2001 HONDA CR-V No start

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

Takin
g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Thi s sectio n cover s th e more -

commo n problem s tha t motorist s

experienc e wit h thei r vehicles . I t
give s yo u informatio n abou t ho w to
safel y evaluat e th e proble m an d wha t
t o d o to correc t it . I f th e proble m ha s
strande d yo u o n th e sid e o f th e road ,
yo u ma y b e abl e to ge t goin g again .
I f not , yo u wil l als o fin d instruction s

o n gettin g you r vehicl e towed .
Changin
g a Fla t Tir e .................... . 26 6
I f You r Engin e Won' t Start.......... . 27 5
Nothin g Happen s o r th e Starte r
Moto r Operate s Ver y

Slowly..................................... 275

Th e Starte r Operate s
Normally................................ . 27 6
Jum p Starting................................ . 27 7
I f You r Engin e Overheats............ . 27 9
Low Oil Pressur e Indicato r ......... . 28 1
Chargin g Syste m Indicator.......... . 28 2
Malfunctio n Indicato r Lam p ....... . 28 3
Brak e Syste m Indicator............... . 28 4
Fuses.............................................. . 28 5
Checkin g an d Replacing.......... . 28 6
Emergenc y Towing...................... . 29 0

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

I
f You r Engin e Won' t Star t

Diagnosin g wh y you r engin e won' t
star t fall s int o tw o areas , dependin g
o n wha t yo u hea r whe n yo u tur n th e
ke y t o STAR T (III) : Yo
u hea r nothing , o r almos t
nothing . Th e engine' s starte r
moto r doe s no t operat e a t all , o r
operate s ver y slowly . Yo
u ca n hea r th e starte r moto r
operatin g normally , o r th e starte r
moto r sound s lik e it i s spinnin g
faste r tha n normal , bu t th e engin e
doe s no t star t u p an d run . Nothin
g Happen s o r th e Starte r
Moto r Operate s Ver y Slowl y
Whe n yo u tur n th e ignitio n switc h t o
STAR T (III) , yo u d o no t hea r th e
norma l nois e o f th e engin e tryin g to
start . Yo u ma y hea r a clickin g soun d
or serie s of clicks , or nothin g at all .
Chec k thes e things : Chec
k th e transmissio n interlock .
I f yo u hav e a manua l transmission ,
th e clutc h peda l mus t b e pushe d
al l th e wa y t o th e floo r o r th e
starte r wil l no t operate . Wit h a n
automati c transmission , i t mus t b e
i n Par k o r Neutral . Tur
n th e ignitio n switc h t o O N (II) .
Tur n o n th e headlight s an d chec k
thei r brightness . I f th e headlight s
ar e ver y di m o r don' t ligh t a t all ,
th e batter y is discharged . Se e

Jum p Startin g o n pag e 27 7.
Tur
n th e ignitio n switc h t o STAR T
(III) . I f th e headlight s d o no t dim ,
chec k th e conditio n o f th e fuses . I f
th e fuse s ar e OK , ther e is proba -
bl y somethin g wron g wit h th e
electrica l circui t fo r th e ignitio n
switc h o r starte r motor . Yo u wil l
nee d a qualifie d technicia n to
determin e th e problem . (Se e

Emergenc y Towin g o n pag e 29 0.)

CONTINUED
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

I
f You r Engin e Won' t Star t
I f th e headlight s di m noticeabl y o r
g o ou t whe n yo u tr y t o star t th e
engine , eithe r th e batter y is dis -
charge d o r th e connection s ar e
corroded . Chec k th e conditio n o f th e
batter y an d termina l connection s
(se e pag e 229 ). Yo u ca n the n tr y
jum p startin g th e vehicl e fro m a
booste r batter y (se e pag e 27 7). Th
e Starte r Operate s Normall y
I n thi s case , th e starte r motor' s
spee d sound s normal , o r eve n faste r
tha n normal , whe n yo u tur n th e
ignitio n switc h t o STAR T (III) , bu t
th e engin e doe s no t run . Ar
e yo u usin g th e prope r startin g
procedure ? Refe r t o Startin g th e
Engin e o n pag e 16 6. D
o yo u hav e fuel ? Tur n th e
ignitio n switc h t o O N (II ) fo r a
minut e an d watc h th e fue l gauge .
Th e lo w fue l leve l warnin g ligh t
ma y no t b e working , s o yo u wer e
no t reminde d t o fil l th e tank . Ther
e ma y b e a n electrica l
problem , suc h a s n o powe r t o th e
fue l pump . Chec k al l th e fuse s
(se e pag e 286 ).
I f yo u fin d nothin g wrong , yo u wil l
nee d a qualifie d technicia n to fin d
th e problem . Se e Emergenc y
Towin g o n pag e 29 0.

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

Jum
p Startin g

I f you r vehicle' s batter y ha s ru n
down , yo u ma y b e abl e to star t th e
engin e b y usin g a booste r battery .
Althoug h thi s seem s lik e a simpl e
procedure , yo u shoul d tak e severa l

precautions .

Yo u canno t star t a Hond a wit h a n
automati c transmissio n b y pushin g
o r pullin g it . T
o jum p star t you r vehicle , follo w
thes e direction s closely :
1 . Ope n th e hoo d an d chec k th e
physica l conditio n o f th e batter y
(se e pag e 229 ). I n ver y col d
weather , chec k th e conditio n o f
th e electrolyte . I f i t seem s slush y
o r lik e ice , d o no t tr y jum p startin g
unti l i t thaws .

If a batter y sits in extreme cold, the

electrolyte inside can freeze.
Attempting to jump start with a frozen
battery can cause it to rupture.
2 . Tur n of f al l th e electrica l acces -
sories : heater , A/C , stere o system ,
lights , etc .
Pu t th e transmissio n i n Neutra l o r
Par k an d se t th e parkin g brake . 3
. Connec t on e jumpe r cabl e to th e
positiv e ( + ) termina l o n you r
Honda' s battery . Connec t th e
othe r en d t o th e positiv e (+ )
termina l o n th e booste r battery .

CONTINUED

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
A
batter y ca n explod e if yo u d o
no t follo w th e correc t procedure ,
seriousl y injurin g anyon e
nearby .
Kee p al l sparks , ope n flames ,
an d smokin g material s awa y
fro m th e battery .
NOTIC
E

Jum
p Startin g

4 . Connec t th e secon d jumpe r cabl e
t o th e negativ e ( — ) termina l o n
th e booste r battery . Connec t th e
othe r en d t o th e groun d wir e o n
th e righ t sid e o f th e engin e a s
shown . D o no t connec t thi s jumpe r
cabl e t o an y othe r par t o f th e

engine .

5 . I f th e booste r batter y i s i n anothe r
vehicle , hav e a n assistan t star t
tha t vehicl e an d ru n it a t a fas t idle .6
. Star t you r vehicle . I f th e starte r
moto r stil l operate s slowly , chec k
th e jumpe r cabl e connection s t o
mak e sur e the y hav e goo d metal -
to-meta l contact .
7 . Onc e you r vehicl e is running ,
disconnec t th e negativ e cabl e fro m
you r vehicle , the n fro m th e
booste r battery . Disconnec t th e
positiv e cabl e fro m you r vehicle ,
the n th e booste r battery . Kee
p th e end s o f th e jumpe r cable s
awa y fro m eac h othe r an d an y meta l
o n th e ca r unti l al l ar e disconnected .
Otherwise , yo u ma y caus e a n
electrica l short .

Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
BOOSTE
R BATTER Y

Lo
w Oi l Pressur e Indicato r
Thi s indicato r shoul d ligh t whe n th e
ignitio n switc h is O N (II) , an d g o ou t
afte r th e engin e starts . I t shoul d
neve r com e o n whe n th e engin e is
running . I f i t start s flashing , i t
indicate s tha t th e oi l pressur e
droppe d ver y lo w fo r a moment , the n
recovered . I f th e indicato r stay s o n
wit h th e engin e running , i t show s
tha t th e engin e ha s los t oi l pressur e
an d seriou s engin e damag e is
possible . I n eithe r case , yo u shoul d
tak e immediat e action .
Running
the engine with low oil
pressure can cause serious mechanical
damage almost immediately. Turn off
the engine as soon as you can safely get
the vehicle stopped.

1 . Safel y pul l of f th e roa d an d shu t
of f th e engine . Tur n o n th e hazar d
warnin g indicators .
2 . Le t th e vehicl e si t fo r a minute .
Ope n th e hoo d an d chec k th e oi l
leve l (se e pag e 155 ). Althoug h oi l
leve l an d oi l pressur e ar e no t
directl y connected , a n engin e tha t
i s ver y lo w o n oi l ca n los e pressur e
durin g cornerin g an d othe r drivin g

maneuvers .
3
. I f necessary , ad d oi l t o brin g th e
leve l bac k t o th e ful l mar k o n th e
dipstic k (se e pag e 211 ).
4 . Star t th e engin e an d watc h th e oi l
pressur e indicator . I f th e ligh t
doe s no t g o ou t withi n te n seconds ,
tur n of f th e engine . Ther e is a
mechanica l proble m tha t need s t o
b e repaire d befor e yo u ca n
continu e driving . (Se e Emergenc y
Towin g o n pag e 29 0.)
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d

NOTIC
E

LO W OI L PRESSUR E INDICATO R

Chargin
g Syste m Indicato r

Thi s indicato r shoul d com e o n whe n
th e ignitio n switc h is O N (II) , an d g o
ou t afte r th e engin e starts . I f i t
come s o n brightl y whe n th e engin e
i s running , i t indicate s tha t th e
chargin g syste m ha s stoppe d
chargin g th e battery . Immediatel
y tur n of f al l electrica l
accessories : radio , heater , A/C , rea r
defogger , cruis e control , etc . Tr y no t
t o us e othe r electrically-operate d
control s suc h a s th e powe r windows .
Kee p th e engin e runnin g an d tak e
extr a car e no t t o stal l it . Startin g th e
engin e wil l discharg e th e batter y
rapidly . B
y eliminatin g a s muc h o f th e
electrica l loa d a s possible , yo u ca n
driv e severa l mile s (kilometers )
befor e th e batter y i s to o discharge d
t o kee p th e engin e running . Driv e t o
a servic e statio n o r garag e wher e
yo u ca n ge t technica l assistance .
Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
CHARGIN
G SYSTE M INDICATO R