ECU HONDA PASSPORT 2001 2.G Owner's Guide

Rear
Wheels off the Ground

1 . Transfe r cas e in 2 H (4W D
mode l only) .
2 . Transmissio n in Neutra l

position .

3 . Maximu m speed 3 0 mp h
(5 0 km/h) .
4 . Maximu m distanc e 5 0 mile s
(8 0 kilometers) .
I f yo u nee d t o to w you r vehicl e b y
this method , secur e th e steerin g
whee l t o kee p th e fron t wheel s
pointe d straigh t ahead . D o no t
rel y o n th e steerin g colum n lock ;
i t i s no t stron g enoug h t o hol d th e
fron t wheel s straigh t whil e
towing . Th e ignitio n switc h mus t
b e in th e OF F position .
Inoperativ
e Electrica l Device s

I f yo u hav e electrica l problem s
withou t extrem e damag e to an y

electrica l parts , chec k fo r burne d

ou t fuses , broke n wires , poo r

connection s o r poo r grounding .

Correc t a s necessary .

Th e fus e boxe s ar e locate d unde r
th e lef t han d sid e o f th e
instrumen t pane l an d in th e righ t
han d sid e o f th e engin e

compartment . (Se e "Fuses " o n

pag e 240 .)
Replacing
a fuse with one that has
a higher rating greatly increases

the chances of damaging the

electrical system. If you do not
have a replacement fuse with the
proper rating for the circuit,
install one with a lower rating.
I n Cas e o f Emergenc y

NOTIC
E

To
Close

1 . Lif t th e hoo d slightl y t o remov e
tensio n fro m th e suppor t rod .

2 . Plac e th e suppor t ro d in it s
retainin g cli p an d lowe r th e

hood .

Alway s mak e sur e th e hoo d is
securel y latche d befor e yo u begi n

driving .
Engin
e Oi l Dipstic k

Chec k th e oi l leve l whe n th e
engin e i s of f an d th e oi l i s warm ,
suc h a s durin g a fue l stop . See
pag e 213 . You
r Hond a operate s mos t
effectivel y o n unleade d gasolin e
wit h a pum p octan e numbe r o f 8 6
o r higher . Us e o f a lowe r octan e
gasolin e ca n caus e a persistent ,
heav y metalli c rappin g nois e i n
th e engin e tha t ca n lea d t o
mechanica l damage .
W e recommen d gasoline s containin g
detergen t additive s tha t hel p preven t
fue l syste m an d engin e deposits .
Usin g gasolin e containin g lea d wil l
damag e you r vehicle' s emissio n
controls . Thi s contribute s t o ai r
pollutio n an d ca n voi d certai n part s
o f you r warranty .

Oxygenate d Fuel s

Som e conventiona l gasoline s ar e
bein g blende d wit h alcoho l o r a n
ethe r compound . Thes e gasoline s
ar e collectivel y referre d to a s
oxygenate d fuels . T o mee t clea n ai r
Car e an d Maintenanc e
Fue
l Requirement s

Si
t i n th e driver' s sea t an d
perfor m thes e checks :
1 . Wit h th e engin e stopped ,
depres s th e brak e peda l severa l
times ; th e trave l distanc e an d
effectiv e peda l strok e shoul d
remai n unchanged .
2 . Star t th e engin e wit h th e brak e
peda l full y depressed .
Th e brak e peda l shoul d g o dow n
a littl e a s th e engin e starts .
3 . Depres s th e brak e pedal , sto p
th e engin e an d hol d th e peda l
depresse d fo r abou t 3 0
seconds ; th e brak e peda l
shoul d remai n i n positio n
withou t risin g o r goin g down .
4 . Restar t th e engin e an d ru n i t
fo r abou t a minute , the n tur n i t
of f an d depres s th e brak e
peda l firml y severa l times ; th e
brak e peda l trave l shoul d decreas
e eac h tim e th e brak e
peda l i s depressed .
I f th e brake s d o no t operat e
normally , hav e the m checke d an d
correcte d b y you r Hond a dealer .
Exhaus t syste m — Be aler t t o an y
change s i n th e soun d o f th e exhaus t
syste m o r an y smel l o f fumes .
Thes e ar e sign s th e syste m ma y b e
leakin g o r overheating . Hav e th e
syste m checke d and/o r repaire d a t
onc e i f thes e condition s exist . (Als o
se e "Carbo n Monoxid e Hazard " i n
th e "Drive r an d Passenger Safety "
sectio n an d "Three-Wa y Catalyti c
Converter " i n th e "Drivin g Tips "
section. )

Windshiel d wiper s an d

washer s — Chec k th e operatio n

an d conditio n o f th e wipe r blades .

Chec k th e flo w an d ai m o f th e

washe r spray .
Defrosters
— Chec k performanc e
b y movin g th e control s t o th e
defros t settin g an d notin g th e
amoun t o f ai r directe d agains t th e
windshield .

Rea r vie w mirror s an d su n

visor s — Chec k tha t th e frictio n
joint s hol d th e mirror s an d su n
visor s firml y i n place .
Hor n — Blo w th e hor n no w an d
the n t o b e sur e i t works .

La p an d shoulde r belt s — Chec k

th e bel t system , includin g
webbing , buckles , latc h plates ,
retractors , guid e loop s an d
anchor s fo r prope r operatio n an d

damage .

Sea t adjuster s — Whe n adjustin g
a seat , b e sur e th e sea t adjuster s
latc h securel y b y pushin g th e sea t
forwar d an d backward .
Car e an d Maintenanc e

Seat-bac
k latche s — Seat-bac k

latche s ar e designe d to preven t
forwar d motio n o f th e seat-bac k
whe n th e vehicl e stop s suddenly .
Chec k t o se e tha t th e seat-bac k
latche s ar e holdin g b y pullin g
forwar d o n th e top of th e foldin g

seat-back .

Als o chec k t o se e tha t th e
reclinin g seat s ar e operatin g
properly .

Light s an d beeper s — Chec k

pane l lighting , warnin g lights , an d
th e sea t bel t reminde r ligh t an d
beeper . Als o chec k th e ke y beepe r
an d interio r lights . O n th e outside ,
chec k th e licens e plat e light , sid e
marke r lights , headlights , parkin g
lights , taillights , brak e lights , tur n
signals , backu p light s an d hazar d
warnin g flashers . Hav e th e
headligh t ai m checke d promptl y i f th
e beam s see m to b e aime d
improperly .
Glass — Chec k fo r broken ,
scratche d o r damage d glas s tha t
coul d reduc e visibilit y o r caus e

injury .

Door latches — Chec k tha t th e
door s close , latc h an d loc k

securely .

Hoo d latc h — Chec k tha t th e
hoo d close s firmly . Chec k fo r
broken , damaged , o r missin g part s
tha t migh t preven t secur e
latching . Mak e sur e th e secondar y
latc h keep s th e hoo d fro m
openin g al l th e wa y whe n firs t

released .
Flui
d leaks — Chec k fo r fuel ,
water , oi l o r othe r flui d leak s b y
lookin g a t th e surfac e beneat h th e
vehicl e afte r i t ha s bee n parke d
fo r awhile . Wate r drippin g fro m
th e ai r conditionin g syste m afte r
us e i s normal . I f yo u notic e
gasolin e fume s o r flui d a t an y
time , locat e th e sourc e an d hav e it
correcte d a t once .

Spar e tir e an d jac k — Chec k tha t

th e spar e tir e an d al l jac k gea r ar e
securel y stowe d a t al l times .
Tailgat e latc h — Chec k tha t th e

tailgat e closes , latche s an d lock s

securely .

Car e an d Maintenanc e

Off-Roa
d Precaution s

Fo r you r safet y an d th e safet y o f
you r passengers , pleas e follo w

thes e precautions :

Don' t Modif y You r Vehicl e
W e urg e yo u no t t o instal l
aftermarke t "lif t kits, " oversiz e
wheel s an d tires , o r alte r your
vehicl e i n an y othe r wa y tha t
woul d chang e th e vehicle' s
suspensio n o r rid e height . Suc h
modification s ca n make handlin g
difficul t an d unpredictable , an d
the y coul d cause you t o los e
control , rol l ove r an d b e seriousl y
hur t o r killed .
Wear
Seat Belts

Sea t belt s ar e jus t a s importan t
off-roa d a s o n pavement . Sea t
belt s ca n hol d yo u in positio n o n
roug h an d bump y trail s an d whe n
drivin g o n hills . I f yo u don' t wea r
you r sea t belt , yo u coul d bounc e
aroun d an d strik e th e interio r o f
th e vehicle , o r eve n los e contro l
an d crash . Wheneve r yo u drive ,
mak e sur e yo u an d you r passenger
s alway s wear seat belts .
I f childre n o r infant s ar e alon g fo r
th e ride , se e tha t the y ar e properl y
secured , an d neve r le t a passenge r
rid e in th e carg o compartment . I n
a rollove r crash , a n unbelte d
perso n is mor e likel y t o di e tha n a
perso n wearin g a seat belt .

Drive Smart

Off-roa d surface s an d condition s
ca n chang e quickl y an d
unexpectedly . I t take s tim e t o
lear n ho w to rea d th e terrai n an d
develo p off-roa d drivin g skills . S o
alway s us e goo d judgment . Don' t
driv e faste r tha n condition s
warrant , an d i f yo u eve r fee l
uncomfortabl e abou t a give n
situation , don't do it.

Off-Roa d Driving Informatio n

Carryin
g Carg o

You'l l probabl y tak e a cooler ,
picni c supplie s o r othe r carg o o n a n
off-roa d trip . Sinc e som e bouncin g
i s almos t inevitabl e whe n drivin g
off-road , it' s ver y importan t t o stor e
an d secur e carg o properly . Follo w
thes e guideline s an d limits : Th
e maximu m loa d yo u ca n
carr y i n an d o n you r vehicl e
ca n b e foun d o n th e char t
opposite .
Thes e figure s includ e th e
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
traile r ( se e nex t page ). Distribut
e carg o evenl y o n th e
floo r o f th e carg o area , placin g
th e heavies t item s o n th e
botto m an d a s fa r forwar d a s
possible .
Off-Roa d Drivin g Informatio n

Secure all items so they cannot
fly forward and injure
you
or
your passengers if you brake
hard, hit an obstacle,
or
are
involved in a collision.
If yo u wan t t o
pu
t carg o o n th e
roof , us e a roo f rack , secur e al l
items , an d mak e sur e th e carg o
does not exceed 200 pounds.

Towing a Trailer

Yo u ma y
b
e abl e t o safel y to w a
lightweigh t traile r (suc h a s a
motorcycl e traile r o r smal l ten t
trailer ) off-roa d i f yo u follo w
thes e guidelines :
Do not exceed a trailer weight
of 1,00 0 pound s (includin g
cargo) or a tongue weight of
100 pounds. (Tongue weight shoul
d b e abou t 10 % o f th e
traile r weight. )
Tr y t o sta y o n smooth , leve l
dir t roads , an d avoi d drivin g i n
hill y terrain . Allo
w extr a roo m fo r starting ,
stopping , an d turning .
Slo w dow n i f yo u encounte r
bump s o r othe r obstacles .

Extra Equipment and Supplies

W e strongl y recommen d tha t yo u
D O NO T carr y extr a fuel . Gasolin e
i s highl y flammabl e an d
explosive . I t canno t b e safel y
carrie d insid e th e vehicl e o r
strappe d to th e to p o r rear . Th e
bes t thin g t o d o is fil l u p you r tan k
befor e yo u leav e pavement .
Off-Roa d Drivin g Informatio n

Befor
e returnin g t o pavement :
Chec k th e conditio n o f you r
tires . Damage d tire s ar e mor e
likel y t o fai l an d shoul d no t b e
use d o n pavement .
I f yo u le t ai r ou t o f you r tires ,
inflat e the m to th e
recommende d level s befor e
goin g an y distanc e o n
pavement . I f yo u must drive
wit h underinflate d tires , d o no t
excee d 3 0 mph . Remov
e an y mu d tha t ma y
hav e stuc k t o th e tires , wheels ,
o r driveshafts . Mu d ca n caus e
imbalanc e an d damag e
importan t vehicl e components .
Remov e an y twigs , rock s o r
othe r object s yo u migh t hav e
picke d u p alon g th e way . Follo
w al l procedure s fo r
shiftin g bac k t o 2-whee l driv e
i f you'v e been travelin g i n
4-whee l drive .
Whe n yo u ge t home , thoroughl y
was h you r vehicl e an d inspec t i t
closel y fo r sign s o f damage . Giv e
specia l attentio n t o th e tires , rims ,
suspensio n an d othe r underbod y
components , an d correc t an y
proble m yo u find . Als o mak e sur e
al l nuts , bolt s an d othe r critica l
fastener s ar e properl y secured . Drivin
g off-roa d cause s mor e
wear-and-tea r o n th e pain t an d
exterio r trim . Stones and other
debri s throw n u p b y you r tires ,
an d th e tire s o f othe r off-roa d
vehicle s yo u ar e following , ca n
chi p th e pain t an d chrome . Bushe s
an d tre e branche s ca n cause
hairlin e scratches . Althoug h ther e
ar e som e protectiv e device s
availabl e (mu d guards , etc. ) a
vehicl e tha t i s drive n off-roa d will
incu r mor e damag e tha n on e tha t
i s not . Frequen t washin g an d
waxin g ma y hel p t o minimiz e th e
damage caused b y off-roa d

driving .

Off-Roa d Drivin g Informatio n
Inspectio
n an d Cleanin g

It'
s well-know n tha t al l childre n ar e safe r
whe n the y ar e properl y restraine d i n th e bac k
seat , no t th e fron t seat .
To avoid the possiblity of an infant being seriously injured or killed by
an inflating passenger airbag, a rear-facing child seat should always
be secured in the back seat, never in the front. W
e als o kno w tha t passenge r airbag s pos e
additiona l risk s t o infant s an d childre n wh o
rid e i n th e front . A s a result , w e urg e yo u t o
follo w thes e rules :
Neve r pu t a rear-facin g chil d sea t i n th e
fron t sea t o f a ca r wit h a passenge r airbag . I f
th e airba g inflates , i t ca n hi t th e bac k o f th e
chil d sea t wit h enoug h forc e t o kil l o r severel y

injur e a n infant .
Placin g a forward-facin g chil d sea t i n th e
fron t sea t o f a ca r wit h a passenge r airba g

ca n als o b e hazardous . I f th e vehicl e sea t i s
to o fa r forward , o r th e child' s hea d i s throw n

forwar
d durin g a collision , a n inflatin g airba g
ca n strik e th e chil d an d possibl y caus e seriou s
o r fata l injuries .
I f a smal l chil d absolutel y mus t rid e i n th e
front , t o reduc e th e ris k o f injur y b e sur e t o
mov e th e vehicl e sea t a s fa r t o th e rea r a s
possible , secur e th e chil d sea t t o th e vehicl e
wit h th e sea t belt , an d stra p th e chil d i n th e
chil d sea t accordin g t o th e chil d sea t maker' s
instructions .
W e als o recommen d tha t childre n wh o
hav e outgrow n chil d seat s si t i n th e bac k sea t
an d wea r a lap/shoulde r belt . I f a chil d
slouches , scoot s forwar d o n th e seat , lean s forward
, turn s sideway s o r put s thei r fee t u p
o n th e bac k o f th e sea t i n fron t o f them , thei r
chanc e o f bein g injure d i n an y kin d o f cras h
i s greatl y increased .
I n addition , i f a chil d i s ou t o f positio n i n
th e fron t seat , th e chil d coul d b e seriousl y o r
fatall y injure d i f the y ar e struc k b y a n
inflatin g airbag . I f a large r chil d mus t si t i n
th e front , mov e th e vehicl e sea t a s fa r bac k a s
possible , hav e th e chil d si t u p straigh t wit h
thei r bac k agains t th e seat , an d mak e sur e th e
sea t bel t i s properl y an d securel y fastened .
With
or without airbags, toddlers and

larger children are safer when they are

properly restrained in the back seat.