
Accessorie
s an d Modification s
Modification s
D o no t remov e an y origina l
equipmen t o r modif y you r vehicl e i n
an y wa y tha t woul d alte r it s desig n o r
operation . Thi s coul d mak e you r
vehicl e unsaf e an d illega l t o drive .
Fo r example , d o no t mak e an y
modification s tha t woul d chang e th e
rid e heigh t o f you r vehicle , o r instal l
wheel s an d tire s wit h a differen t
overal l diameter .
Suc h modification s ca n adversel y
affec t handling , an d interfer e wit h
th e operatio n o f th e vehicle' s anti -
loc k brake s an d othe r systems . I
n addition , an y modification s tha t
decreas e groun d clearanc e increas e
th e chanc e o f undercarriag e part s
strikin g a curb , spee d bump , o r othe r
raise d object , whic h coul d caus e
you r airbag s t o deploy .
D o no t modif y you r steerin g whee l
o r an y othe r par t o f you r
Supplementa l Restrain t System .
Modification s coul d mak e th e
syste m ineffective . Additiona
l Safet y Precautio n
D o no t attac h o r plac e object s o n th e
airba g covers . An y objec t attache d t o
o r place d o n th e cover s marke d "SR S
AIRBAG, " i n th e cente r o f th e
steerin g whee l an d o n to p o f th e
dashboard , coul d interfer e wit h th e
prope r operatio n o f th e airbags . Or ,
i f th e airbag s inflate , th e object s
coul d b e propelle d insid e th e vehicl e
an d hur t someone .
Befor e 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

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

Timin
g Belt , Tire s
Timin g Bel t
Th e timin g bel t shoul d normall y b e
replace d a t th e interval s show n in
th e maintenanc e schedule .
Replac e th e bel t a t 60,00 0 mile s (U.S. )
o r 100,00 0 k m (Canada ) i f yo u regu -
larl y driv e you r vehicl e in on e o r
mor e o f thes e conditions :
I n ver y hig h temperature s
(ove r 110°F , 43°C) .
I n ver y lo w temperature s
(unde r — 20°F , — 29°C) .
Tire
s
T o safel y operat e you r vehicle , you r
tire s mus t b e th e prope r typ e an d
size , i n goo d conditio n wit h adequat e
tread , an d correctl y inflated . Th e
followin g page s giv e mor e detaile d
informatio n o n ho w an d whe n to
chec k ai r pressure , ho w to inspec t
you r tire s fo r damag e an d wear , an d
wha t t o d o whe n you r tire s nee d t o
b e replaced .
Inflatio
n
Keepin g th e tire s properl y inflate d
provide s th e bes t combinatio n o f
handling , trea d lif e an d ridin g
comfort . Underinflate d tire s wea r
unevenly , adversel y affec t handlin g
an d fue l economy , an d ar e mor e
likel y t o fai l fro m bein g overheated .
Overinflate d tire s ca n mak e you r
vehicl e rid e mor e harshly , ar e mor e
pron e to damag e fro m roa d hazards ,
an d wea r unevenly .
W e recommen d tha t yo u visuall y
chec k you r tire s ever y day . I f yo u
thin k a tir e migh t b e low , chec k i t
immediatel y wit h a tir e gauge .
CONTINUED
Maintenanc e
Usin
g tire s tha t ar e excessivel y
wor n o r improperl y inflate d ca n
caus e a cras h in whic h yo u ca n
b e seriousl y hur t o r killed .
Follo w al l instruction s in thi s
owner' s manua l regardin g tir e
inflatio n an d maintenance .

Tire
s
Us e a gaug e t o measur e th e ai r
pressur e a t leas t onc e a month . Eve n
tire s tha t ar e i n goo d conditio n ma y
los e on e to tw o ps i (1 0 to 2 0 kPa , 0. 1
t o 0. 2 kgf/cm 2) pe r month .
Remembe r t o chec k th e spar e tir e a t
th e sam e tim e yo u chec k al l th e
othe r tires .
Chec k th e pressur e i n th e tire s whe n
the y ar e cold . Thi s mean s th e vehicl e
ha s bee n parke d fo r a t leas t thre e
hours . I f yo u hav e t o driv e th e
vehicl e befor e checking the tir e
pressure , th e tire s ca n stil l b e
considere d "cold " i f yo u driv e les s
tha n 1 mil e (1.6km) . I
f yo u chec k th e pressur e whe n th e
tire s ar e ho t (th e vehicl e ha s bee n
drive n severa l miles) , yo u wil l se e
reading s 4 to 6 ps i (3 0 to 4 0 kPa , 0. 3
t o 0. 4 kgf/cm 2) highe r tha n th e col d
reading . Thi s is normal . D o no t le t
ai r ou t t o matc h th e specifie d col d
pressure . Th e tir e wil l b e
underinflated .
Yo u shoul d ge t you r ow n tir e
pressur e gaug e an d us e it wheneve r
yo u chec k you r tir e pressures . Thi s
wil l mak e it easie r fo r yo u t o tel l i f a
pressur e los s is du e to a tir e proble m
an d no t du e to a variatio n betwee n
gauges .
Recommended Tire Pressures for
Normal Driving
Th e followin g char t show s th e
recommende d col d tir e pressure s fo r
mos t norma l drivin g condition s an d
speeds . Tir e pressure s fo r hig h
spee d drivin g ar e th e sam e a s fo r
norma l driving .
Thes e pressure s ar e als o give n o n
th e tir e informatio n labe l o n th e
driver' s doorjamb .
Tubeles s tire s hav e som e abilit y t o
self-sea l i f the y ar e punctured .
However , becaus e leakag e is ofte n
ver y slow , yo u shoul d loo k closel y
fo r puncture s i f a tir e start s losin g
pressure .
Maintenanc e

Tire
s
Inspectio n
Ever y tim e yo u chec k inflation , yo u
shoul d als o examin e th e tire s fo r
damage , foreig n objects , an d wear .
Yo u shoul d loo k for :
Bump s o r bulge s i n th e trea d o r
sid e o f th e tire . Replac e th e tir e if
yo u fin d eithe r o f thes e conditions .
Cuts , splits , o r crack s i n th e sid e
o f th e tire . Replac e th e tir e i f yo u
ca n se e fabri c o r cord .
Excessiv e trea d wear . INDICATO
R LOCATIO N MARK S
You r vehicle' s tire s hav e wea r indica -
tor s molde d int o th e tread . Whe n th e
trea d wear s dow n t o tha t point , yo u
wil l se e a 1/ 2 inc h (12. 7 mm ) wid e
ban d runnin g acros s th e tread . Thi s
show s ther e is les s tha n 1/1 6 inc h
(1. 6 mm ) o f trea d lef t o n th e tire . A
tir e tha t i s thi s wor n give s ver y littl e
tractio n o n we t roads . Yo u shoul d
replac e th e tir e if yo u ca n se e th e
trea d wea r indicato r i n thre e o r mor e
place s aroun d th e tire . Maintenanc
e
I n additio n t o prope r inflation ,
correc t whee l alignmen t help s t o
decreas e tir e wear . I f yo u fin d a tir e
i s wor n unevenly , hav e you r deale r
chec k th e whee l alignment .
Th e tire s wer e properl y balance d b y
th e factory . The y ma y nee d t o b e
rebalance d a t som e tim e befor e the y
ar e wor n out . Hav e you r deale r
chec k th e tire s i f yo u fee l a consis -
ten t vibratio n whil e driving . A tir e
shoul d alway s b e rebalance d if i t i s
remove d fro m th e whee l fo r repair .
Maintenanc e
CONTINUED
TREA
D WEA R INDICATOR S

Changin
g a Fla t Tir e
UPPE R FLA P
SLI T
SPAR E TIR E BRACKE T
26.Pul l th e botto m o f th e cove r ove r
th e tire , an d mak e sur e th e tw o
slit s o n th e lowe r flap s o f th e cove r
ar e horizonta l an d th e tw o uppe r
flap s touc h th e spar e lir e bracket .
27.I f needed , readjus t th e cove r t o
smoot h ou t an y wrinkles . 28.Zi
p th e cove r closed . 29.Replac
e th e carg o storag e bin .
Secur e i t wit h th e fou r clips . Pus h
eac h cli p dow n securely , an d pivo t
th e rin g dow n flat .
30.Unhoo k th e carg o are a floo r an d
lowe r it . Replac e th e carg o are a
carpet .
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Emergenc
y Towin g
I f you r vehicl e need s t o b e towed ,
cal l a professiona l towin g servic e or ,
i f yo u belon g to one , a n organizatio n
tha t provide s roadsid e assistance .
Neve r to w you r vehicl e behin d
anothe r vehicl e wit h jus t a rop e o r
chain . I t i s ver y dangerous .
Ther e ar e thre e popula r type s o f
professiona l towin g equipment .
Flat-bed Equipment — The operato r
load s you r vehicl e o n th e bac k o f a
truck . Thi s i s th e onl y wa y t o
transpor t you r vehicle . An y othe r
metho d o f towin g wil l damag e th e
driv e system . Whe n yo u contac t th e
towin g agency , infor m the m tha t a
flat-be d is required .
Towing
a 4WD CR-V with only two
tires on the ground will damage parts
of the 4WD system. It should be
transported on a flat-bed truck or
trailer.
Wheel Lift Equipment — The to w
truc k use s tw o pivotin g arm s tha t g o
unde r th e tire s (fron t o r rear ) an d lif t
the m of f th e ground . Th e othe r tw o
tire s remai n o n th e ground .
Neve r to w you r vehicl e wit h
whee l lif t equipment .
Sling-type Equipment — The to w
truc k use s meta l cable s wit h hook s
o n th e ends . Thes e hook s g o aroun d
part s o f th e fram e o r suspensio n an d
cable s lif t tha t en d o f th e vehicl e of f
th e ground . You r vehicle' s
suspensio n an d bod y ca n b e
seriousl y damaged . Thi s metho d o f
towin g you r CR- V is unacceptable .Refe
r t o Towin g You r Vehicl e
Behin d a Motorhom e o n pag e
17 6 fo r non-emergenc y towin g
information .
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
NOTIC
E