2001 HONDA CR-V check engine

Gauge
s

Fue l Gaug e
Thi s show s ho w muc h fue l yo u have .
I t i s mos t accurat e whe n th e vehicl e
i s o n leve l ground . I t ma y sho w
slightl y mor e o r les s tha n th e actua l
amoun t whe n yo u ar e drivin g o n
curv y o r hill y roads . Th
e gaug e stay s a t th e sam e fue l
leve l readin g afte r yo u tur n of f th e
ignition . Whe n yo u ad d fuel , th e
gaug e slowl y change s t o th e ne w
readin g afte r yo u tur n th e ignitio n
switc h bac k O N (II) . Temperatur
e Gaug e
Thi s show s th e temperatur e o f th e
engine' s coolant . Durin g norma l
operation , th e pointe r shoul d ris e
fro m th e botto m whit e mar k t o abou t
th e middl e o f th e gauge . I n sever e
drivin g conditions , suc h a s ver y ho t
weathe r o r a lon g perio d o f uphil l
driving , th e pointe r ma y ris e t o th e
uppe r whit e zone . I f i t reache s th e
re d (Hot ) mark , pul l safel y t o th e
sid e o f th e road . Tur n to pag e 27 9 fo r
instruction s an d precaution s o n
checkin g th e engine' s coolin g

system .

Instrument s an d Control s

ODOMETE
R
TRI
P METE R
RESE T BUTTO NTEMPERATUR
E
GAUG E
FUE
L GAUG E

SPEEDOMETE R

TRI
P METE R
TACHOMETE R

Servic
e Statio n Procedure s

3 . Inser t i t al l th e wa y bac k in it s tube .
UPPE
R MAR K

4 . Remov e th e dipstic k agai n an d
check th e level . I t shoul d b e
betwee n th e uppe r an d lowe r
marks .

I f i t
i
s nea r o r belo w th e lowe r mark ,
see Adding Oil on pag e 211.
Engine
Coolant Check

MI N

Loo k a t
th
e coolan t leve l i n th e
radiato r reserv e tank . Mak e sur e it i s
betwee n th e MA X an d MI N lines . I f
i t i s belo w th e MI N line , se e Addin g
Engin e Coolan t o n pag e 21 5 fo r
informatio n o n addin g th e prope r

coolant .

Refe r t o Owne r Maintenanc e
Check s o n pag e 20 9 fo r informatio n
o n checkin g othe r item s i n you r
Honda .
Befor e Drivin g
LOWE
R MAR K
RESERV
E TAN K

MA X

Fue
l Econom y

Th e conditio n o f you r vehicl e an d
you r drivin g habit s ar e th e tw o mos t
importan t thing s tha t affec t th e fue l
mileag e yo u get .
Vehicl e Conditio n
Alway s maintai n you r vehicl e accord -
in g to th e maintenanc e schedule .
Thi s wil l kee p it i n to p operatin g

condition .

A n importan t par t o f tha t mainte -
nanc e is th e Owne r Maintenanc e
Check s (se e pag e 209 ). Fo r
example , a n underinflate d tir e
cause s mor e "rollin g resistance, "
whic h use s fuel . I t als o wear s ou t
faster , s o chec k th e tir e pressur e a t
leas t monthly .
I n winter , th e build-u p o f sno w o n
you r vehicle' s undersid e add s weigh t
an d rollin g resistance . Frequen t
cleanin g help s you r fue l mileag e an d
reduce s th e chanc e o f corrosion .Drivin
g Habit s
Yo u ca n improv e fue l econom y b y
drivin g moderately . Rapi d acceler -
ation , abrup t cornering , an d har d
brakin g us e mor e fuel .
Alway s driv e i n th e highes t gea r tha t
allow s th e engin e t o ru n an d acceler -
at e smoothly .
Dependin g o n traffi c conditions , tr y
to maintai n a constan t speed . Ever y
tim e yo u slo w dow n an d spee d up ,
you r vehicl e use s extr a fuel . Us e th e
cruis e control , whe n appropriate , t o
increas e fue l economy . A
col d engin e use s mor e fue l tha n a
war m engine . I t i s no t necessar y t o
"warm-up " a col d engin e b y lettin g it
idl e fo r a lon g time . Yo u ca n driv e
awa y in abou t a minute , n o matte r
ho w col d it i s outside . Th e engin e
wil l war m up faster , an d yo u ge t
bette r fue l economy . T o cu t dow n o n
th e numbe r o f "col d starts, " tr y t o
combin e severa l shor t trip s int o one .
Th e ai r conditionin g put s a n extr a
loa d o n th e engin e whic h make s i t
us e mor e fuel . Tur n of f th e A/ C to
cu t dow n o n ai r conditionin g use .
Us e th e flow-throug h ventilatio n
whe n th e outsid e ai r temperatur e is
moderate .

Before Drivin g

Automati
c Transmissio n

You r Honda' s transmissio n ha s fou r
forwar d speeds , an d is electronicall y
controlle d fo r smoothe r shifting . I t
als o ha s a "lock-up " torqu e converte r
fo r bette r fue l economy . Yo u ma y
fee l wha t seem s lik e anothe r shif t
whe n th e converte r locks . Shif
t Leve r Positio n Indicato r
Thi s indicato r o n th e instrumen t
pane l show s whic h positio n th e shif t
leve r i s in .
Th e "D " 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 t i t flashe s
whil e drivin g (i n an y shif t position) ,
i t indicate s a possibl e proble m in th e
transmission . Avoi d rapi d accelera -
tio n an d hav e th e transmissio n
checke d b y a n authorize d Hond a
deale r a s soo n a s possible . Shif
t Leve r Position s

SHIF T LEVE R

Th e shif t leve r ha s si x positions . I t
mus t b e in Par k o r Neutra l t o star t
th e engine . Whe n yo u ar e stoppe d in
D , 2,1 , N or R , pres s firml y o n th e
brak e pedal , an d kee p you r foo t of f
th e accelerato r pedal .
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

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

Inde
x

Disposa l o f Use d Oil..................... . 214
Door s
Lockin g an d Unlocking.............. . 70
Powe r Doo r Locks...................... . 71
DO T Tir e Qualit y Grading.......... . 296
Downshifting , 5-spee d Manua l
Transmission............................. . 168
Driv e Belts..................................... . 234

Driving........................................... . 163

Economy.................................... . 157
I n Ba d Weather......................... . 180
I n Foreig n Countries................ . 299
Drivin g Guidelines........................ . 164

Economy , Fuel.............................. . 157

Emergencie s o n th e Road............ . 265
Battery , Jum p Starting............. . 276
Brak e Syste m Indicator........... . 284
Changin g a Fla t Tire................ . 266
Chargin g Syste m Indicator..... . 282
Checkin g th e Fuses.................. . 286
Lo w Oi l Pressur e Indicator..... . 281
Malfunctio n Indicato r Lamp... . 283
Overheate d Engine.................. . 279 Emergenc
y Brake........................... . 86
Emergenc y Flashers...................... . 63
Emergenc y Towing...................... . 290
Emissio n Controls........................ . 300

Engin e

Coolan t Temperatur e Gauge ..... 57
Malfunctio n Indicato r
Lamp .................................... 54,
282

Oil Pressur e
Indicator........
. 54 ,
281
Oil , Wha t
Kin
d t o Use.............. . 211
Overheating............................... . 279
Specifications............................ . 294
Starting....................................... . 166
Ethano l i n Gasolin e ...................... . 298
Evaporativ e Emissio n Controls... . 300
Exhaus t Fumes............................... . 49
Expectan t Mothers , Us e o f Sea t
Belt s by........................................ . 19
Exterior , Cleanin g the.................. . 256
Fabric , Cleaning............................ . 260
Fan , Interior..................................... . 98
Features , Comfor t an d
Convenience................................ . 97 Fillin
g th e Fue l Tank.................... . 157
Filter s
Air............................................... . 226
Ai r Conditioning....................... .

234

Oil............................................... . 213

5-spee d Manua l
Transmissio
n
Checkin g Flui d Level............... . 222
Shiftin g the................................ . 169
Flashers , Hazard Warning............. . 63
Fla t Tire , Changin g a................... . 213
Fluid s
Automati c Transmission ...........

221

Brake.......................................... . 224
Clutch......................................... . 224
Manua l Transmission.............. . 222
Powe r
Steering..........................
. 225
Rea r Differential....................... . 223
Windshiel d Washer.................. . 220
F M Stere o Radi o
Reception................................... . 125
Foldin g Rea r Seat........................... . 82
Foreig n Countries , Drivin g in..... . 299
Four-wa y Flashers.......................... . 63
CONTINUED

Inde
x

Jack , Tire....................................... . 266

Jum p Starting................................ . 277

Keys.................................................. . 69
Label , Certification....................... . 292
Lan e Change , Signaling................. . 61
La p Belt............................................ . 43
Lap/Shoulde r Belts........................ . 42
Light s
Bul b Replacement.................... . 246
Indicator....................................... . 53
Parking......................................... . 60
Tur n Signal.................................. . 61
LOC K (Ignitio n Ke y Position)...... . 70
Lock s
Anti-thef t Steerin g Column....... . 70
Fue l Fil l Door............................ . 153
Glov e Box.................................... . 77
Powe r Door................................. . 71
Tailgate........................................ . 7 5
Lo w Coolan t Level........................ . 156 Lo
w Fue l Indicato r ......................... . 57
Lo w Oi l Pressur e Indicator... . 54 , 281
Lubrican t Specification s Chart... . 294
Maintenance.................................. . 197
Owne r Maintenanc e Checks... . 209

Record................................. 207-208

Require d Indicator...................... . 58
Safety.......................................... . 198
Schedule............................. .
202-206

Malfunctio n Indicato r
Lamp.
. 54 , 281
Manua l Transmission................... . 168
Manua l Transmissio n Flui d ........ . 222
Meters , Gauges............................... . 56
Methano l i n Gasoline................... . 282

Mirrors , Adjusting.......................... . 86

Neutra l Gea r Position................... . 172
Ne w Vehicl e Break-i n .................. . 152
Norma l Shif t Speeds..................... . 169
NOTICE , Explanatio n of.................. . ii
Numbers , Identification............... . 292
Octan
e Requirement , Gasoline... . 152

Odometer......................................... . 56

Odometer , Trip............................... . 56

Off-Highwa y Guidelines.............. . 191

Oi l
Change , Ho w to ........................ . 213
Change , Whe n to...................... . 202
Checkin g Engine...................... . 155

Pressur e Indicator.............. . 54 , 281

Selectin g Prope r Viscosit y

Chart...................................... . 212

O N (Ignitio n Ke y Position)........... . 70

Openin g th e Tailgate...................... . 75

Operatio n in Foreig n Countries.. . 299

Outsid e Mirrors.............................. . 86
Over-Drive..................................... . 173
Overheating , Engine.................... . 279

Pain t Touch-up.............................. . 258

Pane l Brightnes s Control.............. . 61
CONTINUED