2001 HONDA PASSPORT brake

I
f anythin g goe s wrong , th e AB S
indicato r o n th e instrumen t pane l
come s o n (se e pag e 67 ). Thi s
mean s th e anti-loc k functio n of
th e brakin g syste m ha s shu t down .
Th e brake s stil l wor k lik e a
conventiona l syste m withou t
anti-lock , providin g norma l
stoppin g ability . Yo u shoul d hav e
th e deale r inspec t you r vehicl e a s
soo n a s possibl e i f thi s ligh t stay s
o n afte r yo u star t th e engine , o r
come s o n whil e driving .
Drivin
g Wit h We t Brake s

Drivin g throug h dee p wate r ma y
ge t th e brake s we t an d reduc e
thei r effectiveness . A s a result , th e
vehicl e ma y no t slo w dow n
normall y o r ma y pul l i n on e
directio n o r th e other .
I f yo u driv e throug h dee p water ,
appl y th e brake s lightl y t o se e i f
th e wate r ha s affecte d them . T o
dr y th e brake s quickly , pres s
lightl y o n th e brak e peda l whil e
maintainin g th e sam e spee d wit h
th e accelerato r pedal . Continu e
thi s unti l th e brake s operat e
normally .
Powe
r Brake s

Th e brakin g syste m use s engin e
vacuu m to provid e powe r assist . I f
th e powe r assis t fail s becaus e o f a
stalle d engin e o r othe r reason , th e
reserv e vacuu m in th e syste m wil l
usuall y allo w yo u t o appl y th e
brake s a t leas t on e time .
Th e reserv e vacuu m is partl y use d
u p eac h tim e th e brak e peda l i s
applie d an d released . D o no t
pum p th e brake s whe n th e powe r
assis t ha s bee n lost , excep t whe n
neede d t o maintai n steerin g
contro l o n slipper y surfaces .
Yo u ca n stil l sto p th e vehicl e
withou t th e powe r assis t b y pushin g
harde r o n th e brak e pedal .
However , th e stoppin g distanc e
ma y b e longer , eve n thoug h th e
brake s themselve s remai n full y

operational .

Drivin g Tip s

Self-Adjustin
g Brake s

Th e brake s o n thi s vehicl e ar e
self-adjusting . The y hav e bee n
designe d s o tha t periodi c brak e
adjustmen t i s no t needed .
Th e brakes adjus t themselve s eac h
tim e yo u firml y appl y them .
Thus , i f th e brak e peda l goe s dow n
farthe r tha n norma l du e t o a lac k o f
adjustment , driv e backwar d an d
forwar d a fe w times . Appl y th e
brake s intermittently .
Se e you r Hond a deale r i f th e
brak e peda l heigh t doe s no t retur n
t o norma l o r i f ther e i s a rapi d
increas e i n peda l travel . Eithe r i s a
sig n o f othe r brak e trouble . Also ,
se e you r Hond a deale r i f th e
parkin g brak e needs adjustment .
Brakin
g Tip s

Contro l you r vehicle' s spee d o n a
stee p o r lon g downhil l grad e b y
shiftin g th e transmissio n t o a
lowe r gear . Constantl y usin g th e
brake s ca n caus e the m to overhea t
an d los e effectiveness .
Restin g you r foo t o n th e brak e
peda l whe n yo u ar e no t intendin g
t o brak e ("ridin g th e brakes" ) ca n
caus e the m to overheat . Thi s
reduce s thei r effectiveness, wears
the m ou t faster , an d ca n reduc e
fue l mileage . I t als o causes you r
brak e light s t o sta y o n al l th e time ,
confusin g driver s behin d you .
Brak e Wea r Indicator s
Th e fron t an d rea r brake s hav e
built-i n wea r indicators . Thes e mak
e a high-pitche d squealin g o r
cricket-lik e warnin g soun d whe n
th e brak e pad s o r lining s ar e wor n
t o th e poin t o f replacement . Th e
soun d ma y com e an d g o o r b e
hear d al l th e tim e whe n th e vehicl e
i s moving , bu t ma y sto p whe n th e
brak e peda l i s pushe d dow n firmly .
Expensiv e damag e ca n resul t i f
pad s o r lining s ar e no t replace d
immediatel y whe n needed .
Drivin g o n Slipper y Surface s
Driving , steering , an d brakin g
tractio n ar e reduce d whe n th e
roa d is coate d wit h water , snow ,
ice , gravel , o r othe r materials .
Slo w dow n an d adjus t you r
drivin g t o suc h conditions . I t i s
importan t t o slo w dow n whe n i t i s
slipper y because stoppin g
Drivin g Tip s

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

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

Safet
y Chai n

Alway s use suitabl e safet y chain s
betwee n you r vehicl e an d the

trailer .

Chec k wit h you r traile r
manufacture r fo r th e require d
equipment . Cros s th e safet y
chain s unde r th e hitc h an d attac h
the m to th e traile r hitc h hardware .
Thi s wil l preven t th e traile r fro m
droppin g t o th e groun d i n the
even t th e hitc h disengages. Fo r
prope r us e an d installation ,
consul t you r traile r manufacturer .

Traile r Light s

Traile r light s an d equipmen t mus t
compl y wit h federal , stat e an d
loca l regulations . Chec k wit h you r
loca l recreationa l vehicl e deale r
fo r th e requirement s i n you r area . Us
e onl y equipmen t designe d fo r
you r vehicle .
Imprope r equipmen t o r
installatio n ca n caus e damage to
you r vehicle' s electrica l syste m
an d affec t you r vehicl e warranty .
Consul t you r Hond a deale r fo r
installation .

Tire s

Alway s chec k th e conditio n o f
you r vehicle' s tire s an d trailer' s
tire s befor e operation . Replac e
wor n o r damage d tire s befor e

operation .

Inflat e tir e pressur e t o th e
recommende d col d tir e pressur e
indicate d i n th e tir e
manufacturer' s warrant y bookle t
i n th e glov e bo x packet . Chec
k th e tir e manufacturer' s
requirement s whe n replacemen t
tire s ar e installe d o n you r vehicle .
Traile r tir e condition , size , loa d
rating , an d prope r inflatio n
pressur e shoul d b e i n accordanc e
wit h th e tir e manufacturer' s
specifications . Imprope r tir e siz e
an d inflatio n ca n caus e tir e
failure , possibl y resultin g i n
vehicl e damag e an d persona l

injury .

Traile r Brake s

Trailer s wit h a tota l weigh t o f
1,00 0 pound s o r mor e requir e
traile r brakes . I f you r traile r i s
equippe d wit h a brakin g system ,
mak e sur e i t conform s t o federal ,
state , an d loca l equipmen t
regulations .
Drivin g Tip s

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

Maintenanc
e Schedul 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 . Inspect monthly : Unde
r sever e drivin g conditions , servic e thes e item s mor e often . -These fluids : brake , clutch , P/S , battery , ATF ,
* 1
Usin g SA E 10W-4 0 oil , o r an y viscosit y othe r tha n thos e recommended , ma y reduc e engin e lif e an d affec t th e warranty . windshiel d washe r
* 2 Thi s servic e i s recommende d only . - Tir e pressur e
Car e an d Maintenanc e