2000 HONDA CR-V ECU

Carryin
g Carg o

Loa d Limi t

Th e maximu m loa d fo r you r vehicl e

i s 85 0 Ib s (39 5 kg) .

Thi s figur e include s th e tota l 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 trailer .

T o figur e ou t ho w muc h carg o yo u

ca n cany : Ad
d u p th e weigh t o f al l occupants .
I
f yo u ar e towin g a trailer , ad d th e

tongu e weigh t t o th e numbe r

above .
Subtrac
t th e tota l fro m 85 0 Ib s

(39 5 kg) .

Th e fina l numbe r i s th e tota l weigh t

o f carg o yo u ca n carry .
Carryin
g Item s i n th e Passenge r
Compartmen t Stor
e o r secur e al l item s tha t coul d
b e throw n aroun d an d hur t
someon e durin g a crash . B
e sur e item s place d o n th e floo r
behin d th e fron t seat s canno t rol l
unde r th e seat s an d interfer e wit h
th e driver' s abilit y t o operat e th e
pedals , o r wit h th e prope r
operatio n o f th e seats . Kee
p th e glov e bo x close d whil e
driving . I f th e li d is open , a
passenge r coul d injur e thei r knee s
durin g a cras h o r sudde n stop .

Befor e Drivin g

Overloadin
g o r imprope r
loadin g ca n affec t handlin g an d
stabilit y an d caus e a cras h i n
whic h yo u ca n b e hur t o r killed .
Follo w al l loa d limit s an d othe r
loadin g guideline s i n thi s
manual .

Preparin
g to Driv e

Yo u shoul d d o th e followin g check s
an d adjustment s ever y da y befor e
yo u driv e you r vehicle .
1 . Mak e sur e al l windows , mirrors ,
an d outsid e light s ar e clea n an d
unobstructed . Remov e frost , snow ,
o r ice .
2 . Chec k tha t th e hoo d an d tailgat e
ar e full y closed .
3 . Visuall y chec k th e tires . I f a tir e
look s low , us e a gaug e to chec k it s

pressure .

4 . Chec k tha t an y item s yo u ma y b e
carryin g wit h yo u insid e ar e store d
properl y o r fastene d clow n

securely .
5
. Chec k th e adjustmen t o f th e sea t
(se e pag e 7 7 ) .
6 . Chec k th e adjustmen t o f th e
insid e an d outsid e mirror s (se e
pag e 8 5 ) .
7 . Chec k th e adjustmen t o f th e
steerin g whee l (se e pag e 64 ).
8 . Mak e sur e th e door s ar e securel y
close d an d locked .
9 . Faste n you r sea t belt . Chec k tha t
you r passenger s hav e fastene d
thei r sea l belt s (se e pag e 1 5 ) .
10.Tur
n th e ignitio n switc h O N (II) .
Chec k th e indicato r light s i n th e
instrumen t panel .
11.Star t th e engin e (se e pag e 15 4 ) .
12.Chec k the gauge s an d indicato r
light s in th e instrumen t pane l (se e
pag e 5 3 ).
Driving

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

Additional Trailer Equipment Man y state s an d Canadia n province s
requir e specia l outsid e mirror s whe n
towin g a trailer . Eve n if the y don't ,
yo u shoul d instal l specia l mirror s if
yo u canno t clearl y se e behin d you , o r
i f th e traile r create s a blin d spot .
As k you r traile r sale s o r renta l
agenc y if an y othe r item s ar e
recommende d o r require d fo r you r

towin g situation .
Pre-To
w Checklis t
Whe n preparin g to tow , an d befor e
drivin g away , b e sur e to chec k th e
following : Th
e vehicl e ha s bee n properl y
serviced , an d th e tires , brakes ,
suspension , an d coolin g syste m
ar e in goo d operatin g condition . Al
l weight s an d load s ar e withi n
limit s (se e page s 17 0 an d 171 ). Th
e hitch , safet y chain , an d an y
other attachment s ar e secure . Al
l item s o n an d in th e traile r ar e
properl y secure d an d canno t shif t
whil e yo u drive . Th
e light s an d brake s o n you r
vehicl e an d th e traile r ar e workin g
properly . You
r vehicl e tire s an d spar e ar e
properl y inflate d (se e pag e 22 2 ) ,
an d th e traile r tire s an d spar e ar e
inflate d a s recommende d b y th e
traile r maker .

Driving

Off-Highwa
y Guideline s

Importan t Safet y Precaution s
Remembe r tha t you r CR- V ha s
highe r groun d clearanc e an d a
highe r cente r o f gravit y tha n
passenge r vehicle s designe d fo r us e
onl y o n pavement . Thi s mean s you r
vehicl e ca n mor e easil y ti p o r rol l
ove r i f yo u mak e abrup t turn s o r
driv e o n slopes .
Utilit y vehicle s hav e a significantl y
highe r rollove r rat e tha n othe r type s
o f vehicles . T o avoi d los s o f contro l
o r rollover , b e sur e t o follo w al l
recommendation s an d precaution s
o n pag e 15 2 an d in thi s section .
Sea t belt s ar e jus t a s importan t off -
roa d a s o n pave d roads . Whereve r
yo u drive , mak e sur e yo u an d you r
passenger s alway s wea r sea t 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 . 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 sea t belt .
O
n man y unpave d roads , yo u won' t
fin d lan e markers , traffi c signals , o r
sign s to war n yo u o f possibl e troubl e
ahead . It' s u p to yo u to continuall y
asses s th e situatio n an d driv e withi n

limits .
Th
e rout e present s limit s (som e
road s ar e to o stee p an d bump y fo r
example) . Yo u hav e limit s (i n drivin g
skill s an d comfort) . An d you r vehicl e
als o ha s limit s (traction , stability , an d
power , fo r instance) .
Drivin g off-highwa y ca n b e
hazardou s i f yo u fai l t o recogniz e
limit s an d tak e prope r precautions .
Fo r example , yo u ca n hav e a n
acciden t o r rollove r durin g
maneuver s suc h a s turning , drivin g
o n hills , o r ove r larg e obstacles .
B e sur e t o stor e carg o properly , an d
d o no t excee d you r CR-V' s carg o o r
traile r loa d limit s (se e page s 14 9 an d

17 0 ) .

Driving

Improperl
y operatin g thi s
vehicl e o n o r off-pavemen t ca n
caus e a n acciden t o r rollove r i n
whic h yo u an d you r passenger s
coul d b e seriousl y injure d o r
killed .
Follo
w al l instruction s an d

guideline s i n th e owner' s

manual .
Kee
p you r spee d lo w an d

don' t driv e faste r tha n
condition s permit .

Engin
e Oi l
Addin g Oi l
T o ad d oil , unscre w an d remov e th e
engin e oi l fil l ca p o n to p o f th e valv e
cover . Pou r i n th e oil , an d instal l th e
engin e oi l fil l cap . Tighte n i t securely .
Wai t a fe w minute s an d rechec k th e
oi l level . D o no t fil l abov e th e uppe r
mark ; yo u coul d damag e th e engine .Recommende
d Oi l
Oi l i s a majo r contributo r t o you r
engine' s performanc e an d longevity .
Alway s us e a premium-grad e deter -
gen t oil . I t i s highl y recommende d
tha t yo u us e Genuin e Hond a Moto r
Oi l i n you r vehicl e fo r a s lon g a s yo u
ow n it .
Yo u ca n determin e a n oil' s SA E
viscosit y an d Servic e Classificatio n
fro m th e AP I Servic e labe l o n th e oi l
container .
A fuel-efficien t oi l i s recommende d
fo r you r Honda . Thi s i s show n o n th e
AP I Servic e labe l b y th e word s
"Energ y Conserving. " Thi s oi l i s
formulate d t o hel p you r engin e us e
les s fuel . Th
e AP I Servic e labe l als o tell s yo u
th e servic e classificatio n o f th e oil .
Alway s us e a n oi l tha t i s labele d "AP I
Servic e SJ. " Thi s servic e ratin g ma y
includ e othe r classifications , suc h a s

CD . Thes e additiona l classification s

ar e no t a problem , a s lon g a s th e
labe l als o carrie s th e S J classification .
AP I SERVIC E LABE L

CONTINUED

Maintenanc e

ENGIN
E OI L FIL L CA P

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