2000 HONDA CR-V Transmission

Parkin
g

Alway s us e th e parkin g brak e whe n
yo u par k you r vehicle . Th e indicato r
o n th e instrumen t pane l show s tha t
th e parkin g brak e is no t full y
released ; i t doe s no t indicat e tha t th e
parkin g brak e is firml y set . Mak e
sur e th e parkin g brak e is se t firml y
o r you r vehicl e ma y rol l i f i t i s
parke d o n a n incline .
I f you r vehicl e ha s a n automati c
transmission , se t th e parkin g brak e
befor e yo u pu t th e transmissio n i n
Park . Thi s keep s th e vehicl e fro m
movin g an d puttin g pressur e o n th e
parkin g mechanis m in th e
transmissio n — makin g it easie r t o
mov e th e shif t leve r ou t o f Par k
whe n yo u wan t t o driv e away . I
f th e vehicl e i s facin g uphill , tur n
th e fron t wheels away fro m th e curb .
I f yo u hav e a manua l transmission ,
pu t i t i n firs t gear .
I f th e vehicl e i s facin g downhill , tur n
th e fron t wheel s towar d th e curb . I f
yo u hav e a manua l transmission , pu t
i t i n revers e gear .
Mak e sur e th e parkin g brak e i s full y
release d befor e drivin g away .
Drivin g wit h th e parkin g brak e
partiall y se t ca n overhea t o r damag e
th e rea r brakes . Parkin
g Tip s Mak
e sur e th e window s ar e closed . Tur
n of f th e lights . Plac
e an y packages , valuables , etc. ,
i n th e carg o are a o r tak e the m
wit h you . Loc
k th e doors . Neve
r par k ove r dr y leaves , tal l
grass , o r othe r flammabl e
materials . Th e thre e wa y catalyti c
converte r get s ver y hot , an d coul d
caus e thes e material s t o catc h o n

fire .

Driving

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

Maintenanc
e

Thi s sectio n explain s wh y i t i s
importan t t o kee p you r vehicl e wel l
maintaine d an d t o follo w basi c
maintenanc e safet y precautions .
Thi s sectio n als o include s
Maintenanc e Schedule s fo r norma l
drivin g an d sever e drivin g conditions ,
a Maintenanc e Record , an d instruc -
tion s fo r simpl e maintenanc e task s
yo u ma y wan t t o tak e car e o f

yourself .

I f yo u hav e th e skill s an d tool s t o per -
for m mor e comple x maintenanc e
task s o n you r Honda , yo u ma y wan t
t o purchas e th e Servic e Manual . Se e
pag e 29 3 fo r informatio n o n ho w to
obtai n a copy , o r se e you r Hond a
dealer .
Maintenanc e Safety...................... . 18 4
Importan t Safet y Precautions. . 18 5
Maintenanc e Schedule................. . 18 6 Require
d Maintenanc e Record... . 19 3
Owne r Maintenanc e Checks....... . 19 5
Flui d Locations.............................. . 19 6

Engin e Oil...................................... . 19 7

Addin g Oil.................................. . 19 7

Recommende d Oil.................... . 19 7

Syntheti c Oil.............................. . 19 8

Additives.................................... . 19 8
Changin g th e Oi l an d Filter..... . 19 9

Coolin g System............................. . 20 1

Addin g Engin e Coolant............ . 20 1

Replacin g Engin e Coolant....... . 20 3

Windshiel d Washers.................... . 20 6
Transmissio n Fluid....................... . 20 7
Automati c Transmission.......... . 20 7
5-spee d Manua l
Transmission......................... . 20 8
Rea r Differentia l Fluid................. . 20 9
Brak e an d Clutc h Fluid................ . 21 0
Brak e System............................ . 21 0
Clutc h System........................... . 21 1

Powe r Steering.............................. . 21 1

Ai r Cleane r Element..................... . 21 2
Hoo d Latch.................................... . 21 3

Spar k Plugs.................................... . 21 3

Replacement.............................. . 21 3
Specifications............................
. 21 4

Battery........................................... . 21 5
Wipe r Blades................................. . 21 7
Ai r Conditionin g System.............. . 21 9

Ai r Conditionin g Filter................. . 22 0

Driv e Belts..................................... . 22 0

Timin g Belt.................................... . 22 1

Tires............................................... . 22 1

Inflation...................................... . 22 1
Recommende d Tir e
Pressure s fo r Norma l

Driving........................... . 22 2

Inspection.................................. . 22 3

Maintenance.............................. . 22 3

Tir e Rotation............................. . 22 4

Replacin g Tire s an d Wheels... . 22 5
Wheel s an d Tires...................... . 22 6

Winte r Driving.......................... . 22 6

Sno w Tires............................. . 22 6
Tir e Chains............................ . 22 7
Lights............................................. . 22 8
Headligh t Aiming..................... . 23 0

Replacin g Bulbs........................ . 23 2

Storin g You r Vehicle.................... . 23 9

Maintenanc e

Coolin
g Syste m

RESERV E TAN K CA P
HOLDE R RESERV
E TAN K

5 . Remov e th e reserv e tan k fro m its
holde r b y pullin g it straigh t up .
Drai n th e coolant , the n pu t th e
tan k bac k i n it s holder .
6
. Whe n th e coolan t stop s draining ,
tighte n th e drai n plu g a t th e
botto m of th e radiator .
Appl y non-hardenin g sealan t t o th e
drai n bol t threads , pu t a ne w
washe r o n th e drai n bolt , an d
reinstal l th e bol t i n th e engin e
block . Tighte n it securely .
Tightenin g torque :
6 1 Ibf.f t (8 3 N. m , 8. 5 kgf.m )
7 . Mi x th e recommende d antifreez e
wit h a n equa l amoun t o f purifie d
o r distille d wate r i n a clea n
container . Th e coolin g syste m
capacit y is :

Automatic Transmission:
1.0
3 U S ga l (3. 9 , 0.8 6 Im p gal )
Manual Transmission: 1.0
6 U S ga l (4. 0 , 0.8 8 Im p gal )
FILLE
R NEC K
Fil l u p t o her e

8 . Pou r coolan t int o th e radiato r u p
t o th e bas e o f th e fille r neck .

Maintenanc e

Transmissio
n Flui d

Automati c Transmissio n

DIPSTIC K

Chec k th e flui d leve l wit h th e engin e
a t norma l operatin g temperature .
1 . Par k th e vehicl e o n leve l ground .
Shu t of f th e engine .
2 . Remov e th e dipstic k (yello w loop )
fro m th e transmissio n an d wip e it
wit h a clea n cloth . 3
. Inser t th e dipstic k al l th e wa y int o
th e transmission .
4 . Remov e th e dipstic k an d chec k
th e flui d level . I t shoul d b e
betwee n th e uppe r an d lowe r

marks .
5
. I f th e leve l i s belo w th e lowe r
mark , ad d flui d int o th e fille r hol e
t o brin g it t o th e uppe r mark .
Alway s us e Hond a Premiu m
Formul a Automati c Transmissio n
Flui d (ATF) . I f i t i s no t available ,
yo u ma y us e a DEXRON ®
II I
automati c transmissio n flui d a s a
temporar y replacement . However ,
continue d us e ca n affec t shif t
quality . Hav e th e transmissio n
draine d an d refille d wit h Hond a
AT F a s soo n a s it i s convenient .
6 . Inser t th e dipstic k al l th e wa y bac k
int o th e transmissio n securel y a s
show n in th e illustration .
Th e transmissio n shoul d b e draine d
an d refille d wit h ne w flui d accordin g
t o th e tim e an d distanc e recommen -
dation s i n th e maintenanc e schedule .
Maintenanc e

UPPE
R MAR K
LOWE R MAR K

I
f You r Engin e Won' t Star t

Diagnosin g wh y you r engin e won' t
star t fall s int o tw o areas , dependin g
o n wha t yo u hea r whe n yo u tur n th e
ke y t o STAR T (III) :
Yo u hea r nothing , o r almos t
nothing . Th e engine' s starte r
moto r doe s no t operat e a t all , o r
operate s ver y slowly .
Yo u ca n hea r th e starte r moto r
operatin g normally , o r th e starte r
moto r sound s lik e i t i s spinnin g
faste r tha n normal , bu t th e engin e
doe s no t star t u p an d run . Nothin
g Happen s o r th e Starte r
Moto r Operate s Ver y Slowl y
Whe n yo u tur n th e ignitio n switc h to
STAR T (III) , yo u d o no t hea r th e
norma l nois e o f th e engin e tryin g to
start . Yo u ma y hea r a clickin g soun d
o r serie s o f clicks , o r nothin g a t all .
Chec k thes e things :
Chec k th e transmissio n interlock .
I f yo u hav e a manua l transmission ,
th e clutc h peda l mus t b e pushe d
al l th e wa y t o th e floo r o r th e
starte r wil l no t operate . Wit h a n
automati c transmission , i t mus t b e
i n Par k o r Neutral . Tur
n th e ignitio n switc h t o O N (II) .
Tur n o n the headlight s an d chec k
thei r brightness . I f th e headlight s
ar e ver y di m o r don' t ligh t a t all ,
th e batter y is discharged . Se e

Jum p Startin g o n pag e 26 0 .

Tur n th e ignitio n switc h t o STAR T
(III) . I f th e headlight s d o no t dim ,
chec k th e conditio n o f th e fuses . I f
th e fuse s ar e OK , ther e is proba -
bl y somethin g wron g wit h th e
electrica l circui t fo r th e ignitio n
switc h o r starte r motor . Yo u wil l
nee d a qualifie d technicia n to
determin e th e problem . (Se e

Emergenc y Towin g o n pag e 27 3 . )

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d