2000 HONDA PASSPORT Owners Manual

Seat-bac
k latche s — Seat-back
latches are designed to prevent
forward motion of the seat-back when the vehicle stops suddenly.
Check to see that the seat-backlatches are holding by pulling
forward on the top of the folding
seat-back.

Also check to see that the
reclining seats are operating properly.
Light s an d beepers — Check
panel lighting, warning lights, and
the seat belt reminder light and
beeper. Also check the key beeper and interior lights. On the outside,
check the license plate light, sidemarker lights, headlights, parking
lights, taillights, brake lights, turnsignals, backup lights and hazard
warning flashers. Have the
headlight aim checked promptly if the beams seem to be aimed
improperly.
Glas
s — Check for broken,
scratched or damaged glass that
could reduce visibility or cause injury.
Doo r latches — Check that the
doors close, latch and lock
securely.

Hoo d latc h — Check that the
hood closes firmly. Check for
broken, damaged, or missing parts that might prevent secure
latching. Make sure the secondarylatch keeps the hood from
opening all the way when first

released.
Flui
d leaks — Check for fuel,
water, oil or other fluid leaks by
looking at the surface beneath the
vehicle after it has been parked
for awhile. Water dripping from
the air conditioning system after use is normal. If you notice
gasoline fumes or fluid at any
time, locate the source and have it
corrected at once.
Spar e tir e an d jac k — Check that
the spare tire and all jack gear are securely stowed at all times.
Tailgat e latc h — Check that the
tailgate closes, latches and locks
securely.

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Underbod
y — Corrosive
materials used for road-ice, snow
removal and dust control can collect on the underbody. If these
materials are not removed,
accelerated corrosion (rust) can
occur on underbody parts such as
the fuel line, frame, floor pan and
exhaust system. At least once a
year, in the spring, flush these
materials from the underbodywith plain water.
Take care to thoroughly clean any areas where mud and other debris
can collect. Sediment trapped in
closed areas of the frame should
be loosened before being flushed. Prope
r Qualit y Oi l
Engine oils are labeled on the
containers with various API (American Petroleum Institute)
designations of quality.
Use Only SJ Quality Oil
Additional designations of quality may also be present, but SJ must
be included.
The "SJ" designation may be shown alone, or in combination
with other designations, such as
"SJ/CC," "SJ/CD," or "SJ, CC"
etc.
As long as the letters "SJ" appearsomewhere in the designation of
oil quality indicated on the
container, the oil is of suitable
quality. Chang
e Interva l
The oil and filter change intervals for your engine are based on the
use of the recommended oil
quality and viscosity, as well as
high-quality filters. Using oils other than recommended, or
extending oil change intervals longer than those recommended,
could reduce engine life.
Your engine was filled with a
high-quality engine oil when it left the factory. You do not have
to change this oil before the
suggested change period.
If your normal driving does not include one or more of the "severe
driving" conditions listed below,
change the oil every 7,500 miles(12,000 kilometers) or 6 months,
whichever comes first.
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Engin
e Oi l an d Filte r

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.

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NOTIC
E

Oi
l Viscosit y

Engine oil viscosity (thickness) has an effect on fuel economy. Lower
viscosity engine oils can provideincreased fuel economy; however,
higher temperature weather
conditions require higher viscosity
engine oils for satisfactory lubrication. To get the best fuel
economy with your vehicle, you should use a fuel-saving engine oil
of the proper viscosity. These oils
can be found in service stations and other retail stores. They are
identified by words such as
"Energy Saving," "Conserves
Gasoline," "Gas Saving,"
"Gasoline Saving," "Friction
Reducing," "Improved Gasoline Mileage" or "Fuel Saving."
The chart lists the recommended
engine oil viscosities for the temperature range you expect
before the next oil change. For temperatures above 0°F (—18°C),
SAE 10W—30 is the preferred viscosity grade. If cold-weather
starting problems are encountered
at temperatures below 0°F
(—18°C), SAE 5W—30 viscosity
oils may be required.
Oi l Leve l Chec k
It is the owner's responsibility to
keep the engine oil at the proper
level. Check the oil level at regular
intervals (such as every other fuel stop) and keep it above the
"minimum" level mark.
Remember, your engine may use more oil when it is new.
The best time to check the engine
oil level is when the oil is warm, such as during a fuel stop. Shut off
the engine and wait about 5 minutes
for the oil to drain back to the oil
pan. Pull out the dipstick, wipe it
clean, and push it back down all the
way. Now pull out the dipstick and

Car e an d Maintenanc e

look at the oil level on the dipstick.
The dipstick has two markings which indicate the minimum and
maximum allowable oil level. If the
oil level is lower than the markedarea, it indicates the need for
additional oil. Push the dipstick
back down all the way after taking the reading. If you check the oil level when
the oil is cold, do not run the
engine first. The cold oil will not drain into the pan fast
enough to give a true reading.

Engin e Oi l Additive s

There are many extra engine oil additives for sale. Your engine
should not need these extra
additives if you use recommended
quality engine oil and change it as suggested. If you think your

engine has an oil-related problem,

talk to your Honda dealer. Ai
r Cleane r Filte r
See your Maintenance Schedule for
change intervals. If the vehicle is operated in dusty areas it will
require more frequent element
replacement. Your Honda dealer
can be of assistance in determining the proper replacement frequency
for the conditions under which you
operate your vehicle.
Do not attempt to clean the air
filter. The filter is designed to
provide normal filtering
efficiency between replacement intervals.
For maximum protection, it is advisable to use genuine Honda air
cleaner filters as replacements.
Car e an d Maintenanc e

Never run the engine with the air
cleaner filter removed. If the
engine should backfire, it could
possibly cause an engine
compartment fire.
Be sure to reinstall the air cleaner
filter and assembly correctly. If it is installed incorrectly, engine
damage could result. Manua
l Transmissio n Flui d
See the Maintenance Schedule to
find out how often the lubricant
level should be checked.
Check that the fluid level reaches
the plug hole by removing the
filler plug on the transmission and transfer case. If the fluid level is
low, refill the case up to the filler
plug hole.
Use a high-quality engine oil
labeled SG or SF that is of the
correct viscosity for existing ambient temperatures as follows.
(2WD)

OIL FIL L PLU G
DRAI N PLU G
DRAI N PLU G

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(4WD)
RIGH
T SID E
LEF T SID E

OIL FIL L PLU G

Automati
c Transmissio n Flui d

Prope r Flui d

Have the fluid level in the
automatic transmission checked

during the regularly scheduled maintenance at your Honda

dealer.

If you suspect an automatic transmission fluid leak, take the
vehicle to your Honda dealer for inspection and repair.
Transmission damage could result if you let the fluid level get too
low.
Drai
n Interval s

The automatic transmission drain
interval is not time or mileage
dependent. It will vary according to your driving habits and vehicle

usage.

Your dealer will check thetransmission fluid's condition and

life expectancy during regularly

scheduled maintenance, and

inform you at what mileage it

should be changed.
Fron
t (4WD )
an d Rea r Axle s

See the Maintenance Schedule
List to determine how often the lubricant should be changed. Add
lubricant, if needed, by filling to
the level of the filler plug hole.
Use GL-5 gear lubricant of the
proper viscosity as shown in the

chart.

If your vehicle is equipped with
the optional limited slip
differential (on the rear axle), use GL-5 Limited Slip Differential
Gear Lubricant together with
Limited Slip Differential Gear
Lubricant Additive (Part No. 8-01052-358-0) or equivalent.
Use the correct viscosity for the
existing ambient temperatures.

Car e an d Maintenanc e

The engine cooling system is
designed to maintain the engine at
the proper operating temperatures.
The cooling system was filled at the factory with a quality engine
coolant. The engine cooling system is designed to use coolant (a
mixture of water and ethylene glycol antifreeze) rather than plain
water. The engine coolant solutionshould be used year-round. It has
many advantages such as: provides freezing protection as

lowas — 33°F( — 36°C)
provides boiling protection up
to262°F(128°C)
protects against rust and
corrosion in the cooling system maintains the proper engine
temperature for efficient
operation and emission control
allows proper operation of the
engine coolant temperature gaugeSee the Maintenance Schedule in
this section to find out when the
engine coolant must be replaced.

Checkin g th e Coolan t Leve l

Check the engine coolant level at the interval shown in the
Maintenance Schedule unless there
is evidence of leaking or
overheating. The engine coolant
level should be between the
maximum and the minimum level
marks on the radiator reserve tank.

Car e an d Maintenanc e

Recommende
d Lubrican t
Engin
e Coolin g Syste m