditions , choos e a saf e
an d appropriat e cours e o f action .
Yo u shoul d neve r us e a jac k t o tr y
gettin g unstuck . A jac k onl y work s
o n firm , leve l ground . Also , you r
vehicl e coul d easil y sli p of f th e jac k
an d hur t yo u o r someon e else .

4-Wheel Drive Vehicles

I f yo u spi n th e wheel s excessivel y
tryin g t o ge t unstuck , yo u ma y
overhea t th e component s o f th e
4-whee l driv e system . I f thi s happens ,
th e 4-whee l driv e syste m shut s of f
an d onl y th e fron t wheel s receiv e
power . I f thi s happens , sto p an d
allo w everythin g to coo l clown . Th e
4-whee l driv e syste m wil l wor k agai n
afte r it s temperatur e drops .
I f yo u sli p th e clutc h fo r a lon g tim e
whil e tryin g t o ge t unstuck , yo u ma y
overhea t an d damag e it .
Drivin g

196