tow 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

Protectin
g Adult s

6 . A djus t th e Steerin g Whee l
Adjus t th e steerin g wheel , i f needed ,
s o tha t th e whee l point s towar d you r
chest , no t towar d you r face .
Pointin g th e steerin g whee l towar d
you r ches t provide s optima l
protectio n fro m th e airbag .
Se e pag e 6 4 fo r ho w to adjust the

steerin g wheel .
7.Maintai
n a Prope r Sittin g
Positio n
Afte r al l occupant s hav e adjuste d
thei r seat s an d pu t o n sea t belts , i t i s
ver y importan t tha t the y continu e t o
si t upright , wel l bac k i n thei r seats ,
wit h thei r fee t o n th e floor , unti l th e
vehicl e is parke d an d th e engin e is

off .Sitting improperly can increase the
chance of injury during a crash. For

example , i f
a
n occupan t slouches ,
lie s down , turn s sideways , sit s
forward , lean s forwar d o r sideways ,
or put s on e or bot h fee t up , th e
chanc e o f injur y durin g a cras h is
greatl y increased .
In addition , a n occupan t wh o is ou t o f
positio n in
th
e fron t sea t ca n b e
seriousl y o r fatall y injure d b y
strikin g interio r part s o f th e vehicle ,
o r b y bein g struc k b y a n inflatin g

airbag .
Remember
, t o ge t th e bes t
protectio n fro m you r vehicle' s
airbag s an d othe r safet y features ,
yo u mus t si t properl y an d wea r you r
sea t bel t properly .

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y
Sittin
g improperl y o r ou t o f
positio n ca n resul t i n seriou s
injur y o r deat h in a crash .
Alway s si t upright , wel l bac k in
th e seat , wit h you r fee t o n th e

floor .

Protectin
g Childre n

Installing a Rear-Facing Child Seat
with the Lap Belt

T o instal l a rear-facin g chil d sea t i n
th e cente r bac k sea t wit h th e la p belt ,
follo w instructio n numbe r 1 o n pag e
3 0 fo r routin g an d latchin g th e seat
belt . The n pul l har d o n th e loos e en d
o f th e bel t t o remov e an y slac k (i t
ma y hel p t o pu t weigh t o n th e chil d
sea t whil e pullin g o n th e belt) .
Finally , follo w instructio n numbe r 5
o n pag e 3 1 t o verif y tha t th e chil d
seat is secure .
Rear-Facing
Child Seat Installation
Tips

Fo r prope r protection , a n infan t mus t
rid e in a reclined , o r semi-recline d
position . T o determin e th e prope r
reclinin g angle , chec k wit h th e baby' s
docto r o r follo w th e seat maker' s
recommendations .
T o achiev e th e desire d reclinin g
angle , i t ma y hel p t o pu t a rolle d u p
towe l unde r th e to e o f th e chil d seat ,
a s shown . Whe
n properl y installed , a rear -
facin g chil d sea t ma y preven t th e
drive r o r a front-sea t passenge r fro m
movin g th e sea t a s fa r bac k a s
recommende d (se e pag e 1 2 ). O r i t
ma y preven t the m fro m lockin g th e
seat-bac k i n th e desire d uprigh t
positio n (se e pag e 13 ).
I n eithe r case , w e recommen d tha t
yo u plac e th e chil d sea t directl y
behin d th e fron t passenge r seat ,
mov e th e fron t sea t a s fa r forwar d a s
needed , an d leav e it unoccupied . O r
yo u ma y wis h t o ge t a smalle r chil d
sea t tha t allow s yo u t o safel y carr y a
fron t passenger .
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Control
s Nea r th e Steerin g Whee l
T o adjus t th e steerin g whee l upwar d
o r downward :
1 . Pus h th e leve r unde r th e steerin g
colum n al l th e wa y down .
2 . Mov e th e steerin g whee l t o th e
desire d position , makin g sur e th e
whee l point s towar d you r chest ,
no t towar d you r face . Mak e sur e
yo u ca n se e th e instrumen t pane l
gauge s an d th e indicato r lights . 3
. Pus h th e leve r u p t o loc k th e
steerin g whee l i n tha t position .
4 . Mak e sur e yo u hav e securel y
locke d th e steerin g whee l i n plac e
b y tryin g t o mov e i t u p an d down .
Instruments an d Control s

Servic
e Statio n Procedure s

SUPPOR T RO D
3 . Pul l th e suppor t ro d ou t o f it s cli p
an d inser t th e en d int o th e hol e o n
th e fron t o f th e hoo d aroun d th e
center .
T o clos e th e hood , lif t i t u p slightl y t o
remov e th e suppor t ro d fro m th e
hole . Pu t th e suppor t ro d bac k int o
it s holdin g clip . Lowe r th e hoo d t o
abou t a foo t (3 0 cm ) abov e th e
fender , the n le t i t drop .
Afte r closin g th e hood , mak e sur e it
i s securel y latched . Oil
Check
Chec k th e engin e oi l leve l ever y tim e
yo u fil l th e vehicl e wit h fuel . Wai t a
fe w minute s afte r turnin g th e engin e
of f befor e yo u chec k th e oil .
1 . Remov e th e dipstic k (orang e

handle) .
2
. Wip e th e dipstic k wit h a clea n
clot h o r pape r towel .

CONTINUED
Befor e Drivin g

DIPSTIC
K

Carryin
g Carg o

Loa d Limi t

Th e maximu m loa d fo r you r vehicl e

i s 85 0 Ib s (39 5 kg) .

Thi s figur e include s th e tota l weigh t

o f al l occupants , cargo , accessories ,

an d th e tongu e weigh t i f yo u ar e

towin g a trailer .

T o figur e ou t ho w muc h carg o yo u

ca n carry : Ad
d u p th e weigh t o f al l occupants .
I
f yo u ar e towin g a trailer , ad d th e

tongu e weigh t t o th e numbe r

above .
Subtrac
t th e tota l fro m 85 0 Ib s

(395kg) .

Th e fina l numbe r i s th e tota l weigh t

o f carg o yo u ca n carry .
Carryin
g Item s i n th e Passenge r
Compartmen t Stor
e o r secur e al l item s tha t coul d
b e throw n aroun d an d hur t
someon e durin g a crash . B
e sur e item s place d o n th e floo r
behin d th e fron t seat s canno t rol l
unde r th e seat s an d interfer e wit h
th e driver' s abilit y t o operat e th e
pedals , o r wit h th e prope r
operatio n o f th e seats . Kee
p th e glov e bo x close d whil e
driving . I f th e li d is open , a
passenge r coul d injur e thei r knee s
durin g a cras h o r sudde n stop .

Befor e Drivin g

Overloadin
g o r imprope r
loadin g ca n affec t handlin g an d
stabilit y an d caus e a cras h i n
whic h yo u ca n b e hur t o r killed .
Follo w al l loa d limit s an d othe r
loadin g guideline s i n thi s
manual .

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

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