traction control HONDA PASSPORT 2002 2.G Owners Manual

80Instruments and Controls
Transfer Control
4WD Models
The “4WD” indicator light
illuminates when 4WD is engaged
with the 4WD-2WD switch.
“2H” (High Range, 2-Wheel
Drive)
Use this for normal driving on dry
pavement. This position gives
greater economy, quieter ride and
the least drivetrain wear.
“4H” (High Range, 4-Wheel
Drive)
Use this for normal driving on
gravel, wet, icy or snow-covered
roads. This position provides
greater traction than two-wheel
drive. Top speed is limited to 65
mph (105 km/h).
“4L” (Low Range, 4-Wheel
Drive)
Use this for maximum power and
traction. Top speed is limited to 65 mph (105 km/h). Use
“4L” for
climbing or descending steep
hills, off-road driving, and hard
pulling in sand, mud or deep
snow.
Operating the 4WD-2WD Switch
2H  4H: To shift between
ranges, push the switch
with the vehicle going in
a straight line at any
speed below 65 mph
(105 km/h). The 4WD
indicator will blink for a
short time as the system
completes the shift.
Taking your foot off the
accelerator pedal for a
moment will help to
engage the new range.
If the vehicle is stopped,
you should let it roll
forward slightly to
complete the shift.

85Instruments and Controls
“4H” (High Range, 4-Wheel
Drive)
Use this for normal driving on
gravel, wet, icy or snow-covered
roads. This position provides
greater traction than two-wheel
drive. Top speed is limited to 65
mph (105 km/h).“4L” (Low Range, 4-Wheel
Drive)
Use this for maximum power and
traction. Top speed is limited to
65 mph (105 km/h). Use
“4L” for
climbing or descending steep
hills, off-road driving, and hard
pulling in sand, mud or deep
snow.
Operating the 4WD-2WD Switch
2H  4H: To shift between
ranges, push the switch
with the vehicle going in
a straight line at any
speed below 65 mph
(105 km/h). The 4WD
indicator will blink for a
short time as the system
completes the shift.
Taking your foot off the
accelerator pedal for a
moment will help to
engage the new range. Shifting the Transfer Control
Lever
4H
↔ 4L: Stop the vehicle.
Depress the clutch, then
move the transfer control
lever from 4H to 4L, or
4L to 4H.
Move the transfer control lever
quickly and securely between
positions. Do not stop midway.
The transfer gear box can be
damaged if the control lever is not
firmly in gear. Some noise is
normal when shifting.
If the 4WD indicator continues to
blink rapidly, it indicates that the
system was shifted out of
sequence. Stop the vehicle, select
4WD with the 4WD-2WD switch,
shift the lever from 4L to 4H, then
select 2WD. Drive in a straight
line to reset the system. If the
indicator continues to blink, see
your Honda dealer.

160Driving Tips
hazard. This is sometimes referred
to as “stomp and steer
.”
You will feel a pulsation in the
brake pedal when the
ABS
activates, and you may hear some
noise. This is normal, it is the
ABS rapidly pumping the brakes.
Activation varies with the amount
of traction your tires have. On dry
pavement, you will need to press
on the brake pedal very hard
before you activate the
ABS.
However, you may feel the
ABS
activate immediately if you are
trying to stop on snow or ice.
Important Safety Reminders
ABS does not reduce the time
or distance it takes to stop the
vehicle, it only helps with steering
control during braking. You
should always maintain a safe following distance from other
vehicles.
ABS will not prevent a skid that
results from changing direction
abruptly, such as trying to take a
corner too fast or making a
sudden lane change. Always drive
at a safe, prudent speed for the
road and weather conditions.
ABS cannot prevent a loss of
stability. Always steer moderately
when you are braking hard.
Severe or sharp steering wheel
movement can still cause your
vehicle to veer into oncoming
traffic or off the road.
A vehicle with
ABS may require
a longer distance to stop on
loose or uneven surfaces, such as
gravel or snow, than a vehicle
without anti-lock. Slow down and allow a greater distance between
vehicles under those conditions.
ABS Indicator
The
ABS is self-checking. You
may feel a slight movement of the
brake pedal just after you start the
engine. This is the
ABS performing
a check. It also checks itself
whenever you use the brakes.

162Driving Tips
Self-Adjusting Brakes
The brakes on this vehicle are
self-adjusting. They have been
designed so that periodic brake
adjustment is not needed.
The brakes adjust themselves each
time you firmly apply them.
Thus, if the brake pedal goes down
farther than normal due to a lack of
adjustment, drive backward and
forward a few times. Apply the
brakes intermittently.
See your Honda dealer if the
brake pedal height does not return
to normal or if there is a rapid
increase in pedal travel. Either is a
sign of other brake trouble. Also,
see your Honda dealer if the
parking brake needs adjustment.
Braking Tips
Control your vehicle’s speed on a
steep or long downhill grade by
shifting the transmission to a
lower gear. Constantly using the
brakes can cause them to overheat
and lose effectiveness.
Resting your foot on the brake
pedal when you are not intending
to brake (“riding the brakes”) can cause them to overheat. This
reduces their effectiveness, wears
them out faster, and can reduce
fuel mileage. It also causes your
brake lights to stay on all the time,
confusing drivers behind you.
Brake Wear Indicators
The front and rear brakes have
built-in wear indicators. These make a high-pitched squealing or
cricket-like warning sound when
the brake pads or linings are worn
to the point of replacement. The
sound may come and go or be
heard all the time when the vehicle
is moving, but may stop when the
brake pedal is pushed down firmly.
Expensive damage can result if
pads or linings are not replaced
immediately when needed.
Driving on Slippery Surfaces
Driving, steering, and braking
traction are reduced when the
road is coated with water, snow,
ice, gravel, or other materials.
Slow down and adjust your
driving to such conditions. It is
important to slow down when it is
slippery because stopping

163Driving Tips
distances will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with
reduced traction, avoid maneuvers
involving sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking (including
engine braking due to shifting to
lower gear), that could cause the
tires to skid.
Drivers may not realize the
surface is slippery until the
vehicle is skidding.
Learn to recognize warning
clues—such as enough water or
ice on the road to make a
“mirrored surface”—and slow
down when there is any doubt.
Also see “Traction” under “Tires”
in this section.
Rapid slowing down or
speeding-up can cause loss
of control on slippery
surfaces. If you crash, you
can be injured.
Use extra care when driving
on slippery surfaces.
To safely operate your vehicle,
your tires must be the proper type
and size, in good condition with
adequate tread, and correctly
inflated. The following pages give
more detailed information on how
and when to check air pressure,
how to inspect your tires for
damage and wear, and what to do
when your tires need to be
replaced.
Using tires that are excessively
worn or improperly inflated can
cause a crash in which you
can be seriously hurt or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner’s manual regarding tire
inflation and maintenance.
Tires

168Driving Tips
Traction
A decrease in driving, cornering,
and braking traction occurs when
water, snow, ice, gravel, or other
materials are on the road. Vehicle
speed should be adjusted to the
road conditions.
When driving on wet or slushy
roads, a wedge of water can build
up between the tire and road. This
is known as hydroplaning and
may cause partial or complete loss
of traction, vehicle control, and
stopping ability. To reduce the
chance of traction loss, follow
these tips:
1. Slow down during rainstormsor when roads are slushy.
2. Slow down if the road has standing water or puddles. 3. Replace tires when they are
worn to a point where 1/16
inch (1.6 mm) or less tread
remains, or cord or fabric
can be seen.
4. Keep the tires properly inflated.
If your vehicle has snow tires, be
sure they are the same size, load
range and construction type as your
other tires. Vehicle speed should be
limited to a maximum of 75 mph
(120 km/h) when equipped with
either passenger vehicle-type or
truck-type snow tires.
Tire Chains
To prevent tire chains from
damaging your vehicle:
•Install the chains on the rear
tires as tightly as possible. Tighten them again after
driving 1/4 to 1/2 mile (0.4 to
0.8 kilometer). Using chains on
the front tires is not
recommended. They may
contact the body and possibly
damage the vehicle. If you
intend to use chains on the
front tires, be sure there is
enough clearance.
•Do not exceed 45 mph
(70 km/h) or the chain
manufacturer ’
s suggested speed
limit if it is lower.
•Drive in a restrained manner
and avoid large bumps,
potholes, severe turns or other
maneuvers that could cause the
vehicle to bounce up and down.
•Follow the chain
manufacturer ’ s instructions.

250Owner Assistance
Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR)
System
The Exhaust Gas Recirculation
(
EGR) system takes some of the
exhaust gas and routes it back into
the intake manifold. Adding
exhaust gas to the air/fuel mixture
reduces the amount of NOx
produced when the fuel is burned.
Three-Way Catalytic Converter
The Three-Way Catalytic
Converter is in the exhaust
system. Through chemical
reactions, it converts HC, CO, and
NOx in the engine’ s exhaust to
carbon dioxide (CO
2), dinitrogen
(N
2), and water vapor. Replacement Parts
The emissions control systems are
designed and certified to work
together in reducing emissions to
levels that comply with the Clean
Air Act. To make sure the
emissions remain low, you should
use only new Honda genuine
replacement parts or their
equivalent for repairs. Using
lower quality parts may increase
the emissions from your vehicle.
The emissions control systems are
covered by warranties separate
from the rest of your vehicle.
Read your warranty manual for
more information.
The tires on your vehicle meet all
U.S. Federal Safety
Requirements. All tires are also
graded for treadwear, traction, and
temperature performance
according to Department of
Transportation (
DOT) standards.
The following explains these
gradings.
Uniform Tire Quality
Grading
Quality grades can be found
where applicable on the tire
sidewall between the tread
shoulder and the maximum
section width. For example:
Treadwear 200
Traction AA
Temperature A
All passenger car tires must
conform to Federal Safety
Requirements in addition to these
grades.
DOT Tire
Quality Grading

251Owner Assistance
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a
comparative rating based on the
wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150
would wear one-and-a-half
(1-1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire
graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their
use, however, and may depart
significantly from the norm due to
variation in driving habits, service
practices and differences in road
characteristics and climate.
Traction – AA, A, B, C
The traction grades from highest
to lowest are AA, A, B, and C.
Those grades represent the tire’sability to stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled
conditions on specified
government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire
marked C may have poor traction
performance.
Warning: The traction grade
assigned to this tire is based on
straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include
acceleration, cornering,
hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics.
Temperature – A, B, C
The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B and C, representing
the tire’
s resistance to the
generation of heat and its ability
to dissipate heat when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified indoor laboratory test
wheel. Sustained high temperature
can cause the material of the tire
to degenerate and reduce tire life
and excessive temperature can
lead to sudden tire failure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of
performance which all vehicle
tires must meet under the Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test
wheel than the minimum required
by law.
Warning: The temperature grade
for this tire is established for a tire
that is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive
loading either separately or in
combination, can cause heat
build-up and possible tire failure.

Get to Know Your Vehicle

Because
every vehicle operates a
little

differently, be sure to read
your owner's manual and get acquainted with your vehicle
before

you drive off-road. If you have 4-wheel drive, you can
use it for better traction and greater
mobility

off-road, but remember to
switch

back to 2-wheel drive before
you return to pavement.
Whether you have 2-wheel or
4-wheel drive, you need to know
that

your vehicle has higher ground
clearance

than passenger cars
designed for use only on pavement.
Higher

ground clearance has many
advantages off-road. It allows you
t

o travel over bumps, obstacles and
rough

terrain and helps protect
undercarriage

components. Since
you sit higher off the ground, you have
a better view of the

surroundings.
Thes

e advantages come at some
cost. Because your vehicle is taller and rides higher off theground,

it has a higher center of
gravity than conventional cars.
This means your vehicle can more
easil
y tip or roll over if you make
abrupt turns or drive on sloped
terrain.
Utilit

y vehicles have a
significantly higher rollover rate
than other types of vehicles. To
avoid

loss of control or rollover,
be sure to follow all
recommendations
and precautions
in this booklet. Off-Road Driving Information

Reading the Terrain

In nature, visual information comes in unpredictable ways. That means
you need to stay alert, constantly
survey

the terrain, and go slow
enough to analyze situations and make good decisions.
As your eyes search the terrainahead, watch for changes in
surface conditions. Surfaces can
vary

widely, and traction can
change quite suddenly. One
minute

you can be on firm soil
and

the next minute in soft sand
or deep mud. A trail or road can
quickly
change from level to
bumpy.

It can suddenly slope at a
dangerou

s angle, or even
disappear in an unexpected
drop-off. Road

s and trails aren't banked for
turns, and the edges can be steep
berms or drop-offs. When you
drive

down a graded road, watch
ahead for ruts, potholes and washouts.
Some trails can offer
more surprises. A smooth, inviting
trail can suddenly twist
up or down, become very narrow,
be blocked by a fallen tree,
tangled
with roots, or dwindle to a
tight dead-end.
Some areas don't have roads or
trails - just wide open spaces
where

you must carefully choose
your path.
Controlling Speed

Off-road, the general rule is to
keep your speed low. Of course,
you'll need enough spee
d to keep
moving
forward, especially on
sand,

mud, soft snow, and when
starting

up a hill. But too much
speed leads to problems.
At higher speeds you have less
time
to read the terrain and make
good

decisions. You'll also
bounce

more, which makes
controlling the vehicle more
difficult. And there's a greater
chance of sliding if you brake or turn quickly on wet soil, gravel orice

. In any situation, never go
faster
than conditions allow. Off-Road Driving Information