Shift 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

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 .

5-spee
d Manua l Transmissio n

Recommende d Shif t Point s
Driv e i n th e highes t gea r tha t let s
th e engin e ru n an d accelerat e
smoothly . Thi s wil l giv e yo u th e bes t
fue l econom y an d effectiv e emis -
sion s control . Th e followin g shif t
point s ar e recommended : Engin
e Spee d Limite r
I f yo u excee d th e maximu m spee d
fo r th e gea r yo u ar e in , th e engin e
spee d wil l ente r int o th e tachometer' s
re d zone . I f thi s occurs , yo u ma y fee l
th e engin e cu t i n an d out . Thi s i s
cause d b y a limite r i n th e engine' s
compute r controls . Th e engin e wil l
ru n normall y whe n yo u reduc e th e
RP M belo w th e re d zone .
Befor e downshifting , mak e sur e th e
engin e wil l no t g o int o th e
tachometer' s re d zone .

Driving

Automati
c Transmissio n

You r Honda' s transmissio n ha s fou r
forwar d speeds , an d is electronicall y
controlle d fo r smoothe r shifting . I t
als o ha s a "lock-up " torqu e converte r
fo r bette r fue l economy . Yo u ma y
fee l wha t seem s lik e anothe r shif t
whe n th e converte r locks . Shif
t Leve r Positio n Indicato r
Thi s indicato r o n th e instrumen t
pane l show s whic h positio n th e shif t
leve r i s in .
Th e "D " indicato r come s o n fo r a
fe w second s whe n yo u tur n th e
ignitio n switc h O N (II) . I t i t flashe s
whil e drivin g (i n an y shif t position) ,
i t indicate s a possibl e proble m in th e
transmission . Avoi d rapi d accelera -
tio n an d hav e th e transmissio n
checke d b y a n authorize d Hond a
deale r a s soo n a s possible . Shif
t Leve r Position s

SHIF T LEVE R

Th e shif t leve r ha s si x positions . I t
mus t b e in Par k o r Neutra l t o star t
th e engine . Whe n yo u ar e stoppe d in
D , 2,1 , N or R , pres s firml y o n th e
brak e pedal , an d kee p you r foo t of f
th e accelerato r pedal .
Drivin g

Automati
c Transmissio n

Par k (P ) — Thi s positio n mechani -
call y lock s th e transmission . Us e
Par k wheneve r yo u ar e turnin g of f o r
startin g th e engine . T o shif t ou t o f
Park , yo u mus t pres s o n th e brak e
peda l an d hav e you r foo t of f th e
accelerato r pedal . Pul l th e shif t leve r
toward s you , the n mov e it ou t o f
Park .
I
f yo u hav e clon e al l o f th e abov e an d
stil l canno t mov e th e leve r ou t o f
Park , se e Shif t Loc k Releas e o n pag e

162 .

Yo u mus t als o pul l th e shif t leve r
toward s yo u to shif t int o Park . T o
avoi d transmissio n damage , com e to
a complet e sto p befor e shiftin g int o
Park . Th e shif t leve r mus t b e in Par k
befor e yo u ca n remov e th e ke y fro m
th e ignitio n switch .

Driving

CONTINUED

Automati
c Transmissio n

Revers e (R ) — To shif t t o Revers e
fro m Park , se e th e explanatio n unde r
Park . T o shif t t o Revers e fro m
Neutral , com e t o a complet e sto p an d
the n shift . Pul l th e shif t leve r
toward s yo u befor e shiftin g int o
Revers e fro m Neutral .
Neutra l (N ) — Us e Neutra l i f yo u
nee d t o restar t a stalle d engine , o r i f
i t i s necessar y t o sto p briefl y wit h
th e engin e idling . Shif t t o Par k posi -
tio n if yo u nee d t o leav e th e vehicl e
fo r an y reason . Pres s o n th e brak e pe -
da l whe n yo u ar e movin g th e shif t
leve r fro m Neutra l t o anothe r gear . Driv
e (D ) — Us e thi s positio n fo r
you r norma l driving . Th e transmis -
sio n automaticall y select s a suitabl e
gea r fo r you r spee d an d acceleration .
Yo u ma y notic e th e transmissio n
shiftin g u p a t highe r speed s whe n
th e engin e is cold . Thi s help s th e
engin e war m u p faster .
Fo r faste r acceleration , yo u ca n ge t
th e transmissio n t o automaticall y
downshif t b y pushin g th e accelerato r
peda l t o th e floor . Th e transmissio n
wil l shif t dow n on e o r tw o gears ,
dependin g o n you r speed .
Over-Drive
(O/D) Mode

Th e Over-Driv e (O/D ) i s o n
wheneve r yo u tur n th e ignitio n O N
(II) . Yo u ca n tur n i t of f b y pressin g
th e O/ D switc h o n th e edg e o f th e
shif t lever . Th e O/ D OF F indicato r
o n th e instrumen t pane l nex t t o th e
shif t leve r positio n indicato r wil l

com e on .

Drivin g

Automati
c Transmissio n

Whe n th e Over-Driv e i s of f th e
transmissio n select s onl y th e firs t
thre e gears , bu t no t th e fourth . Tur n
th e O/ D of f t o provid e engin e
brakin g whe n goin g dow n a stee p hill .
Yo u ca n als o avoi d th e transmissio n
fro m cyclin g betwee n thir d an d
fourt h gear s i n stop-and-g o driving .Secon
d (2 ) — To shif t t o Second ,
pul l th e shif t leve r toward s you , the n
shif t t o th e lowe r gear . Thi s positio n
lock s th e transmissio n i n secon d
gear . I t doe s no t downshif t t o firs t
gea r whe n yo u com e t o a stop .
Secon d give s yo u mor e powe r whe n
climbing , an d increased engine
brakin g whe n goin g dow n stee p hills .
Us e secon d gea r whe n startin g ou t
o n a slipper y surfac e o r i n dee p snow .
I t wil l hel p reduc e wheelspin .
Firs t (1 ) — To shif t fro m Secon d t o
First , pul l th e shif t leve r toward s you ,
the n shif t t o th e lowe r gear . Wit h th e
leve r i n thi s position , th e transmis -
sio n lock s i n Firs t gear . B y upshift -
in g an d downshiftin g throug h 1 , 2 , D ,
yo u ca n operat e thi s transmissio n
muc h lik e a manua l transmissio n
withou t a clutc h pedal . Engin
e Spee d Limite r
I f yo u excee d th e maximu m spee d
fo r th e gea r yo u ar e in , th e engin e
spee d wil l ente r int o th e tachometer' s
re d zone . I f thi s occurs , yo u ma y fee l
th e engin e cu t i n an d out . Thi s i s
cause d b y a limite r i n th e engine' s
compute r controls . Th e engin e wil l
ru n normall y whe n yo u reduc e th e
RP M belo w th e re d zone .

Drivin g

Th
e Brakin g Syste m

You r Hond a is equippe d wit h fron t
dis c brakes . Th e brake s o n th e rea r
wheel s ar e drum . Th e brakin g
syste m is power-assiste d t o reduc e
th e effor t neede d o n th e brak e pedal .
Pu t you r foo t o n th e brak e peda l onl y
whe n yo u inten d t o brake . Restin g
you r foo t o n th e peda l keep s th e
brake s applie d lightly , causin g the m
t o buil d u p heat . Hea t build-u p ca n
reduc e ho w wel l you r brake s work . I t
als o keep s you r brak e light s on all
th e time , confusin g driver s behin d

you .
Constan
t applicatio n o f th e brake s
whe n goin g clow n a lon g hil l build s
u p hea t an d reduce s thei r effective -
ness . Us e th e engin e t o assis t th e
brake s b y downshiftin g t o a lowe r
gea r an d takin g you r foo t of f th e
accelerato r pedal .
Chec k you r brake s afte r drivin g
throug h dee p water . Appl y th e
brake s moderatel y t o se e i f the y fee l
normal . I f not , appl y the m gentl y an d
frequentl y unti l the y do . Sinc e a
longe r distanc e is neede d to sto p
wit h we t brakes , b e extr a cautiou s
an d aler t i n you r driving . Brak
e Wea r Indicator s
Th e fron t dis c brake s o n al l vehicle s
hav e audibl e brak e wea r indicators .
Whe n th e brak e pad s nee d replacing ,
yo u wil l hea r a distinctiv e metalli c
"screeching " soun d whe n yo u appl y
th e brakes . I f yo u d o no t hav e th e
brak e pad s replaced , the y wil l begi n
screechin g al l th e time .
You r brake s ma y sometime s squea l
o r squea k whe n yo u appl y the m
lightly . D o no t confus e thi s wit h th e
brak e wea r indicators . The y mak e a
ver y audibl e "screeching. "

Drivin g

Drivin
g in Ba d Weathe r

Tractio n — Chec k you r tire s
frequentl y fo r wea r an d prope r
pressure . Bot h ar e importan t i n
preventin g "hydroplaning " (los s o f
tractio n o n a we t surface) . I n th e
winter , moun t sno w tire s o n al l fou r
wheel s fo r the bes t handling .
Watc h roa d condition s carefully ,
the y ca n chang e fro m momen t t o
moment . We t leave s ca n b e a s slip -
per y a s ice . "Clear " road s ca n hav e
patche s o f ice . Drivin g condition s
ca n b e ver y hazardou s whe n th e
outsid e temperatur e is nea r freezing .
Th e roa d surfac e ca n becom e
covere d wit h area s o f wate r puddle s
mixe d wit h area s o f ice , s o you r
tractio n ca n chang e withou t warning .
B e carefu l whe n downshifting . I f
tractio n is low , yo u ca n loc k u p th e
driv e wheel s fo r a momen t an d caus e

a skid .
B
e ver y cautiou s whe n passing , o r
bein g passe d b y othe r vehicles . Th e
spra y fro m larg e vehicle s reduce s
you r visibility , an d th e win d buffetin g
ca n caus e yo u to los e control .
Driving

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