2001 HONDA PASSPORT service

Ther
e ar e n o provision s i n you r
vehicl e t o ta p int o it s hydrauli c
brakin g system . An y attemp t t o
attac h th e trailer' s brake s t o you r
vehicle' s hydrauli c brakin g
system , n o matte r ho w successfu l
i t ma y seem , wil l lowe r brakin g
effectivenes s an d creat e a
potentia l hazard .

Equipmen t Chec k

Befor e operatin g you r vehicle ,
chec k al l safet y equipmen t t o
ensur e saf e operation . B e sur e
you r vehicl e i s properl y service d
t o avoi d mechanica l failure .
Chec k tha t you r vehicl e remain s
leve l whe n th e loade d o r unloade d
traile r i s hitched . D o no t driv e i f
th e rea r en d o f you r vehicl e i s
abnormall y highe r o r lower .
Chec k fo r prope r tongu e weight ,
overload , imprope r weigh t
distribution
, wor n suspension , o r

othe r possibl e causes .

Mak e sur e th e traile r loa d is
properl y positione d an d secure d
s o it s doe s no t shif t aroun d whil e

driving .

Chec k i f you r rearvie w mirror s

compl y wit h federal , stat e an d

loca l regulations . I f not , confir m

th e prope r mirror s require d fo r

towin g an d hav e the m installed .

Perfor m an equipmen t chec k o f

al l braking, lighting an d safet y

equipmen t t o ensur e the y ar e
workin g properly .
You r safet y depends o n prope r
operatio n an d installatio n o f
equipment . Neve r operat e a
vehicl e wit h fault y equipment .Standard
on 4WD models
Th e limite d sli p differentia l i s
designe d t o improv e tractio n b y
limitin g wheelspin . I f one rear
whee l begin s t o spi n o n a slipper y
surface , th e limite d sli p
differentia l wil l automaticall y
transmi t drivin g forc e t o th e othe r
rea r wheel .
Drivin g Tip s
Limite
d Sli p Differentia l

Maintenanc
e Schedul e

Th e Maintenanc e Schedul e
specifie s ho w ofte n yo u shoul d
hav e you r vehicl e service d an d
wha t thing s nee d attention . I t i s
essentia l tha t yo u hav e you r
vehicl e service d a s schedule d to
retai n it s hig h leve l o f safety ,
dependability , an d emissio n
contro l performance .
Th e service s an d tim e o r distanc e
interval s show n in th e
maintenanc e schedul e assum e yo u
wil l us e you r vehicl e a s norma l
transportation . Yo u should : Avoi
d exceedin g you r vehicle' s
loa d limit . Thi s put s exces s
stres s o n th e engine , brakes , an d
man y othe r part s o f you r vehicle .
Th e loa d limi t i s show n o n th e
labe l o n th e driver' s doorjamb . Operat
e you r vehicl e o n
reasonabl e road s withi n th e
lega l spee d limit . Driv
e you r vehicl e regularl y ove r
a distanc e o f severa l mile s

(kilometers) .
Alway
s us e unleade d gasolin e
wit h th e prope r octan e ratin g
(se e pag e 200 ).
You r authorize d Hond a deale r
know s you r vehicl e bes t an d ca n
provid e competent , efficien t
service . However , servic e a t a
deale r i s no t mandator y t o kee p
you r warrantie s i n effect .
Maintenanc e ma y b e don e b y an y
qualifie d servic e facilit y o r perso n
wh o i s skille d i n thi s typ e o f
automotiv e service . Kee p al l th e
receipt s a s proo f o f completion ,
an d hav e th e perso n wh o doe s th e
wor k fil l ou t th e Maintenanc eRecord
. Chec k you r warrant y
bookle t fo r mor e information .
W e recommen d th e us e o f
Genuin e Hond a part s an d fluid s
wheneve r yo u hav e maintenanc e
done . Thes e ar e manufacture d t o
th e sam e high-qualit y standard s a s
th e origina l components , s o yo u
ca n b e confiden t o f thei r
performanc e an d durability .

U.S . Vehicles :
Maintenance , replacemen t o r repai r
o f emissio n contro l device s an d
system s ma y b e don e b y an y
automotiv e repai r establishmen t o r
individua l usin g part s tha t ar e
"certified " t o EP A standards .

Car e an d Maintenanc e

R
— Replac e L — Lub e I — Inspec t Afte r inspection , clean , adjust , repai r o r replac e i f necessary .

Chec k oi l an d coolan t leve l a t eac h fue l stop . Unde
r sever e drivin g conditions , servic e thes e item s mor e often . Thes e condition s are : Service fo r sever e drivin g condition s Repeate
d shor t trip s i n col d weathe r Frequen t idlin g and/o r frequen t low-spee d operatio n Chang e engin e oi l an d filte r - Ever y 3,75 0 mile s (6,00 0 km ) Drivin
g i n dust y area s Towing a traile r or 3 month s
Chang e rea r axl e oi l - Every 15,00 0 mile s (24,00 0 km )

Car e an d Maintenanc e

Promptl
y tak e an y safet y
problem s t o you r Hond a deale r
fo r servic e advice .
Parkin g brak e — Par k o n a fairl y
stee p hil l and hold th e vehicl e
wit h th e parkin g brak e only . Thi s
check s it s holdin g ability .

Starte r safet y switc h (automati c

transmission ) — Chec k th e safet y
switc h b y tryin g t o star t th e
engin e in eac h gear . Th e starte r
shoul d wor k onl y wit h th e shif t
leve r i n th e "P " (Park ) o r "N "
(Neutral ) position .

Starte r safet y switc h (manua l
transmission ) — To chec k th e

safet y switch , plac e th e shif t leve r
i n "Neutral, " pus h th e clutc h
peda l halfwa y an d tr y t o star t th e
engine . Th e starte r shoul d no t
work . Th e starte r shoul d wor k onl
y whe n th e clutc h peda l i s full y

depressed .

Transmissio n shif t indicato r
(automati c transmission ) —

Chec k tha t th e indicato r point s t o
th e gea r chosen .
Steerin g — Be aler t fo r an y
change s i n steerin g action . A n
inspectio n o r servic e is neede d
whe n th e steerin g whee l i s harde r
t o tur n o r ha s to o muc h fre e play ,
o r i f ther e ar e unusua l sound s
whe n turnin g o r parking .

Whee l alignment , balanc e an d

tire s — Uneve n o r abnorma l tir e
wear , o r pullin g t o th e righ t o r lef t
o n a straigh t an d leve l roa d ma y
sho w th e nee d fo r a whee l
alignment . A vibratio n o f th e
steerin g whee l o r sea t a t norma l
highwa y speed s mean s whee l balancin
g is needed . Chec k tir e
pressure s (includin g th e spare ) a t
leas t monthl y an d wheneve r th e
vehicl e is service d (se e page 163 ).
Brake s — Watc h fo r th e
"BRAKE " ligh t comin g on . Othe r
sign s o f possibl e brak e troubl e ar e
suc h thing s a s repeate d pullin g to
on e sid e whe n braking , unusua l
sound s whe n brakin g o r betwee n
brak e applications , o r increase d
brak e peda l travel . I f yo u not e on e
o f thes e conditions , hav e th e
syste m checke d a t onc e an d
repaire d i f needed .

Car e an d Maintenanc e

Owne
r Safet y Check s

Chang
e th e oi l an d oi l filte r ever y
3,75 0 mile s (6,00 0 kilometers ) o r
ever y thre e month s i f yo u driv e
unde r on e o r mor e o f thes e
"sever e driving " conditions : Drivin
g in dust y areas Towin
g a traile r Frequen
t idlin g o r idlin g fo r
lon g period s Frequen
t shor t trip s ( 4 mile s [ 6
kilometers ] o r less ) i n col d o r
freezin g weather , wher e th e
engin e doe s no t thoroughl y
war m up . Chang
e th e oi l an d oi l filte r a s
soo n a s possibl e afte r drivin g in
a dus t storm .
Oi
l Chang e

Changin g th e oi l an d filte r require s
specia l tool s an d access fro m
underneat h th e vehicle . Th e vehicl e
shoul d b e raise d o n a servic e
station-typ e hydrauli c lif t fo r thi s
service . Unles s yo u hav e th e
knowledg e an d prope r equipment ,
yo u shoul d hav e thi s maintenanc e
don e b y a skille d mechanic .
1 . War m up th e engine . Thi s
make s th e oi l drai n faste r an d
mor e thoroughly .
2 . Remov e th e oi l fille r cap .
3 . Remov e th e drai n plu g an d
drai n oi l fully .
4 . Instal l th e drai n plug , wit h a
ne w gasket , an d tighte n it .
5 . Fil l th e engin e wit h th e prope r
amoun t o f ne w oi l (se e
"Specifications") . Oil
Filter Installation
1 . Remov e th e ol d oi l filte r wit h
th e filte r wrench .
2 . Appl y a ligh t coa t o f engin e
oi l t o th e oi l filte r gasket .
3 . Hand-tighte n th e filte r unti l
th e gaske t contact s th e sealin g

face .

4 . Usin g th e filte r wrench ,
tighte n th e filte r on e ful l turn .
5 . Ru n th e engin e an d inspec t fo r

leaks .

6 . Shu t of f th e engine . Afte r a
coupl e o f minutes , chec k th e
oi l level . I f necessary , ad d oi l
t o brin g it t o th e FUL L mark .
An improperly installed oil filter

can result in severe engine

damage.

Car e an d Maintenanc e
NOTIC
E

Yo
u usuall y d o no t nee d t o remov e
th e radiato r ca p to chec k th e engin e
coolan t level .

Addin g Engin e Coolan t

T o ad d engin e coolant , remov e th e
ca p o n th e radiato r reserv e tan k
an d fil l th e tan k u p t o th e
maximu m leve l mark . Ad d a
50/5 0 mixtur e o f wate r an d a goo d
qualit y ethylen e glyco l antifreeze .I
f yo u nee d t o ad d engin e coolan t
frequently , se e you r Hond a deale r
fo r a coolin g syste m check .
I f th e prope r qualit y antifreez e
i s used , ther e is n o nee d t o ad d
extr a inhibitor s o r additives . The y
ma y b e harmfu l t o th e prope r
operatio n o f th e system .

Coolin g Syste m Servic e

Th e coolin g syste m shoul d b e

service d a t th e interval s specifie d
i n th e Maintenanc e Schedul e a s

follows :
Was
h th e radiato r ca p an d fille r

nec k wit h clea n water .
Chec
k th e engin e coolan t leve l

i n th e radiato r an d hav e i t teste d
fo r freez e protection . Ad d
ethylen e glyco l antifreeze , i f
needed , t o maintai n freez e
protectio n a t -33° F (-36°C) . Hav
e th e coolin g syste m an d
radiato r ca p teste d fo r a
pressur e capacit y of 15 ps i (10 5
kPa) . I f a replacemen t ca p i s
needed , us e a ca p specifie d fo r
you r model . Tighte
n al l radiato r an d heate r
hos e clamp s an d inspec t al l
hoses . Replac e th e hose s i f the y
ar e swollen , "checked, " o r
otherwis e worn . Carefull y
tighte n th e hos e clamp s a t th e
radiator . Overtightenin g coul d
ben d o r collaps e th e radiato r

fittings .
Clean
the fron t o f the radiato r
core and ai r conditionin g

condenser.

I t i s th e owner' s responsibilit y to : Maintai
n th e coolin g syste m
freez e protectio n a t -33° F
Car e an d Maintenanc e

Removin
g th e radiato r ca p

whil e th e engin e i s ho t ca n

caus e th e coolan t t o spra y
out , seriousl y scaldin g you .

Alway s le t th e engin e an d
radiato r coo l dow n befor e

removin g th e radiato r cap .

Custome
r Relation s Informatio n

You r satisfactio n an d goodwil l ar e
importan t t o you r Hond a deale r
an d t o us , America n Hond a Moto r
Co. , Inc . Hond a dealershi p
personne l ar e traine d
professionals . The y shoul d b e
abl e t o answe r al l you r questions .
I f yo u encounte r a proble m tha t
you r dealershi p doe s no t solv e t o
you r satisfaction , pleas e discus s i t
wit h th e dealership' s
management . Th e Servic e
Manage r o r Genera l Manage r ca n
help . Almos t al l problem s ar e
solve d i n thi s way . I
f yo u ar e dissatisfie d wit h th e
decisio n mad e b y th e dealership' s
management , contac t you r Hond a
Custome r Relation s Zon e Office .
Refe r t o th e U.S . Zon e Offic e ma p
o n th e followin g page . Whe
n yo u cal l o r write , pleas e
giv e u s thi s information :
1 . You r name , addres s an d
telephon e numbe r
2 . Vehicl e Identificatio n Numbe :
(see page 232 )
3 . Th e nam e an d addres s o f th e
deale r wh o service s you r
vehicl e
4 . Dat e o f purchas e
5 . Mileag e o n you r vehicl e
6 . Nam e an d addres s o f th e
deale r wh o sol d yo u th e
vehicl e
7 . A detaile d descriptio n o f th e
proble m
Owne r Assistanc e

Don'
t Drin k an d Driv e

Alcoho l i s a leadin g caus e o f
deat h an d injur y off-roa d a s wel l
a s on-road . Alcoho l reduces your
abilit y t o thin k clearl y an d react
quickly . Fatigu e an d drugs , legal
o r illegal , ca n hav e simila r effects .
I f yo u aren' t sobe r o r i n goo d
physica l an d menta l condition ,
don' t drive .
Gettin
g Read y t o Driv e Off-Roa d
Befor e leavin g o n a brie f off-roa d
excursio n o r a n extende d
overnigh t trip , yo u nee d t o mak e
sur e yo u an d you r vehicl e ar e bot h

prepared .

Whe n makin g you r plans ,
remembe r tha t it' s bes t t o trave l
wit h a t leas t on e othe r vehicl e i n cas
e yo u hav e trouble , an d alway s
le t someon e els e kno w wher e
you'r e goin g an d whe n yo u
expec t t o return .
Whateve r you r destination , w e
recommen d that you ge t map s o f
you r rout e s o yo u ca n stud y th e
terrain , tal k wit h othe r driver s
wh o ar e familia r wit h th e location ,
an d fin d ou t i n advanc e i f yo u
nee d an y specia l permits . Then ,
shortl y befor e yo u leave , ge t th e
lates t weathe r prediction s fo r you r
destination , an d chec k o n an y
closure s tha t coul d affec t you r
plans .
Ther e ar e man y source s that can
hel p yo u pla n a trip . Th e U.S .
Fores t Service , Burea u o f Lan d
Management , moto r vehicl e
bureaus , an d par k an d recreatio n
department s ca n provid e map s
Off-Roa d Drivin g Informatio nPlannin
g a Tri p