2001 HONDA CR-V transmission

Parkin
g

Alway s us e th e parkin g brak e whe n
yo u par k you r vehicle . Th e indicato r
o n th e instrumen t pane l show s tha t
th e parkin g brak e is no t full y
released ; i t doe s no t indicat e tha t th e
parkin g brak e is firml y set . Mak e
sur e th e parkin g brak e is se t firml y
o r you r vehicl e ma y rol l i f i t i s
parke d o n a n incline .
I f you r vehicl e ha s a n automati c
transmission , se t th e parkin g brak e
befor e yo u pu t th e transmissio n in
Park . Thi s keep s th e vehicl e fro m
movin g an d puttin g pressur e o n th e
parkin g mechanis m in th e
transmissio n — makin g it easie r t o
mov e th e shif t leve r ou t o f Par k
whe n yo u wan t t o driv e away . I
f th e vehicl e i s facin g uphill , tur n
th e fron t wheel s awa y fro m th e curb .
I f yo u hav e a manua l transmission ,
pu t i t i n firs t gear .
I f th e vehicl e i s facin g downhill , tur n
th e fron t wheel s towar d th e curb . I f
yo u hav e a manua l transmission , pu t
i t i n revers e gear .
Mak e sur e th e parkin g brak e i s full y
release d befor e drivin g away .
Drivin g wit h th e parkin g brak e
partiall y se t ca n overhea t o r damag e
th e rea r brakes . Parkin
g Tip s Mak
e sur e th e window s ar e closed .
Tur n of f th e lights .
Place any packages , valuables , etc. ,
i n th e carg o are a o r tak e the m
wit h you .
Loc k th e doors .
Neve r par k ove r dr y leaves , tal l
grass , o r othe r flammabl e
materials . Th e thre e wa y catalyti c
converte r get s ver y hot , an d coul d
caus e thes e material s t o catc h o n

fire .

Driving

Towin
g a Traile r

Drivin g Safel y Wit h a Traile r
Th e adde d weight , length , an d
heigh t o f a traile r wil l affec t you r
vehicle' s handlin g an d performance ,
s o drivin g wit h a traile r require s
som e specia l drivin g skill s an d
techniques .
Fo r you r safet y an d th e safet y o f
others , tak e tim e t o practic e drivin g
maneuver s befor e headin g fo r th e
ope n road , an d follo w th e guideline s
discusse d below .
Towing Speeds and Gears
Driv e slowe r tha n norma l i n al l
drivin g situations , an d obe y poste d
spee d limit s fo r vehicle s wit h trailers .
I f yo u hav e a n automati c
transmission , us e th e Over-Driv e
(O/D ) mod e whe n towin g a traile r
o n leve l roads . Tur n of f th e Over -
Driv e (O/D ) mod e whe n towin g a
traile r in hill y terrai n (se e pag e 152 ).
(Se e "Driving on Hills" in th e nex t
colum n fo r additiona l gea r information.
)

Making Turns and Braking

Mak e turn s mor e slowl y an d wide r
tha n normal . Th e traile r track s a
smalle r ar c tha n you r vehicle , an d it
ca n hi t o r ru n ove r somethin g th e
vehicl e misses . Allo w mor e tim e an d
distanc e fo r braking . D o no t brak e o r
tur n suddenl y a s thi s coul d caus e th e
traile r t o jackknif e o r tur n over .

Driving on Hills

Whe n climbin g hills , closel y watc h
you r temperatur e gauge . I f i t near s
th e re d mark , tur n th e ai r
conditionin g off , reduc e spee d and , i f
necessary , pul l t o th e sid e o f th e
roa d to le t th e engin e cool .
I f th e automati c transmissio n shift s
frequentl y betwee n 3r d an d 4t h
gear s whil e goin g u p a hill , tur n of f
th e Over-Driv e (O/D ) mod e (se e
pag e 172 ). I
f yo u mus t sto p whe n facin g uphill ,
us e th e foo t brak e o r parkin g brake .
D o no t tr y t o hol d th e vehicl e i n
plac e b y pressin g o n th e accelerator ,
a s thi s ca n caus e th e automati c
transmissio n to overheat .
Whe n drivin g dow n hills , reduc e
you r spee d an d shif t dow n to 2n d
gear . D o no t "ride " th e brakes , an d
remembe r i t wil l tak e longe r t o slo w
dow n an d sto p whe n towin g a trailer .

CONTINUED

Drivin g

Towin
g You r Vehicl e Behin d a Motorhom e

You r CR- V ca n b e towe d behin d a
motorhom e a t lega l highwa y speed s
u p to 6 5 mp h (10 0 km/h) . T o avoi d
damag e t o th e 4W D syste m it mus t
b e "fla t towed " wit h al l fou r wheel s
o n th e ground .
Whe n purchasin g a to w bar , mak e
sur e yo u selec t a reputabl e
manufacture r an d installer . Follo w
th e manufacturer' s attachmen t
instruction s carefully .
Afte r attachin g th e to w ba r t o you r
motorhome , d o th e followin g to
prepar e you r CR- V fo r "fla t towing" :
5-speed
Manual Transmission
Whe
n preparin g to to w you r CR-V ,

mak e sur e th e transmissio n is
fille d to th e correc t leve l (se e pag e

222 ). D o no t overfill . Releas
e th e parkin g brake . Shif
t th e transmissio n t o Neutral .
Leav
e th e ke y in th e ignitio n
switc h an d th e ignitio n switc h in

ACCESSOR Y (I ) s o th e steerin g

whee l doe s no t lock . Mak e sur e

th e radi o an d an y item s plugge d
int o th e accessor y powe r socket s
ar e turne d of f s o yo u d o no t ru n

dow n th e battery .
Automatic
Transmission

Whe n preparin g t o to w you r CR-V ,
mak e sur e th e transmissio n i s ful l o f
fluid . Maintainin g th e correc t leve l i s
ver y important . D o no t overfill . D o

th e followin g every day immediately

before you begin towing. Follow th e

procedur e exactly . Otherwise , sever e
automati c transmissio n damag e wil l
occur .
CONTINUED
Drivin g

Towin
g You r Vehicl e Behin d a Motorhom e
Star
t th e engine .
Pres s o n th e brak e pedal . Shif t th e
leve r throug h al l th e position s (P ,

R , N , D , 2,1 )

Shif t t o D , the n t o N . Le t th e
engin e ru n fo r thre e minutes , the n
tur n of f th e engine .
Releas e th e parkin g brake .
Leav e th e ignitio n switc h i n
ACCESSOR Y (I ) s o th e steering -
whee l doe s no t lock . Mak e sur e
th e radi o an d an y item s plugge d
int o th e accessor y powe r socket s
ar e turne d of f s o yo u d o no t ru n
dow n th e battery .
Extended
Towing
I f yo u to w mor e tha n 8 hour s in on e

day , repea t th e abov e procedur e a t

leas t ever y 8 hours , (whe n yo u sto p

fo r fuel , etc. )

The steering system can be damaged if
the steering wheel is locked. Leave the
ignition switch in Accessory (I), and
make sure the steering wheel turns
freelv before you begin towing.

Failure to follow the above instructions

exactly will result in severe automatic

transmission damage. If vou cannot

shift the transmission or start the

engine, your vehicle must be

transported on a flat-bed truck or

trailer.
Severe
automatic transmission damage
will occur if the vehicle is shifted from
reverse to neutral and then towed with
the drive wheels on the ground.

I f yo u to w a CR- V wit h a n automati c
transmission , th e transmissio n flui d
mus t b e change d ever y tw o year s o r
30,00 0 mile s (50,00 0 km) , whicheve r
come s first .

Drivin g
NOTIC
E
NOTIC E NOTIC
E

Maintenanc
e

Thi s sectio n explain s wh y i t i s
importan t t o kee p you r vehicl e wel l
maintaine d an d t o follo w basi c
maintenanc e safet y precautions .
Thi s sectio n als o include s
Maintenanc e Schedule s fo r norma l
drivin g an d sever e drivin g conditions ,
a Maintenanc e Record , an d instruc -
tion s fo r simpl e maintenanc e task s
yo u ma y wan t t o tak e car e o f
yourself .
I f yo u hav e th e skill s an d tool s t o per -
for m mor e comple x maintenanc e
task s o n you r Honda , yo u ma y wan t
t o purchas e th e Servic e Manual . Se e
pag e 309 for informatio n o n ho w to
obtai n a copy , o r se e you r Hond a

dealer .

Maintenanc e Safety...................... . 198

Importan t Safet y Precautions. . 199

Maintenanc e Schedule................. . 200
Require
d Maintenanc e Record... . 207
Owne r Maintenanc e Checks....... . 209

Flui d Locations.............................. . 210

Engin e Oil...................................... . 211
Addin g Oil.................................. . 211
Recommende d Oil.................... . 211
Syntheti c Oil.............................. . 212

Additives.................................... . 212

Changin g th e Oi l an d Filter..... . 213

Coolin g System............................. . 215

Addin g Engin e Coolant............ . 215
Replacin g Engin e Coolant....... . 217

Windshiel d Washers.................... . 220

Transmissio n Fluid....................... . 221

Automati c Transmission.......... . 221

5-spee d Manua l

Transmission......................... . 222

Rea r Differentia l Fluid................. . 223

Brak e an d Clutc h Fluid................ . 224

Brak e System............................ . 224
Clutc h System........................... . 225

Powe r Steering.............................. . 225

Ai r Cleane r Element..................... . 226

Hoo d Latch.................................... . 227

Spar k Plugs.................................... . 227

Replacement.............................. . 227
Specifications............................
. 228
Battery........................................... . 229
Wipe r Blades................................. . 231
Ai r Conditionin g System.............. . 233
Ai r Conditionin g Filter................. . 234
Driv e Belts..................................... . 234
Timin g Belt.................................... . 235
Tires............................................... . 235
Inflation...................................... . 235
Recommende d Tir e
Pressure s fo r Norma l
Driving........................... . 236
Inspection.................................. . 237
Maintenance.............................. . 237
Tir e Rotation............................. . 238
Replacin g Tire s an d Wheel s ... . 239
Wheel s an d Tires...................... . 240
Winte r Driving.......................... . 240

Sno w Tires............................. . 240

Tir e Chains............................ . 241
Lights............................................. . 242
Headligh t Aiming..................... . 244
Replacin g Bulbs........................ . 246
Storin g You r Vehicle.................... . 253

Maintenanc e

Engin
e Oi l

Th e number s o n th e container' s labe l
tel l yo u th e oil' s viscosit y o r weight .
Selec t th e oi l fo r you r ca r accordin g
t o thi s chart .

A n oi l wit h a viscosit y o f 5W-3 0 is
preferre d fo r improve d fue l econom y
an d year-roun d protectio n in you r

Honda . Yo u ma y us e a 10W-3 0 oi l i f

th e temperatur e in you r are a neve r

goe s belo w 20°F( —7°C) .
Syntheti
c Oi l
Yo u ma y us e a syntheti c moto r oi l i f
i t meet s th e sam e requirement s
give n fo r a conventiona l moto r oil : i t
display s th e AP I Certificatio n Seal ,
an d it i s th e prope r weigh t a s show n
o n th e chart . Whe n usin g syntheti c
oil , yo u mus t follo w th e oi l an d filte r
chang e interval s give n i n th e
maintenanc e schedule . Additive
s
You r Hond a doe s no t requir e an y oi l
additives . Additive s ma y adversel y
affec t you r engine' s o r transmission' s
performanc e an d durability .
Maintenanc e
Ambien
t Temperatur e

Coolin
g Syste m

RESERV E TAN K CA P

HOLDE R
RESERVE TAN K

5 . Remov e th e reserv e tan k fro m its
holde r b y pullin g it straigh t up .
Drai n th e coolant , the n pu t th e
tan k bac k i n it s holder .
6
. Whe n th e coolan t stop s draining ,
tighte n th e drai n plu g a t th e
botto m of th e radiator .
Appl y non-hardenin g sealan t t o th e
drai n bol t threads , pu t a ne w
washe r o n th e drai n bolt , an d
reinstal l th e bol t i n th e engin e
block . Tighte n it securely .
Tightenin g torque :
61 lbf.ft (83 N.
m,8.5 kgf.tn)

7 . Mi x
th
e recommende d antifreez e
wit h a n equa l amoun t o f purifie d
o r distille d wate r i n a clea n
container . Th e coolin g syste m
capacit y is :
Automatic Transmission:

1.03 U S ga l (3. 9 l, 0.8 6 Im p gal )

Manual Transmission:

1.06 U S ga l (4. 0 l, 0.8 8 Im p gal )

FILLE R NEC K

Fil l
u
p to her e
8 . Pou r coolan t int o th e radiato r u p
t o th e bas e o f th e fille r neck .

Maintenanc e

Transmissio
n Flui d

Automati c Transmissio n
Chec k th e flui d leve l wit h th e engin e
a t norma l operatin g temperature .
1 . Par k th e vehicl e o n leve l ground .
Shu t of f th e engine .
2 . Remov e th e dipstic k (yello w loop )
fro m th e transmissio n an d wip e it
wit h a clea n cloth . 3
. Inser t th e dipstic k al l th e wa y int o
th e transmission .
4 . Remov e th e dipstic k an d chec k
th e flui d level . I t shoul d b e
betwee n th e uppe r an d lowe r
marks . 5
. I f th e leve l i s belo w th e lowe r
mark , ad d flui d int o th e fille r hol e
t o brin g it t o th e uppe r mark .
Alway s us e Hond a ATF-Z 1
(Automati c Transmissio n Fluid) . I f
i t i s no t available , yo u ma y us e a
DEXRON ® II I automati c
transmissio n flui d a s a temporar y
replacement . However , continue d
us e ca n affec t shif t quality . Hav e
th e transmissio n flushe d an d
refille d wit h Hond a ATF-Z 1 a s
soo n a s i t i s convenient .
T o thoroughl y flus h th e transmission ,
th e technicia n shoul d drai n an d refil l
i t wit h Hond a ATF-Z 1 (Automati c
Transmissio n Fluid) , the n driv e th e
vehicl e a shor t distance . D o thi s
thre e times . The n drai n an d refil l th e
transmissio n a fina l time .
CONTINUED
Maintenanc e

DIPSTIC
K

UPPER MAR K
LOWE R MAR K