tow HONDA CR-V 2003 RD4-RD7 / 2.G Owners Manual

2003 CR-V Online Reference Owner's Manual Use these links (and links throughout this ma nual) to navigate through this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.helminc.com.
Contents
Owner's Identification Form
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 Restraint System.
Instruments and Controls ........................................................................\
................................................... 63
Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
............................... 127
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features.
Before Driving ........................................................................\
..................................................................... 183
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new ve hicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
................................................................................... 197
The proper way to start the engine, shift the tr ansmission, and park, plus towing a trailer.
Maintenance ........................................................................\
......................................................................... 233
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Care ........................................................................\
................................................................. 297
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your vehicle ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpected ........................................................................\
....................................... 307
This section covers several problems motorists someti mes experience, and how to handle them.
Technical Information ........................................................................\
....................................................... 339
ID numbers, dimensions, capaciti es, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada) ......................................................................353
A summary of the warranties covering your new Honda, and how to contact us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only) ........................................................................\
....................................... 357
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index ........................................................................\
......................................................................................... I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need wh en you pull up to the fuel pump.

Adjust the steering wheel, if needed,
so that the wheel points toward your
chest, not toward your f ace.
Pointing the steering wheel toward
your chest provides optimal
protection f rom the airbag.
See page f or how to adjust the
steering wheel.Sitting improperly can increase the
chance of injury during a crash. For
example, if an occupant slouches,
lies down, turns sideways, sits
forward, leans forward or sideways,
or puts one or both f eet up, the
chance of injury during a crash is
greatly increased. After all occupants have adjusted
their seats and put on seat belts, it is
very important that they continue to
sit upright, well back in their seats,
with their feet on the floor, until the
vehicle is parked and the engine is
off.
In addition, an occupant who is out of
position in the f ront seat can be
seriously or f atally injured by
striking interior parts of the vehicle,
or by being struck by an inf lating
f ront airbag. Being struck by an
inf lating side airbag can result in
possibly serious injuries.
83
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
Protecting Adults
Adjust the Steering Wheel Maintain a Proper Sitting
Position
6.
7.
20
Sitting improperly or out of
position can result in serious
injury or death in a crash.
Always sit upright, well back in
the seat, with your feet on the
floor.

Children depend on adults to protect
them. However, despite their best
intentions, many parents and other
adults may not know how to
protect young passengers.(See page
.)
So if you have children, or if you ever
need to drive with a grandchild or
other children in your vehicle, be
sure to read this section. To reduce the number of child
deaths and injuries, every state and
Canadian province requires that
inf ants and children be restrained
whenever they ride in a vehicle. Each year, many children are injured
or killed in vehicle crashes because
they are either unrestrained or not
properly restrained. In f act, vehicle
accidents are the number one cause
of death of children ages 12 and
under.
(See page .)
29
42
properly
All Children Must Be Restrained
Anychildwhoistoosmalltowearaseat belt should be properlyrest rained in a child seat .
A larger child should always berest rained wit h a seat belt , and use aboost er, if needed.
Protecting Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety24
Children who are unrestrained
or improperly restrained can be
seriously injured or killed in a
crash.
Any child too small for a seat
belt should be properly
restrained in a child seat. A
larger child should be properly
restrained with a seat belt.

To achieve the desired reclining
angle, it may help to put a rolled up
towel under the toe of the child seat,
as shown. Forproperprotection,aninfantmust
ride in a reclined, or semi-reclined
position. To determine the proper
reclining angle, check with the baby’s
doctor or f ollow the seat maker’s
recommendations.
To deactivate the locking
mechanism and remove a child seat,
unlatch the buckle, unroute the seat
belt, and let the belt f ully retract.
Rear-Facing Child Seat Inst allat ion
Tips
Protecting Children
Driver and Passenger Saf ety37

To release the parking brake, push
andholdthereleasebuttononthe
side of the parking brake lever, pull
the lever toward you slightly, then
push the lever f orward.
The parking brake light on the
instrument panel should go out when
the parking brake is fully released
(see page ).
To apply the parking brake, f irmly
pull the parking brake lever toward
you.
66
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Parking Brake
82
PARKING BRAKE
LEVERRELEASE BUTTON
Driving the vehicle with the parking
brake applied can damage the rear
brakes and axles.

Push the lever up to lock the
steering wheel in that position.
Make sure you have securely
locked the steering wheel in place
by trying to move it up and down.
Push the lever under the steering
column all the way down.
Move the steering wheel to the
desired position, making sure the
wheel points toward your chest,
not toward your f ace. Make sure
you can see the instrument panel
gauges and the indicator lights.
To adjust the steering wheel upward
or downward:
Make any steering wheel adjustment
bef ore you start driving.
1.
2.3.
4.
See page f or important saf ety
inf ormation about how to properlyposition the steering wheel. 20
Inst rument s and Cont rols
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Steering Wheel A djustment
83
Adjusting the steering wheel
position while driving may
cause you to lose control of the
vehicle and be seriously injured
inacrash.
Adjust the steering wheel only
when the vehicle is stopped.

Check the engine oil level every time
you f ill the vehicle with f uel. Wait a
f ew minutes af ter turning the engine
of f bef ore you check the oil.Remove the dipstick (orange
handle). Wipe the dipstick with a clean
cloth or paper towel.
Insert it all the way back in its tube.
2.
1. 3.
Oil Check
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving188
DIPSTICK

Î
Î
Your vehicle has several convenient
storage areas so you can stow cargo
saf ely.
However, carrying too much cargo,
or improperly storing it, can af f ect
your vehicle’s handling, stability, and
operation, and make it unsaf e.
Bef ore carrying any type of cargo, be
sure to read the f ollowing pages. The glove box, and the pockets in
the doors and seat-backs, are
designed f or small, lightweight items.
The cargo area is intended f or larger,
heavier items. In addition, the back
seats can be folded to allow you to
carry more cargo or longer items.
Carrying Cargo
Bef ore Driving193
CARGO UNDER-FLOOR STORAGE TAILGATE POCKETS DOOR POCKETSSTORAGE BOX
DASHBOARD POCKET
CARGO AREA SEAT-BACK POCKETS CENTER POCKET GLOVE BOX
A/T model only

·µ
Subtract the combined weight of
the driver and passengers f rom
850 lbs (395 kg).
The resulting f igure equals the
available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity.
This f igure includes the total weight
of all occupants, cargo, accessories,
and the tongue weight if you are
towing a trailer. The maximum load limit f or your car
is 850 lbs (395 kg).
Following are the steps f or
determining the correct cargo and
luggage load limit. For example, if there will be f our 150
lbs (70 kg) occupants in your vehicle,
the amount of available cargo and
luggage load capacity is 250 lbs (115
kg).
4 150 lbs (70 kg) = 600 lbs (280
kg)
850 lbs (395 kg) 600 lbs (280 kg) =
250 lbs (115 kg)
Locate the statement, ‘‘the
combined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed 850 lbs
(395 kg)’’ on your vehicle’s placard
(on the driver’s doorjamb).
Determine the combined weight
of the driver and passengers that
will be riding in your vehicle. (Five
is the seating capacity of your
vehicle.) If your vehicle will be towing a
trailer, load f rom your trailer will
be transf erred to your vehicle.
Consult this manual to determine
how this reduces the available
cargo and luggage load capacity of
your vehicle.
Determine the combined weight
of accessories, luggage, and cargo
beingloadedinthevehicle.The
weight may not saf ely exceed the
available cargo and luggage load
capacity calculated in step 4 [250
lbs(115kg)inthisexample].
1.
2. 3.
4.
5.
6.
Load Limit
Carrying Cargo
Bef ore Driving194
Overloading or improper
loading can affect handling and
stability and cause a crash in
which you can be hurt or killed.
Follow all load limits and other
loading guidelines in this
manual.

This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
5-speed manual and automatic
transmissions. It also includes
important inf ormation on parking
your vehicle, the braking system,
and f acts you need if you are plan-
ning to tow a trailer or drive off-
highway.........................
Driving Guidelines .198
........................
Preparing to Drive .199
.......................
Starting the Engine .200
Starting in Cold Weather ....................
at High Altitude .201
....
5-speed Manual Transmission . 202
.....
Recommended Shif t Points . 203
..............
Engine Speed Limiter . 203
..............
Automatic Transmission . 204
.
Shif t Lever Position Indicator . 204
................
Shif t Lever Positions . 205
..............
Engine Speed Limiter . 208
....................
Shif t Lock Release . 209
...........................................
Parking .210
.....................
The Braking System .211
.............
Brake Wear Indicators . 211
...............
Brake System Design . 212
.......................
Anti-lock Brakes .212
Important Saf ety .........................
Reminders .213
........................
ABS Indicator .214
...............
Driving in Bad Weather . 215
...........................
Towing a Trailer .217
Towing Your Vehicle Behind a ................................
Motorhome .224 ..............
Of f -Highway Guidelines . 226
.................
General Inf ormation . 226
.
Important Safety Precautions . 227
...............................
Driving Tips .228
Driving
Driving197