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

Mirrors
, Parkin g Brak e

Adjusting the Power Mirrors

Adjus t th e outsid e mirror s wit h th e
adjustmen t switc h o n th e lef t sid e o f
th e dashboard :
1 . Tur n th e ignitio n switc h O N (II) .
2 . Mov e th e selecto r switc h to L
(driver' s side ) o r R (passenger' s

side) .
3
. Pus h th e appropriat e edg e o f th e
adjustmen t switc h t o mov e th e
mirro r right , left , up , o r down .
4 . Whe n yo u finish , mov e th e
selecto r switc h t o th e cente r (off )
position . Thi s turn s of f th e
adjustmen t switc h s o yo u can' t
mov e a mirro r ou t o f positio n b y
accidentall y bumpin g th e switch .Parkin
g Brak e

PARKIN G BRAK E LEVE R

T o appl y th e parkin g brake , pul l th e
leve r u p fully . T o releas e it , pul l u p
slightly , pus h th e button , an d lowe r
th e lever . Th e parkin g brak e ligh t o n
th e instrumen t pane l shoul d g o ou t
whe n th e parkin g brak e is full y
release d (se e pag e 54 ).
Driving the vehicle with the parking
brake applied can damage the rear
brakes and axles.

Instrument s an d Control s

SELECTO
R SWITC H


ADJUSTMENT SWITC H

NOTICE

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 -speed 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 i f yo u ar e plan -
nin g t o to w a traile r o r driv e off -
highway . Drivin
g Guidelines........................ . 164
Preparin g to Drive........................ . 165
Startin g th e Engine....................... . 166
Startin g in Col d Weathe r
a t Hig h Altitud e .................... . 167
5-spee d Manua l Transmission.... . 168
Recommende d Shif t Points..... . 169
Engin e Spee d Limiter.............. . 169
Automati c Transmission.............. . 170
Shif t Leve r Positio n Indicator. . 170
Shif t Leve r Positions................ . 170
Engin e Spee d Limite r .............. . 173
Shif t Loc k Release.................... . 174

Parking........................................... . 175

Th e Brakin g System..................... . 176
Brak e Wea r Indicators............. . 176
Brak e Syste m Design............... . 177
Anti-loc k Brakes....................... . 177
Importan t Safet y
Reminders......................... . 178
AB S Indicator........................ . 179
Drivin g in Ba d Weather............... . 180
Towin g a Trailer........................... . 182
Towin g You r Vehicl e Behin d a
Motorhome................................ . 189 Off-Highwa
y Guidelines.............. . 191
Genera l Information................. . 191
Importan t Safet y
Precautions............................ . 192
Drivin g Tips............................... . 193
Drivin g

Parkin
g

Alway s us e th e parkin g brak e whe n
yo u par k you r vehicle . Th e indicato r
o n th e instrumen t pane l show s tha t
th e parkin g brak e is no t full y
released ; i t doe s no t indicat e tha t th e
parkin g brak e is firml y set . Mak e
sur e th e parkin g brak e is se t firml y
o r you r vehicl e ma y rol l i f i t i s
parke d o n a n incline .
I f you r vehicl e ha s a n automati c
transmission , se t th e parkin g brak e
befor e yo u pu t th e transmissio n in
Park . Thi s keep s th e vehicl e fro m
movin g an d puttin g pressur e o n th e
parkin g mechanis m in th e
transmissio n — makin g it easie r t o
mov e th e shif t leve r ou t o f Par k
whe n yo u wan t t o driv e away . I
f th e vehicl e i s facin g uphill , tur n
th e fron t wheel s awa y fro m th e curb .
I f yo u hav e a manua l transmission ,
pu t i t i n firs t gear .
I f th e vehicl e i s facin g downhill , tur n
th e fron t wheel s towar d th e curb . I f
yo u hav e a manua l transmission , pu t
i t i n revers e gear .
Mak e sur e th e parkin g brak e i s full y
release d befor e drivin g away .
Drivin g wit h th e parkin g brak e
partiall y se t ca n overhea t o r damag e
th e rea r brakes . Parkin
g Tip s Mak
e sur e th e window s ar e closed .
Tur n of f th e lights .
Place any packages , valuables , etc. ,
i n th e carg o are a o r tak e the m
wit h you .
Loc k th e doors .
Neve r par k ove r dr y leaves , tal l
grass , o r othe r flammabl e
materials . Th e thre e wa y catalyti c
converte r get s ver y hot , an d coul d
caus e thes e material s t o catc h o n

fire .

Driving

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

Th
e Brakin g Syste m

Yo u shoul d neve r pum p th e
brak e pedal , thi s defeat s th e
purpos e o f th e ABS . Le t th e AB S
wor k fo r yo u b y alway s keepin g firm ,
stead y pressur e o n th e brak e peda l
a s yo u stee r awa y fro m th e hazard .
Thi s i s sometime s referre d to a s

"stomp and steer."

Yo u wil l fee l a pulsatio n in th e brak e
peda l whe n th e AB S activates , an d
yo u ma y hea r som e noise . Thi s i s
normal , i t i s th e AB S rapidl y
pumpin g th e brakes .
Activatio n varie s wit h th e amoun t o f
tractio n you r tire s have . O n dr y
pavement , yo u wil l nee d t o pres s o n
th e brak e peda l ver y har d befor e yo u
activat e th e ABS . However , yo u ma y
fee l th e AB S activat e immediatel y i f
yo u ar e tryin g to sto p o n sno w o r ice .
Important
Safety Reminders

AB S doe s no t reduc e th e tim e o r
distanc e i t take s t o sto p th e
vehicle , i t onl y help s wit h steerin g
contro l durin g braking . Yo u shoul d
alway s maintai n a saf e followin g
distanc e fro m othe r vehicles .
AB S wil l no t preven t a ski d tha t
result s fro m changin g directio n
abruptly , suc h a s tryin g to tak e a
corne r to o fas t o r makin g a sudde n
lan e change . Alway s driv e a t a safe ,
pruden t spee d fo r th e roa d an d
weathe r conditions .
AB S canno t preven t a los s o f
stability . Alway s stee r moderatel y
whe n yo u ar e brakin g hard . Sever e
o r shar p steerin g whee l movemen t
ca n stil l caus e you r vehicl e t o vee r
int o oncomin g traffi c o r of f th e road .A
vehicl e wit h AB S ma y requir e a
longe r distanc e t o sto p o n loos e o r
uneve n surfaces , suc h a s grave l o r
snow , tha n a vehicl e withou t anti -
lock . Slo w dow n an d allo w a greate r
distanc e betwee n vehicle s unde r
thos e conditions .

Drivin g

Towin
g a Traile r

Trailer Brakes

Hond a recommend s tha t an y traile r
havin g a tota l weigh t o f 1,00 0 Ib s
(45 0 kg ) o r mor e b e equippe d wit h
it s ow n electri c o r surge-typ e brakes .
I f yo u choos e electri c brakes , b e
sur e the y ar e electronicall y actuated .
D o no t attemp t t o ta p int o you r
vehicle' s hydrauli c system . N o
matte r ho w successfu l i t ma y seem ,
an y attemp t t o attac h traile r brake s
t o you r vehicle' s hydrauli c syste m
wil l lowe r brakin g effectivenes s an d
creat e a potentia l hazard .
Trailer
Lights

You r vehicl e ha s a traile r lightin g
connecto r locate d behin d th e lef t
sid e pane l i n th e carg o area . Refe r t o
th e drawin g abov e fo r th e wirin g
colo r cod e an d purpos e o f eac h pin .
I f yo u us e a converter , yo u ca n ge t
th e connecto r an d pin s tha t mat e
wit h th e connecto r i n you r vehicl e
fro m you r Hond a dealer . Sinc
e lightin g an d wirin g var y i n
traile r typ e an d brand , yo u shoul d
als o hav e a qualifie d mechani c instal l
a suitabl e connecto r betwee n th e
vehicl e an d th e trailer .
Drivin g

GROUN
D
(BLACK )
BACK-U
P LIGH T

(GREEN/BLACK )
LEF
T TUR N SIGNA L

(GREEN/RED )

RIGH T TUR N SIGNA L

(GREEN/YELLOW )
BRAK
E LIGH T

(GREEN/WHITE )
TAILLIGH
T

(RED/GREEN )

Towin
g a Traile r

Additional Trailer Equipment

Man y state s an d Canadia n province s
requir e specia l outsid e mirror s whe n
towin g a trailer . Eve n if the y don't ,
yo u shoul d instal l specia l mirror s if
yo u canno t clearl y se e behin d you , o r
i f th e traile r create s a blin d spot .
As k you r traile r sale s o r renta l
agenc y i f an y othe r item s ar e
recommende d o r require d fo r you r
towin g situation . Pre-To
w Checklis t
Whe n preparin g to tow , an d befor e
drivin g away , b e sur e t o chec k th e
following : Th
e vehicl e ha s bee n properl y
serviced , an d th e tires , brakes ,
suspension , an d coolin g syste m
ar e in goo d operatin g condition . Al
l weight s an d load s ar e withi n
limit s (se e page s 18 2 an d 183 ). Th
e hitch , safet y chains , an d an y
othe r attachment s ar e secure . Al
l item s o n an d in th e traile r ar e
properl y secure d an d canno t shif t
whil e yo u drive . Th
e light s an d brake s o n you r
vehicl e an d th e traile r ar e workin g
properly . You
r vehicl e tire s an d spar e ar e
properl y inflate d (se e pag e 23 5),
an d th e traile r tire s an d spar e ar e
inflate d a s recommende d b y th e
traile r maker .
Drivin g

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

Maintenanc
e Schedul e

Th e Maintenanc e Schedul e specifie s
ho w ofte n yo u shoul d hav e you r

vehicl e service d an d wha t thing s

nee d attention . I t i s essentia l tha t

yo u hav e you r vehicl e service d a s

schedule d t o retai n it s hig h leve l o f

safety , dependability , an d emission s

contro l performance .
Th
e service s an d tim e o r distanc e
interval s show n in th e maintenanc e
schedul e assum e yo u wil l us e you r
vehicl e a s norma l transportatio n fo r
passenger s an d thei r possessions .
Yo u shoul d als o follo w thes e

recommendations :
Avoi
d exceedin g you r vehicle' s
loa d limit . Thi s put s exces s stres s
o n th e engine , brakes , an d man y
othe r part s o f you r vehicle . Th e
loa d limi t i s show n o n th e labe l o n
th e driver' s doorjamb . Operat
e you r vehicl e o n
reasonabl e road s withi n th e lega l
spee d limit . Driv
e you r vehicl e regularl y ove r a
distanc e o f severa l mile s
(kilometers) . Alway
s us e unleade d gasolin e wit h
th e prope r octan e ratin g (se e pag e

152 ).
Whic
h Schedul e t o Follow :

Servic e you r vehicl e accordin g to th e
tim e an d mileag e period s o n on e o f
th e Maintenanc e Schedule s o n th e

followin g pages . Selec t th e schedul e

fo r "Sever e Conditions " i f mos t o f
you r drivin g is don e unde r on e o r
mor e o f th e condition s liste d o n tha t

page . Otherwise , follo w th e schedul e

fo r "Norma l Conditions. "

Maintenanc e