2001 HONDA PASSPORT engine

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

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 .

Revers
e thi s procedur e to stor e
th e spar e tire . Connec t th e spar e
tir e t o th e bracke t wit h th e outsid e
o f th e whee l facin g up . Mak e sur e
th e tir e doe s no t catc h o n an y par t
o f th e underbod y o f th e vehicl e a s
yo u ar e raisin g it , an d tha t th e
spar e tir e is store d securel y befor e

driving .
I
f th e engin e overheats : Th
e engin e coolan t temperatur e
gauge pointe r wil l mov e u p to
the "H " o r higher . Engin
e "ping " wil l becom e

excessive .
Los
s o f engin e powe r wil l b e

noticed .
Eithe
r stea m o r boilin g wate r
wil l squir t ou t o f th e radiator .
I f yo u fin d tha t th e engin e i s

overheating :

Sto p th e vehicle , an d tur n o n
th e hazar d warnin g lights . I
f yo u see o r hear stea m o r
coolan t comin g fro m th e
engin e compartment , tur n of f
th e engin e immediately . I
f yo u d o no t se e o r hea r stea m
o r spray , tur n of f th e A/ C (i f
on ) an d ru n th e engin e a t a
spee d slightl y highe r tha n idl e
spee d (abou t 1,50 0 rpm ) fo r
severa l minutes . Watc h th e
coolan t temperatur e gauge . I f i t
remain s a t th e "H " mark , tur n
of f th e engine .
Ope n th e hoo d onl y afte r al l
sign s o f steam o r ho t coolan t
spra y hav e stopped . Loo k fo r
sign s o f a n obviou s leak , suc h
a s a spli t radiato r hose . I f yo u
I n Cas e o f Emergenc y
Stea
m an d spra y fro m a n

overheate d engin e ca n

seriousl y scal d you .

D o no t ope n th e hoo d i f stea m

i s comin g out .

Engin
e Overheatin g

Thi
s sectio n include s instruction s
fo r simpl e maintenanc e tasks ,
suc h a s checkin g an d addin g oil .
An y servic e item s no t detaile d i n
thi s sectio n shoul d b e performe d
b y a Hond a technicia n o r othe r
qualifie d mechanic .
Som e o f th e mos t importan t safet y
precaution s ar e give n below .
However , w e canno t war n yo u o f
ever y conceivabl e hazar d tha t ca n
aris e i n performin g maintenance .
Onl y yo u ca n decid e whethe r o r
no t yo u shoul d perfor m a give n
task .
Importan
t Safet y Precaution s

Befor e yo u begi n an y
maintenance , mak e sur e you r
vehicl e i s parke d o n leve l groun d
an d tha t th e parkin g brak e is on .
Also , b e sur e th e engin e is off .
Thi s wil l hel p t o eliminat e severa l
potentia l hazards :
Carbo
n monoxid e poisonin g

fro m engin e exhaust . B e sur e
ther e is adequat e ventilatio n
wheneve r yo u operat e th e engine .
Burn
s fro m ho t parts . Le t th e

engin e an d exhaus t syste m coo l

befor e touchin g an y parts .
Injur
y fro m movin g parts . D o

no t ru n th e engin e unles s
instructe d t o d o so .
Rea d th e instruction s befor e yo u
begin , an d mak e sur e yo u hav e
th e tool s an d skill s required .
T o reduc e th e possibilit y o f fir e o r
explosion , b e carefu l whe n
workin g aroun d gasolin e o r
batteries . Us e a commerciall y
availabl e degrease r o r part s
cleaner , no t gasoline , t o clea n
parts . Kee p cigarettes , sparks , an d
flame s awa y fro m th e batter y an d
al l fuel-relate d parts .
Yo u shoul d wea r ey e protectio n
an d protectiv e clothin g whe n
workin g nea r th e batter y o r whe n
usin g compresse d air .

Car e an d Maintenanc e
Failur
e to properl y follo w

maintenanc e instruction s an d

precaution s ca n caus e yo u to
b e seriousl y hur t o r killed .
Alway s follo w th e procedure s
an d precaution s in thi s owner' s

manual .

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

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