2000 HONDA PASSPORT check engine

This section includes instructions
for simple maintenance tasks,
such as checking and adding oil.
Any service items not detailed in
this section should be performed
by a Honda technician or other qualified mechanic.
Some of the most important safety
precautions are given below. However, we cannot warn you of
every conceivable hazard that can arise in performing maintenance.
Only you can decide whether or
not you should perform a given

task.
Importan
t Safet y Precaution s

Before you begin any
maintenance, make sure your
vehicle is parked on level ground and that the parking brake is on.
Also, be sure the engine is off.
This will help to eliminate several
potential hazards:
Carbo
n monoxid e poisonin g

fro m engin e exhaust . Be sure

there is adequate ventilation

whenever you operate the engine.
Burn
s fro m ho t parts . Let the

engine and exhaust system cool

before touching any parts.

Injur y fro m movin g parts . D o
not run the engine unless instructed to do so.
Read the instructions before you
begin, and make sure you have
the tools and skills required.
To reduce the possibility of fire or
explosion, be careful when
working around gasoline or
batteries. Use a commercially
available degreaser or parts
cleaner, not gasoline, to clean
parts. Keep cigarettes, sparks, and
flames away from the battery and
all fuel-related parts.
You should wear eye protection
and protective clothing when
working near the battery or when
using compressed air.
Car e an d Maintenanc e

Failure t
o properly follow

maintenance instructions and

precautions can cause you to
be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the procedures and precautions in this owner's
manual.

Maintenanc
e Schedul e

The Maintenance Schedule specifies how often you should
have your vehicle serviced and what things need attention. It is
essential that you have your vehicle serviced as scheduled to
retain its high level of safety, dependability, and emission
control performance.
The services and time or distanceintervals shown in the
maintenance schedule assume you will use your vehicle as normal
transportation. You should: Avoid exceeding your vehicle's
load limit. This puts excess
stress on the engine, brakes, and
many other parts of your vehicle.
The load limit is shown on the label on the driver's doorjamb. Operate your vehicle on
reasonable roads within the
legal speed limit. Drive your vehicle regularly over
a distance of several miles

(kilometers).

Always use unleaded gasoline
with the proper octane rating
(see page 196).
Your authorized Honda dealer
knows your vehicle best and can
provide competent, efficient service. However, service at a
dealer is not mandatory to keep
your warranties in effect.
Maintenance may be done by any
qualified service facility or person
who is skilled in this type of automotive service. Keep all the
receipts as proof of completion, and have the person who does the
work fill out the Maintenance Record. Check your warranty
booklet for more information.
We recommend the use of Genuine Honda parts and fluids
whenever you have maintenance
done. These are manufactured to
the same high-quality standards as
the original components, so you
can be confident of their
performance and durability.

U.S . Vehicles :
Maintenance , replacemen t o r repai r
o f emissio n contro l device s an d
system s ma y b e don e b y an y
automotiv e repai r establishmen t o r
individua l usin g part s tha t ar e
"certified " t o EP A standards .

Car e an d Maintenanc e

Maintenanc
e Schedul e

Check oil and coolant level, at each fuel stop. Under severe driving conditions, service these items more often.
* 1 Using SAE 10W-40 oil, or any viscosity other than those recommended, may reduce engine life and affect the warranty.
* 2 This service is recommended only.
Inspec
t monthly :

— These fluids: brake, clutch, PIS, battery, ATF, windshield washer

— Tire pressure

Car e an d Maintenanc e
R — Replace L — Lube I — Inspect After inspection, clean, adjust, repair or replace if necessary.

R — Replace L — Lube I — Inspect After inspection, clean, adjust, repair or replace if necessary.
Check oi
l and coolant level at each fuel stop.
Under severe driving conditions, service these items more often. These conditions are: Service for severe driving conditions
Repeated short trips in cold weather Frequent idling and/or frequent low-speed operation Change engine oil and filter - Every 3,750 miles (6,000 km) Driving in dusty areas Towing a trailer or 3 months
Change rear axle oil - Every 15,000 miles (24,000 km)

Care an d Maintenanc e

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

Sit in the driver's seat and
perform these checks:
1. With the engine stopped, depress the brake pedal severaltimes; the travel distance and
effective pedal stroke should
remain unchanged.
2. Start the engine with the brake pedal fully depressed.
The brake pedal should go downa little as the engine starts.
3. Depress the brake pedal, stop the engine and hold the pedal
depressed for about 30
seconds; the brake pedal
should remain in position
without rising or going down.
4. Restart the engine and run it for about a minute, then turn it
off and depress the brake
pedal firmly several times; the
brake pedal travel should decrease each time the brake

pedal is depressed.

If the brakes do not operate
normally, have them checked and
corrected by your Honda dealer.
Exhaus t syste m — Be alert to any
changes in the sound of the exhaust system or any smell of fumes.
These are signs the system may be leaking or overheating. Have the
system checked and/or repaired at

once if these conditions exist. (Also see "Carbon Monoxide Hazard" in
the "Driver and Passenger Safety"

section and "Three-Way Catalytic

Converter" in the "Driving Tips"
section.)

Windshiel d wiper s an d
washer s — Check the operation

and condition of the wiper blades.

Check the flow and aim of the

washer spray.
Defroster
s — Check performance
by moving the controls to the
defrost setting and noting the amount of air directed against the

windshield.

Rea r vie w mirror s an d su n

visor s — Check that the friction
joints hold the mirrors and sun visors firmly in place.
Hor n — Blow the horn now and
then to be sure it works.

La p an d shoulde r belt s — Check

the belt system, including
webbing, buckles, latch plates,
retractors, guide loops and anchors for proper operation and

damage.

Sea t adjuster s — When adjusting
a seat, be sure the seat adjusters
latch securely by pushing the seat
forward and backward.
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

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