Page 119 of 267

Heatin
g an d Coolin g
This system combines heating and
cooling capabilities for comfort in all weather conditions.
During air conditioning operation,
slight increases and decreases in
engine speed/power may be
noticed. This is normal, as the system is designed to cycle the
compressor ON and OFF to
maintain desired cooling. The
reduced compressor operation should benefit fuel economy.
Ai r Conditionin g Switc h
Push this switch to operate the air
conditioning system. The light- emitting diode in this switch lights
to show the system is operating.
To turn off the air conditioning,
push this switch in again.
Air conditioning will not operate
without the fan control lever in
one of the "ON" positions.
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s
AIR-SOURC
E
SELECTO R LEVE R
OUTSID E AIR
FAC E
BI-LEVE L
FOO T
FOOT/DEFROS T
DEFROS T
FA N CONTRO L LEVE RAIR
SELECTO R KNO B
AI R CONDITIONIN G BUTTO N
TEMPERATUR
E
CONTRO L KNO B
US
E BI-LEVE L I N THI S
RANG E FO R COO L
UPPE R LEVE L AIR AND
WAR M FLOO R LEVE L AI R
RECIRCULATE
D AI R
Page 130 of 267
Operatin
g th e Optiona l C D
Change r
An in-dash Compact Disc changer is available through your dealer. It
holds up to six discs, providing several hours of continuous
entertainment. You operate the
CD changer with the controls on
the front of the changer and on the
front of the radio.
To operate the CD changer, the ignition switch must be in
ACCESSORY (I) or ON (II).
Loading the CDs in the Changer
To load a CD in the changer, press
the button on the front of the
changer for the CD number you
want to load (1, for example). The
light next to the button will beginflashing. When the green lights
next to the CD slot begin flashing, insert the CD part way into the
Comfort an d Convenienc e Feature s
C
D BUTTO N
FORWAR
D
BUTTO N BACKWAR
D
BUTTO N
TRAC K SELECTO R BUTTON S
C D LOADIN G SLO T
EJEC
T BUTTO N
C D SELECTO R BUTTON S
Page 150 of 267

You can lock and unlock your
vehicle with the remote
transmitter. When you push the
LOCK button, all the doors and
the tailgate lock. The parking
light will flash once. If you press
the LOCK button a second time,
the horn will honk to confirm that
everything locked.
When you push the UNLOCK
button once, only the driver's
door unlocks. Push the button a second time, within three seconds,
to unlock the remaining doors and
the tailgate. The parking lights,
taillights, and license plate light
will flash twice when you push
the UNLOCK button the first
time.
The dome light will come on (if the dome light switch is in the
center position) when you pressthe UNLOCK button. If you do
not open any of the doors or the
hatch glass, the light will go out in about 30 seconds, the doors and
tailgate automatically relock, and
the anti-theft system sets.
You cannot lock or unlock the
vehicle with the remote transmitter if any door, the
tailgate, or the hood is not fully
closed, or the key is in the ignition switch. When you push the LOCK
button, the horn will beep six times to notify you that somethingis ajar.
You cannot lock or unlock the
vehicle with the remote transmitter if the key is in the
ignition switch.
Pani c Mod e
Panic mode allows you to
remotely sound the vehicle's horn to attract attention. To activate
this mode, press and hold the
PANIC button for about one second. Your vehicle's horn willsound for about 30 seconds.
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s
Keyles s Entr y
(Standard on
the EX model)
LOC K
UNLOC K
PANI C
Page 151 of 267
To cancel panic mode before 30
seconds, press any button on the
remote transmitter. You can also turn the ignition switch to
ACCESSORY.
Anti-Thef
t Syste m
The anti-theft system is designed
to protect your vehicle and its contents from theft. Any attempt
to forcibly open any door, the
tailgate, or the hood without using
the key or the remote transmitterwill cause the system to alarm.
The horn sounds and the headlights flash for approximately
three minutes. The starter motor
circuit is disabled so the engine
cannot be started. After threeminutes, the system resets. Activatin
g th e Syste m
The system activates automatically when all the doors,
the tailgate, and the hood are fully
closed and locked.
Lock the doors with the key, the
remote transmitter, or the door lock button/knob. The anti-theft
system indicator will come on to
show that it is activating. After
about 10 seconds, the light will
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s
Page 154 of 267
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
Page 155 of 267

Befor
e Drivin g
Drivin g Guideline s
Your Honda has higher ground
clearance than a passenger car
designed for use only on
pavement. Higher ground clearance has many advantages
for off-road driving. It allows you
to travel over bumps, obstacles,
and rough terrain. It also provides
good visibility so you can
anticipate problems earlier.
These advantages come at some
cost. Because your vehicle is
taller and rides higher off the
ground, it has a high center of
gravity. This means that your
vehicle can tip or roll over if you make abrupt turns. Utility
vehicles have a significantly
higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles. To prevent rollover or loss of
control:
Take corners at slower speeds
than you would with a
passenger car. Avoid sharp turns and abrupt
maneuvers whenever possible.
Do not modify your vehicle in
any way that would raise the
center of gravity (see page 170). Do not carry heavy cargo on
the roof (see page 173).
For off-road driving guidelines, see the Off-Road Driving
Information booklet that came with your vehicle.
Befor e Enterin g th e Vehicl e
1. Check that the windows,
mirrors, lights and reflectors
are clean and unobstructed.
2. Check the tires to see if they
are low or flat. You will need
a pressure gauge to tell if tires
are properly inflated.
3. Check that all lights work.
4. Check for fluid leaks.
5. Be sure everything is properly
stowed.
6. Check the area behind the vehicle if you are about to
back up.
Befor e Drivin g th e Vehicl e
1. Lock all doors.
2. Adjust the seat and any movable head restraints.
3. Adjust the inside and outside mirrors.
4. Check that all the indicator lights work when the key
Drivin g Tip s
Page 157 of 267

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
Page 161 of 267

Self-Adjustin
g Brake s
The brakes on this vehicle are self-adjusting. They have been
designed so that periodic brake
adjustment is not needed.
The brakes adjust themselves each time you firmly apply them.
Thus, if the brake pedal goes down
farther than normal due to a lack of adjustment, drive backward and
forward a few times. Apply the
brakes intermittently.
See your Honda dealer if the
brake pedal height does not return
to normal or if there is a rapidincrease in pedal travel. Either is a
sign of other brake trouble. Also,
see your Honda dealer if the
parking brake needs adjustment.
Brakin
g Tip s
Control your vehicle's speed on a steep or long downhill grade by
shifting the transmission to a
lower gear. Constantly using the
brakes can cause them to overheat
and lose effectiveness.
Resting your foot on the brake
pedal when you are not intending to brake ("riding the brakes") can
cause them to overheat. This
reduces their effectiveness, wears them out faster, and can reduce
fuel mileage. It also causes your
brake lights to stay on all the time, confusing drivers behind you.
Brak e Wea r Indicator s
The front and rear brakes have built-in wear indicators. These make a high-pitched squealing or
cricket-like warning sound when the brake pads or linings are worn
to the point of replacement. Thesound may come and go or be
heard all the time when the vehicle is moving, but may stop when the
brake pedal is pushed down firmly.
Expensive damage can result if
pads or linings are not replaced immediately when needed.
Drivin g o n Slipper y Surface s
Driving, steering, and braking
traction are reduced when the
road is coated with water, snow, ice, gravel, or other materials.
Slow down and adjust your
driving to such conditions. It is important to slow down when it is
slippery because stopping
Drivin g Tip s