2001 HONDA CR-V ESP

Drivin
g i n Ba d Weathe r

Rain , fog , an d sno w condition s re -
quir e a differen t drivin g techniqu e
becaus e o f reduce d tractio n an d
visibility . Kee p you r vehicl e well -
maintaine d an d exercis e greate r
cautio n whe n yo u nee d t o driv e in
ba d weather . Th e cruis e contro l
shoul d no t b e use d in thes e condi -

tions .
Drivin
g Techniqu e — Alway s driv e
slowe r tha n yo u woul d in dr y
weather . I t take s you r vehicl e longe r
t o react , eve n in condition s tha t ma y
see m jus t barel y damp . Appl y
smooth , eve n pressur e to al l the
controls . Abrup t steerin g whee l
movement s o r sudden , har d appli -
catio n o f th e brake s ca n caus e los s o f
contro l i n we t weather . B e extr a
cautiou s fo r th e firs t fe w mile s
(kilometers ) o f drivin g whil e yo u
adjus t t o th e chang e in drivin g
conditions . Thi s i s especiall y tru e in
snow . A perso n ca n forge t som e
snow-drivin g technique s durin g th e
summe r months . Practic e is neede d
t o relear n thos e skills .
Exercis e extr a cautio n whe n drivin g
i n rai n afte r a lon g dr y spell . Afte r
month s o f dr y weather , th e firs t
rain s brin g oi l t o th e surfac e o f the
roadway , makin g it slippery . Visibilit
y — Bein g abl e to se e
clearl y in al l direction s an d bein g
visibl e t o othe r driver s ar e importan t
i n al l weathe r conditions . Thi s i s
mor e difficul t i n ba d weather . T o b e
see n mor e clearl y durin g dayligh t
hours , tur n o n you r headlights .
Inspec t you r windshiel d wiper s an d
washer s frequently . Kee p th e wind -
shiel d washe r reservoi r ful l o f th e
prope r fluid . Hav e th e windshiel d
wipe r blade s replace d if the y star t t o
strea k th e windshiel d o r leav e part s
unwiped . Us e th e defroster s an d ai r
conditionin g to kee p th e window s
fro m foggin g u p o n th e insid e (se e
pag e 103 ).

Drivin g

Exterio
r Car e

Washin g

Frequen t washin g help s preserv e
you r vehicle' s beauty . Dir t an d gri t
ca n scratc h th e paint , whil e tre e sa p
an d bir d dropping s ca n permanentl y
rui n th e finish .
Was h you r vehicl e in a shad y area ,
no t i n direc t sunlight . I f th e vehicl e is
parked in th e sun , mov e it int o th e
shad e an d le t th e exterio r coo l dow n
befor e yo u start .
Onl y us e th e solvent s an d cleaner s
recommende d in thi s Owner' s

Manual .

Chemical solvents and strong cleaners

can damage the paint, metal, and

plastic on you r vehicle.
Rins
e th e vehicl e thoroughl y wit h
coo l wate r t o remov e loos e dirt .
Fil l a bucke t wit h coo l water . Mi x
i n a mil d detergent , suc h a s
dishwashin g liqui d o r a produc t
mad e especiall y fo r ca r washing .
Was h th e vehicl e usin g th e wate r
an d detergen t solutio n an d a soft -
bristl e brush , sponge , o r sof t cloth .
Star t a t th e to p an d wor k you r wa y
down . Rins e frequently .
Chec k th e bod y fo r roa d tar , tre e
sap , etc . Remov e thes e stain s wit h
ta r remove r o r turpentine . Rins e it
of f immediatel y s o it doe s no t
har m th e finish . Remembe r t o re -
wa x thes e areas , eve n if th e res t o f
th e vehicl e doe s no t nee d waxing .Whe
n yo u hav e washe d an d rinse d
th e whol e exterior , dr y i t wit h a
chamoi s o r sof t towel . Lettin g it
air-dr y wil l caus e dullin g an d wate r

spots .

A s yo u dr y th e vehicle , inspec t i t fo r
chip s an d scratche s tha t coul d allo w
corrosio n to start . Repai r the m wit h
touch-u p pain t (se e pag e 25 8 ) .

Appearanc e Car e

NOTIC
E

Corrosio
n Protectio n

Tw o factor s normall y contribut e t o
causin g corrosio n in you r vehicle :
1 . Moistur e trappe d in bod y cavities .
Dir t an d roa d sal t tha t collect s i n
hollow s o n th e undersid e o f th e
vehicl e stay s damp , promotin g
corrosio n in tha t area .
2 . Remova l o f pain t an d protectiv e
coating s fro m th e exterio r an d
undersid e o f th e vehicle . Man
y corrosion-preventiv e measure s
ar e buil t int o you r Honda . Yo u ca n
hel p kee p you r vehicl e fro m
corrodin g b y performin g som e
simpl e periodi c maintenance : Repai
r chip s an d scratche s i n th e
pain t a s soo n a s yo u discove r them . Inspec
t an d clea n ou t th e drai n
hole s i n th e botto m o f th e door s
an d body . Chec
k th e floo r covering s fo r
dampness . Carpetin g an d floo r
mat s ma y remai n dam p fo r a lon g
time , especiall y i n winter . Thi s
dampnes s ca n eventuall y caus e
th e floo r panel s t o corrode . Us
e a high-pressur e spra y t o clea n
th e undersid e o f you r vehicle . Thi s
i s especiall y importan t i n area s
tha t us e roa d sal t i n winter . I t i s
als o a goo d ide a in humi d climate s
an d area s subjec t t o sal t air .
Vehicle s equippe d wit h AB S hav e
a senso r an d wirin g a t eac h wheel .
B e carefu l no t t o damag e them . Hav
e th e corrosion-preventiv e
coating s o n th e undersid e o f you r
vehicl e inspecte d an d repaire d
periodically .

Appearanc e Car e

DO
T Tir e Qualit y Gradin g (U.S . Vehicles )

Temperatur e — A, B , C
Th e temperatur e grade s ar e A (th e
highest) , B , an d C , representin g th e
tire' s resistanc e to th e generatio n o f
hea t an d it s abilit y t o dissipat e hea t
whe n teste d unde r controlle d
condition s o n a specifie d indoo r
laborator y tes t wheel . Sustaine d hig h
temperatur e ca n caus e th e materia l
o f th e tir e t o degenerat e an d reduc e
tir e life , an d excessiv e temperatur e
ca n lea d to sudde n tir e failure . Th e
grade C correspond s t o a leve l o f
performanc e whic h al l passenge r ca r
tire s mus t mee t unde r th e Federa l
Moto r Vehicl e Safet y Standar d No .
109 . Grade s B an d A represen t
highe r level s o f performanc e o n th e
laborator y tes t whee l tha n th e
minimu m require d b y law . Warning
: Th e temperatur e grad e fo r
thi s tir e i s establishe d fo r a tir e tha t
i s properl y inflate d an d no t over -
loaded . Excessiv e speed , underinfla -
tion , o r excessiv e loading , eithe r
separatel y o r i n combination , ca n
caus e hea t buildu p an d possibl e tir e
failure .
Technical Informatio n