trailer 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

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

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

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

Towin
g a Traile r

Handling Crosswinds and Buffeting

Crosswind s an d ai r turbulenc e
cause d b y passin g truck s ca n disrup t
you r steerin g an d caus e traile r
swaying . Whe n bein g passe d b y a
larg e vehicle , kee p a constan t spee d
an d stee r straigh t ahead . D o no t tr y
t o mak e quic k steerin g o r brakin g

corrections .

Backing Up

Alway s driv e slowl y an d hav e
someon e guid e yo u whe n backin g up .
Gri p th e bottom of th e steerin g
wheel; then tur n th e whee l t o th e lef t
t o ge t th e traile r t o mov e to th e left ,
an d tur n th e whee l righ t t o mov e th e
traile r t o th e right .
Parking

Follo w al l norma l precaution s whe n
parking , includin g firml y settin g th e
parkin g brak e an d puttin g th e
transmissio n in Par k (automatic ) o r
i n 1s t o r Revers e (manual) . Also ,
plac e whee l chock s a t eac h o f th e
trailer' s tires .

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