HONDA PASSPORT 2000 2.G Owners Manual

Change the oil and oil filter every
3,750 miles (6,000 kilometers) or
every three months if you drive under one or more of these
"severe driving" conditions: Driving in dusty areas
Towing a trailer
Frequent idling or idling for
long periods Frequent short trips (4 miles [6
kilometers] or less) in cold or
freezing weather, where the
engine does not thoroughly
warm up. Change the oil and oil filter as
soon as possible after driving in
a dust storm.
Oi
l Chang e

Changing the oil and filter requires
special tools and access from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle
should be raised on a service station-type hydraulic lift for this
service. Unless you have the
knowledge and proper equipment,
you should have this maintenance
done by a skilled mechanic.
1. Warm up the engine. This makes the oil drain faster and
more thoroughly.
2. Remove the oil filler cap.
3. Remove the drain plug and drain oil fully.
4. Install the drain plug, with a new gasket, and tighten it.
5. Fill the engine with the proper amount of new oil (see
"Specifications"). Oil Filter Installation
1. Remove the old oil filter with the filter wrench.
2. Apply a light coat of engine oil to the oil filter gasket.
3. Hand-tighten the filter until the gasket contacts the sealing

face.

4. Using the filter wrench, tighten the filter one full turn.
5. Run the engine and inspect for
leaks.

6. Shut off the engine. After a couple of minutes, check the
oil level. If necessary, add oilto bring it to the FULL mark.

An improperly installed oil filter can result in severe engine

damage.

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NOTIC
E

Oi
l Viscosit y

Engine oil viscosity (thickness) has an effect on fuel economy. Lower
viscosity engine oils can provideincreased fuel economy; however,
higher temperature weather
conditions require higher viscosity
engine oils for satisfactory lubrication. To get the best fuel
economy with your vehicle, you should use a fuel-saving engine oil
of the proper viscosity. These oils
can be found in service stations and other retail stores. They are
identified by words such as
"Energy Saving," "Conserves
Gasoline," "Gas Saving,"
"Gasoline Saving," "Friction
Reducing," "Improved Gasoline Mileage" or "Fuel Saving."
The chart lists the recommended
engine oil viscosities for the temperature range you expect
before the next oil change. For temperatures above 0°F (—18°C),
SAE 10W—30 is the preferred viscosity grade. If cold-weather
starting problems are encountered
at temperatures below 0°F
(—18°C), SAE 5W—30 viscosity
oils may be required.
Oi l Leve l Chec k
It is the owner's responsibility to
keep the engine oil at the proper
level. Check the oil level at regular
intervals (such as every other fuel stop) and keep it above the
"minimum" level mark.
Remember, your engine may use more oil when it is new.
The best time to check the engine
oil level is when the oil is warm, such as during a fuel stop. Shut off
the engine and wait about 5 minutes
for the oil to drain back to the oil
pan. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it
clean, and push it back down all the
way. Now pull out the dipstick and

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look at the oil level on the dipstick.
The dipstick has two markings which indicate the minimum and
maximum allowable oil level. If the
oil level is lower than the markedarea, it indicates the need for
additional oil. Push the dipstick
back down all the way after taking the reading. If you check the oil level when
the oil is cold, do not run the
engine first. The cold oil will not drain into the pan fast
enough to give a true reading.

Engin e Oi l Additive s

There are many extra engine oil additives for sale. Your engine
should not need these extra
additives if you use recommended
quality engine oil and change it as suggested. If you think your

engine has an oil-related problem,

talk to your Honda dealer. Ai
r Cleane r Filte r
See your Maintenance Schedule for
change intervals. If the vehicle is operated in dusty areas it will
require more frequent element
replacement. Your Honda dealer
can be of assistance in determining the proper replacement frequency
for the conditions under which you
operate your vehicle.
Do not attempt to clean the air
filter. The filter is designed to
provide normal filtering
efficiency between replacement intervals.
For maximum protection, it is advisable to use genuine Honda air
cleaner filters as replacements.
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Never run the engine with the air
cleaner filter removed. If the
engine should backfire, it could
possibly cause an engine
compartment fire.
Be sure to reinstall the air cleaner
filter and assembly correctly. If it is installed incorrectly, engine
damage could result. Manua
l Transmissio n Flui d
See the Maintenance Schedule to
find out how often the lubricant
level should be checked.
Check that the fluid level reaches
the plug hole by removing the
filler plug on the transmission and transfer case. If the fluid level is
low, refill the case up to the filler
plug hole.
Use a high-quality engine oil
labeled SG or SF that is of the
correct viscosity for existing ambient temperatures as follows.
(2WD)

OIL FIL L PLU G
DRAI N PLU G
DRAI N PLU G

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(4WD)
RIGH
T SID E
LEF T SID E

OIL FIL L PLU G

Automati
c Transmissio n Flui d

Prope r Flui d

Have the fluid level in the
automatic transmission checked

during the regularly scheduled maintenance at your Honda

dealer.

If you suspect an automatic transmission fluid leak, take the
vehicle to your Honda dealer for inspection and repair.
Transmission damage could result if you let the fluid level get too
low.
Drai
n Interval s

The automatic transmission drain
interval is not time or mileage
dependent. It will vary according to your driving habits and vehicle

usage.

Your dealer will check thetransmission fluid's condition and

life expectancy during regularly

scheduled maintenance, and

inform you at what mileage it

should be changed.
Fron
t (4WD )
an d Rea r Axle s

See the Maintenance Schedule
List to determine how often the lubricant should be changed. Add
lubricant, if needed, by filling to
the level of the filler plug hole.
Use GL-5 gear lubricant of the
proper viscosity as shown in the

chart.

If your vehicle is equipped with
the optional limited slip
differential (on the rear axle), use GL-5 Limited Slip Differential
Gear Lubricant together with
Limited Slip Differential Gear
Lubricant Additive (Part No. 8-01052-358-0) or equivalent.
Use the correct viscosity for the
existing ambient temperatures.

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The engine cooling system is
designed to maintain the engine at
the proper operating temperatures.
The cooling system was filled at the factory with a quality engine
coolant. The engine cooling system is designed to use coolant (a
mixture of water and ethylene glycol antifreeze) rather than plain
water. The engine coolant solutionshould be used year-round. It has
many advantages such as: provides freezing protection as

lowas — 33°F( — 36°C)
provides boiling protection up
to262°F(128°C)
protects against rust and
corrosion in the cooling system maintains the proper engine
temperature for efficient
operation and emission control
allows proper operation of the
engine coolant temperature gaugeSee the Maintenance Schedule in
this section to find out when the
engine coolant must be replaced.

Checkin g th e Coolan t Leve l

Check the engine coolant level at the interval shown in the
Maintenance Schedule unless there
is evidence of leaking or
overheating. The engine coolant
level should be between the
maximum and the minimum level
marks on the radiator reserve tank.

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Recommende
d Lubrican t
Engin
e Coolin g Syste m

You usually do not need to remove
the radiator cap to check the engine
coolant level.
Addin g Engin e Coolan t
To add engine coolant, remove the cap on the radiator reserve tank
and fill the tank up to the
maximum level mark. Add a
50/50 mixture of water and a good
quality ethylene glycol antifreeze. If you need to add engine coolant
frequently, see your Honda dealer
for a cooling system check.
If the proper quality antifreezeis used, there is no need to add
extra inhibitors or additives. They may be harmful to the proper
operation of the system.
Coolin g Syste m Servic e

The cooling system should be serviced at the intervals specified in the Maintenance Schedule as

follows:
Wash the radiator cap and filler
neck with clean water.
Check the engine coolant level

in the radiator and have it tested
for freeze protection. Add
ethylene glycol antifreeze, if
needed, to maintain freeze

protection at —33°F (—36°C).
Have the cooling system and
radiator cap tested for a pressure capacity of 15 psi (105
kPa). If a replacement cap is
needed, use a cap specified for
your model. Tighten all radiator and heater
hose clamps and inspect all
hoses. Replace the hoses if they
are swollen, "checked," or
otherwise worn. Carefully tighten the hose clamps at the
radiator. Overtightening could bend or collapse the radiator

fittings. Clean the front of the radiator
core and air conditioning

condenser.

It is the owner's responsibility to: Maintain the cooling system
freeze protection at —33°F
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Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out, seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine andradiator cool down beforeremoving the radiator cap.

(—36°C) to ensure protection
against corrosion and loss of
engine coolant from boiling.
This should be done even if freezing temperatures are not

expected.

Add ethylene glycol-basedantifreeze when antifreeze has
to be added because of engine
coolant loss or if more
protection against freezing at
temperatures lower than —33 °F
(—36°C) is needed. Do not use
an alcohol-based or
methanol-based antifreeze, or
plain water. They boil at a
lower point, and do not provide corrosion protection.
Thermosta
t

The engine coolant temperature is
controlled by a thermostat, which stops engine coolant flow through
the radiator until a preset
temperature is reached. This
thermostat is installed in the
engine coolant inlet on the front of the engine block. The same
thermostat is used in both winter
and summer. Othe
r Require d
Maintenanc e
Brak e Maste r Cylinde r
Check the master cylinder fluid
level in the reservoir every time
you check the engine oil level.
The level should be between the MAX and ADD level line. If the
level is lower than the ADD level
line, fill to the MAX level linewith DOT-3 or DOT-4 fluid.
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If the diaphragm inside the
reservoir cap is deformed, return
it to the original (collapsed)
condition, then tighten the cap.
It is normal for the brake fluid
level to go down slightly as the
front brake pads wear. So be sure
to keep the reservoir fluid at the
proper level.
If the reservoir needs frequent
refilling, it may indicate a serious mechanical problem.
Brake fluid absorbs water from
the air. Never use brake fluid that
has been open to the air for an
extended period. Throw it away and use new brake fluid from a
sealed container.

Brake fluid can damage your vehicle's paint. Thoroughly clean
up any brake fluid spills.
Shift-on-the-Fl
y Syste m
The fluid level in the system should
be checked at the intervals shown in the Maintenance Schedule.
Remove the filler plug and make sure the fluid level is up to the
edge of the hole. If it is not, add
GL-5 gear oil to bring to that level. Use the same GL-5 gear oilspecified for the front axle (see
page 212). Fron
t Whee l Bearing s
Clean and repack the front wheel
bearings whenever the front brake
pads are replaced. Due to the weight of the tire and wheel
assembly it is recommended that
they be removed from the hub
before lubricating the bearings to
prevent damage to the oil seal.
"Long Fiber" grease should not be
used to lubricate the wheel bearings.
It can cause damage. Clean the old
grease out of the bearings and hubs
before repacking.
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NOTIC
E
FILLE
R
PLU G

Hoo
d Latc h an d Hinge s

Lubricate the hood latch assembly
and hood hinge assembly as

follows:
1. Wipe off any accumulatio n of
dirt o
r contamination on the
latch parts.
2. Apply multipurpose-type grease (NLGI No. 1 or 2) to
the hood latch pin cam.
3. Apply light engine oil to all pivot points in the release
mechanism.

4. Lubricate hood hinges with multipurpose-type grease
(NLGI No. 1 or 2).

5. Check the hood hinges and
latch mechanism to assure
they are working correctly.
Ai
r Conditionin g

Periodically have your Honda dealer check your air conditioning
system to be sure there has been

no loss in cooling output. See
your Honda dealer if you suspect

that the system is not performing

as it should.

Bod y Lubricatio n

Normal use of a vehicle causes
metal-to-metal movement at certain
points in the body. Noise, wear and improper operation at these points
will result when a protective film of lubricant is not provided.
For exposed surfaces such as door
checks, door lock bolts, lock striker plates, etc., apply a thin
film of light engine oil.
Any lubricant should be used
sparingly. After application, all excess lubricant should be
carefully wiped off.
The seat adjusters and seat track should be lubricated with water-
resistant EP chassis lubricant.
There are other points on the
vehicle body which may occasionally require lubrication.
Window regulators and controls are confined in the space between
the upholstery and the outside
door panel. Easy access to the
working parts may be made by
removing the trim. Door weatherstrips and rubber hood
bumpers should be lightly coatedwith a rubber lubricant.

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