2000 HONDA CR-V towing

2000 CR-V Online Reference Owner's Manual
Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through\
this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.h\
elminc.com. Contents


Introduction ........................................................................\
................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safet y........................................................................\
.........................................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 Restr\
aint System.
Instruments and Control s........................................................................\
........................................ .51
Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
....................... .97
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
..........................................................139
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
..................................................................... .151
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
.............................................................183
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Car e........................................................................\
..................................................... .241
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your\
vehicle ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpecte d........................................................................\
..............................249
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, and how to handle them.
Technical Informatio n........................................................................\
.............................................275
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................287
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manu als (U.S. only)........................................................................\
..............................293
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index........................................................................\
........................................................................\
...... I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.
CR-V Value Package Audio SystemOwner's Identification Form

Towin
g a Traile r
Checkin g Load s

Th e bes t wa y t o confir m tha t vehicl e
an d traile r weight s ar e withi n limit s
i s t o hav e the m checke d a t a publi c

scale .

Usin g a suitabl e scal e o r a specia l
tongu e loa d gauge , chec k th e tongu e
loa d th e firs t tim e yo u se t u p a
towin g combinatio n ( a fully-loade d
vehicl e an d trailer) , the n rechec k th e
tongu e loa d wheneve r th e condition s

change .
Towin
g Equipmen t an d
Accessorie s
Towin g ca n requir e a variet y o f
equipment , dependin g o n th e siz e o f
you r trailer , ho w it wil l b e used , an d
ho w muc h loa d yo u ar e towing .
Discus s you r need s wit h you r traile r
sale s o r renta l agency , an d follo w th e
guideline s i n th e res t o f thi s section .
Als o mak e sur e tha t al l equipmen t i s
properl y installe d an d tha t i t meet s
federal , state , province , an d loca l
regulations .
Hitches

An y hitc h use d o n you r vehicl e mus t
b e properl y bolte d to th e unclerbody .

Safety Chain

Alway s us e a safet y chain . Mak e
sur e tha t i t i s secure d t o bot h th e
traile r an d hitch , an d tha t i t crosse s
unde r th e tongu e s o it ca n catc h th e
traile r i f i t become s unhitched .
Leav e enoug h slac k t o allo w th e
traile r t o tur n corner s easily , bu t d o
no t le t th e chai n dra g o n th e ground .
CONTINUED

Drivin g

Towin
g a Traile r

Drivin g Safel y Wit h a Traile r
Th e adde d weight , length , an d
heigh t o f a traile r wil l affec t you r
vehicle' s handlin g an d performance ,
s o drivin g wit h a traile r require s
som e specia l drivin g skill s an d
techniques .
Fo r you r safet y an d th e safet y o f
others , tak e tim e t o practic e drivin g
maneuver s befor e headin g fo r th e
ope n road , an d follo w th e guideline s
discusse d below .

Towing Speeds and Gears

Driv e slowe r tha n norma l i n al l
drivin g situations , an d obe y poste d
spee d limit s fo r vehicle s wit h trailers .
I f yo u hav e a n automati c
transmission , us e th e Over-Driv e
(O/D ) mod e whe n towin g a traile r
o n leve l roads . Tur n of f th e Over -
Driv e (O/D ) mod e whe n towin g a
traile r i n hill y terrai n (se e pag e 14 0 ) .
(Se e "Driving on Hills" i n th e nex t
colum n fo r additiona l gea r information.
)
Making Turns and Braking
Mak e turn s mor e slowl y an d wide r
tha n normal . Th e traile r track s a
smalle r ar c tha n you r vehicle , an d it
ca n hi t o r ru n ove r somethin g th e
vehicl e misses . Allo w mor e tim e an d
distanc e fo r braking . D o no t brak e o r
tur n suddenl y a s thi s coul d caus e th e
traile r t o jackknif e o r tur n over .
Driving on Hills
Whe n climbin g hills , closel y watc h
you r temperatur e gauge . I f i t near s
th e re d mark , tur n th e ai r
conditionin g off , reduc e spee d and , i f
necessary , pul l t o th e sid e o f th e
roa d t o le t th e engin e cool .
I f th e automati c transmissio n shift s
frequentl y betwee n 3r d an d 4t h
gear s whil e goin g u p a hill , tur n of f
th e Over-Driv e (O/D ) mod e (se e
page 160 ) . I
f yo u mus t sto p whe n facin g uphill ,
us e th e foo t brak e o r parkin g brake .
D o no t tr y t o hol d th e vehicl e in
plac e b y pressin g o n th e accelerator ,
a s thi s ca n caus e th e automati c
transmissio n to overheat .
Whe n drivin g dow n hills , reduc e
you r spee d an d shif t dow n t o 2n d
gear . D o no t "ride " th e brakes , an d
remembe r i t wil l tak e longe r t o slo w
dow n an d sto p whe n towin g a trailer .

Drivin g

Towin
g You r Vehicl e Behin d a Motorhom e

You r CR- V ca n b e towe d behin d a
motorhom e a t lega l highwa y speed s
u p to 6 5 mp h (10 0 km/h) . D o no t
excee d 6 5 mp h (10 0 km/h) .
Otherwise , sever e transmissio n
damag e wil l occur . T o avoi d damag e
t o th e 4W D system , i t mus t b e towe d
wit h al l fou r wheel s o n th e groun d
(fla t towing) .
Whe n purchasin g a to w bar , mak e
sur e yo u selec t a reputabl e
manufacture r an d installer . Follo w
th e manufacturer' s attachmen t
instruction s carefully .
Afte r attachin g th e to w ba r t o you r
motorhome , d o th e followin g t o
prepar e you r CR- V fo r "fla t towing" :
5-speed Manual Transmission Mak
e sur e th e transmissio n i s
fille d t o th e correc t leve l (se e pag e
208 ). D o no t overfill . Releas
e th e parkin g brake . Shif
t th e transmissio n t o Neutral . Leav
e th e ke y i n th e ignitio n
switc h an d th e ignitio n switc h in
ACCESSOR Y (I ) s o th e steerin g
whee l doe s no t lock . Mak e sur e
th e radi o an d an y item s plugge d
int o th e accessor y powe r socket s
ar e turne d of f s o yo u d o no t ru n
dow n th e battery .
Automatic Transmission
Whe n preparin g t o to w you r CR-V ,
chec k th e transmissio n flui d leve l
(se e pag e 20 7 ) . Maintainin g th e
correc t leve l i s ver y important . D o
not overfill. Do th e followin g ever y
da y immediatel y befor e yo u begi n
towing . Follo w th e procedur e exactly .
Otherwise , sever e automati c
transmissio n damag e wil l occur . Star
t th e engine . Pres
s o n th e brak e pedal . Shif t th e
leve r throug h al l th e position s (P ,
R , N , D , 2,1 ) Shif
t t o D , the n t o N . Le t th e
engin e ru n fo r thre e minutes , the n
tur n of f th e engine . Releas
e th e parkin g brake . Leav
e th e ignitio n switc h in
ACCESSOR Y (I ) s o th e steerin g
whee l doe s no t lock . Mak e sur e
th e radi o an d an y item s plugge d
int o th e accessor y powe r socket s
ar e turne d of f s o yo u d o no t ru n
dow n th e battery .
Extended Towing

I f yo u to w mor e tha n 30 0 mile s (50 0

km ) i n on e day , yo u shoul d repea t
th e abov e procedur e a t leas t ever y

30 0 mile s (50 0 km) , (whe n yo u sto p

fo r fuel , etc. )

Drivin g

Towin
g You r Vehicl e Behin d a Motorhom e

The steering system can be damaged if
the steering wheel is locked. Leave the
ignition switch in Accessory (I), and
make sure The steering wheel turns
freel y before you begin towing.

Improper towing preparation will

damage the transmission. Follow the

above procedure exactly. If you cannot

shift the transmission or start the

engine, your vehicle must be

transported on a flat-bed or trailer. I
f yo u lo w you r CR- V an d i t i s
equippe d wit h a n automati c
transmission , replac e th e
transmissio n flui d ever y tw o year s o r
30,00 0 mile s (50,00 0 km) , whicheve r
come s first .

Driving

NOTIC
E
NOTIC E

U.S
. Owner s

Follo w th e Sever e Condition s
Maintenanc e Schedul e if yo u
driv e you r vehicl e MAINLY
unde r on e o r mor e o f th e
followin g conditions : Drivin
g les s tha n 5 mile s ( 8
km ) pe r tri p or , i n freezin g
temperatures , drivin g les s
tha n 1 0 mile s (1 6 km ) pe r trip .
Drivin g in extremel y ho t
[ove r 90° F (32 ° C) ] conditions .
Extensiv e idlin g o r lon g
period s o f stop-and-g o driving .
Traile r towing , drivin g wit h a
roo f rack , o r drivin g in
mountainou s conditions . Drivin
g o n muddy , dusty , o r
de-ice d roads .

Canadia n Owner s

Follo w th e Maintenanc e

Schedul e fo r Sever e Conditions .

# : Se e informatio n o n maintenanc e an d emission s warranty , las t column , pag e 187 .
* 1
: Refe r t o pag e 22 1 fo r replacemen t informatio n unde r specia l drivin g conditions .
* 2
: Refe r t o pag e 22 0 fo r replacemen t informatio n unde r specia l drivin g conditions .
Maintenanc e

Us
e thi s schedul e i f you r vehicl e i s MAINL Y drive n i n an y o f th e followin g Sever e Conditions ; otherwis e us e th e Norma l Schedule . Servic e a t th e
indicate d distanc e o r time , whicheve r come s first . D o th e item s i n A , B , C , D as require d fo r eac h distance/time .

Sever e Conditions :
Drivin
g les s tha n 5 mile s ( 8 km) per tri p or , i n freezin g temperatures , drivin g les s tha n 1 0 mile s (1 6 km ) pe r trip .
Drivin g i n extremel y ho t (ove r 90°F/32°C ) conditions .
Extensiv e idlin g o r lon g period s o f stop-and-g o driving .
Traile r towing , drivin g wit h a roo f rack , o r drivin g i n mountainou s conditions .
Drivin g o n muddy , dusty , o r de-ice d roads .

Maintenance

CONTINUED
#
: See informatio n o n maintenanc e an d emission s warranty , las t
column , pag e 18 7 .
* 1
: Se e Timin g Bel t o n pag e 22 1 t o determin e nee d fo r replacement .
* 2
: Se e Ai r Conditionin g Filte r o n page 220 fo r replacemen t

informatio n unde r specia l conditions .

pag
e 22 4

Takin
g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Thi s sectio n cover s th e more -
commo n problem s tha t motorist s
experienc e wit h thei r vehicles . I t
give s yo u informatio n abou t ho w to
safel y evaluat e th e proble m an d wha t
t o d o to correc t it . I f th e proble m ha s
strande d yo u o n th e sid e o f th e road ,
yo u ma y b e abl e to ge t goin g again .
I f not , yo u wil l als o fin d instruction s

o n gettin g you r vehicl e towed .
Changin
g a Fla t Tire.................... . 25 0
I f You r Engin e Won' t Start.......... . 25 8
Nothin g Happen s o r th e Starte r
Moto r Operate s Ver y

Slowly..................................... 258

Th e Starte r Operate s
Normally................................ . 25 9
Jum p Starting................................ . 26 0
I f You r Engin e Overheats............ . 26 2
Low Oil Pressur e Indicato r ......... . 26 4
Chargin g Syste m Indicator.......... . 26 5
Malfunctio n Indicato r Lam p ....... . 26 6
Brak e Syste m Indicator............... . 26 7

Fuses.............................................. . 26 8

Checkin g an d Replacing.......... . 26 9

Emergenc y Towing...................... . 27 3

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d