2000 HONDA PASSPORT maintenance

2000 Passport Online Reference Owner's Manual
Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through\
this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.h\
elminc.com. Contents
Owner's Identification Form
A Word to the Owner
........................................................................\
................................................... i
Important Handling Information ........................................................................\
.............................. ii
A Few Words About Safety
........................................................................\
........................................ iv
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
...................................... 3
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restr\
aint System.
Off to a Good Start
........................................................................\
..................................................... 47
Instruments and Controls
........................................................................\
......................................... 53
Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering co\
lumn controls.
Seats
........................................................................\
........................................................................\
.... 87
Interior Features
........................................................................\
....................................................... 95
Comfort and Convenience Features
........................................................................\
...................... 115
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Driving Tips
........................................................................\
.............................................................. 151
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, wh\
at gasoline to use, how to
break -in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
In Case of Emergency
........................................................................\
.............................................. 179
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, and how to handle them.
Care and Maintenance
........................................................................\
............................................ 191
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to\
the dealer and
tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your\
car ever needs body
repairs.
Technical Data
........................................................................\
......................................................... 227
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Owner Assistance
........................................................................\
..................................................... 241
A summary of the warranties covering your new Honda, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manuals
........................................................................\
................................................ 249
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index ............................................................................................................................................... .....
251

Drive
r an d Passenge r Safet y
This section gives you important information about how to protect
you and your passengers. It shows
how to use seat belts properly. It
explains the Supplemental
Restraint System. And it tells you how to properly restrain infantsand children in your vehicle.
Important Safety Precautions .. 4
Your Vehicle's Safety Features 5
Seat Belts ............... 6
Airbags ................ 7 Seats and Seat-Backs ...... 8
Head Restraints .......... 8
Door Locks ............. 9
Pre-Drive Safety Checklist . 9
Protecting Adults .......... 10 1. Close and Lock the Doors 10
2. Adjust the Front Seats . . 10 3. Adjust the Seat-Backs . . 11
4. Adjust the Head Restraints 12 5. Fasten and Position
the Seat Belts ......... 13
6. Adjust the Steering Wheel 15
7. Maintain a Proper Sitting Position ....... 16
Advice for Pregnant Women 16 Additional Safety Precautions 17
Protecting Children ........ 18 All Children MustBe Restrained .......... 18
Children Should Sit in the Back Seat .......... 19
The Passenger's Airbag Poses
Serious Risks to Children 19
If You Must Drive With Several Children ....... 20
If a Child Requires
Close Attention ........ 20
Additional Safety Precautions 21 General Guidelines for Using Child Seats ...... 21
Protecting Infants........ 25 Protecting Small Children . 29
Protecting Larger Children 33
Using Child Seats With Tethers ........... 36
Additional Information About Your Seat Belts ........... 38
Seat Belt SystemComponents ........... 38
Lap/Shoulder Belt ....... 38
Lap Belt ............... 39 Seat Belt Maintenance .... 39
Additional Information About Your SRS ............... 40
SRS Components ........ 40
How Your Airbags Work .. 41
How Your SRS IndicatorLight Works ........... 42
SRS Service ............ 43
Additional Safety Precautions 43
Carbon Monoxide Hazard ... 44
Safety Labels ............. 45
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Importan
t Safet y Precaution s
You'll find many safety
recommendations throughout this section, and throughout this
manual. The recommendations on
this page are the ones we consider
to be the most important.
Alway s Wea r You r Sea t Bel t
A seat belt is your best protection in all types of collisions. Airbags
supplement seat belts, but airbags
are designed to inflate only in a
moderate to severe frontal
collision. So even though your
vehicle is equipped with airbags, make sure you and your
passengers always wear your seat belts, and wear them properly. (See page 13.)
Restrai n All Childre n
Children are safest when they are
properly restrained in the back seat, not the front seat. A child
who is too small for a seat belt must be properly restrained in a
child safety seat. (See page 18.)
B e Awar e o f Airba g Hazard s
While airbags save lives, they can
cause serious or fatal injuries to
occupants who sit too close to
them, or are not properly
restrained. Infants, young children, and short adults are atthe greatest risk. Be sure to follow
all instructions and warnings in
this manual. (See page 7.)
Don' t Drin k an d Driv e
Alcohol and driving don't mix.
Even one drink can reduce your ability to respond to changing
conditions, and your reaction time
gets worse with every additional
drink. So don't drink and drive,
and don't let your friends drinkand drive either. Contro
l You r Spee d
Excessive speed is a major factor in crash injuries and deaths.
Generally, the higher the speed
the greater the risk, but serious
accidents can also occur at lowerspeeds. Never drive faster than is
safe for current conditions,
regardless of the maximum speed

posted.

Kee p You r Vehicl e i n Saf e
Conditio n
Having a tire blowout or a
mechanical failure can be
extremely hazardous. To reduce the possibility of such problems,
check your tire pressure and
condition frequently, and perform
all regularly scheduled
maintenance. (See page 187.)
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

If the light stays on after the
engine starts.
If the light comes on or flashes
on and off while you drive.
If you see any of these
indications, your airbags may not
deploy when you need them. See your Honda dealer as soon as
possible.
SR
S Servic e

Your Supplemental Restraint
System is virtually maintenance-
free, and there are no parts you
can safely service. However, you
must have your vehicle serviced if:
Your airbags ever inflate. The
airbags and control unit must
be replaced. Do not try to
remove or replace the airbags yourself. This must be done by
a Honda dealer or a
knowledgeable body shop.
The SRS indicator light alerts
you to a problem. Take your vehicle to an authorized Honda
dealer as soon as possible. If
you ignore this indication, the
airbags might not inflate when
you need them.
Additiona
l Safet y

Precaution s

Do not attempt to deactivate
your airbags. Together, airbags and seat belts provide the best
protection in a moderate to severe frontal collision.
Do not tamper with SRS components or wiring for any
reason. Tampering could cause
the airbags to deploy, possibly
causing very serious injury.
See page 170 for further information and precautions
relating to your SRS.
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y
Ignoring the SRS indicator light
can result in serious injury or
death if the airbags do not inflate when needed.
Have your vehicle checked by a
dealer as soon as possible if
the SRS light alerts you to a potential problem.

the system repaired if the light
does not come on when the key is
turned to the "ON" position
without the engine running or
when the parking brake is set.
This light does not eliminate the need for brake inspection and
maintenance. The brake fluid
level must be checked regularly.See the maintenance section of
this manual for other brake
checks.
If the light remains on after
engine start up with the parking
brake released, or comes on during operation of the vehicle, it
may mean that there is something
wrong with the brake system.

What to do?1. Check to see if the parking
brake has been fully released.
2. If it has, pull off the road and
stop carefully. Remember that: Stopping distances may be
longer.
You may have to push
harder on the pedal. The pedal may go down
farther than normal.
3. Have the vehicle towed to the nearest Honda dealer for
repair.
Do not continue to drive with the
brake system light on. There may
be a serious problem with the braking system. Driving under
this condition is hazardous and
could lead to an accident.
The brake system light does not indicate that the parking brake is
fully set. When applying the
parking brake, always pull it up as
far as possible. Hig
h Bea m
The headlight high beam indicator
lights up when the headlights are
on high beam.

Chargin g Syste m

This light should come on when
the key is turned to the "ON"
position and the alternator is not
charging. The light may stay on at
engine idle; however, it should go off and stay off above the normal
engine idle speed. If the light
comes on while driving, the
charging system should be
checked at once so the battery will
not completely discharge. Stop the engine, and check for a broken
drive belt. If it is broken, or if the
drive belt is not responsible for the trouble, have your Honda
dealer inspect and correct the
fault. If the drive belt is broken,

Instrument s an d Control s

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

distances will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with
reduced traction, avoid maneuvers involving sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking (including
engine braking due to shifting to
lower gear), that could cause the
tires to skid.
Drivers may not realize the surface is slippery until the
vehicle is skidding.
Learn to recognize warning
clues — such as enough water or ice on the road to make a
"mirrored surface"— and slow
down when there is any doubt.
Also see "Traction" under "Tires" in this section. To safely operate your vehicle,
your tires must be the proper type
and size, in good condition with
adequate tread, and correctly
inflated. The following pages give
more detailed information on how
and when to check air pressure,
how to inspect your tires for damage and wear, and what to do
when your tires need to be

replaced.

Driving Tip s

Rapid slowing down or

speeding-up can cause loss
of control on slippery
surfaces. If you crash, you

can be injured.

Use extra care when driving

on slippery surfaces.
Using tires that are excessivelyworn or improperly inflated can
cause a crash in which you
can be seriously hurt or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner's manual regarding tire inflation and maintenance.

Tire
s

Drivin
g fo r Bes t Fue l

Econom y

How, where, and when you drive all affect how many miles/
kilometers you can get from a
gallon/liter of fuel. The careful attention you give your vehicle as
far as maintenance and repairs will also help fuel economy.
Fuel Selection Use only unleaded gasolinemeeting federal government
regulations. The federal
government specifies the
minimum octane rating number of
unleaded gasoline. Unleaded
gasoline must be used for proper
emissions control system
operation. It will also minimize spark plug fouling. The use of
leaded gasoline can damage the
emissions control system and could result in loss of warranty

coverage.

"Jackrabbit" Starts

You can save fuel (and prolong
engine and tire life) by avoiding fast starts away from lights andstop signs.
Stop-and-Go Driving Frequent stop-and-go driving
during a trip will cut down on
your miles per gallon (kilometers
per liter). Plan even your short shopping trips to take advantage
of through streets to avoid traffic
lights. Pace your driving to avoid
unplanned stops.

Excessive Idling
An idling engine uses fuel, too. If
you're faced with more than a few
minutes wait and you're not in traffic, it is better to turn off the
key and start the engine again
later.

Repetitive Harsh Stopping Harsh stops can also waste fuel;instead of moving the vehicle, the
energy is wasted as heat in
braking. Energy in the form of
fuel is also needed to accelerate
back to driving speed.
Lubricants A well-lubricated vehicle meansless friction between moving
parts. This manual lists the proper
lubrication intervals in the "Care
and Maintenance" section.
Air Cleaner Your vehicle gets its power from a
mixture of fuel and air. The air is
taken into the engine through the
Drivin g Tip s
Fue
l Econom y