low oil pressure HONDA CR-V 2003 RD4-RD7 / 2.G Owners Manual

Î
Î
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The U.S. instrument panel is shown. Dif f erences f or the Canadian models are noted in the text.
Indicator L ights
Inst rument s and Cont rols65
(P.68)
LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR
(P.66, 325)
(P.68) IMMOBILIZER
SYSTEM
INDICATOR
MALFUNCTION
INDICATOR
LAMP
(P.66, 326)
CHARGING
SYSTEM
IND
ICATOR
(P.327)
MAINTENANCE
REQUIRED INDICATOR
(P.70) (P.67) SEAT BELT
REMINDER LIGHTHIGH BEAM
INDICATOR
(P. 69) DOOR-OPEN
INDICATOR
(P.70) (P.66)PARKING BRAKE AND BRAKE
SYSTEM INDICATOR (P.69) LOW FUEL
INDICATOR
CRUISE CONTROL
INDICATOR
SIDE AIRBAG CUTOFF
INDICATOR
(P.67)
(P.69)
(P.70) TAILGATE AND HATCH GLASS OPEN INDICATOR
(P.67) SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM INDICATOR
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR

µµAlways drive
slower than you would in dry
weather. It takes your vehicle longer
to react, even in conditions that may
seem just barely damp. Apply
smooth, even pressure to all the
controls. Abrupt steering wheel
movements or sudden, hard appli-
cation of the brakes can cause loss of
control in wet weather. Be extra
cautious f or the f irst f ew miles
(kilometers) of driving while you
adjust to the change in driving
conditions. This is especially true in
snow. A person can f orget some
snow-driving techniques during the
summer months. Practice is needed
to relearn those skills.
Exercise extra caution when driving
in rain af ter a long dry spell. Af ter
months of dry weather, the f irst
rains bring oil to the surf ace of the
roadway, making it slippery. Being able to see
clearly in all directions and being
visible to other drivers are important
in all weather conditions. This is
more dif f icult in bad weather. To be
seen more clearly during daylight
hours, turn on your headlights.
Inspect your windshield wipers and
washers f requently. Keep the wind-
shield washer reservoir f ull of the
proper f luid. Have the windshield
wiper blades replaced if they start to
streak the windshield or leave parts
unwiped. Use the def rosters and air
conditioning to keep the windows
f rom f ogging up on the inside (see
page ).
Rain, f og, and snow conditions re-
quire a dif f erent driving technique
because of reduced traction and
visibility. Keep your vehicle well-
maintained and exercise greater
caution when you need to drive in
bad weather. The cruise control
should not be used in these condi-
tions. 134
CONT INUED
Driving T echnique
Visibility
Driving in Bad Weather
Driving215

After you return to the pavement,
caref ully inspect your vehicle to
make sure there is no damage that
could make driving it unsaf e. Check
the tires for damage and for proper
pressure. Driving of f -highway can be hard on a
vehicle. Bef ore you leave the
pavement, be sure all scheduled
maintenance and service has been
done, and that you have inspected
your vehicle. Pay special attention to
the condition of the tires, and use a
gauge to check the tire pressures. The f ollowing pages contain practical
tips on basic of f -highway operation.Of f -highway, the general rule is to
keep your speed low. Of course,
you’ll need enough speed to keep
moving forward. But at higher
speeds, you have less time to assess
conditions and make good decisions.
There’s also a greater chance of
sliding if you brake or turn too
quickly on wet soil, gravel, or ice. In
any situation, never go f aster than
conditions allow.
Forbettertractiononallsurfaces,
accelerate slowly and gradually build
up speed. If you try to start too fast
on wet soil, mud, snow, or ice, you
might not have enough traction to
get underway. You may even dig
yourself into a hole. Starting with the
shif t lever in second gear (2) will
help get you to a smooth start on
snow and ice.Generally, the best of f -pavement
braking technique is to gently
depress the brake pedal, then
increase pressure as more braking is
needed. Avoid hard braking. Keep in
mind that you will usually need more
time and distance to brake to a stop
on unpaved surf aces.
If you need to brake hard because of
an emergency, apply steady, even
pressure to the brake pedal. Do not
pump the brakes; let the anti-lock
braking system pump them f or you.
If you pump the brakes, the anti-lock
cannot work as ef f iciently, and your
stopping distance may be increased.
With ABS
Driving T ips
Check Out Your Vehicle
Cont rolling Speed
A ccelerat ing and Braking
Off-Highway Guidelines
Driving228

This section explains why it is
important to keep your vehicle well
maintained and to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.
This section also includes
Maintenance Schedules f or normal
driving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions f or simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself .
If you have the skills and tools to per-
f orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your Honda, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your Honda
dealer.......................
Maintenance Saf ety .234
.
Important Safety Precautions . 235
.................
Maintenance Schedule . 236 ...
Required Maintenance Record . 243
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 245
..............................
Fluid Locations .246
......................................
Engine Oil .247
..................................
Adding Oil .247
....................
Recommended Oil .247
..............................
Synthetic Oil .248
....................................
Additives .248
.....
Changing the Oil and Filter . 249
.............................
Cooling System .251
............
Adding Engine Coolant . 251
.......
Replacing Engine Coolant . 253
....................
Windshield Washers .258
.......................
Transmission Fluid .260
..........
Automatic Transmission . 260
5-speed Manual .........................
Transmission .261
.................
Rear Dif f erential Fluid . 262
................
Brake and Clutch Fluid . 263
............................
Brake System .263
...........................
Clutch System .264
..............................
Power Steering .264
.....................
Air Cleaner Element .265
....................................
Hood Latch .266
....................................
Spark Plugs .267
..............................
Replacement .267 ............................
Specif ications .268
...........................................
Battery .269
.................................
Wiper Blades .271
..............
Air Conditioning System . 274
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 275
.......................................
Drive Belt .277
...............................................
Tires .278
......................................
Inf lation .278
Recommended Tire Pressures f or Normal ...........................
Driving .279
Tire Pressure Adjustment f or ..........
High Speed Driving . 279
..................................
Inspection .280
..............................
Maintenance .280
.............................
Tire Rotation .281
...
Replacing Tires and Wheels . 282
......................
Wheels and Tires .283
..........................
Winter Driving .283
.............................
Snow Tires .283
............................
Tire Chains .284
.............................................
Lights .285
.....................
Headlight Aiming .287
........................
Replacing Bulbs .287
....................
Storing Your Vehicle .295
357
Maintenance
Maint enance233

µµµ µ
µ
µ µ
Engine oil level Check every
time you fill the fuel tank. See
page .
Engine coolant level Check the
radiator reserve tank every time
you f ill the f uel tank. See page .
Windshield washer f luid Check
the level in the reservoir monthly.
If weather conditions cause you to
use the washers f requently, check
the reservoir each time you stop
f or f uel. See page .
Youshouldcheckthefollowing
items at the specif ied intervals. If
you are unsure of how to perf orm
any check, turn to the page given.
Tires Check the tire pressure
monthly. Examine the tread f or
wear and foreign objects. See page
.
Automatic transmission Check
the f luid level monthly. See page .
Brakes Check the f luid level
monthly. See page . Lights Check the operation of
the headlights, parking lights,
taillights, high-mount brake light,
turn signals, brake lights, and
license plate light monthly. See
page .
188
189
258
260 278
285
263
Owner Maintenance Checks
Maint enance245

Your vehicle’s air conditioning is a
sealed system. Any major mainte-
nance, such as recharging, should be
done by a qualif ied mechanic. You
can do a couple of things to make
sure the air conditioning works
ef f iciently.Run the air conditioning at least once
a week during the cold weather
months. Run it f or at least ten
minutes while you are driving at a
steady speed with the engine at
normal operating temperature. This
circulates the lubricating oil con-
tained in the ref rigerant.If the air conditioning does not get as
cold as before, have your dealer
check the system. Recharge the
system with Ref rigerant HFC-134a
(R-134a). (See Specif ications on page
.)
Periodically check the engine’s
radiator and air conditioning
condenser f or leaves, insects, and
dirt stuck to the f ront surf ace. These
block the air f low and reduce cooling
ef f iciency. Use a light spray f rom a
hose or a sof t brush to remove them. 343
A ir Condit ioning Syst em
Maint enance274
AIR CONDITIONING CONDENSER
Whenever you have the air conditioning
system serviced, make sure the service
f acility uses a ref rigerant recycling
system. This system captures the
ref rigerant f or reuse. Releasing
ref rigerant into the atmosphere can
damage the environment.
The condenser and radiator f ins bend
easily. Only use a low-pressure spray
or sof t-bristle brush to clean them.

This section covers the more-
common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you inf ormation about how to
safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has
stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again.
If not, you will also f ind instructions
on getting your vehicle towed.....................
Changing a Flat Tire .308
..........
If Your Engine Won’t Start . 318
Nothing Happens or the Starter Motor Operates Very .................................
Slowly .318
The Starter Operates ................................
Normally .319
................................
Jump Starting .320
............
If Your Engine Overheats . 323
.........
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 325
..........
Charging System Indicator . 326
.......
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 327
.......................
Readiness Codes .328
...............
Brake System Indicator . 329
..................
Closing the Moonroof . 330
..............................................
Fuses .331
..........
Checking and Replacing . 332
......................
Emergency Towing .337
Taking Care of the Unexpected
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed307

Start the engine and watch the oil
pressure indicator. If the light
does not go out within ten seconds,
turn of f the engine. There is a
mechanical problem that needs to
be repaired bef ore you can
continue driving. (Seeon page .)
If necessary, add oil to bring the
level back to the full mark on the
dipstick (see page ).
This indicator should light when the
ignition switch is ON (II), and go out
af ter the engine starts. It should
never come on when the engine is
running. If it starts f lashing, it
indicates that the oil pressure
dropped very low f or a moment, then
recovered. If the indicator stays on
with the engine running, it shows
that the engine has lost oil pressure
and serious engine damage is
possible. In either case, you should
take immediate action. Saf ely pull of f the road and shut
of f the engine. Turn on the hazard
warning indicators.
Let the vehicle sit f or a minute.
Open the hood and check the oil
level (see page ). Although oil
levelandoilpressurearenot
directly connected, an engine that
is very low on oil can lose pressure
during cornering and other driving
maneuvers.
1.
2.
4.
3.
188 247
337 Emergency
Towing
L ow Oil Pressure Indicator
T aking Care of t he Unexpect ed325
LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR
Running the engine with low oil
pressure can cause serious mechanical
damage almost immediately. Turn of f
the engine as soon as you can saf ely get
the vehicle stopped.

CONT INUED
Dipstick
..........Automatic Transmission .260
..................................Engine Oil.188
..........................Directional Signals.77
........Disc Brake Wear Indicators .211
.....................Disposal of Used Oil.250
Doors
..............Locking and Unlocking .88
......................Power Door Locks.88
..........DOT Tire Quality Grading .344
Downshif ting,5-speed Manual
.............................Transmission.202
.......................................Drive Belt.277
...........................................Driving.197
....................................Economy.190
.........................In Bad Weather.215
................In Foreign Countries .347
........................Driving Guidelines.198
..................Dust and Pollen Filter .275
............................Fabric, Cleaning.302
...................................Fan, Interior.128
Features, Comfort and
..............................Convenience.127
....................Filling the Fuel Tank .185
Filters
................................Air Cleaner.265
.........................Dust and Pollen.275
...............................................Oil.249
5-speed Manual Transmission
...............Checking Fluid Level .261
................................Shif ting the.202
.............Flashers, Hazard Warning .81
...................Flat Tire, Changing a .308
..............................Economy, Fuel.190
............Emergencies on the Road .307
.............Battery, Jump Starting .320
...........Brake System Indicator .329
................Changing a Flat Tire .308
.....Charging System Indicator .326
..................Checking the Fuses .332
.....Low Oil Pressure Indicator .325
...Malf unction Indicator Lamp .327
...Manually Closing Moonroof .330
..................Overheated Engine .323
...........................Emergency Brake.82
......................Emergency Flashers.81
......................Emergency Towing.337
.......................Emissions Controls.349
.............Emissions Testing, State .352
Engine
....Coolant Temperature Gauge .74
...................................Drive Belt.277
......Engine Speed Limiter .203,208
Malf unction Indicator
................................Lamp.66,327
........Oil Pressure Indicator .66,325
..............Oil, What Kind to Use .247
...............................Overheating.323
............................Specif ications.342
.......................................Starting.200
......................Ethanol in Gasoline.347
.Evaporative Emissions Controls .349
...............................Exhaust Fumes.60
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
........................................Belts by.21
..................Exterior, Cleaning the .298
Index
E
F
III

CONT INUED
..................................................
Keys .84
.................
Jacking up the Vehicle . 312
.......................................
Jack, Tire .309
................................
Jump Starting .320
...............................
Inf ant Restraint .34
......................................
Inf ant Seats .34
......
LATCH Anchorage System . 47
...........................
Lower Anchors .47
..........
Tether Anchorage Points . 46
...................
Inf lation, Proper Tire . 278
.................
High Speed Driving . 279
.........................
Normal Driving .279
.................................
Inside Mirror .114
.............................
Inspection, Tire .280
............................
Instrument Panel .65
........
Instrument Panel Brightness . 77
...........................
Interior Cleaning .301
...............................
Interior Lights .124
........................................
Introduction .i .......................
Label, Certif ication .340
.................
Lane Change, Signaling . 77
..................
Lap/Shoulder Belts . 17,50
...........
LATCH Anchorage System . 47
Lights ....................
Bulb Replacement .287
.......................................
Indicator .65
.........................................
Parking .76
..................................
Turn Signal .77
.....................................
Load Limit .194
......
LOCK (Ignition Key Position) . 87
Locks .......
Anti-thef t Steering Column . 87
............................
Fuel Fill Door .185
....................................
Glove Box .96
.................................
Power Door .88
........................................
Tailgate .93
........................
Low Coolant Level .189
.........................
Low Fuel Indicator .69
...
Low Oil Pressure Indicator . 66,325
................................
Lower Anchors .47
...
Lubricant Specif ications Chart . 342
.........................................
Luggage .193 ..................................
Maintenance .233
...
Owner Maintenance Checks . 245
.................................
Record .243-244
......................
Required Indicator .70
..........................................
Saf ety .234
.............................
Schedule .238-242
.
Malf unction Indicator Lamp . 66,327
...................
Manual Transmission . 202
........
Manual Transmission Fluid . 261
.........................
Meters, Gauges .65, 72
...................
Methanol in Gasoline . 347
........................
Mirrors, Adjusting .114
.......................................
Moonroof .113
......................
Closing Manually .330
...................................
Operation .113
Index
LM
K J
V