2001 HONDA CR-V Owners Manual

Automati
c Transmissio n

Whe n th e Over-Driv e i s of f th e
transmissio n select s onl y th e firs t
thre e gears , bu t no t th e fourth . Tur n
th e O/ D of f t o provid e engin e
brakin g whe n goin g dow n a stee p hill .
Yo u ca n als o avoi d th e transmissio n
fro m cyclin g betwee n thir d an d
fourt h gear s i n stop-and-g o driving .Secon
d (2 ) — To shif t t o Second ,
pul l th e shif t leve r toward s you , the n
shif t t o th e lowe r gear . Thi s positio n
lock s th e transmissio n i n secon d
gear . I t doe s no t downshif t t o firs t
gea r whe n yo u com e t o a stop .
Secon d give s yo u mor e powe r whe n
climbing , an d increased engine
brakin g whe n goin g dow n stee p hills .
Us e secon d gea r whe n startin g ou t
o n a slipper y surfac e o r i n dee p snow .
I t wil l hel p reduc e wheelspin .
Firs t (1 ) — To shif t fro m Secon d t o
First , pul l th e shif t leve r toward s you ,
the n shif t t o th e lowe r gear . Wit h th e
leve r i n thi s position , th e transmis -
sio n lock s i n Firs t gear . B y upshift -
in g an d downshiftin g throug h 1 , 2 , D ,
yo u ca n operat e thi s transmissio n
muc h lik e a manua l transmissio n
withou t a clutc h pedal . Engin
e Spee d Limite r
I f yo u excee d th e maximu m spee d
fo r th e gea r yo u ar e in , th e engin e
spee d wil l ente r int o th e tachometer' s
re d zone . I f thi s occurs , yo u ma y fee l
th e engin e cu t i n an d out . Thi s i s
cause d b y a limite r i n th e engine' s
compute r controls . Th e engin e wil l
ru n normall y whe n yo u reduc e th e
RP M belo w th e re d zone .

Drivin g

Automati
c Transmissio n

Shif t Loc k Releas e
Thi s allow s yo u t o mov e th e shif t
leve r ou t o f Par k i f th e norma l
metho d o f pushin g o n th e brak e
peda l an d pullin g th e shif t leve r doe s
no t work .
1 . Se t th e Parkin g brake .
2 . Remov e th e ke y fro m th e ignitio n
switch .
3 . Plac e a clot h o n th e edg e o f th e
shif t loc k releas e slo t cove r o n th e
steerin g column . Remov e th e
cove r b y carefull y pryin g o n th e
edg e wit h a smal l flat-tippe d
screwdrive r (no t include d i n th e

too l kit) .
4
. Inser t th e ke y i n th e Shif t Loc k
Releas e slo t o n th e steerin g

column .

5 . Pus h dow n o n th e ke y whil e yo u
pul l th e shif t leve r toward s yo u
an d mov e it ou t o f Par k t o Neutral . SHIF
T LOC K RELEAS E SLO T
6 . Remov e th e ke y fro m th e Shif t
Loc k Releas e slot , the n reinstal l
th e cover .
Depres s th e brak e peda l an d
restar t th e engine .
I f yo u nee d t o us e th e Shif t Loc k
Release , i t mean s you r vehicl e is
developin g a problem . Hav e th e
vehicl e checke d b y you r Hond a
dealer .
Drivin g

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

Th
e Brakin g Syste m

You r Hond a is equippe d wit h fron t
dis c brakes . Th e brake s o n th e rea r
wheel s ar e drum . Th e brakin g
syste m is power-assiste d t o reduc e
th e effor t neede d o n th e brak e pedal .
Pu t you r foo t o n th e brak e peda l onl y
whe n yo u inten d t o brake . Restin g
you r foo t o n th e peda l keep s th e
brake s applie d lightly , causin g the m
t o buil d u p heat . Hea t build-u p ca n
reduc e ho w wel l you r brake s work . I t
als o keep s you r brak e light s on all
th e time , confusin g driver s behin d

you .
Constan
t applicatio n o f th e brake s
whe n goin g clow n a lon g hil l build s
u p hea t an d reduce s thei r effective -
ness . Us e th e engin e t o assis t th e
brake s b y downshiftin g t o a lowe r
gea r an d takin g you r foo t of f th e
accelerato r pedal .
Chec k you r brake s afte r drivin g
throug h dee p water . Appl y th e
brake s moderatel y t o se e i f the y fee l
normal . I f not , appl y the m gentl y an d
frequentl y unti l the y do . Sinc e a
longe r distanc e is neede d to sto p
wit h we t brakes , b e extr a cautiou s
an d aler t i n you r driving . Brak
e Wea r Indicator s
Th e fron t dis c brake s o n al l vehicle s
hav e audibl e brak e wea r indicators .
Whe n th e brak e pad s nee d replacing ,
yo u wil l hea r a distinctiv e metalli c
"screeching " soun d whe n yo u appl y
th e brakes . I f yo u d o no t hav e th e
brak e pad s replaced , the y wil l begi n
screechin g al l th e time .
You r brake s ma y sometime s squea l
o r squea k whe n yo u appl y the m
lightly . D o no t confus e thi s wit h th e
brak e wea r indicators . The y mak e a
ver y audibl e "screeching. "

Drivin g

Th
e Brakin g Syste m

Brak e Syste m Desig n
Th e hydrauli c syste m tha t operate s
th e brake s ha s tw o separat e circuits .
Eac h circui t work s diagonall y acros s
th e vehicl e (th e left-fron t brak e is
connecte d wit h th e right-rea r brake ,
etc.) . I f on e circui t shoul d develo p a
problem , yo u wil l stil l hav e brakin g
a t tw o wheels .
Anti-loc
k Brake s

U.S. EX, Canadian LX and EX models,

and SE models

AB S help s t o preven t th e wheel s
fro m lockin g u p an d skiddin g durin g
har d braking , allowin g yo u t o retai n
steerin g control . Whe
n th e fron t tire s skid , yo u los e
steerin g control ; th e vehicl e
continue s straigh t ahea d eve n
thoug h yo u tur n th e steerin g wheel .
Th e AB S help s t o preven t lock-u p
an d help s yo u retai n steerin g contro l
b y pumpin g th e brake s rapidly ; muc h
faste r tha n a perso n ca n d o it .
CONTINUED

Drivin g

Fron
t

Th
e Brakin g Syste m

Yo u shoul d neve r pum p th e
brak e pedal , thi s defeat s th e
purpos e o f th e ABS . Le t th e AB S
wor k fo r yo u b y alway s keepin g firm ,
stead y pressur e o n th e brak e peda l
a s yo u stee r awa y fro m th e hazard .
Thi s i s sometime s referre d to a s

"stomp and steer."

Yo u wil l fee l a pulsatio n in th e brak e
peda l whe n th e AB S activates , an d
yo u ma y hea r som e noise . Thi s i s
normal , i t i s th e AB S rapidl y
pumpin g th e brakes .
Activatio n varie s wit h th e amoun t o f
tractio n you r tire s have . O n dr y
pavement , yo u wil l nee d t o pres s o n
th e brak e peda l ver y har d befor e yo u
activat e th e ABS . However , yo u ma y
fee l th e AB S activat e immediatel y i f
yo u ar e tryin g to sto p o n sno w o r ice .
Important
Safety Reminders

AB S doe s no t reduc e th e tim e o r
distanc e i t take s t o sto p th e
vehicle , i t onl y help s wit h steerin g
contro l durin g braking . Yo u shoul d
alway s maintai n a saf e followin g
distanc e fro m othe r vehicles .
AB S wil l no t preven t a ski d tha t
result s fro m changin g directio n
abruptly , suc h a s tryin g to tak e a
corne r to o fas t o r makin g a sudde n
lan e change . Alway s driv e a t a safe ,
pruden t spee d fo r th e roa d an d
weathe r conditions .
AB S canno t preven t a los s o f
stability . Alway s stee r moderatel y
whe n yo u ar e brakin g hard . Sever e
o r shar p steerin g whee l movemen t
ca n stil l caus e you r vehicl e t o vee r
int o oncomin g traffi c o r of f th e road .A
vehicl e wit h AB S ma y requir e a
longe r distanc e t o sto p o n loos e o r
uneve n surfaces , suc h a s grave l o r
snow , tha n a vehicl e withou t anti -
lock . Slo w dow n an d allo w a greate r
distanc e betwee n vehicle s unde r
thos e conditions .

Drivin g

Th
e Brakin g Syste m

Drivin g

ABS
Indicator

ABS INDICATOR *

Th e AB S is self-checking . I f anythin g
goe s wrong , th e AB S indicato r o n
th e instrumen t pane l come s o n (se e
pag e 55 ). Thi s mean s th e anti-loc k
functio n o f th e brakin g syste m ha s
shu t down . Th e brake s stil l wor k lik e
a conventiona l syste m withou t anti -
lock , providin g norma l stoppin g
ability . Yo u shoul d hav e th e deale r
inspec t you r ca r a s soo n a s possible .
*U.S
. indicato r show n

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