2001 HONDA PASSPORT brake

5-Spee
d Manua l Transmissio n

Th e transmissio n ha s fiv e full y

synchronize d forwar d speeds . Th e

gea r shif t patter n is provide d o n
th e transmissio n leve r knob . Th e
backu p light s tur n o n whe n
shifte d int o th e revers e gear .
Drivin
g Tip s

Alway s depres s an d releas e th e
clutc h peda l full y whe n shifting .
D o no t res t you r foo t o n th e clutc h
peda l whil e driving ; thi s ca n
caus e th e clutc h t o slip , resultin g
i n damag e t o th e clutch .
Whe n yo u ar e stoppe d o n a n
upgrade , d o no t hol d th e vehicl e
i n plac e b y lettin g th e clutc h peda l
u p part-way . Us e th e foo t brak e o r
th e parkin g brake .
Neve r shif t int o revers e gea r unti l
th e vehicl e is completel y stopped .D
o no t "over-speed " th e engin e
whe n shiftin g dow n to a lowe r gear .
Th e shif t leve r canno t b e shifte d
directl y fro m fift h gea r int o
Reverse . Whe n shiftin g int o
Revers e gea r fro m fift h gear ,
depres s th e clutc h peda l an d shif t
completel y int o Neutra l position ,
the n shif t int o Revers e gear .

Instrument s an d Control s

Parkin
g Brak e

Operatio n

T o se t th e parkin g brake , full y
pul l u p o n th e handl e betwee n th e
seats . T o releas e th e parkin g
brake , pul l upwar d slightly . The n
depres s th e pushbutto n an d pus h
dow n al l th e way .
T o hel p remin d you , th e brak e
syste m warnin g ligh t i s designe d
t o com e o n if th e parkin g brak e contro
l i s no t full y release d whe n
th e ke y i s on .
Alway s pul l th e parkin g brak e
leve r a s fa r u p a s possibl e t o mak e
sur e i t set s fully . I f th e parkin g
brak e i s no t full y set , th e vehicl e
coul d rol l i f i t i s parke d o n a n

incline .

Parkin g Tip s

Neve r driv e awa y wit h th e
parkin g brak e stil l set . Thi s ma y
overhea t th e rea r brakes , reducin g
thei r effectivenes s an d causin g
excessiv e wea r o r damage .
Alway s appl y th e parkin g brak e
wheneve r yo u leav e th e vehicle ,
whethe r i t i s equippe d wit h a
manua l o r automati c transmission .I
f you r vehicl e i s equippe d wit h
a n automati c transmission , yo u
shoul d se t th e parkin g brak e
wheneve r yo u leav e th e driver' s
seat . I f th e vehicl e is parke d o n a
grad e an d th e shif t leve r i s place d
i n "P " (Park ) positio n befor e th e
parkin g brak e i s set , th e weigh t
o f th e vehicl e ma y exer t s o muc h
forc e o n th e parkin g mechanis m
i n th e transmissio n tha t yo u ma y
hav e difficult y movin g th e shif t
leve r ou t o f "P " (Park) .
T o preven t this , appl y th e parkin g
brak e BEFOR E yo u mov e th e
shif t leve r t o "P " (Park ) position .
Whe n preparin g t o driv e away ,
mov e th e shif t leve r ou t o f th e
"P " (Park ) positio n BEFOR E yo u
releas e th e parkin g brake . I t i s
goo d drivin g practic e t o se t th e

Instrument s an d Control s

RELEAS
E

Th
e anti-thef t steerin g colum n
loc k i s no t interconnecte d wit h th e
parkin g brake . Yo u mus t alway s
se t th e parkin g brak e whe n
leavin g th e vehicle .
T o preven t dischargin g th e battery ,
avoi d us e o f electrica l accessorie s
wit h th e engin e shu t off .
Fo r easie r ke y operatio n whe n
unlocking , rotat e th e steerin g
whee l slightl y t o reliev e pressur e
o n th e steerin g lock .

Ke y Remova l

Manual Transmission
Wit h th e vehicl e full y stopped ,
remov e th e ke y fro m th e switc h
b y turnin g i t t o th e "LOCK "
positio n an d removin g it . Automatic
Transmission

Wit h th e vehicl e full y stopped , plac e

th e automati c transmissio n shif t

leve r i n "P " (Park ) position . Tur n

th e ke y t o th e "LOCK " position .

Ke y Reminde r

Th e ke y reminde r circui t cause s a
beepe r t o soun d whe n th e doo r i s
hel d ope n wit h th e ke y lef t i n th e
ignitio n switch . Thi s i s t o hel p
preven t accidentall y lockin g th e
ke y insid e th e vehicle .
Th
e beepe r stop s whe n th e doo r i s

close d o r whe n th e ke y i s removed .

Guar d Agains t Thef t

You r ne w Passpor t ha s feature s t o
hel p preven t thef t o f th e vehicle ,
it s equipment , an d it s contents .
Thes e anti-thef t feature s wor k
dependin g o n ho w wel l yo u us e

them .

Par k i n a well-lighte d are a
wheneve r possible .
Loc k th e steerin g colum n an d
tak e th e ke y wit h you .
- Tur n th e ignitio n switc h t o
"LOCK " an d remov e th e key .
Thi s lock s bot h th e ignitio n
switc h an d steerin g control .
Interio r Feature s Removin
g th e ke y fro m th e

ignitio n switc h whil e drivin g

lock s th e steering . Thi s ca n
caus e yo u to los e control .
Remov e th e ke y fro m th e
ignitio n switc h onl y whe n

parked .

Drivin
g Tip s

Before Drivin g .......... . 15 6
Startin g th e Engin e .... . 15 7
Ne w Vehicl e Break-I n .... . 15 8

Parkin g ............... . 15 8

Brake s ................ . 15 9

Tire s ................. . 16 3
Inflatio n ............ . 16 4

Inspectio n ........... . 16 5
Maintenanc e ......... . 16 6
Tir e Rotatio n ......... . 16 6
Replacin g Tire s

an d Wheel s ......... . 16 6

Wheel s an d Tire s ..... . 16 7

Tractio n ............. . 16 8

Tir e Chain s ........ . 16 8
Whee l Replacemen t
Consideration s ...... . 16 9
Fue l Econom y .......... . 17 0
Three-Wa y Catalyti c
Converte r ............ . 17 2 Operatio
n i n
Foreig n Countrie s ...... . 17 3
Accessorie s & Modification s 17 3
Carryin g Carg o .......... . 17 5
Traile r Towin g .......... . 17 8
Traile r Hitche s ....... . 18 0
Safet y Chai n ......... . 18 1
Traile r Light s ......... . 18 1
Tire s ................ . 18 1
Traile r Brake s ........ . 18 1
Equipmen t Chec k ..... . 18 2
Limite d Sli p Differentia l .. . 18 2
Drivin g Tip s

switc
h is turne d t o th e "ON "
o r "START " position .
5 . Chec k al l gauges (includin g
th e fue l gauge) .
6 . Release th e parkin g brak e
(an d mak e sur e th e "BRAKE "
ligh t turn s off) .
Se e relate d topic s i n thi s manua l i f
yo u fin d an y problems .

Startin g th e Engin e

1 . Appl y th e parkin g brake .
2 . Manual Transmission: Press
th e clutc h peda l t o th e floo r
an d shif t th e transmissio n t o
th e Neutra l position . Hol d th e
clutc h peda l t o th e floo r whil e
yo u ar e startin g th e engine . A
starte r safet y switc h keep s th e
starte r fro m operatin g i f th e
clutc h peda l i s no t full y

depressed .
Automatic
Transmission:
Plac e th e shif t leve r i n "P "
o r "N " positio n ("P " i s
preferred) . A starte r safet y
switc h prevent s th e starte r
fro m operatin g i f th e shif t
leve r i s i n an y driv e position .
I f i t i s necessary to restar t th e
engin e wit h th e vehicl e
moving , plac e th e shif t leve r
i n "N " (neve r i n "P") .
3 . D o no t touc h th e accelerato r
pedal . Star t th e engin e b y
turnin g th e ignitio n switc h t o
"START. "
I f th e engin e doe s no t star t i n
1 0 seconds , wai t 1 5 seconds to le t
th e starte r coo l down . The n cran k
th e engin e a t wid e ope n throttl e
fo r a maximu m o f 1 0 seconds . I f
th e engin e stil l doe s no t start , wai t
anothe r 1 5 seconds an d repeat th e
entir e procedure . D
o no t cran k th e engin e fo r mor e
tha n 1 0 second s a t a time . Wai t 1 5
second s befor e tryin g again .
4 . Retur n th e ignitio n switc h t o
th e "ON " positio n a s soo n a s
th e engin e starts .
5 . Appl y th e regula r brake s an d
shif t int o th e prope r gear .
Releas e th e parkin g brak e an d
brak e peda l an d driv e off .
I n model s wit h a n automati c
transmission , yo u canno t shif t
fro m "P " (Park ) positio n t o
an y othe r positio n unles s th e
brak e peda l i s applied .
Drivin g Tip s

Yo
u ma y driv e you r ne w vehicl e
fro m its ver y firs t mile/kilomete r
withou t followin g a forma l
"break-in " schedule. However ,
ther e ar e thing s yo u ca n d o durin g
th e firs t fe w hundre d miles /
kilometer s o f drivin g tha t wil l ad d
t o th e futur e performanc e an d
econom y o f you r vehicle.
I t i s recommende d tha t you r speed
durin g th e firs t 50 0 mile s (80 0
kilometers ) b e limite d to a
maximu m o f 5 5 mp h (9 0 km/h )
an d tha t yo u d o no t driv e fo r lon g
period s a t an y one constant speed,
eithe r fas t o r slow . Durin g thi s
period , avoi d full-throttl e start s
and , i f possible , avoi d har d stops ;
especiall y durin g th e firs t 20 0
mile s (32 0 kilometers ) o f driving .
Alway s driv e a t moderate speed
unti l th e engin e ha s completel y
warme d up .
Parkin
g

Whe n leavin g you r vehicl e

unattended :
Set
th e parkin g brake . Place
th e shif t leve r i n "P "
(Park ) positio n fo r automati c

transmission .
Whe
n parkin g a vehicl e equippe d
wit h a manua l transmissio n o n a n
upwar d slope , o r o n a leve l
surface , plac e th e shif t leve r i n
th e "1st " position . Whe
n parkin g a vehicl e
equippe d wit h a manua l
transmissio n o n a downwar d
slope , plac e the shif t leve r i n
th e "R " (Reverse ) position . Tur
n the ke y t o th e "LOCK "

position .
Remov
e th e key . Th e beeper
wil l remin d you . Clos
e al l window s an d loc k al l

doors .
Chec
k to mak e certai n th e
light s ar e turne d off . Th e
beeper wil l remin d you . I
f you r vehicl e is equippe d wit h
a transfe r case (4WD) , mak e
sur e th e shif t leve r i s in 4 H o r

4L .

Parkin g Tip s
Neve
r driv e th e vehicl e wit h

th e parkin g brak e set . Thi s ca n

overhea t th e rea r brakes ,

reducin g thei r effectivenes s an d
causin g excessiv e wea r o r

damage .
Alway
s appl y th e parkin g brak e

wheneve r yo u leav e th e vehicle ,

whethe r i t i s equippe d wit h a

manua l o r automati c transmission .

Drivin g Tip s

Ne
w Vehicl e Break-I n

I
f you r vehicl e i s equippe d wit h
a n automati c transmission , se t
th e parkin g brak e befor e yo u
leav e th e driver' s seat . I f th e
vehicl e is parke d o n a grad e
an d th e transmissio n shif t leve r
i s place d in "P " (Park ) positio n
befor e yo u se t th e parkin g
brake , th e weigh t o f th e vehicl e
ma y exer t s o muc h forc e o n th e
transmissio n tha t yo u ma y hav e
difficult y movin g th e shif t
leve r ou t o f "P " (Park )
position . T o preven t this , appl y
th e parkin g brak e BEFOR E
movin g th e shif t leve r t o "P "
(Park) . Whe n yo u wan t t o driv e
away , mov e th e shif t leve r ou t
o f th e "P " (Park ) positio n
BEFOR E releasin g th e parkin g
brake . I t i s goo d drivin g
practic e t o se t th e parkin g
brak e first , the n plac e th e
transmissio n i n "PARK " position
, eve n o n leve l

surfaces .
I
f th e parkin g brak e doe s no t
see m to hol d th e vehicl e a s
wel l a s before , hav e th e vehicl e
service d b y you r Hond a dealer .
D o no t par k you r vehicl e ove r
hig h grass , dr y leave s o r othe r
combustibl e materials . Th e
catalyti c converte r get s ver y
ho t an d coul d se t fir e to thes e

materials .
Anti-Loc
k Brake s

You r vehicl e ha s a n Anti-loc k
Brak e Syste m (ABS ) a s standar d
equipment . 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 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 .

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
Drivin g Tip s

Brake
s

hazard
. Thi s is sometime s referre d
t o 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 amount
o f tractio n you r tire s have . O n dr y
pavement , yo u wil l nee d to 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 t o 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 .
AB S Indicato r
Th e AB S is self-checking . Yo u
ma y fee l a sligh t movemen t o f th e
brak e peda l jus t afte r yo u star t th e
engine . Thi s i s th e AB S performin g
a check . I t als o check s itsel f
wheneve r yo u us e th e brakes .
Drivin g Tip s