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

2001 CR-V Online Reference Owner's Manual
Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through\
this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.h\
elminc.com. Contents


Introduction ........................................................................\
................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safety........................................................................\
........................................ .ii
Important Handling Information........................................................................\
.............................iii
Your Vehicle at a Glance........................................................................\
............................................ .2
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
......................................5
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restr\
aint System.
Instruments and Controls........................................................................\
........................................ .51
Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
..................... ..97
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
..........................................................151
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
..................................................................... .163
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
.............................................................197
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take yo ur vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Care........................................................................\
..................................................... .255
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your\
vehicle ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpected........................................................................\
..............................265
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, a nd how to handle them.
Technical Information........................................................................\
............................................ .291
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................305
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)........................................................................\
..............................311
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index........................................................................\
........................................................................\
...... I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.
Owner's Identification Form

Introductio
n
Congratulations ! You r selectio n o f a 200 1 Hond a CR- V wa s a wis e
investment . I t wil l giv e yo u year s o f drivin g pleasure .
On e o f th e bes t way s t o enhanc e th e enjoymen t o f you r ne w Hond a is t o
rea d thi s manual . I n it , yo u wil l lear n ho w to operat e it s drivin g control s an d
convenienc e items . Afterwards , kee p thi s owner' s manua l i n you r vehicl e s o
yo u ca n refe r t o i t a t an y time .
Severa l warrantie s protec t you r ne w Honda . Rea d th e warrant y bookle t
thoroughl y s o yo u understan d th e coverage s an d ar e awar e o f you r right s
an d responsibilities .
Maintainin g you r vehicl e accordin g t o th e schedule s give n i n thi s manua l
help s t o kee p you r drivin g trouble-fre e whil e i t preserve s you r investment .
Whe n you r vehicl e need s maintenance , kee p i n min d tha t you r Hond a
dealer' s staf f i s speciall y traine d in servicin g th e man y system s uniqu e t o
you r Honda . You r Hond a deale r i s dedicate d t o you r satisfactio n an d wil l b e
please d to answe r an y question s an d concerns .
Californi a Propositio n 6 5 Warnin g
WARNING: This produc t contain s o r emit s chemical s know n t o th e Stat e o f
Californi a t o caus e cance r an d birt h defect s o r othe r reproductiv e harm . A
s yo u rea d thi s manual , yo u wil l

fin d informatio n tha t i s precede d b y

symbol . Thi s

informatio n is intende d to hel p yo u

avoi d damag e to you r Honda , othe r

property , o r th e environment .

a
NOTIC
E

Drive
r an d Passenge r Safet y

Thi s sectio n give s yo u importan t
informatio n abou t ho w to protec t

yoursel f an d you r passengers . I t
show s yo u ho w to us e sea t belt s

properly . I t explain s you r Supple -

menta l Restrain t System . An d i t tell s

yo u ho w to properl y restrai n infant s

an d childre n in you r vehicle .

Importan t Safet y Precaution s ......... . 6
You r Vehicle' s Safet y Features....... . 7

Sea t Belts....................................... . 8

Airbags........................................... . 9

Seats & Seat-Backs..................... . 1 0
Hea
d Restraints.......................... . 1 0

Doo r Locks.................................. . 1 0

Pre-Driv e Safet y Checklist........ . 1 1

Protectin g Adults............................ . 1 2

1 . Clos e an d Loc k th e Doors..... . 1 2
2 . Adjus t th e Fron t Seats........... . 1 2
3 . Adjus t th e Seat-Backs............ . 1 3
4 . Adjus t th e Hea d Restraints... . 1 4
5 . Faste n an d Positio n th e Sea t

Belts..................................... . 1 5

6 . Adjus t th e Steerin g Wheel.... . 1 8

7 . Maintai n a Prope r Sittin g

Position................................ . 1 8
Advic e fo r Pregnan t Women..... . 1 9
Additiona l Safet y Precautions... . 1 9
Protectin g Children........................ . 2 1
Al l Childre n Mus t B e
Restrained............................... . 2 1
Children Should Si t i n th e Bac k

Seat........................................... 22

Th e Passenger' s Airba g Poses
Seriou s Risk s t o Children...... . 2 2
I f Yo u Mus t Driv e wit h Severa l
Children................................... . 2 4
I f a Chil d Require s Close

Attention................................... 24
Additiona
l Safet y Precautions.... 24
Genera l Guideline s fo r Usin g
Chil d Seats............................... . 2 5
Protectin g Infants....................... . 2 9
Protectin g Smal l Children......... . 3 3
Protectin g Large r Children....... . 3 7
Usin g Chil d Seat s wit h
Tethers..................................... . 4 0Additional Information About Your
Seat Belts................................. .
4
2
Sea t Bel t Syste m Components.. . 4 2
Lap/Shoulde r Belt...................... . 4 2
La p Belt......................................... 43
Sea t Bel t Maintenance............... . 4 3
Additiona l Informatio n Abou t You r
Airbags..................................... . 4 5
SRS Components........................
45
Ho w You r
Airbag
s Work........... . 4 5
Ho w th e Automati c Sea t Bel t
Tensioner s Work.................... . 4 7
Ho w th e SRS Indicato r Ligh t

Works....................................... . 4 7

SR S Service.................................. 48

Additiona l Safet y Precautions... . 4 8

Carbo n Monoxid e Hazard............. . 4 9

Safet y Labels................................... . 5 0

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Importan
t Safet y Precaution s

You'l l fin d man y safet y
recommendation s throughou t thi s
section , an d throughou t thi s manual .
Th e recommendation s o n thi s pag e
ar e th e one s w e conside r t o b e th e
mos t important .
Alway s Wea r You r Sea t Bel t
A sea t bel t i s you r bes t protectio n in
al l type s o f collisions . Airbag s
supplemen t sea t belts , bu t airbag s
ar e designe d to inflat e onl y in a
moderat e to sever e fronta l collision .
S o eve n thoug h you r vehicl e is
equippe d wit h airbags , mak e sur e
yo u an d you r passenger s alway s
wea r you r sea t belts , an d wea r the m
properly . (Se e pag e 1 5 .)
Restrai n Al l Childre n
Childre n ar e safes t whe n the y ar e
properl y restraine d in th e bac k seat ,
no t th e fron t seat . A chil d wh o is to o
smal l fo r a sea t bel t mus t b e properl y
restraine d in a chil d safet y seat . (Se e
pag e 21 .) B
e Awar e o f Airba g Hazard s
Whil e airbag s ca n sav e lives , the y
ca n caus e seriou s o r fata l injurie s t o
occupant s wh o si t to o clos e t o them ,
o r ar e no t properl y restrained .
Infants , youn g children , an d shor t
adult s ar e a t th e greates t risk . B e
sur e t o follo w al l instruction s an d
warning s in thi s manual . (Se e pag e
7 .)

Don' t Drin k an d Driv e

Alcoho l an d drivin g don' t mix . Eve n
on e drin k ca n reduc e you r abilit y t o
respon d t o changin g conditions , an d
you r reactio n tim e get s wors e wit h
ever y additiona l drink . S o don' t drin k
an d drive , an d don' t le t you r friend s
drin k an d drive , either . Contro
l You r Spee d
Excessiv e spee d is a majo r facto r i n
cras h injurie s an d deaths . Generally ,
th e highe r th e spee d th e greate r th e
risk , bu t seriou s accident s ca n als o
occu r a t lowe r speeds . Neve r driv e
faste r tha n is saf e fo r curren t
conditions , regardles s o f th e
maximu m spee d posted .
Kee p You r Vehicl e i n Saf e
Conditio n
Havin g a tir e blowou t o r a
mechanica l failur e ca n b e extremel y
hazardous . T o reduc e th e possibilit y
o f suc h problems , chec k you r tir e
pressure s an d conditio n frequently ,
an d perfor m al l regularl y schedule d
maintenance . (Se e pag e 20 0.)

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Additiona
l Informatio n Abou t You r Airbag s

SR S Servic e

You r Supplementa l Restrain t Syste m
i s virtuall y maintenance-free , an d
ther e ar e n o part s yo u ca n safel y
service . However , yo u mus t hav e
you r vehicl e service d if :
Your
airbags ever inflate. The
airbags, sea t bel t tensioners , an d
contro l uni t mus t b e replaced . D o
no t tr y t o remov e o r replac e th e
airbag s yourself .
Thi s mus t b e don e b y a Hond a
deale r o r a knowledgeabl e bod y
shop .
The
SRS indicator light alerts you

to a problem. Take you r vehicl e t o
a n authorize d Hond a deale r a s
soo n a s possible . I f yo u ignor e thi s
indication , th e airbag s migh t no t
inflat e whe n yo u nee d them .

Additiona l Safet y
Precaution
s D
o no t attemp t t o deactivat e you r
airbags . Together , airbags , sea t
bel t tensioner s an d sea t belt s
provid e th e bes t protectio n in a
moderat e t o sever e fronta l
collision . D
o no t tampe r wit h SRS
component s o r wirin g fo r an y
reason . Tamperin g coul d caus e
th e airbag s t o deploy , possibl y
causin g ver y seriou s injury .
Se e pag e 15 9 fo r furthe r informatio n
an d precaution s relatin g t o you r SRS .
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Gauges

Maintenanc e Require d Indicato r

SLO T
INDICATO
R

Thi s indicato r remind s yo u tha t i t i s
nearin g 7,50 0 mile s (12,00 0 km )
sinc e th e las t schedule d maintenance .
Refe r t o th e Maintenanc e Schedule s
fo r Norma l an d Sever e Drivin g

Condition s o n page s 202 — 206 .
Whe
n th e distanc e drive n sinc e th e
las t schedule d maintenanc e near s
7,50 0 mile s (12,00 0 km) , th e
indicato r wil l tur n yellow . I f yo u
excee d 7,50 0 mile s (12,00 0 km) , th e
indicato r wil l tur n red .
You r deale r wil l rese t th e indicato r
whe n h e perform s th e schedule d
maintenance . I f someon e els e
perform s th e maintenance , rese t th e
indicato r b y insertin g you r ke y i n th e
slo t besid e th e indicator .
Instrument s an d Control s

Maintenanc
e

Thi s sectio n explain s wh y i t i s
importan t t o kee p you r vehicl e wel l
maintaine d an d t o follo w basi c
maintenanc e safet y precautions .
Thi s sectio n als o include s
Maintenanc e Schedule s fo r norma l
drivin g an d sever e drivin g conditions ,
a Maintenanc e Record , an d instruc -
tion s fo r simpl e maintenanc e task s
yo u ma y wan t t o tak e car e o f
yourself .
I f yo u hav e th e skill s an d tool s t o per -
for m mor e comple x maintenanc e
task s o n you r Honda , yo u ma y wan t
t o purchas e th e Servic e Manual . Se e
pag e 309 for informatio n o n ho w to
obtai n a copy , o r se e you r Hond a

dealer .

Maintenanc e Safety...................... . 198

Importan t Safet y Precautions. . 199

Maintenanc e Schedule................. . 200
Require
d Maintenanc e Record... . 207
Owne r Maintenanc e Checks....... . 209

Flui d Locations.............................. . 210

Engin e Oil...................................... . 211
Addin g Oil.................................. . 211
Recommende d Oil.................... . 211
Syntheti c Oil.............................. . 212

Additives.................................... . 212

Changin g th e Oi l an d Filter..... . 213

Coolin g System............................. . 215

Addin g Engin e Coolant............ . 215
Replacin g Engin e Coolant....... . 217

Windshiel d Washers.................... . 220

Transmissio n Fluid....................... . 221

Automati c Transmission.......... . 221

5-spee d Manua l

Transmission......................... . 222

Rea r Differentia l Fluid................. . 223

Brak e an d Clutc h Fluid................ . 224

Brak e System............................ . 224
Clutc h System........................... . 225

Powe r Steering.............................. . 225

Ai r Cleane r Element..................... . 226

Hoo d Latch.................................... . 227

Spar k Plugs.................................... . 227

Replacement.............................. . 227
Specifications............................
. 228
Battery........................................... . 229
Wipe r Blades................................. . 231
Ai r Conditionin g System.............. . 233
Ai r Conditionin g Filter................. . 234
Driv e Belts..................................... . 234
Timin g Belt.................................... . 235
Tires............................................... . 235
Inflation...................................... . 235
Recommende d Tir e
Pressure s fo r Norma l
Driving........................... . 236
Inspection.................................. . 237
Maintenance.............................. . 237
Tir e Rotation............................. . 238
Replacin g Tire s an d Wheel s ... . 239
Wheel s an d Tires...................... . 240
Winte r Driving.......................... . 240

Sno w Tires............................. . 240

Tir e Chains............................ . 241
Lights............................................. . 242
Headligh t Aiming..................... . 244
Replacin g Bulbs........................ . 246
Storin g You r Vehicle.................... . 253

Maintenanc e

Maintenanc
e Safet y

Regularl y maintainin g you r vehicl e i s
th e bes t wa y t o protec t you r
investment . Prope r maintenanc e i s
essentia l t o you r safet y an d th e
safet y o f you r passengers . I t wil l als o
rewar d yo u wit h mor e economical ,
trouble-fre e drivin g an d hel p reduc e
ai r pollution . Thi
s sectio n include s instruction s fo r
simpl e maintenanc e tasks , suc h a s
checkin g an d addin g oil . An y servic e
item s no t detaile d i n thi s sectio n
shoul d b e performe d b y a Hond a
technicia n o r othe r qualifie d
mechanic . Som
e o f th e mos t importan t safet y
precaution s ar e give n here . However ,
w e canno t war n yo u o f ever y
conceivabl e hazard tha t ca n aris e i n
performin g maintenance .
Onl
y yo u
ca n decid e whethe r o r no t yo u
shoul d perfor m a give n task .

Maintenanc e
Failur
e t o properl y follo w
maintenanc e instruction s an d
precaution s ca n caus e yo u t o
b e seriousl y hur t o r killed .
Alway s follo w th e procedure s
an d precaution s i n thi s owner' s
manual .
Improperl
y maintainin g thi s
vehicl e o r failin g t o correc t a
proble m befor e drivin g ca n
caus e a cras h in whic h yo u ca n
b e seriousl y hur t o r killed .
Alway s follo w th e inspectio n
an d maintenanc e
recommendation s an d
schedule s i n thi s owner' s
manual .

Maintenanc
e Safet y

Importan t Safet y Precaution s
Befor e yo u begi n an y maintenance ,
mak e sur e you r vehicl e is parke d o n
leve l groun d an d tha t th e parkin g
brak e is set . Also , b e sur e th e engin e
i s off . Thi s wil l hel p t o eliminat e
severa l potentia l hazards :
Carbo
n monoxid e poisonin g

fro m engin e exhaust . B e sur e
ther e is adequat e ventilatio n
wheneve r yo u operat e th e engine . Burn
s fro m ho t parts . Le t th e
engin e an d exhaus t syste m coo l
befor e touchin g an y parts . Injur
y fro m movin g parts . D o
no t ru n
th
e engin e unles s in -
structe d to d o so . Rea
d th e instruction s befor e yo u
begin , an d mak e sur e yo u hav e th e
tool s an d skill s required .
T o reduc e th e possibilit y o f fir e o r
explosion , b e carefu l whe n workin g
aroun d gasolin e o r batteries . Us e a
commerciall y availabl e degrease r o r
part s cleaner , no t gasoline , t o clea n
parts . Kee p cigarettes , sparks , an d
flame s awa y fro m th e batter y an d al l
fuel-relate d parts .
Yo u shoul d wea r ey e protectio n an d
protectiv e clothin g whe n workin g
nea r th e batter y o r whe n usin g
compresse d air .

Maintenance

Maintenanc
e Schedul e

You r authorize d Hond a deale r
know s you r vehicl e bes t an d ca n
provid e competent , efficien t service .
However , servic e a t a deale r i s no t
mandator y t o kee p you r warrantie s
i n effect . Maintenanc e ma y b e don e
b y an y qualifie d servic e facilit y o r
perso n wh o is skille d in thi s typ e o f
automotiv e service . Kee p al l th e
receipt s a s proo f o f completion , an d
hav e th e perso n wh o doe s th e wor k
fil l ou t th e Maintenanc e Record .
Chec k you r warrant y bookle t fo r
mor e information . W
e recommen d th e us e o f genuin e
Hond a part s an d fluid s wheneve r yo u
hav e maintenanc e done . Thes e ar e
manufacture d to th e sam e high -
qualit y standard s a s th e origina l
components , s o yo u ca n b e confiden t
o f thei r performanc e an d durability .
U.S . Vehicles :
Maintenance , replacemen t o r
repai r o f emission s contro l
device s an d system s ma y b e don e
b y an y automotiv e repai r
establishmen t o r individua l usin g
part s tha t ar e "certified " t o EP A
standards . Accordin
g to stat e an d federa l
regulations , failur e t o perfor m
maintenanc e o n th e item s marke d
wit h # wil l no t voi d you r emission s
warranties . However , Hond a
recommend s tha t al l maintenanc e
service s b e performe d a t th e
recommende d tim e o r mileag e
perio d to ensur e long-ter m reliability .

Maintenanc e