2001 HONDA CR-V tires

Indicato
r Light s

Th e instrumen t pane l ha s man y
indicator s t o giv e yo u importan t
informatio n abou t you r vehicle .Th
e U.S . instrumen t pane l i s
shown . Difference s fo r th e Canadia n
model s ar e note d in th e text .
Lo w Oi l Pressur e
Indicato r
Th e engin e ca n b e severel y damage d
i f thi s ligh t flashe s o r stay s o n whe n
th e engin e is running . Fo r complet e

information , se e pag e 281 .

Chargin g Syste m
Indicato r
I f thi s ligh t come s o n whe n th e
engin e is running , th e batter y is no t

bein g charged . Fo r complet e

information , se e pag e 282 . Malfunctio
n Indicato r
Lam p

Se e pag e 283 .

Parkin g Brak e an d
Brak e Syste m
Indicato r
Thi s ligh t ha s tw o functions :
1 . Thi s indicato r come s o n whe n yo u
turn th e ignitio n switc h O N (II) . I t
i s a reminde r t o chec k th e parkin g
brake . Drivin g wit h th e parkin g
brak e no t full y release d ca n
damag e th e brake s an d tires .

2 . I f
th
e indicato r remain s li t afte r

you hav e full y release d th e
parkin g brak e whil e th e engin e is
running , o r i f i t come s o n whil e
driving , i t ca n indicat e a proble m
i n th e brak e system . Fo r complet e
information , see page 28 4 .

Supplementa l Restrain t
Syste m
Indicato
r
Thi s indicato r light 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 a proble m in th e
supplementa l restrain t system . Fo r
complet e information , se e pag e 4 7 .
Sea t Bel t Reminde r Ligh t
Thi s indicato r light s whe n yo u tur n
th e ignitio n switc h O N (II) . I t i s a
reminde r t o yo u an d you r passenger s
t o protec t yourselve s b y fastenin g
th e seat belts . A beeper also sounds
i f yo u hav e no t fastene d you r seat

belt .

I f yo u d o no t faste n you r sea t belt ,
th e beepe r wil l sto p afte r a fe w
seconds but th e ligh t stay s o n unti l
yo u do . Bot h th e ligh t an d th e beepe r
sta y of f i f yo u faste n you r sea t bel t
befor e turnin g o n th e ignition .
Instrument s an d Control s

SRS

U.S.

Canad
a

BRAK E

Preparin
g to Driv e
Yo u shoul d d o th e followin g check s
an d adjustment s ever y da y befor e
yo u driv e you r vehicle .
1 . Mak e sur e al l windows , mirrors ,
an d outsid e light s ar e clea n an d
unobstructed . Remov e frost , snow ,
o r ice .
2 . Chec k tha t th e hoo d an d tailgat e
ar e full y closed .
3 . Visuall y chec k th e tires . I f a tir e
look s low , us e a gaug e t o chec k it s
pressure .
4 . Chec k tha t an y item s yo u ma y b e
carryin g wit h yo u insid e ar e store d
properl y o r fastene d dow n

securely .
5
. Chec k th e adjustmen t o f th e sea t
(se e pag e 7 7 ).
6 . Chec k th e adjustmen t o f th e
insid e an d outsid e mirror s (se e
pag e 8 5).
7 . Chec k th e adjustmen t o f th e
steerin g whee l (se e pag e 6 4).
8 . Mak e sur e th e door s ar e securel y

close d an d locked .

9 . Faste n you r sea t belt . Chec k tha t
you r passenger s hav e fastene d
thei r sea t belt s (se e pag e 15 ). 10.Tur
n th e ignitio n switc h O N (II) .
Chec k th e indicato r light s i n th e
instrumen t panel .
11.Star t th e engin e (se e pag e 16 6).
12.Chec k th e gauge s an d indicato r
light s i n th e instrumen t pane l (se e
pag e 53 ).

Driving

Towin
g a Traile r

Additional Trailer Equipment

Man y state s an d Canadia n province s
requir e specia l outsid e mirror s whe n
towin g a trailer . Eve n if the y don't ,
yo u shoul d instal l specia l mirror s if
yo u canno t clearl y se e behin d you , o r
i f th e traile r create s a blin d spot .
As k you r traile r sale s o r renta l
agenc y i f an y othe r item s ar e
recommende d o r require d fo r you r
towin g situation . Pre-To
w Checklis t
Whe n preparin g to tow , an d befor e
drivin g away , b e sur e t o chec k th e
following : Th
e vehicl e ha s bee n properl y
serviced , an d th e tires , brakes ,
suspension , an d coolin g syste m
ar e in goo d operatin g condition . Al
l weight s an d load s ar e withi n
limit s (se e page s 18 2 an d 183 ). Th
e hitch , safet y chains , an d an y
othe r attachment s ar e secure . Al
l item s o n an d in th e traile r ar e
properl y secure d an d canno t shif t
whil e yo u drive . Th
e light s an d brake s o n you r
vehicl e an d th e traile r ar e workin g
properly . You
r vehicl e tire s an d spar e ar e
properl y inflate d (se e pag e 23 5),
an d th e traile r tire s an d spar e ar e
inflate d a s recommende d b y th e
traile r maker .
Drivin g

Towin
g a Traile r

Handling Crosswinds and Buffeting

Crosswind s an d ai r turbulenc e
cause d b y passin g truck s ca n disrup t
you r steerin g an d caus e traile r
swaying . Whe n bein g passe d b y a
larg e vehicle , kee p a constan t spee d
an d stee r straigh t ahead . D o no t tr y
t o mak e quic k steerin g o r brakin g

corrections .

Backing Up

Alway s driv e slowl y an d hav e
someon e guid e yo u whe n backin g up .
Gri p th e bottom of th e steerin g
wheel; then tur n th e whee l t o th e lef t
t o ge t th e traile r t o mov e to th e left ,
an d tur n th e whee l righ t t o mov e th e
traile r t o th e right .
Parking

Follo w al l norma l precaution s whe n
parking , includin g firml y settin g th e
parkin g brak e an d puttin g th e
transmissio n in Par k (automatic ) o r
i n 1s t o r Revers e (manual) . Also ,
plac e whee l chock s a t eac h o f th e
trailer' s tires .

Drivin g

Off-Highwa
y Guideline s

Drivin g Tip s
Th e followin g page s contai n practica l
tip s o n basi c off-highwa y operation .
Check Out Your Vehicle
Drivin g off-highwa y ca n b e har d o n a
vehicle . Befor e yo u leav e th e
pavement , b e sur e al l schedule d
maintenanc e an d servic e ha s bee n
done , an d tha t yo u hav e inspecte d
you r vehicle . Pa y specia l attentio n to
th e conditio n o f th e tires , an d us e a
gaug e t o chec k th e tir e pressures .
Afte r yo u retur n t o th e pavement ,
carefull y inspec t you r vehicl e t o
mak e sur e ther e is n o damag e tha t
coul d mak e drivin g it unsafe . Chec k
th e tire s fo r damag e an d fo r prope r

pressure .
Controlling
Speed
Off-highway , th e genera l rul e is t o
kee p you r spee d low . O f course ,
you'l l nee d enoug h spee d to kee p
movin g forward . Bu t a t highe r
speeds , yo u hav e les s tim e to asses s
condition s an d mak e good decisions .
There' s als o a greate r chanc e o f
slidin g if yo u brak e o r tur n to o
quickl y o n we t soil , gravel , o r ice . I n
an y situation , neve r g o faste r tha n
condition s allow .
Accelerating
and Braking

Fo r bette r tractio n o n al l surfaces ,
accelerat e slowl y an d graduall y buil d
u p speed . I f yo u tr y t o star t to o fas t
o n we t soil , mud , snow , o r ice , yo u
migh t no t hav e enoug h tractio n to
ge t underway . Yo u ma y eve n di g
yoursel f int o a hole .
Generally , th e bes t off-pavemen t
brakin g techniqu e is t o gentl y
depres s th e brak e pedal , the n
increas e pressur e a s mor e brakin g is
needed . Avoi d har d braking . Kee p in
min d tha t yo u wil l usuall y nee d mor e
tim e an d distanc e to brak e t o a sto p
o n unpave d surfaces .
Tes t you r brake s fro m tim e t o tim e
t o mak e sur e the y ar e operatin g
properly . Thi s wil l als o giv e yo u a
fee l fo r ho w muc h tractio n yo u hav e
o n a give n surface .

CONTINUED

Drivin g

Off-Highwa
y Guideline s

Turning

Off-highway , th e basi c turnin g
techniqu e is t o driv e a t lo w spee d
an d graduall y adjus t th e amoun t o f
steerin g to sui t th e surface .
Yo u shoul d hav e n o proble m makin g
shar p turn s a t lo w spee d o n leve l
ground . Bu t neve r mak e a n abrup t
tur n a t highe r speeds , o n o r of f
pavement . Wit h a highe r cente r o f
gravity , you r vehicl e ca n mor e easil y
ti p o r rol l over .
Drivin
g o n Slope s

Befor e drivin g u p o r dow n a hill , sto p
an d asses s th e situation . I f yo u can' t
clearl y se e al l roa d condition s (goo d
traction , n o bumps , hole s o r othe r
obstacles , a saf e wa y out , etc. ) wal k
th e slop e befor e yo u driv e o n it . I f
yo u hav e an y doub t abou t whethe r
yo u ca n safel y driv e o n th e slope ,
don't do it. Fin d anothe r route .
I f yo u ar e drivin g u p a hil l an d fin d
tha t yo u canno t continu e (becaus e o f
th e steepness , a larg e obstacle , etc.) ,

d o not try to turn around. Your vehicl e

coul d rol l over . Slowl y bac k dow n th e
hill , followin g th e sam e rout e yo u
too k u p th e hill .
Avoidin
g Obstacle s

Bumps , holes , rocks , an d othe r
obstacle s ca n b e hazardous . Debri s
i n th e roa d ca n damag e you r
suspensio n o r othe r components .
Eve n smal l rock s ca n cu t you r tires .
Mor e important , becaus e you r
vehicl e ha s a hig h cente r o f gravity ,
drivin g ove r a larg e obstacle , o r
allowin g a whee l t o dro p int o a dee p
hole , ca n caus e you r vehicl e t o ti p o r
rol l over .
Driv e slo w enoug h t o observ e
obstacle s ahea d an d maneuve r
aroun d them . I f yo u can' t avoi d a
seriou s obstacle , tur n aroun d an d
loo k fo r a bette r route .
Drivin g

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

Tire
s

Us e a gaug e to measur e th e ai r
pressur e a t leas t onc e a month . Eve n
tire s tha t ar e in goo d conditio n ma y
los e on e to tw o ps i (1 0 to 2 0 kPa , 0. 1
t o 0. 2 kgf/cm 2) pe r month .
Remembe r t o chec k th e spar e tir e a t
th e sam e tim e yo u chec k al l th e
othe r tires .
Chec k th e pressur e in th e tire s whe n
the y ar e cold . Thi s mean s th e vehicl e
ha s bee n parke d fo r a t leas t thre e
hours . I f yo u hav e t o driv e th e
vehicl e befor e checkin g th e tir e
pressure , th e tire s ca n stil l b e
considere d "cold " i f yo u driv e les s
tha n 1 mil e (1.6km) . I
f yo u chec k th e pressur e whe n th e
tire s ar e ho t (th e vehicl e ha s bee n
drive n severa l miles) , yo u wil l se e
reading s 4 to 6 ps i (3 0 to 4 0 kPa , 0. 3
t o 0. 4 kgf/cm 2) highe r tha n th e col d
reading . Thi s i s normal . D o no t le t
ai r ou t t o matc h th e specifie d col d
pressure . Th e tir e wil l b e
underinflated .
Yo u shoul d ge t you r ow n tir e
pressur e gaug e an d us e it wheneve r
yo u chec k you r tir e pressures . Thi s
wil l mak e i t easie r fo r yo u t o tel l i f a
pressur e los s i s du e t o a tir e proble m
an d no t du e to a variatio n betwee n

gauges .
Recommended
Tire Pressures for
Normal Driving

Th e followin g char t show s th e
recommende d col d tir e pressure s fo r
mos t norma l drivin g condition s an d
speeds . Tir e pressure s fo r hig h
spee d drivin g ar e th e sam e a s fo r
norma l driving .
Thes e pressure s ar e als o give n o n
th e tir e informatio n labe l o n th e
driver' s doorjamb.
Tubeles s tire s hav e som e abilit y t o
self-sea l i f the y ar e punctured .
However , becaus e leakag e is ofte n
ver y slow , yo u shoul d loo k closel y
fo r puncture s i f a tir e start s losin g

pressure .

Maintenanc e