engine 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

Gauge
s

Fue l Gaug e
Thi s show s ho w muc h fue l yo u have .
I t i s mos t accurat e whe n th e vehicl e
i s o n leve l ground . I t ma y sho w
slightl y mor e o r les s tha n th e actua l
amoun t whe n yo u ar e drivin g o n
curv y o r hill y roads . Th
e gaug e stay s a t th e sam e fue l
leve l readin g afte r yo u tur n of f th e
ignition . Whe n yo u ad d fuel , th e
gaug e slowl y change s t o th e ne w
readin g afte r yo u tur n th e ignitio n
switc h bac k O N (II) . Temperatur
e Gaug e
Thi s show s th e temperatur e o f th e
engine' s coolant . Durin g norma l
operation , th e pointe r shoul d ris e
fro m th e botto m whit e mar k t o abou t
th e middl e o f th e gauge . I n sever e
drivin g conditions , suc h a s ver y ho t
weathe r o r a lon g perio d o f uphil l
driving , th e pointe r ma y ris e t o th e
uppe r whit e zone . I f i t reache s th e
re d (Hot ) mark , pul l safel y t o th e
sid e o f th e road . Tur n to pag e 27 9 fo r
instruction s an d precaution s o n
checkin g th e engine' s coolin g

system .

Instrument s an d Control s

ODOMETE
R
TRI
P METE R
RESE T BUTTO NTEMPERATUR
E
GAUG E
FUE
L GAUG E

SPEEDOMETE R

TRI
P METE R
TACHOMETE R

Key
s an d Lock s

LOCK (0) — Yo u ca n inser t o r
remov e th e ke y onl y i n thi s position .
T o switc h fro m ACCESSOR Y to
LOCK , yo u mus t pus h th e ke y i n
slightl y a s yo u tur n it . I f you r vehicl e
ha s a n automati c transmission , i t
mus t als o b e in Park . Th e anti-thef t
loc k wil l loc k th e steerin g colum n
whe n yo u remov e th e key .
I f the fron t wheel s ar e turned , the
anti-thef t loc k ma y sometime s mak e
i t difficul t t o tur n th e ke y fro m
LOC K to ACCESSORY . Firml y tur n
the steerin g whee l t o th e lef t o r t o
th e righ t a s yo u tur n th e key . ACCESSOR
Y (I ) — In thi s position ,
yo u ca n operat e th e audi o syste m
an d th e accessor y powe r socket .
O N (II ) — Thi s i s th e norma l ke y
positio n whe n driving . Al l feature s
an d accessorie s o n th e vehicl e ar e
usable . Severa l o f th e light s o n the
instrumen t pane l com e o n a s a tes t
whe n yo u tur n th e ignitio n switc h
fro m ACCESSOR Y to ON .
STAR T (III ) — Us e thi s positio n
onl y t o star t th e engine . Th e switc h
return s t o O N (II ) whe n yo u le t g o o f
th e key .
Yo u wil l hea r a reminde r beepe r i f
yo u leav e th e ke y i n th e ignitio n
switc h i n th e LOC K (0 ) o r
ACCESSOR Y (I ) positio n an d ope n
th e driver' s door . Remov e the key t o
tur n of f th e beeper . Doo
r Lock s
Eac h doo r ha s a loc k ta b o n th e top .
Pus h th e ta b dow n to loc k th e doo r
an d pul l i t u p to unlock .
T o loc k an y passenger' s doo r whe n
gettin g ou t o f th e vehicle , pus h th e
loc k ta b dow n an d clos e th e door . T o
loc k th e driver' s door , pul l th e
outsid e doo r handl e an d pus h th e
loc k ta b down . Releas e th e handle ,
the n clos e th e door .
Instrument s an d Control s
LOC
K TA B
Removin g th e ke y fro m th e
ignitio n switc h whil e drivin g
lock s th e steering . Thi s ca n
caus e yo u t o los e control .
Remov e th e ke y fro m th e
ignitio n switc h onl y whe n
parked .

Heatin
g an d Coolin g

To Cool with A/C

1 . Tur n o n th e A/ C b y pressin g th e
button. Th e ligh t i n th e butto n
come s o n whe n a fa n speed is
selected.

2 . Mak e
sur
e th e temperatur e
contro l dia l i s al l th e wa y t o th e left . 3
. Selec t
4 . I f th e outsid e ai r i s humid , selec t
Recirculatio n mode . I f th e outsid e
ai r i s dry , selec t Fres h Ai r mode .
Se t th e fa n to th e desire d speed .
I f th e interio r i s ver y war m fro m
bein g parke d in th e sun , yo u ca n coo l
i t dow n mor e rapidl y b y settin g u p
th e control s thi s way :
1 . Star t th e engine .
2 . Tur n o n th e A/ C b y pressin g th e

button. Mak e sur e th e tempera -
tur e contro l dia l i s al l th e wa y t o
th e left .

3 . Se t
th
e fa n to maximu m speed .
4 . Ope n th e window s partially . Selec t an
d Fres h Ai r mode . Whe
n th e interio r ha s coole d dow n

t o a mor e comfortabl e temperature ,

clos e th e window s an d se t th e
control s a s describe d fo r norma l

cooling .
Ai
r conditionin g place s a n extr a loa d
o n th e engine . Watc h th e engin e
coolan t temperatur e gaug e (se e pag e
57 ) whe n drivin g in stop-and-g o
traffi c o r climbin g a long , stee p hill .
I f i t move s nea r th e re d zone , tur n
of f th e A/ C unti l th e gaug e read s
normally .
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s MOD
E CONTRO L DIA L
RECIRCULATIO N
BUTTO N
AI R
CONDITIONIN G
SWITC H

REA R

DEFOGGE R
SWITC H
TEMPERATUR E CONTRO L DIA L
FA N CONTRO L DIA L

Heatin
g an d Coolin g

To Heat

T o war m th e interior :
1 . Star t th e engine .2
. Selec t an d Fres h Ai r mode .
3 . Se t th e fa n to th e desire d speed .
4 . Adjus t th e warmt h o f th e ai r wit h
th e temperatur e contro l dial .
To
Heat and Dehumidify with Air
Conditioning

Ai r conditioning , a s i t cools , remove s
moistur e fro m th e air . Whe n use d in
combinatio n wit h th e heater , i t
make s th e interio r war m an d dry .
1 . Switc h th e fa n on .
2 . Tur n o n th e ai r conditioning . 3
. Selec t an d Fres h Ai r mode .
4 . Adjus t th e temperatur e contro l
dia l s o th e mixtur e o f heate d an d
coole d ai r feel s comfortable .
Thi s settin g is suitabl e fo r al l drivin g
condition s wheneve r th e outsid e
temperatur e is abov e 32 ° F (0°C) .
To
Defog and Defrost

T o remov e fo g fro m th e insid e o f th e

windows :

1 . Switc h th e fa n on . 2
. Selec t
When yo u selec t th e
syste m automaticall y switche s t o
Fres h Ai r mod e an d turn s o n th e
A/C .

3 . Adjus t
th
e temperatur e contro l
dia l s o th e ai r flo w fro m th e
defroste r vent s feel s warm .
4 . Turn on th e rea r windo w defogge r

to hel p clea r th e rea r window .
Whe n yo u switc h t o anothe r mod e
from th e A/ C stay s on .
Pres s th e A/ C butto n t o tur n i t off .

CONTINUED

Comfor t an d
Convenienc
e Feature s

Heatin
g an d Coolin g

T o remov e exterio r fros t o r ic e fro m
th e windshiel d an d sid e window s
afte r th e vehicl e ha s bee n sittin g ou t
i n col d weather :
1 . Star t th e engine .2
. Selec t Whe
n yo u selec t th e
syste m automaticall y switche s t o
Fres h Ai r mod e an d turn s o n th e
A/C .
3 . Switc h th e fa n an d temperatur e
control s t o maximum .
T o rapidl y remov e exterio r fros t o r
ic e fro m th e windshiel d (o n ver y col d
days) , firs t selec t th e Recirculatio n
mode . Onc e th e windshiel d is clear ,
selec t th e Fres h Ai r mod e t o avoi d
foggin g th e windows .

Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s
MOD
E CONTRO L DIA L

RECIRCULATIO N

BUTTO N

AI R

CONDITIONIN G

SWITC H

REA R

DEFOGGE R

SWITC H

TEMPERATUR E CONTRO L DIA L
FA N CONTRO L DIA L

Break-i
n Period , Gasolin e

Break-i n Perio d
Hel p assur e you r vehicle' s futur e
reliabilit y an d performanc e b y payin g
extr a attentio n t o ho w yo u driv e
durin g th e firs t 60 0 mile s (1,00 0 km) .
Durin g thi s period : Avoi
d full-throttl e start s an d rapi d

acceleration .
Avoi
d har d braking . Ne w brake s
nee d to b e broken-i n b y moderat e
us e fo r th e firs t 20 0 mile s (30 0

km) .
D o no t change the oi l unti l th e

recommende d tim e o r mileag e

interva l show n in th e maintenanc e

schedule .

Yo u shoul d follo w thes e sam e re -

commendation s wit h a n overhaule d

o r exchange d engine , o r whe n th e

brake s ar e relined .
Gasolin
e

You r Hond a is designe d to operat e
o n unleade d gasolin e wit h a pum p
octan e numbe r o f 8 6 o r higher . Us e
o f a lowe r octan e gasolin e ca n caus e
a persistent , heav y metalli c rappin g
nois e in th e engin e tha t ca n lea d to
mechanica l damage .
W e recommen d gasoline s containin g
detergen t additive s tha t hel p preven t
fue l syste m an d engin e deposits .
Usin g gasolin e containin g lea d wil l
damag e you r vehicle' s emission s
controls . Thi s contribute s t o ai r

pollution .
I
n Canada , som e gasoline s contai n
a n octane-enhancin g additiv e calle d
MMT . I f yo u us e suc h gasolines ,
you r emissio n contro l syste m
performanc e ma y deteriorat e an d
th e Malfunctio n Indicato r Lam p o n
you r instrumen t pane l ma y tur n on .
I f thi s happens , contac t you r
authorize d Hond a deale r fo r service .

Befor e Drivin g

Servic
e Statio n Procedure s

3 . Inser t i t al l th e wa y bac k in it s tube .
UPPE
R MAR K

4 . Remov e th e dipstic k agai n an d
check th e level . I t shoul d b e
betwee n th e uppe r an d lowe r
marks .

I f i t
i
s nea r o r belo w th e lowe r mark ,
see Adding Oil on pag e 211.
Engine
Coolant Check

MI N

Loo k a t
th
e coolan t leve l i n th e
radiato r reserv e tank . Mak e sur e it i s
betwee n th e MA X an d MI N lines . I f
i t i s belo w th e MI N line , se e Addin g
Engin e Coolan t o n pag e 21 5 fo r
informatio n o n addin g th e prope r

coolant .

Refe r t o Owne r Maintenanc e
Check s o n pag e 20 9 fo r informatio n
o n checkin g othe r item s i n you r
Honda .
Befor e Drivin g
LOWE
R MAR K
RESERV
E TAN K

MA X

Fue
l Econom y

Th e conditio n o f you r vehicl e an d
you r drivin g habit s ar e th e tw o mos t
importan t thing s tha t affec t th e fue l
mileag e yo u get .
Vehicl e Conditio n
Alway s maintai n you r vehicl e accord -
in g to th e maintenanc e schedule .
Thi s wil l kee p it i n to p operatin g

condition .

A n importan t par t o f tha t mainte -
nanc e is th e Owne r Maintenanc e
Check s (se e pag e 209 ). Fo r
example , a n underinflate d tir e
cause s mor e "rollin g resistance, "
whic h use s fuel . I t als o wear s ou t
faster , s o chec k th e tir e pressur e a t
leas t monthly .
I n winter , th e build-u p o f sno w o n
you r vehicle' s undersid e add s weigh t
an d rollin g resistance . Frequen t
cleanin g help s you r fue l mileag e an d
reduce s th e chanc e o f corrosion .Drivin
g Habit s
Yo u ca n improv e fue l econom y b y
drivin g moderately . Rapi d acceler -
ation , abrup t cornering , an d har d
brakin g us e mor e fuel .
Alway s driv e i n th e highes t gea r tha t
allow s th e engin e t o ru n an d acceler -
at e smoothly .
Dependin g o n traffi c conditions , tr y
to maintai n a constan t speed . Ever y
tim e yo u slo w dow n an d spee d up ,
you r vehicl e use s extr a fuel . Us e th e
cruis e control , whe n appropriate , t o
increas e fue l economy . A
col d engin e use s mor e fue l tha n a
war m engine . I t i s no t necessar y t o
"warm-up " a col d engin e b y lettin g it
idl e fo r a lon g time . Yo u ca n driv e
awa y in abou t a minute , n o matte r
ho w col d it i s outside . Th e engin e
wil l war m up faster , an d yo u ge t
bette r fue l economy . T o cu t dow n o n
th e numbe r o f "col d starts, " tr y t o
combin e severa l shor t trip s int o one .
Th e ai r conditionin g put s a n extr a
loa d o n th e engin e whic h make s i t
us e mor e fuel . Tur n of f th e A/ C to
cu t dow n o n ai r conditionin g use .
Us e th e flow-throug h ventilatio n
whe n th e outsid e ai r temperatur e is
moderate .

Before 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 -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