2001 HONDA PASSPORT Owners Manual

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 .

Inspectio n

Ever y tim e yo u chec k inflation ,
yo u shoul d als o examin e th e tire s
fo r damage , foreig n objects , an d

wear .

Yo u shoul d loo k for : Bump
s o r bulge s i n th e trea d o r
sid e o f th e tire . Replac e the tir e
i f yo u fin d eithe r o f these
conditions . Cuts
, splits , o r crack s i n th e
sid e o f th e tire . Replac e th e tir e
i f yo u ca n see fabric . Excessiv
e trea d wear . You
r vehicle' s tire s hav e wea r
indicator s molde d int o th e tread .
Whe n th e trea d wear s dow n to tha t
point , yo u wil l se e a 1/ 2 inc h (12. 7
mm ) wid e ban d runnin g acros s th e
tread . Thi s show s tha t ther e is les s
tha n 1/1 6 inc h (1. 6 mm ) o f trea d
lef t o n th e tire . A tir e tha t i s thi s
wor n give s ver y littl e tractio n o n
we t roads . Yo u shoul d replac e th e
tir e if yo u ca n see th e trea d wea r
Drivin g Tip s

LABE
L TREA
D
WEA R
INDICATOR S

indicato
r i n thre e o r mor e place s

aroun d th e tire .

Maintenanc e

I n additio n t o prope r inflation ,
correc t whee l alignmen t help s t o
decrease tir e wear . Yo u shoul d get
you r vehicle' s suspensio n part s
inspecte d often , an d aligne d whe n

needed .

Th e tire s wer e properl y balance d
a t th e factory . The y ma y need to
b e rebalance d a t som e tim e befor e
the y ar e wor n out . Hav e you r
deale r chec k th e tire s i f yo u fee l a
consisten t vibratio n whil e driving .
A tir e shoul d alway s b e
rebalance d i f i t i s remove d fro m
th e whee l fo r repair .
Mak e sur e th e installe r balance s
th e wheel s whe n yo u hav e ne w
tire s installed . Thi s increase s ridin
g comfor t an d tir e life . You r
vehicle' s origina l tire s wer e
dynami c o r "spin " balance d a t th e
factory . Fo r bes t results , hav e th e
installe r perfor m a dynami c

balance .

Tir e Rotatio n

T o hel p increas e tir e lif e an d
distribut e wea r mor e evenly , yo u
shoul d hav e th e tire s rotate d ever y
7,50 0 mile s (12,00 0 km) .
Mov
e th e tire s t o th e position s
show n i n th e diagra m eac h tim e

the y ar e rotated .

Replacin g Tire s an d Wheel s

Th e tire s tha t cam e wit h you r
vehicl e wer e selecte d t o matc h it s
performanc e capabilitie s whil e
providin g th e bes t combinatio n o f
handling , rid e comfort , an d lon g
life . Yo u shoul d replac e the m wit h
radia l tire s o f th e same size , loa d
range , spee d rating , an d maximu m
col d tir e pressur e ratin g (a s show n
o n th e tire' s sidewall) . Mixin g
radia l an d bias-pl y tire s o n you r
vehicl e ca n reduc e it s brakin g
ability , traction , an d steerin g

accuracy .

Drivin g Tip s
FRON
T
5 WHEE L
4 WHEE L

W
e urg e yo u no t t o instal l
oversiz e tire s an d wheel s tha t
woul d chang e you r vehicle' s
rid e heigh t an d possibl y affec t
handlin g an d stability . It
is bes t to replac e al l fou r tire s at
th e sam e time . I f tha t i s no t
possibl e o r necessary , the n replac e
th e tw o fron t tire s o r th e tw o rea r
tire s a s a pair . Replacin g jus t on e
tir e ca n seriousl y affec t you r
vehicle' s handling .
Th e AB S work s b y comparin g th e
spee d o f th e wheels . Whe n
replacin g tires , us e th e sam e siz e
originall y supplie d wit h th e
vehicle . Tir e siz e an d constructio n
ca n affec t whee l spee d an d ma y
caus e th e syste m to wor k
inconsistently .
I f yo u eve r nee d t o replac e a
wheel , mak e sur e th e
replacement' s specification s
matc h th e wheel s tha t originall y
cam e o n you r Honda .
Replacemen
t wheel s ar e availabl e

a t you r Hond a dealer .

Wheel s an d Tire s

Wheels :
1 6 x 7 JJ
Tires :
Standar d o n L X 2W D

225/75R1 6

Standar d o n al l othe r model s

245/70R1 6

See page 25 1 fo r informatio n
abou t DO T Tir e Qualit y Grading .
Drivin g Tip s

Installin
g imprope r tire s o n

you r vehicl e ca n affec t

handlin g an d stability . Thi s

ca n caus e a cras h i n whic h

yo u ca n b e seriousl y hur t o r

killed .

Alway s us e th e siz e an d typ e

o f tire s recommende d in thi s
owner' s manual .

Tractio
n

A decreas e i n driving , cornering ,
an d brakin g tractio n occur s whe n
water , snow , ice , gravel , o r othe r
material s ar e o n th e road . Vehicl e
spee d shoul d b e adjuste d to th e
roa d conditions .
Whe n drivin g o n we t o r slush y
roads , a wedg e o f wate r ca n buil d
u p betwee n th e tir e an d road . Thi s
i s know n a s hydroplanin g an d
ma y caus e partia l o r complet e los s
o f traction , vehicl e control , an d
stoppin g ability . T o reduc e th e
chanc e o f tractio n loss , follo w
thes e tips :
1 . Slo w dow n durin g rainstorm s
o r whe n road s ar e slushy .
2 . Slo w dow n if th e roa d ha s
standin g wate r o r puddles . 3.
Replac e tire s whe n the y ar e
wor n t o a poin t wher e 1/1 6
inc h (1. 6 mm ) o r les s trea d
remains , o r cor d o r fabri c
ca n b e seen .
4 . Kee p th e tire s properl y
inflated .

I f you r vehicl e ha s sno w tires , b e

sur e the y ar e th e same size , loa d

range an d constructio n typ e a s you r

othe r tires . Vehicl e spee d shoul d b e

limite d to a maximu m of 7 5 mp h
(12 0 km/h ) whe n equippe d wit h
eithe r passenger vehicle-typ e o r

truck-typ e sno w tires .

Tire Chains
T o preven t tir e chain s fro m
damagin g you r vehicle : Instal
l th e chain s o n th e rea r
tire s a s tightl y a s possible . Tighte
n the m again afte r
drivin g 1/ 4 t o 1/ 2 mil e (0. 4 t o
0. 8 kilometer) . Usin g chain s o n
th e fron t tire s i s no t
recommended . The y ma y
contac t th e bod y an d possibl y
damag e th e vehicle . I f yo u
inten d t o us e chain s o n th e
fron t tires , b e sur e ther e is
enoug h clearance .
D o no t excee d 4 5 mp h
(7 0 km/h ) o r th e chai n
manufacturer' s suggeste d spee d

limi t i f i t i s lower .

Driv e in a restraine d manne r

an d avoi d larg e bumps ,

potholes , sever e turn s o r othe r

maneuver s tha t coul d caus e th e

vehicl e to bounc e u p an d down .

Follo w th e chai n

manufacturer' s instructions .

Drivin g Tip s

Whee
l Replacemen t
Consideration s

Damage d wheel s mus t b e
replaced . Fo r example , replac e
wheel s i f the y ar e bent , cracke d o r
heavil y rusted , o r i f whee l nut s
ofte n become loose . Als o replac e
wheel s tha t lea k ai r (excep t some
aluminu m wheel s tha t ca n b e
repaired) . See you r Hond a dealer .
D o no t us e ben t wheel s tha t hav e
bee n straightened , an d d o no t us e
tube s i n leakin g wheel s designe d
fo r tubeles s tires . Suc h wheel s
ma y hav e structura l damag e an d
coul d fai l withou t warning .
Maximu m loads , maximu m
inflatio n pressures , whee l
identificatio n codes , an d whee l
size s ar e stampe d o n eac h wheel .
Service-teste d an d approve d wheel
s ar e availabl e fro m you r
Hond a dealer .
Whe n obtainin g wheel s fo r an y
reaso n fro m an y othe r source , th e
replacemen t wheel s shoul d b e
equa l i n loa d capacity , inflatio n
pressur e capacity , diameter , width ,
offse t an d mountin g configuratio n
t o thos e originall y installe d o n
you r vehicle . A whee l o f th e
wron g siz e o r typ e ma y adversel y
affec t loa d carryin g capacity ,
whee l an d bearin g life , brak e
cooling , speedometer/odomete r
calibration , stoppin g ability ,
headligh t aim , bumpe r height ,
vehicl e groun d clearance , an d tir e
o r tir e chai n clearanc e t o th e bod y
an d chassis . Replacemen t wit h
use d wheel s is no t advised : The y
ma y hav e bee n subjecte d to hars h treatmen
t o r ver y hig h mileag e an d
coul d fai l withou t warning .
Installin g wheel s and/o r tire s tha t
hav e a highe r loa d carryin g limi t
tha n thos e tha t originall y cam e o n
you r vehicl e doe s no t increas e th e
GAW R o r GVW R o f th e vehicle .
Drivin g Tip s

Fue
l Econom y

Drivin g fo r Bes t Fue l

Econom y

How , where , an d whe n yo u driv e
al l affec t ho w man y miles /
kilometer s yo u ca n ge t fro m a
gallon/lite r o f fuel . Th e carefu l
attentio n yo u giv e you r vehicl e a s
fa r a s maintenanc e an d repair s
wil l als o hel p fue l economy .

Fuel Selection

Us e onl y unleade d gasolin e
meetin g federa l governmen t
regulations . Th e federa l
governmen t specifie s th e
minimu m octan e ratin g numbe r o f
unleade d gasoline . Unleade d
gasolin e mus t b e use d fo r prope r
emission s contro l syste m
operation . I t wil l als o minimiz e
spar k plu g fouling . Th e us e o f
leade d gasolin e ca n damag e th e
emission s contro l syste m an d coul
d resul t i n los s o f warrant y

coverage .

"Jackrabbit" Starts

Yo u ca n sav e fue l (an d prolon g
engin e an d tir e life ) b y avoidin g
fas t start s awa y fro m light s an d
sto p signs .

Stop-and-Go Driving

Frequen t stop-and-g o drivin g
durin g a tri p wil l cu t dow n o n
you r mile s pe r gallo n (kilometer s
pe r liter) . Pla n eve n you r shor t
shoppin g trip s t o tak e advantag e
o f throug h street s t o avoi d traffi c
lights . Pac e you r drivin g t o avoi d
unplanne d stops .

Excessive Idling

A n idlin g engin e use s fuel , too . I f
you'r e face d wit h mor e tha n a fe w
minute s wai t an d you'r e no t i n traffic
, i t i s bette r t o tur n of f th e
ke y an d star t th e engin e agai n

later .

Repetitive Harsh Stopping

Hars h stop s ca n als o wast e fuel ;
instea d o f movin g th e vehicle , th e
energ y is waste d a s hea t i n
braking . Energ y i n th e for m o f
fue l i s als o neede d to accelerat e
bac k t o drivin g speed .

Lubricants
A well-lubricate d vehicl e mean s
les s frictio n betwee n movin g
parts . Thi s manua l list s th e prope r
lubricatio n interval s i n th e "Car e

an d Maintenance " section .

Air Cleaner

You r vehicl e get s it s powe r fro m a
mixtur e o f fue l an d air . Th e ai r i s
take n int o th e engin e throug h th e
Drivin g Tip s

ai
r cleaner , s o it' s importan t t o
replac e th e ai r cleane r filte r a t
require d intervals . Se e "Car e an d
Maintenance. " A dirt y ai r cleane r
filte r reduce s engin e performanc e

an d ca n wast e fuel .

Air Conditioning
Tur n of f th e ai r conditionin g whe n
i t i s no t needed . Th e ai r
conditionin g compresso r i s no t o n
i n thi s positio n an d th e reduce d
engin e loa d ca n improv e fue l

economy .

Tuned Engine

A n engin e tha t i s properl y
maintaine d wil l provid e bette r
fue l econom y tha n on e tha t i s not .
On e misfirin g spar k plu g wil l cu t
fue l econom y significantly , an d
wil l mak e a differenc e in th e
amoun t o f pollutio n emitte d fro m
you r vehicle .
Excessive
Weight

Fue l econom y i s relate d t o th e
wor k th e engin e mus t do . Th e
heavie r th e load , th e mor e fue l i t
take s t o ru n you r vehicle . Kee p
weigh t t o a minimu m b y removin g
unnecessar y luggag e o r cargo .
Tire Inflation
Underinflatio n no t onl y cause s
needles s tir e wea r bu t ca n als o
wast e fuel . It' s a goo d ide a to
chec k tir e pressur e ofte n an d kee p
you r tire s inflate d t o th e pressure s
show n o n th e tir e placar d locate d
o n th e driver' s doorjamb .
Wheel
Alignment

Imprope r alignmen t wil l cause the
fron t tire s t o rol l a t a n angl e tha t
wil l resul t i n faste r tir e wear . I t
take s powe r t o overcom e thi s
imprope r alignment , which , i n
turn , waste s fuel .
Use of 4-Wheel Drive
I n norma l driving , pu t th e

4WD-2W D switc h i n th e 2W D

position .
Drivin g Tip s

Three-Wa
y Catalyti c Converte r
Th e three-wa y catalyti c converte r
i s a n emission s contro l devic e
adde d to th e exhaus t syste m to

reduc e exhaus t ga s pollutants . Th e

converte r contain s a cerami c
materia l coate d wit h nobl e meta l

catalysts . T o preven t

contaminatio n o f th e catalysts ,

unleade d gasolin e mus t b e used .

Unleade d gasolin e als o reduce s

combustio n chambe r deposit s an d

exhaus t syste m corrosion .

Th e three-wa y catalyti c converte r

require s th e us e o f unleade d
gasoline . Us e o f leade d gasolin e
wil l caus e th e converte r t o los e it s

effectiveness .

T o Hel p Preven t Damag e

1 . Kee p you r engin e properl y

maintained . Engin e

malfunction s involvin g th e electrical
, electroni c fue l
injectio n o r ignitio n system s
ma y resul t i n unusuall y hig h
converte r an d exhaus t syste m
temperatures . D o no t kee p
drivin g you r vehicl e i f yo u
detec t engin e misfire ,
noticeabl e los s o f performance ,
o r othe r unusua l operatin g
conditions . Hav e i t service d
promptly . A properl y
maintaine d engin e wil l
minimiz e malfunction s tha t
coul d damage th e converter . I t
wil l als o hel p provid e goo d
emission s contro l an d fue l
economy . (Se e th e
Maintenanc e Schedul e o n page
20 4 fo r informatio n o n
inspectin g an d maintainin g th e
engine , exhaus t syste m an d
othe r components. ) 2
. D o no t pus h o r to w you r
vehicl e t o star t it . Thi s coul d
damag e th e converter .
3 . 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 t o these

materials .

Drivin g Tip s