2001 HONDA PASSPORT Owners Manual

Operatio
n i n

Foreig n Countrie s

I f yo u ar e plannin g t o tak e you r
Hond a outsid e th e U.S . o r
Canada , contac t th e touris t
bureau s i n th e area s yo u wil l b e
travelin g in t o fin d ou t abou t th e
availabilit y o f unleade d gasolin e
wit h th e prope r octan e rating .
I f unleade d gasolin e i s no t
available , b e awar e tha t usin g
leade d gasolin e i n you r Hond a
wil l affec t performanc e an d fue l
mileage , an d damag e it s
emission s controls . I t wil l n o
longe r compl y wit h U.S . an d
Canadia n emission s regulations ,
an d wil l b e illega l t o operat e in
Nort h America . T o brin g you r
vehicl e bac k int o complianc e wil l
requir e th e replacemen t o f severa l
components , suc h a s th e oxyge n
senso r an d th e three-wa y catalyti c
converter . Thes e replacement s
ar e no t covere d unde r warranty .
Accessorie
s & Modification s

Modifyin g you r vehicle , o r
installin g som e non-Hond a
accessories , ca n mak e you r vehicl e
unsafe . Befor e yo u mak e an y
modification s o r ad d an y
accessories , b e sur e to rea d th e

followin g information .

Accessories
You r deale r ha s Genuin e Hond a
accessorie s tha t allo w yo u t o
personaliz e you r vehicle . Thes e
accessorie s hav e bee n designe d an d
approve d fo r you r vehicle , an d ar e
covere d b y warranty .
Non-Hond a accessorie s ar e
usuall y designe d fo r universa l
applications . Althoug h
aftermarke t accessorie s ma y fi t o n
you r vehicle , the y ma y no t mee t
factor y specifications , an d coul d
adversel y affec t you r vehicle' s
handlin g an d stability . (See "Modifications
" o n th e nex t pag e
fo r additiona l information. )
Whe n properl y installed , ca r
phones , alarms , two-wa y radios ,
an d low-powere d audi o system s
shoul d no t interfer e wit h you r
vehicle' s computer-controlle d
Drivin g Tip s

Imprope
r accessorie s o r

modification s ca n affec t

you r vehicle' s handling ,

stabilit y an d performance ,

an d caus e a cras h i n

whic h yo u ca n b e hur t o r

killed .

Follo w al l instruction s i n

thi s owner' s manua l
regardin g accessorie s an d

modifications .

systems
, suc h a s th e SR S an d
anti-loc k brak e system .
However , i f electroni c accessorie s
ar e improperl y installed , o r
excee d you r vehicle' s electrica l
syste m capacity , the y ca n interfer e
wit h th e operatio n o f you r vehicle ,
o r eve n caus e th e airbag s t o
deploy .
Befor e installin g an y accessory : Mak
e sur e th e accessor y doe s
no t obscur e an y lights , o r
interfer e wit h prope r vehicl e
operatio n o r performance . B
e sur e electroni c accessorie s
d o no t overloa d electrica l
circuit s (se e pag e 240 ). Hav
e th e installe r contac t you r
Hond a deale r fo r assistanc e
befor e installin g an y electroni c

accessory .
I
f possible , hav e you r deale r
inspec t th e fina l installation .

Modification s

D o no t remov e an y origina l

equipmen t o r modif y you r vehicl e
i n an y wa y tha t woul d alte r it s

desig n o r operation . Thi s coul d

mak e you r vehicl e unsaf e an d

illega l t o drive .
Fo r example , d o no t mak e an y

modification s tha t woul d chang e

th e rid e heigh t o f you r vehicle , o r

instal l wheel s an d tire s wit h a

differen t overal l diameter .

Suc h modification s ca n adversel y

affec t handling , an d interfer e wit h

th e operatio n o f th e vehicle' s

anti-loc k brake s an d othe r

systems .

I n addition , an y modification s tha t

decrease groun d clearance
increas
e th e chanc e o f
undercarriag e part s strikin g a
curb , spee d bump , o r othe r raise d
object , whic h coul d caus e you r
airbag s t o deploy .
D o no t modif y you r steerin g
whee l o r an y othe r par t o f you r
Supplementa l Restrain t System .
Modification s coul d mak e th e
syste m ineffective .

Additiona l Safet y Precautio n

D o no t attac h o r plac e object s o n
th e airba g covers . An y objec t
attache d to , o r place d on , th e
cover s marke d "SRS, " i n th e
cente r o f th e steerin g whee l an d
o n to p o f th e dashboard , coul d
interfer e wit h th e prope r operatio n
o f th e airbags . Or , i f th e airbag s
inflate , th e object s coul d b e
propelle d insid e th e vehicl e an d
hur t someone .
Drivin g Tip s

Carryin
g Carg o

Your vehicl e ha s severa l
convenien t storag e area s s o yo u
ca n sto w carg o safely .
Th e glov e box , th e consol e
compartment , an d th e pocket s i n
th e fron t doors , seat-backs , an d
carg o are a ar e designe d fo r small ,
lightweigh t items . Th e carg o are a
i s intende d fo r larger , heavie r
items . I n addition , th e bac k sea t
ca n b e folde d dow n t o allo w yo u
t o carr y mor e carg o o r longe r

items .

However , carryin g to o muc h
cargo , o r improperl y storin g it ,
ca n affec t you r vehicle' s handling ,
stability , an d operatio n an d mak e
i t unsafe . Befor e carryin g an y
typ e o f cargo , b e sur e t o rea d th e
followin g pages .
Drivin g Tin s

Loa
d Limi t

Th e maximu m loa d fo r you r

vehicl e is :

LX2W D

manua l trans : 89 5 I b (40 7 kg )
automati c trans : 84 0 I b (38 2 kg )

LX4W D

manua l trans : 90 5 I b (41 1 kg )
automati c trans : 85 0 I b (38 6 kg )
E X
manua l trans : 93 0 I b (42 3 kg )
automati c trans : 87 5 I b (39 8 kg )
Thi s figur e include s th e tota l weigh t
o f al l occupants , cargo , accessories,
an d th e tongu e weigh t i f yo u ar e
towin g a trailer .
T
o figur e ou t ho w muc h carg o

yo u ca n carry :
Ad
d u p th e weigh t o f al l

occupants .
I
f yo u ar e towin g a trailer , ad d

th e tongu e weigh t t o th e

numbe r above .
Subtrac
t th e tota l fro m th e

maximu m loa d figure .

Th e fina l numbe r i s th e tota l

weigh t o f carg o yo u ca n carry .

Drivin g Tip s
Overloadin
g o r imprope r
loadin g ca n affec t handlin g
an d stabilit y an d caus e a
cras h i n whic h yo u ca n b e
hur t o r killed .
Follo w al l loa d limit s an d
othe r loadin g guideline s i n
thi s manual .

Carryin
g Item s i n th e
Passenger Compartmen t
Stor
e o r secur e al l item s tha t
coul d b e throw n aroun d an d
hur t someon e durin g a crash . B
e sur e item s place d o n th e
floo r behin d th e fron t seat s
canno t rol l unde r th e seat s
an d interfer e wit h th e driver' s
abilit y t o operat e th e pedals ,
o r wit h th e prope r operation
o f th e seats .
Kee p th e glov e bo x close d
whil e driving . I f th e li d is open ,
a passenge r coul d injur e hi s
knee s durin g a cras h o r sudde n

stop .
Carryin
g Carg o i n th e Carg o
Are a o r o n a Roo f Rac k
Distribut
e carg o evenl y o n th e
floo r o f th e carg o area , placin g
th e heavies t item s o n th e
botto m an d a s fa r forwar d a s
possible .
I f yo u fol d dow n th e bac k seat ,
ti e dow n item s tha t coul d b e
throw n abou t th e vehicl e
durin g a cras h o r sudde n stop . I
f yo u carr y larg e item s tha t
preven t yo u fro m closin g th e
hatc h glas s o r rea r door ,
exhaus t ga s ca n ente r th e
passenger area . T o avoi d th e
possibilit y o f carbo n monoxid e
poisoning , follo w th e
instruction s o n page 47 . I
f yo u carr y an y item s o n a roo f
rack , b e sur e th e tota l weigh t o f
th e rac k an d th e item s doe s no t
excee d 20 0 Ib (9 0 kg) .
Drivin g Tip s

Traile
r Towin g

You r Hond a vehicl e i s designe d
fo r passenger an d carg o
transportation . Wit h th e prope r
equipmen t installed , you r vehicl e
ca n als o to w a traile r unde r certai n
conditions , a s detaile d in thi s
section . B e sur e t o rea d thi s entire
sectio n an d follo w al l
requirements .
Towin g a traile r wil l hav e a n
effec t o n handling , performance ,
braking , durabilit y an d fue l
consumption .
Honda recommend s tha t yo u d o
no t to w a traile r wit h a ne w
Hond a vehicl e o r on e wit h a ne w
powertrai n componen t (engine ,
transmission , differential ) fo r th e
firs t 50 0 miles . Fo
r you r safet y an d th e safet y
o f others , us e equipmen t
specificall y designe d fo r you r
vehicle . Imprope r towin g
equipmen t an d imprope r
installatio n o f same ca n cause
damage to you r vehicl e an d ma y
als o resul t i n persona l injury .
Additiona l car e an d cautiou s
drivin g habit s ar e essentia l t o
traile r towing .
D o no t excee d 4 5 mp h o r th e
poste d towin g speed limit ,
whicheve r i s lower . Highe r spee d
ma y caus e los s o f vehicl e control .
Drivin g Tip s
Improperl
y loadin g you r

vehicl e an d traile r ca n

seriousl y affec t th e steerin g

an d brakin g performance ,

causin g a cras h i n whic h yo u

ca n b e seriousl y injured .

Chec k th e loadin g o f you r

vehicl e an d traile r carefull y

befor e startin g t o drive .

Follo
w th e recommendation s i n
thi s manua l an d as k you r Hond a
deale r fo r furthe r detail s befor e
yo u to w a traile r wit h you r

Passport .

Towin g a traile r affect s vehicl e
maintenanc e requirement s du e
t o th e additiona l load . Mor e
frequen t maintenanc e interval s
wil l b e require d to assur e
continue d satisfactio n wit h
you r vehicle . Consul t you r
Hond a deale r fo r recommende d
maintenanc e an d service .
Th e gros s traile r weigh t (traile r
weigh t plu s carg o load ) mus t
neve r excee d 4,50 0 Ib .
Additiona l equipmen t wil l b e
required , dependin g o n th e
specifi c model/loa d combination .
See "Traile r Hitches " i n thi s

section .
Exceedin
g th e weigh t limi t wil l
caus e damag e t o you r vehicl e an d
possibl y resul t i n persona l injury . Th
e Gros s Vehicl e Weigh t
Ratin g (GVWR ) i s th e
combine d weigh t o f th e
unloade d vehicle , passengers,
cargo , traile r hitch , traile r
tongu e load , an d optiona l
equipment . Thi s valu e is
indicate d o n th e F.M.V.S.S .
Certificatio n Labe l o n th e
driver' s doorjamb . Th
e Gros s Combine d Weigh t
Ratin g (GCWR ) equal s th e
combine d weigh t o f you r
vehicl e (includin g passengers
an d cargo ) plu s th e tota l traile r
load . Th e followin g limit s

apply .

2WD : 8,70 0 Ib
4WD : 8,95 0 Ib

Th e Gros s Axl e Weigh t Ratin g
(GAWR ) i s als o indicate d o n
th e Certificatio n Label . Th e
loa d o n eithe r th e fron t o r rea r
axl e resultin g fro m distributio n
o f th e gross vehicl e weigh t o n
bot h axle s mus t no t excee d th e
value s listed . Remembe r t o
accoun t fo r additiona l
equipmen t an d tongu e load .

Drivin g Tip s

Tongu
e loa d shoul d b e betwee n
9 percen t an d 1 1 percen t o f th e
tota l traile r weight . However , i t
shoul d neve r excee d 45 0 pounds .
Neve r loa d a traile r wit h mor e
weigh t i n th e rea r tha n in th e
front . Th e fron t shoul d b e
loade d wit h approximatel y
6 0 percen t an d th e rea r wit h
approximatel y 4 0 percen t o f
th e tota l traile r load .
Neve r excee d th e maximu m
weigh t limit s o f th e traile r
o r traile r towin g equipment .
Imprope r loadin g ca n resul t i n
damag e t o you r vehicl e an d
possibl e persona l injury .
Chec k th e vehicl e an d traile r
loadin g an d th e weight s o n
eac h axl e a t a commercia l scal e
o r a highwa y patro l offic e
equippe d wit h a scale .
Traile
r Hitche s

A Clas s 3 hitc h ki t (u p t o
4,50 0 Ib ) i s availabl e fro m you r
Hond a dealer .
Use a trailer equipped with
electric brakes and a "Weight
Distributing Hitch Attachment"
when the gross trailer weight

exceeds 3,500 pounds.

A specia l attachmen t tha t replace s
th e dra w bar/bal l assembl y i s use d
t o distribut e th e prope r weigh t t o
th e fron t axle . I t use s a pai r o f
sprin g bar s tha t ar e adjuste d t o
accomplis h th e distributio n o f th e
weight .
Consul t you r trailer' s
manufacture r fo r assistanc e wit h
selectin g th e prope r weigh t
distributin g hitc h attachment .Chec
k wit h a recreationa l vehicl e
deale r fo r additiona l require d
equipment . Hav e thi s equipmen t
installe d b y a traine d mechanic .
Imprope r equipmen t o r installatio n
ca n damage you r vehicl e an d
cause persona l injury .
D o no t us e axle-mounte d hitche s
o r equipmen t no t designe d fo r
you r vehicle .
D o no t mak e an y modification s t o
th e vehicle' s exhaust , braking , o r
electrica l syste m othe r tha n thos e
tha t ar e show n in th e instruction s
fo r th e Hond a Traile r Hitc h Kit .
Imprope r modification s ca n affec t
vehicl e durability .
Periodi c inspectio n o f al l added -
o n traile r towin g equipmen t i s
necessar y t o assur e continue d saf e

operation .

Drivin g Tip s