2000 HONDA PASSPORT check engine light

Automati
c Transmissio n
Flui d Temperatur e Indicato r
The "A/T OIL TEMP" indicator

light warns that the automatic
transmission fluid temperature is

high.
The indicator light should turn onwhen the ignition switch is turned
to the "ON" position, but should
go out after a few seconds. If this light comes on while you are
driving, slow down and pull off the
road. Stop the vehicle at a safe
place and put the shift lever in "P"
position. With the engine idling,
wait until the light goes off. If thelight goes off, you can drive the
vehicle again. If the light does not
go off, have the automatic
transmission lubricating system
checked as soon as possible by
your Honda dealer.
Driving with the "AIT OIL TEMP" light constantly on will cause
serious mechanical damage to the
automatic transmission. Windshiel
d Wiper/Washe r
The lever on the right side of the steering column controls the
windshield wipers. Move the lever
down to select the various windshield wiper speeds.
In INT, the wipers operate every
few seconds. In LO and HIGH, the
wipers run continuously.
In INT, you can vary how often the
Instrument s an d Control s
Switche
s

NOTIC E

Drivin
g Tip s
Before Driving ........... 152Starting the Engine ..... 153
New Vehicle Break-In ..... 154
Parking ................ 154 Brakes ................. 155
Tires .................. 159 Inflation ............. 160
Inspection ............ 161
Maintenance .......... 162
Tire Rotation .......... 162
Replacing Tires and Wheels .......... 162
Wheels and Tires ...... 163
Traction .............. 164 Tire Chains ......... 164
Wheel Replacement
Considerations ....... 165
Fuel Economy ........... 166
Three-Way Catalytic Converter ............. 168 Operation in
Foreign Countries ....... 169
Accessories & Modifications 169
Carrying Cargo ........... 171
Trailer Towing ........... 174 Trailer Hitches ........ 176Safety Chain .......... 177
Trailer Lights .......... 177
Tires ................. 177 Trailer Brakes ......... 177
Equipment Check ...... 178
Limited Slip Differential ... 178
Driving Tip s

switch is turned to the "ON"

or "START" position.

5. Check all gauges (including
the fuel gauge).

6. Release the parking brake
(and make sure the "BRAKE"

light turns off).

See related topics in this manual if

you find any problems.

Startin g th e Engin e

1. Apply the parking brake.

2. Manual Transmission: Press
the clutc
h pedal to the floor
and shift the transmission to
the Neutral position. Hold the
clutch pedal to the floor while
you are starting the engine. A starter safety switch keeps the
starter from operating if the
clutch pedal is not fully

depressed.
Automatic Transmission:
Place the shift lever in "P"
or "N" position ("P" is
preferred). A starter safety switch prevents the starter
from operating if the shift lever is in any drive position.
If it is necessary to restart the
engine with the vehicle
moving, place the shift lever in "N" (never in "P").
3. Do not touch the accelerator pedal. Start the engine byturning the ignition switch to
"START."
If the engine does not start in 10 seconds, wait 15 seconds to let
the starter cool down. Then crank
the engine at wide open throttle
for a maximum of 10 seconds. If
the engine still does not start, wait
another 15 seconds and repeat the
entire procedure. Do not crank the engine for more
than 10 seconds at a time. Wait 15
seconds before trying again.
4. Return the ignition switch to
the "ON" position as soon as
the engine starts.
5. Apply the regular brakes and shift into the proper gear.
Release the parking brake and
brake pedal and drive off.
In models with an automatic
transmission, you cannot shift
from "P" (Park) position to any other position unless the
brake pedal is applied.
Driving Tip s

Ne
w Vehicl e Break-I n

You may drive your new vehicle
from its very first mile/kilometer without following a formal
"break-in" schedule. However,
there are things you can do during
the first few hundred miles/
kilometers of driving that will add
to the future performance and
economy of your vehicle.
It is recommended that your speed
during the first 500 miles (800
kilometers) be limited to a
maximum of 55 mph (90 km/h) and that you do not drive for long
periods at any one constant speed, either fast or slow. During this
period, avoid full-throttle starts and, if possible, avoid hard stops;
especially during the first 200
miles (320 kilometers) of driving.
Always drive at moderate speed
until the engine has completely warmed up.
Parkin
g

When leaving your vehicle

unattended:
Set the parking brake.
Place the shift lever in "P" (Park) position for automatic

transmission.
When parking a vehicle equipped
with a manual transmission on an
upward slope, or on a level surface, place the shift lever in
the "1st" position.
When parking a vehicle
equipped with a manual
transmission on a downward slope, place the shift lever in
the "R" (Reverse) position. Turn the key to the "LOCK"

position.

Remove the key. The beeper
will remind you. Close all windows and lock all

doors.
Check to make certain the
lights are turned off. The
beeper will remind you. If your vehicle is equipped with

a transfer case (4WD), make

sure the shift lever is in 4H or

4L.

Parkin g Tip s

Never drive the vehicle with
the parking brake set. This can

overheat the rear brakes,

reducing their effectiveness and
causing excessive wear or

damage.
Always apply the parking brake

whenever you leave the vehicle,

whether it is equipped with a

manual or automatic transmission.

Drivin g Tip s

hazard. This is sometimes referred
to as "stomp and steer."
You will feel a pulsation in the
brake pedal when the ABS activates, and you may hear some
noise. This is normal, it is theABS rapidly pumping the brakes.
Activation varies with the amount
of traction your tires have. On dry
pavement, you will need to press on the brake pedal very hard
before you activate the ABS. However, you may feel the ABSactivate immediately if you are
trying to stop on snow or ice.
Important Safety Reminders AB S doe s no t reduc e th e tim e
o r distanc e it take s t o sto p th e
vehicle , it only helps with steering
control during braking. You
should always maintain a safe following distance from other
vehicles.
AB
S wil l no t preven t a ski d tha t

result s fro m changin g directio n

abruptly , such as trying to take a
corner too fast or making a sudden lane change. Always drive
at a safe, prudent speed for the
road and weather conditions.
AB S canno t preven t a los s o f
stability . Always steer moderately
when you are braking hard. Severe or sharp steering wheel
movement can still cause your
vehicle to veer into oncoming traffic or off the road.
A vehicl e wit h AB S ma y requir e
a longe r distanc e t o sto p o n
loose or uneven surfaces, such as
gravel or snow, than a vehicle
without anti-lock. Slow down and allow a greater distance between
vehicles under those conditions.
AB S Indicato r
The ABS is self-checking. You may feel a slight movement of the
brake pedal just after you start the engine. This is the ABS performing
a check. It also checks itself
whenever you use the brakes.
Drivin g Tip s

To Close

1. Lift the hood slightly to remove tension from the support rod.
2. Place the support rod in its retaining clip and lower the

hood.

Always make sure the hood is securely latched before you begin

driving.
Engin
e Oi l Dipstic k
Check the oil level when the
engine is off and the oil is warm, such as during a fuel stop. See
page 209. Your Honda operates most
effectively on unleaded gasoline with a pump octane number of 86
or higher. Use of a lower octane
gasoline can cause a persistent, heavy metallic rapping noise in
the engine that can lead to
mechanical damage.
We recommend gasolines containing
detergent additives that help prevent
fuel system and engine deposits.
Using gasoline containing lead will
damage your vehicle's emission
controls. This contributes to air
pollution and can void certain parts
of your warranty.

Oxygenate d Fuel s

Some conventional gasolines are
being blended with alcohol or an
ether compound. These gasolines are collectively referred to as
oxygenated fuels. To meet clean air
Car e an d Maintenanc e
Fue
l Requirement s

Owne
r Safet y Check s
Promptly take any safety
problems to your Honda dealer for service advice.
Parkin g brak e — Park on a fairly
steep hill and hold the vehicle
with the parking brake only. This
checks its holding ability.

Starte r safet y switc h (automati c

transmission ) — Check the safety
switch by trying to start the
engine in each gear. The starter should work only with the shift
lever in the "P" (Park) or "N" (Neutral) position.

Starte r safet y switc h (manua l

transmission ) — To check the

safety switch, place the shift lever
in "Neutral," push the clutch
pedal halfway and try to start the engine. The starter should not
work. The starter should work only when the clutch pedal is fully

depressed.

Transmissio n shif t indicato r

(automati c transmission ) —

Check that the indicator points to
the gear chosen.
Steerin g — Be alert for any
changes in steering action. An inspection or service is needed
when the steering wheel is harder
to turn or has too much free play,
or if there are unusual sounds when turning or parking.

Whee l alignment , balanc e an d

tire s — Uneven or abnormal tire
wear, or pulling to the right or left
on a straight and level road may show the need for a wheel
alignment. A vibration of the
steering wheel or seat at normal
highway speeds means wheel balancing is needed. Check tire
pressures (including the spare) at
least monthly and whenever the
vehicle is serviced (see page 159).
Brake s — Watch for the
"BRAKE" light coming on. Other signs of possible brake trouble are
such things as repeated pulling to
one side when braking, unusual sounds when braking or between
brake applications, or increased
brake pedal travel. If you note one
of these conditions, have the system checked at once and
repaired if needed.
Car e an d Maintenanc e

Change the oil and oil filter every
3,750 miles (6,000 kilometers) or
every three months if you drive under one or more of these
"severe driving" conditions: Driving in dusty areas
Towing a trailer
Frequent idling or idling for
long periods Frequent short trips (4 miles [6
kilometers] or less) in cold or
freezing weather, where the
engine does not thoroughly
warm up. Change the oil and oil filter as
soon as possible after driving in
a dust storm.
Oi
l Chang e

Changing the oil and filter requires
special tools and access from underneath the vehicle. The vehicle
should be raised on a service station-type hydraulic lift for this
service. Unless you have the
knowledge and proper equipment,
you should have this maintenance
done by a skilled mechanic.
1. Warm up the engine. This makes the oil drain faster and
more thoroughly.
2. Remove the oil filler cap.
3. Remove the drain plug and drain oil fully.
4. Install the drain plug, with a new gasket, and tighten it.
5. Fill the engine with the proper amount of new oil (see
"Specifications"). Oil Filter Installation
1. Remove the old oil filter with the filter wrench.
2. Apply a light coat of engine oil to the oil filter gasket.
3. Hand-tighten the filter until the gasket contacts the sealing

face.

4. Using the filter wrench, tighten the filter one full turn.
5. Run the engine and inspect for
leaks.

6. Shut off the engine. After a couple of minutes, check the
oil level. If necessary, add oilto bring it to the FULL mark.

An improperly installed oil filter can result in severe engine

damage.

Car e an d Maintenanc e
NOTIC
E