2001 CR-V 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
Introduction ........................................................................\
................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safety........................................................................\
........................................ .ii
Important Handling Information........................................................................\
.............................iii
Your Vehicle at a Glance........................................................................\
............................................ .2
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
......................................5
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restr\
aint System.
Instruments and Controls........................................................................\
........................................ .51
Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
..................... ..97
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
..........................................................151
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
..................................................................... .163
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
.............................................................197
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take yo ur vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Care........................................................................\
..................................................... .255
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your\
vehicle ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpected........................................................................\
..............................265
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, a nd how to handle them.
Technical Information........................................................................\
............................................ .291
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................305
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)........................................................................\
..............................311
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index........................................................................\
........................................................................\
...... I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.
Owner's Identification Form
Additiona
l Informatio n Abou t You r Airbag s
Durin g a crash , you r sea t bel t help s
restrai n you r lowe r bod y an d torso ,
whil e th e tensione r tighten s an d
lock s the sea t bel t t o hel p kee p yo u
i n place . You r airba g provide s a
cushio n t o hel p restrai n an d protec t
you r hea d an d chest .
Sinc e bot h airbag s us e th e sam e
sensors , bot h airbag s normall y
inflat e a t th e sam e time . However , i t
i s possibl e fo r onl y on e airba g to
inflate .
Thi s ca n occu r whe n th e severit y o f
a collisio n is a t th e margin , o r
threshold , tha t determine s whethe r
o r no t the airbag s wil l deploy . I n
suc h cases , th e sea t bel t wil l provid e
sufficien t protection , an d th e
supplementa l protectio n offere d b y
th e airba g woul d b e minimal . Afte
r inflating , th e airbag s
immediatel y deflate , s o the y won' t
interfer e wit h th e driver' s visibility ,
o r th e abilit y t o stee r o r operat e
othe r controls .
Th e tota l tim e fo r inflatio n an d
deflatio n i s approximatel y one-tent h
o f a second , s o fas t tha t mos t
occupant s ar e no t awar e tha t th e
airbag s deploye d unti l the y se e the m
lyin g in thei r laps . Afte
r a crash , yo u ma y se e wha t
look s lik e smoke . Thi s i s actuall y
powde r fro m th e airbag' s surface .
Althoug h th e powde r i s no t harmful ,
peopl e wit h respirator y problem s
ma y experienc e som e temporar y
discomfort . I f thi s occurs , ge t ou t o f
th e ca r a s soo n a s it i s saf e to do so .
U.S. Owners
Fo r additiona l informatio n o n ho w
you r airbag s work , se e th e bookle t
title d SRS: What You Need to Know
About Airbags that cam e wit h you r
owner' s manual .
Canadian Owners
Fo r additiona l informatio n o n ho w
you r airbag s work , as k you r deale r
fo r a cop y o f th e bookle t title d SRS:
What You Need to Know About Airbags.
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y
Seat
s
Hea d Restraint s
See page 14 for important safety
information and a warning about how to
properly position the head restraints.
Th e hea d restraint s hel p protec t yo u
an d you r passenger s fro m whiplas h
an d othe r injuries . The y ar e mos t
effectiv e whe n yo u adjust them so
th e bac k o f th e occupant' s hea d rest s
agains t th e cente r o f th e restraint . A
talle r perso n shoul d adjus t th e
restrain t a s hig h a s possible.
The hea d restraint s adjust for height .
Yo u nee d bot h hand s t o adjust the
restraint . D o no t attemp t t o adjust it
whil e driving . T o rais e it , pul l upward .
T o lowe r th e restraint , pus h th e
releas e butto n sideway s an d pus h
th e restrain t down . T
o remov e a hea d restrain t fo r
cleanin g o r repair , pul l i t u p a s fa r a s
i t wil l go . Pus h th e release button
an d pul l th e restrain t ou t o f th e seat-
back .
Instrument s an d Control s
RELEAS
E BUTTO N
Heatin
g an d Coolin g
Ven t Control s
Yo u ca n adjus t th e directio n o f th e
ai r comin g fro m th e dashboar d vent s
b y movin g th e ta b in th e cente r o f
eac h ven t up-and-dow n an d side-to -
side .
Th
e vent s i n th e corner s o f th e
dashboar d ca n b e opene d an d close d
wit h th e dial s nex t t o them . Ho
w to Us e th e Syste m
Thi s sectio n cover s ho w to se t u p th e
syste m control s fo r ventilation ,
heating , cooling , dehumidifying , an d
defrosting .
Th e engin e mus t b e runnin g fo r th e
heate r an d ai r conditionin g to
generat e ho t an d col d air . Th e heate r
use s engin e coolan t t o war m th e air .
I f th e engin e is cold , i t wil l b e severa l
minute s befor e yo u fee l war m ai r
comin g fro m th e system .
Th e ai r conditionin g doe s no t rel y o n
engin e temperature .
Comfor t an d Convenienc e Feature s
CENTE
R VEN T SIDE VEN T
Open
Clos e
Accessorie
s an d Modification s
Modifyin g you r vehicle , o r installin g
som e non-Hond a accessories , ca n
mak e you r vehicl e unsafe . Befor e
yo u mak e an y modification s o r ad d
an y accessories , b e sur e t o rea d th e
followin g information .
Accessorie s
You r deale r ha s genuin e Hond a
accessorie s tha t allo w yo u t o
personaliz e you r vehicle . Thes e
accessorie s hav e bee n designe d an d
approve d fo r you r vehicle , an d ar e
covere d b y warranty .
Non-Hond a accessorie s ar e usuall y
designe d fo r universa l applications .
Althoug h aftermarke t accessorie s
ma y fi t o n you r vehicle , the y ma y no t
mee t factor y specifications , an d
coul d adversel y affec t you r vehicle' s
handlin g an d stability . (Se e
"Modifications " o n pag e 159 for
additiona l information. ) Whe
n properl y installed , cellula r
phones , alarms , two-wa y radios , an d
low-powere d audi o system s shoul d
no t interfer e wit h you r vehicle' s
computer-controlle d systems , suc h
a s th e SRS and anti-loc k brak e
system .
However , i f electroni c accessorie s
ar e improperl y installed , o r excee d
you r vehicle' s electrica l syste m
capacity , the y ca n interfer e wit h th e operatio
n o f you r vehicle , o r eve n
caus e th e airbag s t o deploy .
Befor e installin g an y accessory : Mak
e sur e th e accessor y doe s no t
obscur e an y lights , o r interfer e
wit h prope r vehicl e operatio n o r
performance . B
e sur e electroni c accessorie s d o
no t overloa d electrica l circuit s
(se e pag e 284 ). Hav
e th e installe r contac t you r
Hond a deale r fo r assistanc e befor e
installin g an y electroni c accessory .
I f possible , hav e you r deale r inspec t
th e fina l installation .
Befor e Drivin g
Imprope
r accessorie s o r
modification s ca n affec t you r
vehicle' s handling , stabilit y an d
performance , an d caus e a
cras h i n whic h yo u ca n b e hur t
o r killed .
Follo w al l instruction s i n thi s
owner' s manua l regardin g
accessorie s an d modifications .
Malfunctio
n Indicato r Lam p
Thi s indicato r come s o n fo r a fe w
second s whe n yo u tur n th e ignitio n
switc h O N (II) . I f i t come s o n a t an y
othe r time , i t indicate s on e o f th e
engine' s emission s contro l system s
ma y hav e a problem . Eve n thoug h
yo u ma y fee l n o differenc e i n you r
vehicle' s performance , i t ca n reduc e
you r fue l econom y an d caus e you r
vehicl e t o pu t ou t excessiv e
emissions . Continue d operatio n ma y
caus e seriou s damage .
I
f yo u hav e recentl y refuele d you r
vehicle , th e caus e o f thi s indicato r
comin g o n coul d b e a loos e o r
missin g fue l fil l cap . Chec k th e ca p
an d tighte n it unti l i t click s severa l
times . Replac e th e fue l fil l ca p if i t i s
missing . Tightenin g th e ca p wil l no t
mak e th e indicato r tur n of f
immediately ; i t take s thre e drivin g
trips .
I f th e indicato r remain s o n pas t thre e
drivin g trips , o r th e fue l ca p wa s no t
loos e o r missing , hav e th e vehicl e
checke d b y th e deale r a s soo n a s
possible . Driv e moderatel y unti l th e
deale r ha s inspecte d th e problem .
Avoi d full-throttl e acceleratio n an d
drivin g a t hig h speed .
Yo u shoul d als o hav e th e deale r
inspec t you r vehicl e if thi s indicato r
come s o n repeatedly , eve n thoug h it
ma y tur n of f a s yo u continu e driving .
If you keep driving with the
malfunction indicator lamp on, you can
damage your vehicle's emissions
controls and engine. Those repairs may
not be covered by your vehicle's
warranties.
Takin g Car e
o
f th e Unexpecte d
NOTIC
E
MALFUNCTIO N INDICATO R LAM P
Emission
s Control s
Exhaus t Emission s Control s
Th e exhaus t emission s control s
includ e thre e systems : PGM-FI ,
Ignitio n Timin g Contro l an d Thre e
Wa y Catalyti c Converter . Thes e
thre e system s wor k togethe r t o
contro l th e engine' s combustio n an d
minimiz e th e amoun t o f HC , CO , an d
NO x tha t come s ou t th e tailpipe . Th e
exhaus t emission s contro l system s
ar e separat e fro m th e crankcas e an d
evaporativ e emission s contro l
systems .
PGM-FI
System
Th e PGM-F I Syste m use s sequentia l
multipor t fue l injection .
I t ha s thre e subsystems : Ai r Intake ,
Engin e Control , an d Fue l Control .
Th e Engin e Contro l Modul e (ECM )
o r th e Powertrai n Contro l Modul e
(PCM ) use s variou s sensor s t o
determin e ho w muc h ai r i s goin g
int o th e engine . I t the n control s ho w
muc h fue l t o injec t unde r al l operat -
in g conditions .
Ignition Timing Control System
Thi s syste m constantl y adjust s th e
ignitio n timing , reducin g th e amoun t
o f HC , C O an d NO x produced .
Three Way Catalytic Converter
Th e thre e wa y catalyti c converte r i s
i n th e exhaus t system . Throug h
chemica l reactions , i t convert s HC ,
CO , an d NO x in th e engine' s exhaus t
t o carbo n dioxid e (CO 2) , dinitroge n
(N 2) , an d wate r vapor . Replacemen
t Part s
Th e emission s contro l system s ar e
designe d an d certifie d to wor k to -
gethe r i n reducin g emission s t o
level s tha t compl y wit h th e Clea n Ai r
Act . T o mak e sur e th e emission s
remai n low , yo u shoul d us e onl y ne w
genuin e Hond a replacemen t part s o r
thei r equivalen t fo r repairs . Usin g
lowe r qualit y part s ma y increas e th e
emission s fro m you r vehicle .
Th e emission s contro l system s ar e
covere d b y warrantie s separat e fro m
th e res t o f you r vehicle . Rea d you r
warrant y manua l fo r mor e informa -
tion .
Technica l Informatio n
Inde
x
Accessorie s an d Modifications... . 158
Accessories................................ . 158
Additiona l Safet y Precautions. . 159
Modifications............................ . 159
ACCESSOR Y (Ignitio n Ke y
Position)....................................... . 70
Accessor y Powe r Socket............... . 92
Additives , Engin e Oil.................... . 212
Airba g (SRS)..................................... . 9
Ai r Cleane r Element..................... . 226
Ai r Conditioning.............................. . 98
Maintenance.............................. . 233
Usage............................................ . 98
Ai r Conditionin g
Filter................. . 234
Ai r Outlet s
(Vents)....................... . 100
Ai r Pressure ,
Tires.......................
. 235
Norma l Driving......................... . 236
Alcoho l i n Gasoline....................... . 298
Antifreeze...................................... . 215
Anti-loc k Brake s (ABS )
Indicato r Light................... . 55 , 179
Operation................................... . 177
Anti-thef t Steerin g Colum n
Lock.............................................. 69
Appearanc
e Care.......................... . 225
Ashtrays........................................... . 94
Audi o System................................ . 106
Automati c Spee d Control............... . 66
Automati c Transmission.............. . 170
Capacity , Fluid.......................... . 294
Checkin g Flui d Level............... . 221
Shifting....................................... . 170
Shif t Leve r Positio n Indicator. . 170
Shif t Leve r Positions................ . 170
Shif t Loc k Release.................... . 174
Batter y
Chargin g Syste m
Indicator............................ 54 , 281
Jum p Starting............................ . 277
Maintenance.............................. . 229
Specifications............................ . 294
Befor e Driving.............................. . 151
Belts , Seat.......................................... . 8
Beverag e Holder............................. . 88
Bod y Repair................................... . 263
Brake s
Anti-loc k Syste m (ABS)........... . 177 Break-in
, Ne w Lining s ............. .
152
Fluid........................................... . 224
Bul b Replacement.................... . 247
Parking......................................... . 86
Syste m
Indicator.................
. 54 , 284
Wea r Indicators........................ . 176
Brakin g System............................. . 176
Break-in , Ne w Car........................ . 152
Brightnes s Control , Instruments.. . 61
Brights , Headlights........................ . 60
Built-i n Table................................... . 89
Bul b Replacemen t
Back-u p Lights.......................... . 248
Brak e Lights.............................. . 248
Carg o Are a Light...................... . 252
Ceilin g Light.............................. . 252
Fron t Parkin g Lights................ . 247
Fron t Sid e Marke r Lights........ . 247
Headlights................................. . 246
High-moun t Brak e Light......... . 251
Interio r Light............................. . 252
Licens e Plat e Lights................. . 249
Rea r Sid e Marke r Lights......... . 248
Specifications............................. . 295
CONTINUED