towing 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

Towin
g a Traile r

Checkin g Load s
Th e bes t wa y t o confir m tha t vehicl e
an d traile r weight s ar e withi n limit s
i s t o hav e the m checke d a t a publi c

scale .

Usin g a suitabl e scal e o r a specia l
tongu e loa d gauge , chec k th e tongu e
loa d th e firs t tim e yo u se t u p a
towin g combinatio n ( a fully-loade d
vehicl e an d trailer) , the n rechec k th e
tongu e loa d wheneve r th e condition s

change .
Towin
g Equipmen t an d

Accessorie s

Towin g ca n requir e a variet y o f
equipment , dependin g o n th e siz e o f
you r trailer , ho w it wil l b e used , an d
ho w muc h loa d yo u ar e towing .
Discus s you r need s wit h you r traile r
sale s o r renta l agency , an d follo w th e
guideline s i n th e res t o f thi s section .
Als o mak e sur e tha t al l equipmen t i s
properl y installe d an d tha t i t meet s
federal , state , province , an d loca l
regulations .
Hitches

An y hitc h use d o n you r vehicl e mus t
b e properl y bolte d t o th e underbody .

Safety Chains

Alway s us e safet y chains . Mak e sur e
the y ar e secure d t o bot h th e traile r
an d hitch , an d tha t the y cros s unde r
th e tongu e s o the y ca n catc h th e
traile r i f i t become s unhitched .
Leav e enoug h slac k t o allo w th e
traile r t o tur n corner s easily , bu t d o
no t le t th e chain s dra g o n th e ground .

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

Towin
g You r Vehicl e Behin d a Motorhom e

You r CR- V ca n b e towe d behin d a
motorhom e a t lega l highwa y speed s
u p to 6 5 mp h (10 0 km/h) . T o avoi d
damag e t o th e 4W D syste m it mus t
b e "fla t towed " wit h al l fou r wheel s
o n th e ground .
Whe n purchasin g a to w bar , mak e
sur e yo u selec t a reputabl e
manufacture r an d installer . Follo w
th e manufacturer' s attachmen t
instruction s carefully .
Afte r attachin g th e to w ba r t o you r
motorhome , d o th e followin g to
prepar e you r CR- V fo r "fla t towing" :
5-speed
Manual Transmission
Whe
n preparin g to to w you r CR-V ,

mak e sur e th e transmissio n is
fille d to th e correc t leve l (se e pag e

222 ). D o no t overfill . Releas
e th e parkin g brake . Shif
t th e transmissio n t o Neutral .
Leav
e th e ke y in th e ignitio n
switc h an d th e ignitio n switc h in

ACCESSOR Y (I ) s o th e steerin g

whee l doe s no t lock . Mak e sur e

th e radi o an d an y item s plugge d
int o th e accessor y powe r socket s
ar e turne d of f s o yo u d o no t ru n

dow n th e battery .
Automatic
Transmission

Whe n preparin g t o to w you r CR-V ,
mak e sur e th e transmissio n i s ful l o f
fluid . Maintainin g th e correc t leve l i s
ver y important . D o no t overfill . D o

th e followin g every day immediately

before you begin towing. Follow th e

procedur e exactly . Otherwise , sever e
automati c transmissio n damag e wil l
occur .
CONTINUED
Drivin g

Towin
g You r Vehicl e Behin d a Motorhom e
Star
t th e engine .
Pres s o n th e brak e pedal . Shif t th e
leve r throug h al l th e position s (P ,

R , N , D , 2,1 )

Shif t t o D , the n t o N . Le t th e
engin e ru n fo r thre e minutes , the n
tur n of f th e engine .
Releas e th e parkin g brake .
Leav e th e ignitio n switc h i n
ACCESSOR Y (I ) s o th e steering -
whee l doe s no t lock . Mak e sur e
th e radi o an d an y item s plugge d
int o th e accessor y powe r socket s
ar e turne d of f s o yo u d o no t ru n
dow n th e battery .
Extended
Towing
I f yo u to w mor e tha n 8 hour s in on e

day , repea t th e abov e procedur e a t

leas t ever y 8 hours , (whe n yo u sto p

fo r fuel , etc. )

The steering system can be damaged if
the steering wheel is locked. Leave the
ignition switch in Accessory (I), and
make sure the steering wheel turns
freelv before you begin towing.

Failure to follow the above instructions

exactly will result in severe automatic

transmission damage. If vou cannot

shift the transmission or start the

engine, your vehicle must be

transported on a flat-bed truck or

trailer.
Severe
automatic transmission damage
will occur if the vehicle is shifted from
reverse to neutral and then towed with
the drive wheels on the ground.

I f yo u to w a CR- V wit h a n automati c
transmission , th e transmissio n flui d
mus t b e change d ever y tw o year s o r
30,00 0 mile s (50,00 0 km) , whicheve r
come s first .

Drivin g
NOTIC
E
NOTIC E NOTIC
E

# : Se e informatio n o n maintenanc e an d emission s warranty , las t column , pag e 20 1 .
*
1 : Refe r t o pag e 23 5 fo r replacemen t informatio n unde r specia l drivin g conditions .
*
2 : Refe r t o pag e 23 4 fo r replacemen t informatio n unde r specia l drivin g conditions .
*
3 : Replac e ever y 60,00 0 mile s (96,00 0 km ) o r 3 6 months .
* 4
: Replac e a t 60,00 0 mile s (96,00 0 km ) o r 3 6 months , the n ever y 30,00 0 mile s (48,00 0 km ) o r 2 4 months .
U.S. Owner s
Follow th e Sever e Condition s
Maintenanc e Schedul e if yo u
driv e you r vehicl e MAINLY
unde r on e o r mor e o f th e
followin g conditions :
Driving les s tha n 5 mile s ( 8
km ) pe r tri p or , i n freezin g
temperatures , drivin g les s
tha n 1 0 mile s (1 6 km ) pe r tri
j
Drivin g in extremel y ho t
[ove r 90 ° F (32 ° C) ] conditio n
Extensive idlin g o r lon g
period s o f stop-and-g o drivin g
Trailer towing , drivin g wit h a
roo f rack , o r drivin g in
mountainou s conditions .
Driving o n muddy , dusty , o r
de-ice d roads .
Canadia n Owner s
Follow th e Maintenanc e
Schedul e fo r Sever e Condition
s
Maintenanc e

fsethi
s schedul e i f you r vehicl e i s MAINL Y drive n i n an y o f th e followin g Sever e Conditions ; otherwis e us e th e Norma l Schedule . Servic e a t th e
idicate d distanc e o r time , whicheve r come s first . D o th e item s i n A , B , C , D as require d fo r eac h distance/time .severe Conditions:.
Drivin g les s tha n 5 mile s ( 8 km ) pe r tri p or , i n freezin g temperatures , drivin g les s tha n 1 0 mile s (1 6 km ) pe r trip .
. Drivin g i n extremel y ho t (ove r 90°F/32°C ) conditions .
. Extensiv e idlin g o r lon g period s o f stop-and-g o driving .
. Traile r towing , drivin g wit h a roo f rack , o r drivin g i n mountainou s conditions .
. Drivin g o n muddy , dusty , o r de-ice d roads .
Maintenance
CONTINUED

page 238

Takin
g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Thi s sectio n cover s th e more -

commo n problem s tha t motorist s

experienc e wit h thei r vehicles . I t
give s yo u informatio n abou t ho w to
safel y evaluat e th e proble m an d wha t
t o d o to correc t it . I f th e proble m ha s
strande d yo u o n th e sid e o f th e road ,
yo u ma y b e abl e to ge t goin g again .
I f not , yo u wil l als o fin d instruction s

o n gettin g you r vehicl e towed .
Changin
g a Fla t Tir e .................... . 26 6
I f You r Engin e Won' t Start.......... . 27 5
Nothin g Happen s o r th e Starte r
Moto r Operate s Ver y

Slowly..................................... 275

Th e Starte r Operate s
Normally................................ . 27 6
Jum p Starting................................ . 27 7
I f You r Engin e Overheats............ . 27 9
Low Oil Pressur e Indicato r ......... . 28 1
Chargin g Syste m Indicator.......... . 28 2
Malfunctio n Indicato r Lam p ....... . 28 3
Brak e Syste m Indicator............... . 28 4
Fuses.............................................. . 28 5
Checkin g an d Replacing.......... . 28 6
Emergenc y Towing...................... . 29 0

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Emergenc
y Towin g

I f you r vehicl e need s t o b e towed ,
cal l a professiona l towin g servic e or ,
i f yo u belon g to one , a n organizatio n
tha t provide s roadsid e assistance .
Neve r to w you r vehicl e behin d
anothe r vehicl e wit h jus t a rop e o r
chain . I t i s ver y dangerous .
Ther e ar e thre e popula r type s o f

professiona l towin g equipment .

Flat-bed Equipment — Th e operato r

load s you r vehicl e o n th e bac k o f a
truck . Thi s i s th e onl y wa y t o
transpor t you r vehicle . An y othe r
metho d o f towin g wil l damag e th e
driv e system . Whe n yo u contac t th e
towin g agency , infor m the m tha t a
flat-be d is required .
Towing
a 4WD CR-V with only two

tires on the ground will damage parts

of the 4WD system. It should be

transported on a flat-bed truck or

trailer.

Wheel Lift Equipment — Th e to w
truc k use s tw o pivotin g arm s tha t g o
unde r th e tire s (fron t o r rear ) an d lif t
the m of f th e ground . Th e othe r tw o
tire s remai n o n th e ground .

Neve r to w you r vehicl e wit h

whee l lif t equipment .

Sling-type Equipment — Th e to w

truc k use s meta l cable s wit h hook s
o n th e ends . Thes e hook s g o aroun d
part s o f th e fram e o r suspensio n an d
cable s lif t tha t en d o f th e vehicl e of f
th e ground . You r vehicle' s
suspensio n an d bod y ca n b e
seriousl y damaged . Thi s metho d o f
towin g you r CR- V is unacceptable .Refe
r t o Towin g You r Vehicl e
Behin d a Motorhom e o n pag e

18 9 fo r non-emergenc y towin g

information .
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
NOTIC
E

Inde
x

Disposa l o f Use d Oil..................... . 214
Door s
Lockin g an d Unlocking.............. . 70
Powe r Doo r Locks...................... . 71
DO T Tir e Qualit y Grading.......... . 296
Downshifting , 5-spee d Manua l
Transmission............................. . 168
Driv e Belts..................................... . 234

Driving........................................... . 163

Economy.................................... . 157
I n Ba d Weather......................... . 180
I n Foreig n Countries................ . 299
Drivin g Guidelines........................ . 164

Economy , Fuel.............................. . 157

Emergencie s o n th e Road............ . 265
Battery , Jum p Starting............. . 276
Brak e Syste m Indicator........... . 284
Changin g a Fla t Tire................ . 266
Chargin g Syste m Indicator..... . 282
Checkin g th e Fuses.................. . 286
Lo w Oi l Pressur e Indicator..... . 281
Malfunctio n Indicato r Lamp... . 283
Overheate d Engine.................. . 279 Emergenc
y Brake........................... . 86
Emergenc y Flashers...................... . 63
Emergenc y Towing...................... . 290
Emissio n Controls........................ . 300

Engin e

Coolan t Temperatur e Gauge ..... 57
Malfunctio n Indicato r
Lamp .................................... 54,
282

Oil Pressur e
Indicator........
. 54 ,
281
Oil , Wha t
Kin
d t o Use.............. . 211
Overheating............................... . 279
Specifications............................ . 294
Starting....................................... . 166
Ethano l i n Gasolin e ...................... . 298
Evaporativ e Emissio n Controls... . 300
Exhaus t Fumes............................... . 49
Expectan t Mothers , Us e o f Sea t
Belt s by........................................ . 19
Exterior , Cleanin g the.................. . 256
Fabric , Cleaning............................ . 260
Fan , Interior..................................... . 98
Features , Comfor t an d
Convenience................................ . 97 Fillin
g th e Fue l Tank.................... . 157
Filter s
Air............................................... . 226
Ai r Conditioning....................... .

234

Oil............................................... . 213

5-spee d Manua l
Transmissio
n
Checkin g Flui d Level............... . 222
Shiftin g the................................ . 169
Flashers , Hazard Warning............. . 63
Fla t Tire , Changin g a................... . 213
Fluid s
Automati c Transmission ...........

221

Brake.......................................... . 224
Clutch......................................... . 224
Manua l Transmission.............. . 222
Powe r
Steering..........................
. 225
Rea r Differential....................... . 223
Windshiel d Washer.................. . 220
F M Stere o Radi o
Reception................................... . 125
Foldin g Rea r Seat........................... . 82
Foreig n Countries , Drivin g in..... . 299
Four-wa y Flashers.......................... . 63
CONTINUED