
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

You
r Vehicl e a t a Glanc e
POWE R WINDO W
SWITCHE S
(P. 84) MIRRO
R CONTROL S
(P. 86) AUDI
O SYSTE M
(P. 106 )
TAILGAT E RELEAS E
(P. 75)
HOO D RELEAS E
HANDL E
(P. 142 )
FUEL FIL L DOO R RELEAS E
(P. 141 ) HEATING/COOLIN
G CONTRO L
(P. 98)

Gauge
s
TACHOMETE RTRIP METE R FUEL GAUG E
Speedomete r
U.S. Models
Thi s show s you r spee d in mile s pe r
hou r (mph) . Th e smalle r inne r
number s ar e th e spee d in kilometer s
pe r hou r (km/h) .
Canadian Models
Thi s show s you r spee d i n kilometer s
pe r hou r (km/h) . Th e smalle r inne r
number s ar e th e spee d in mile s pe r
hou r (mph) . Tachomete
r
Th e tachomete r show s th e engin e
spee d in revolution s pe r minut e
(rpm) . T o protec t th e engin e fro m
damage , neve r driv e wit h th e
tachomete r needl e in th e re d zone . Odomete
r
Th e odomete r show s th e tota l dis -
tanc e you r vehicl e ha s bee n driven .
I t measure s mile s i n U.S . model s an d
kilometer s i n Canadia n models.
I t i s illega l unde r U.S . federa l la w an d
Canadia n provincia l regulation s t o
disconnect , reset , o r alte r th e
odomete r wit h th e inten t t o chang e
th e numbe r o f mile s o r kilometer s
indicated .
Tri p Mete r
Thi s mete r show s th e numbe r o f
mile s (U.S. ) o r kilometer s (Canada )
drive n sinc e yo u las t rese t it . T o
rese t it , pus h th e tri p mete r rese t
button .
Instrument s an d Control s
ODOMETE
R
MAINTENANC E
REQUIRE D INDICATO R
TRI
P METE R
RESE T BUTTO N
TEMPERATUR
E
GAUG E
SPEEDOMETE
R

Gauge
s
TACHOMETE R
FUEL GAUG E
ODOMETE R
TEMPERATUR
E
GAUG E
Fue l Gaug e
Thi s show s ho w muc h fue l yo u have .
I t i s mos t accurat e whe n th e vehicl e
i s o n leve l ground . I t ma y sho w
slightl y mor e o r les s tha n th e actua l
amoun t whe n yo u ar e drivin g o n
curv y o r hill y roads . Th
e gaug e stay s a t th e sam e fue l
leve l readin g afte r yo u tur n of f th e
ignition . Whe n yo u ad d fuel , th e
gaug e slowl y change s t o th e ne w
readin g afte r yo u tur n th e ignitio n
switc h bac k O N (II) . Temperatur
e Gaug e
Thi s show s th e temperatur e o f th e
engine' s coolant . Durin g norma l
operation , th e pointe r shoul d ris e
fro m th e botto m whit e mar k t o abou t
th e middl e o f th e gauge . I n sever e
drivin g conditions , suc h a s ver y ho t
weathe r o r a lon g perio d o f uphil l
driving , th e pointe r ma y ris e to th e
uppe r whit e zone . I f i t reache s th e
re d (Hot ) mark , pul l safel y t o th e
sid e o f th e road . Tur n to pag e 26 2 fo r
instruction s an d precaution s o n
checkin g th e engine' s coolin g
system .
Instrument s an d Control s
TRI
P METE R
SPEEDOMETE
R
TRI P METE R
RESE T BUTTO N

Servic
e Statio n Procedure s
Fillin g th e Fue l Tan k
Pul l
1 . Becaus e th e fue l fil l ca p is o n th e
driver' s sid e o f th e vehicle , par k
wit h tha t sid e closes t t o th e
servic e statio n pumps .
2 . Ope n th e fue l fil l doo r b y pullin g
o n th e handl e a t th e outsid e o f th e
driver' s seat .
FUEL FIL L CA P
3
. Remov e th e fue l fil l ca p slowly .
Yo u ma y hea r a hissin g soun d a s
pressur e insid e th e tan k escapes .
4 . Sto p fillin g th e tan k afte r th e fue lnozzle automaticall y click s off . D o
no t tr y t o "to p off " th e tank , leav e
som e roo m fo r th e fue l t o expan d
wit h temperatur e changes .
5 . Scre w th e fue l fil l ca p bac k on ,
tighte n i t unti l i t click s severa l
times . I f yo u d o no t properl y
tighte n th e cap , th e Malfunctio n
Indicato r Lam p ma y com e o n (se e
pag e 26 6 ) .
6 . Pus h th e fue l fil l doo r close d unti l
i t latches .
Before Drivin g
Gasolin
e is highl y flammabl e
an d explosive . Yo u ca n b e
burne d o r seriousl y injure d
whe n handlin g fuel .
Sto p th e engin e an d kee p
heat , sparks , an d flam e away .
Handl e fue l onl y outdoors .
Wip e u p spill s immediately .

Servic
e Statio n Procedure s
SUPPOR T RO D
3 . Pul l th e suppor t ro d ou t o f it s cli p
an d inser t th e en d int o th e hol e o n
th e fron t o f th e hoo d aroun d th e
center .
T o clos e th e hood , lif t i t u p slightl y t o
remov e th e suppor t ro d fro m th e
hole . Pu t th e suppor t ro d bac k int o
it s holdin g clip . Lowe r th e hoo d t o
abou t a foo t (3 0 cm ) abov e th e
fender , the n le t i t drop .
Afte r closin g th e hood , mak e sur e it
i s securel y latched .
Oil Check
Chec k th e engin e oi l leve l ever y tim e
yo u fil l th e vehicl e wit h fuel . Wai t a
fe w minute s afte r turnin g th e engin e
of f befor e yo u chec k th e oil .
1 . Remov e th e dipstic k (orang e
handle) .
2
. Wip e th e dipstic k wit h a clea n
clot h o r pape r towel .
CONTINUED
Befor e Drivin g
DIPSTIC
K

Fue
l Econom y
Th e conditio n o f you r vehicl e an d
you r drivin g habit s ar e th e tw o mos t
importan t thing s tha t affec t th e fue l
mileag e yo u get .
Vehicl e Conditio n
Alway s maintai n you r vehicl e accord -
in g t o th e maintenanc e schedule .
Thi s wil l kee p it i n to p operating -
condition .
A n importan t par t o f tha t mainte -
nanc e is th e Owne r Maintenanc e
Check s (se e pag e 195 ). Fo r
example , a n underinflate d tir e
cause s mor e "rollin g resistance, "
whic h use s fuel . I t als o wear s ou t
faster , s o chec k th e tir e pressur e a t
leas t monthly .
I n winter , th e build-u p o f sno w o n
you r vehicle' s undersid e add s weigh t
an d rollin g resistance . Frequen t
cleanin g help s you r fue l mileag e an d
reduce s th e chanc e o f corrosion .Drivin
g Habit s
Yo u ca n improv e fue l econom y b y
drivin g moderately . Rapi d acceler -
ation , abrup t cornering , an d har d
brakin g us e mor e fuel .
Alway s driv e in th e highes t gea r tha t
allow s th e engin e t o ru n an d acceler -
at e smoothly .
Dependin g o n traffi c conditions , tr y
t o maintai n a constan t speed . Ever y
tim e yo u slo w dow n an d spee d up ,
you r vehicl e use s extr a fuel . Us e th e
cruis e control , whe n appropriate , t o
increas e fue l economy . A
col d engin e use s mor e fue l tha n a
war m engine . I t i s no t necessar y t o
"warm-up " a col d engin e b y lettin g it
idl e fo r a lon g time . Yo u ca n driv e
awa y in abou t a minute , n o matte r
ho w col d it i s outside . Th e engin e
wil l war m u p faster , an d yo u ge t
bette r fue l economy . T o cu t clow n o n
th e numbe r o f "col d starts, " tr y t o
combin e severa l shor t trip s int o one .
Th e ai r conditionin g put s a n extr a
loa d o n th e engin e whic h make s i t
us e mor e fuel . Tur n of f th e A/ C to
cu t dow n o n ai r conditionin g use .
Us e th e flow-throug h ventilatio n
whe n th e outsid e ai r temperatur e is
moderate .
Before 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