2000 HONDA PASSPORT Owners Manual

Traile
r Towin g

Your Honda vehicle is designed
for passenger and cargo transportation. With the proper
equipment installed, your vehicle
can also tow a trailer under certain
conditions, as detailed in this section. Be sure to read this entire
section and follow all
requirements.
Towing a trailer will have an
effect on handling, performance,
braking, durability and fuel
consumption.
Honda recommends that you do
not tow a trailer with a new Honda vehicle or one with a new
powertrain component (engine, transmission, differential) for the
first 500 miles. For your safety and the safety
of others, use equipment
specifically designed for your
vehicle. Improper towing
equipment and improper installation of same can cause
damage to your vehicle and may also result in personal injury.
Additional care and cautious
driving habits are essential to trailer towing.
Do not exceed 45 mph or the
posted towing speed limit, whichever is lower. Higher speed
may cause loss of vehicle control.
Drivin g Tip s
Improperly loading your
vehicle and trailer can seriously affect the steering
and braking performance,
causing a crash in which you
can be seriously injured.
Check the loading of your
vehicle and trailer carefully before starting to drive.

Follow the recommendations in
this manual and ask your Honda
dealer for further details before
you tow a trailer with your

Passport.

Towing a trailer affects vehicle
maintenance requirements due
to the additional load. More
frequent maintenance intervals
will be required to assure
continued satisfaction with
your vehicle. Consult yourHonda dealer for recommended
maintenance and service.
The gross trailer weight (trailer weight plus cargo load) must
never exceed 4,500 Ib.
Additional equipment will be
required, depending on the specific model/load combination.
See "Trailer Hitches" in this

section.
Exceeding the weight limit will
cause damage to your vehicle and
possibly result in personal injury. The Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (GVWR) is the
combined weight of the
unloaded vehicle, passengers,
cargo, trailer hitch, trailer
tongue load, and optional
equipment. This value is indicated on the F.M.V.S.S.
Certification Label on the
driver's doorjamb. The Gross Combined Weight
Rating (GCWR) equals the combined weight of your
vehicle (including passengers
and cargo) plus the total trailer
load. The following limits

apply.

2WD: 8,700 Ib
4WD: 8,950 Ib
The Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR) is also indicated on
the Certification Label. The
load on either the front or rear
axle resulting from distribution
of the gross vehicle weight on both axles must not exceed the
values listed. Remember to
account for additional
equipment and tongue load.
Driving Tip s

Tongue load should be between
9 percent and 11 percent of the
total trailer weight. However, itshould never exceed 450 pounds. Never load a trailer with more
weight in the rear than in the
front. The front should be
loaded with approximately
60 percent and the rear with
approximately 40 percent of
the total trailer load. Never exceed the maximum
weight limits of the trailer
or trailer towing equipment.
Improper loading can result in damage to your vehicle and
possible personal injury. Check the vehicle and trailer
loading and the weights on
each axle at a commercial scale
or a highway patrol office
equipped with a scale.
Traile
r Hitche s

A Class 3 hitch kit (up to 4,500 Ib) is available from your
Honda dealer.
Use a trailer equipped with
electric brakes and a "Weight
Distributing Hitch Attachment" when the gross trailer weight
exceeds 3,500 pounds.

A special attachment that replaces the draw bar/ball assembly is used
to distribute the proper weight to
the front axle. It uses a pair ofspring bars that are adjusted to
accomplish the distribution of the weight.
Consult your trailer's
manufacturer for assistance withselecting the proper weight
distributing hitch attachment. Check with a recreational vehicle
dealer for additional required
equipment. Have this equipment installed by a trained mechanic.
Improper equipment or installation
can damage your vehicle and cause
personal injury.
Do not use axle-mounted hitches
or equipment not designed for
your vehicle.
Do not make any modifications to
the vehicle's exhaust, braking, or
electrical system other than those
that are shown in the instructions
for the Honda Trailer Hitch Kit.
Improper modifications can affect
vehicle durability.
Periodic inspection of all added-on trailer towing equipment is
necessary to assure continued safe
operation.
Drivin g Tip s

Safet
y Chai n

Always use a suitable safety chain

between your vehicle and the

trailer.

Check with your trailer

manufacturer for the required

equipment. Cross the safety

chains under the hitch and attach

them to the trailer hitch hardware.

This will prevent the trailer from

dropping to the ground in the

event the hitch disengages. For
proper use and installation,
consult your trailer manufacturer.

Traile r Light s
Trailer lights and equipment must
comply with federal, state and local regulations. Check with your
local recreational vehicle dealer
for the requirements in your area. Use only equipment designed for
your vehicle.
Improper equipment or installation can cause damage to
your vehicle's electrical system and affect your vehicle warranty.
Consult your Honda dealer for installation.

Tire s

Always check the condition of
your vehicle's tires and trailer's
tires before operation. Replace
worn or damaged tires before

operation.

Inflate tire pressure to the
recommended cold tire pressure indicated in the tire
manufacturer's warranty booklet in the glove box packet.
Check the tire manufacturer's

requirements when replacement

tires are installed on your vehicle.

Trailer tire condition, size, load

rating, and proper inflation

pressure should be in accordance

with the tire manufacturer's

specifications. Improper tire size

and inflation can cause tire

failure, possibly resulting in

vehicle damage and personal
injury.

Traile r Brake s
Trailers with a total weight of
1,000 pounds or more require trailer brakes. If your trailer is
equipped with a braking system,
make sure it conforms to federal,state, and local equipment
regulations.
Driving Tip s

There are no provisions in your
vehicle to tap into its hydraulic
braking system. Any attempt toattach the trailer's brakes to your
vehicle's hydraulic braking system, no matter how successfulit may seem, will lower braking
effectiveness and create a
potential hazard.

Equipmen t Chec k

Before operating your vehicle,
check all safety equipment to
ensure safe operation. Be sure
your vehicle is properly serviced
to avoid mechanical failure.
Check that your vehicle remains
level when the loaded or unloadedtrailer is hitched. Do not drive if
the rear end of your vehicle is abnormally higher or lower.
Check for proper tongue weight,
overload, improper weight
distribution, worn suspension, or

other possible causes.

Make sure the trailer load is

properly positione
d and secured

so its does not shift around whil
e

driving.

Chec k
if your rearview mirrors

comply with federal, state and

local regulations. If not, confirm
the proper mirrors required for

towing and have them installed.

Perform an equipment check of

all braking, lighting and safety

equipment to ensure they are working properly.
Your safety depends on proper
operation and installation of
equipment. Never operate a
vehicle with faulty equipment.
Limite
d Sli p Differentia l
Standard on 4WD models

The limited slip differential is
designed to improve traction by limiting wheelspin. If one rear
wheel begins to spin on a slipperysurface, the limited slip
differential will automatically
transmit driving force to the other
rear wheel.
Drivin g Tip s

I
n Cas e o f Emergenc y
This section covers the most
common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you information on how tosafely evaluate those problems,
with tips to help get you going
again. Lastly, it tells you how to
have your vehicle towed. Jump Starting ............ 180
Changing a Tire .......... 182 Lifting Points .......... 183
Tool Locations ........... 184
Engine Overheating ....... 186
Towing ................ 187 Precautions ........... 187
Towing Tips ........... 188
All Four Wheelson the Ground ...... 188
Front Wheels off the Ground ...... 188
Rear Wheels off the Ground ...... 189
Inoperative Electrical Devices. ............... 189
In Cas e o f Emergenc y

Jum
p Startin g

Do not push or tow your vehicle to start it. Under some conditions
this may damage the three-way catalytic converter or other parts
of the vehicle.
If your vehicle has a discharged
battery, it can be started by using the battery in another vehicle; a
procedure called "jump starting." To jump start your vehicle:
1. Position the vehicle with the good (charged) battery so that
the jump-starting cables will
reach. Do not allow the vehiclesto touch. Check to see that the
bumpers do not touch.
2. Turn off all electric motors and accessories in both
vehicles. Turn off all lights
except hazard flashers and
lights needed to light up the
work area. Turn off theignition, apply the parking
brake firmly, and shift an automatic transmission to
"P" (Park) and a manual
transmission to "N" (Neutral)
in both vehicles.
3. Check fluid level of the battery before attempting to
charge or jump start. (Do not use an open flame to check,
and do not smoke.)CHARG ETEST
INDICATO R

BLUE

COLORLES S
If the battery is a sealed type
and if the fluid level is below
the lower level line on the side
of the battery, do not try to
jump start the vehicle or charge or test the battery. Do
not add fluid. Instead, install a new battery.
I n Cas e o f Emergenc y

A battery can explode if you

do not follow the correct
procedure, seriously injuring

anyone nearby.

Keep all sparks, open flames,
and smoking materials away
from the battery.
CHARGIN G
NECESSAR Y
LOWE
R
LEVE L
O K

UPPERLEVEL

If a battery sits in extreme cold,
the electrolyte inside can freeze.
Attempting to jump start a frozen battery can cause it to rupture.
4. Jumper Cable Connection Instructions:and Connect the first
jumper cable from the
positive "+" (red) terminal
on one battery to the
positive "+" (red) terminal
on the other battery. Never
connect"+" (red) to "— "
(black) or "— " to "+." Next, connect one end
of the second cable to the

grounded negative "— "

(black) terminal of the good
(charged) battery. Lastly, connect the other
end of the second, grounded
jumper cable to a solid,
stationary, metallic point on
the engine of the vehicle
with the discharged battery but at a point at least 18
inches (45 cm) away from
the battery. Do not connect it to pulleys, fans, or other
parts that move. Beware of touching hot manifolds that
can cause burns. (Themounting brackets for the
alternator or air
conditioning compressor generally make a good
point for this final ground attachment point. Take care
that the jumper cable does
not contact moving parts on
or near the alternator or

compressor.)

5. Start the engine on the vehicle with the good (charged) battery
and run the engine at moderate
speed.

I n Cas e o f Emergenc y

NOTIC
E
Do no t allo w th e

vehicle s to touch .

Mak
e las t connectio n
o n engin e awa y fro m
th e battery . Mak
e connection s
i n numerica l order .

DISCHARGE D
VEHICL E
CHARGED
VEHICL E
1st CABL E

2n d

CABL E