2001 HONDA PASSPORT transmission

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 .

fin
d a leak , i t mus t b e repaire d
befor e yo u ca n continu e
driving . (Se e Towin g o n pag e
191 .)
I f yo u don' t fin d a n obviou s
leak , chec k th e coolan t leve l i n
th e radiator reserve tank . I f th e
leve l i s belo w th e MI N mark , ad d
coolan t t o halfwa y betwee n th e
MI N an d MA X marks .
I f ther e wa s n o coolan t i n th e
reserv e tank , yo u ma y als o
hav e t o ad d coolan t t o th e

radiator .

Le t th e engin e coo l dow n unti l
th e pointe r reache s th e middl e
o f th e temperatur e gauge , o r
lower , befor e checkin g th e

radiator .
I
f needed , ad d coolan t t o th e
radiato r t o brin g th e leve l u p t o
th e fille r neck , an d t o th e
reservoi r u p t o th e leve l
indicate d o n th e reservoi r tank .
Prope
r equipmen t mus t b e use d to
preven t damag e t o vehicle s durin g
an y towing . Stat e an d loca l law s
tha t appl y t o vehicle s i n to w mus t
b e followed . Ge t detaile d towin g
instruction s fro m you r Hond a

dealer .

Shoul d it becom e necessar y t o
to w you r vehicle , follo w thes e

directions .

Precaution s
Befor
e towing , mak e sur e tha t
th e powe r train , axle ,
transmission , wheel s an d
steerin g syste m ar e i n goo d
condition .
I f an y o f thes e item s ar e
damaged , a flatbe d traile r mus t
b e used .
I n Cas e o f Emergenc y

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 . Towin
g

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

Spar
k Plug s

Replac e th e spar k plug s wit h th e
typ e specifie d in th e "Technica l

Data " section .

Clutc h

Chec k th e clutc h pla y a t th e pedal .
Lubricat e th e clutc h peda l bushin g
an d clevi s pin , a t th e interval s
show n in th e Maintenanc e
Schedule , wit h water-resistan t
chassi s lubricant . I f yo u hea r a
squeakin g nois e comin g fro m th e
are a o f th e bushin g o r clevi s pi n a t
th e clutc h peda l ar m whe n th e
clutc h peda l i s depressed ,
lubricat e it wit h water-resistan t E P
chassi s grease .
Chec k th e flui d leve l i n th e clutc h
reservoi r a t th e interva l show n in
th e Maintenanc e Schedule . I f th e
flui d i s lo w in th e reservoir , i t
shoul
d b e fille d to th e maximum
leve l lin e wit h DOT-3 or DOT-4

fluid .

Flui d o r Lubrican t Level s

Chec k th e flui d o r lubrican t leve l
i n th e brak e maste r cylinder ,
clutc h maste r cylinder , powe r
steerin g reservoir , rea r axle ,
engin e an d transmission ,
windshiel d washe r reservoi r an d
engin e coolan t a t specifie d
intervals .
Powe
r Steerin g

Chec k th e flui d leve l i n th e powe r
steerin g flui d reservoi r a s
recommende d in th e Maintenanc e
Schedule . Th e flui d leve l shoul d
b e betwee n th e "MIN " an d
"MAX " mark s o n th e reservoir .

Us e onl y automati c transmissio n

flui d labele d DEXRO N III .

Car e an d Maintenanc e

equipmen
t o n th e vehicl e whe n it
wa s shippe d fro m th e factory . B e
sur e t o provid e thi s informatio n t o
you r authorize d Hond a deale r
whe n it i s necessar y t o orde r

parts .
Vehicl
e Loadin g
Vehicl e Loadin g Informatio n

Th e component s o f you r vehicl e
ar e designe d to provid e
satisfactor y servic e onl y i f th e
vehicl e is no t loade d in exces s o f
eithe r th e Gros s Vehicl e Weigh t
Ratin g (GVWR ) o r th e maximu m
fron t an d rea r Gros s Axl e Weigh t
Rating s (GAWRs) . Thes e rating s
ar e liste d o n th e Vehicl e
Certificatio n Labe l locate d o n th e
lef t doo r loc k pillar .
You r Hond a deale r ca n advis e yo u
o f th e prope r loadin g condition s
fo r you r vehicle . Th e us e o f
selecte d heavie r suspensio n
component s fo r adde d durabilit y
purpose s doe s no t increas e an y o f
th e weigh t rating s printe d o n th e
Vehicl e Certificatio n Label .
Maximu
m Fron t an d Rea r
Axl e Weigh t
Th e weigh t o f th e carg o loa d mus t
b e properl y distribute d ove r bot h
th e fron t an d rea r axles . Th e
Certificatio n Labe l show s th e
maximu m weigh t tha t th e fron t
axl e (fron t GAWR ) ca n carry . I t
als o show s th e maximu m weigh t
tha t th e rea r axl e (rea r GAWR ) ca n
carry . Th e GVW R represent s th e
maximu m permissibl e loade d
weigh t o f th e vehicl e an d take s
int o accoun t th e engine ,
transmission , frame , springs ,
brake , axle , an d tir e capabilities .
Actua l load s o n th e fron t an d rea r
axle s ca n onl y b e determine d b y
weighin g th e vehicle . Thi s ca n b e
don e a t highwa y weigh t station s
o r othe r suc h commercia l weig h
stations . Consul t you r Hond a
deale r fo r assistance . Th e carg o
Technica l Dat a

I
f yo u don' t kno w th e answer s t o

thes e question s befor e beginnin g

a n ascent , stop , wal k u p th e hil l
an d fin d out .

I f yo u decid e tha t i t i s saf e t o

driv e u p a hill :
Select a suitable low gear and
firmly grip the steering wheel.

Approach th e hil l wit h
enoug
h

spee d t o smoothl y star t u p th e

hill .

Maintai n a steady speed as yo u
clim b th e

hill .
Reduc e spee d
a
s yo u approach
th e top , an d watc h fo r othe r
vehicle s tha t ma y b e
approachin g th e to p fro m th e
othe r sid e o f th e hill .

If You Stall Going Up a Hill

I f a hil l i s steeper than yo u
expected , tractio n is poorer ,
o r yo u don' t maintai n sufficien t
speed, you ma y begi n t o stall . I f
tha t happens:
Conside r downshiftin g i f yo u
ar e jus t beginnin g t o slo w

down .
I
f yo u can' t downshift , o r i f
downshiftin g doesn' t help , sto p
th e vehicl e an d se t th e parkin g

brake .

I f yo u hav e passengers, you
ma y wan t t o hav e the m ge t ou t
an d mov e awa y fro m th e

vehicle.

I f yo u ar e headed straight u p
th e hill , shif t int o reverse ,
releas e th e parkin g brake , an d
slowl y bac k straight down th e
hill , usin g th e brak e peda l t o
contro l speed .
I f yo u ar e no t heade d straigh t
uphil l o r yo u don' t fee l
comfortabl e backin g down ,
don't . I f th e engin e i s stil l
running , leav e th e parkin g
brak e on , shif t t o Par k
(automatic transmission ) o r
Off-Roa d Drivin g Informatio n
Driving
Up a Hill

Firs
t (manua l transmission) ,
the n tur n th e engin e off . Se e
tha t an y passenger s carefull y
ge t ou t an d clea r o f th e vehicle ,
the n g o ge t help .

Driving Down a Hill

Befor e drivin g dow n a hill , a s

wit h drivin g u p a hill , yo u need to

evaluat e whethe r yo u ca n mak e it
safel
y t o th e botto m an d awa y
fro m th e slope . Ask : I
s th e hil l to o stee p t o maintai n
spee d an d steerin g control ?
I s th e surfac e to o roug h o r to o
slippery ?
Ca n yo u driv e straigh t dow n
withou t turning ?
I s ther e a saf e exi t whe n yo u
reac h th e botto m o f th e hill ? I
f yo u decid e yo u ca n safel y
descen d a hill :
Shif t int o a lo w gear . Thi s let s
engin e compressio n (o r engin e
braking ) hel p contro l spee d an d
kee p you r brake s fro m
overheating .
Hol d th e steerin g whee l firml y
an d driv e straigh t dow n th e

hill .

Gentl y appl y th e brake s t o hel p
contro l speed , bu t d o no t "ride "
th e brakes . I f yo u smel l ho t
brakes or fee l brak e fade , shif t
t o a lowe r gea r o r sto p an d le t
th e brake s coo l down .
Tr y no t t o brake hard. I f yo u d o
appl y the brakes hard, d o no t
pum p th e brake pedal . Pumpin g
doe s no t allo w th e anti-loc k
brake system to wor k a s

Off-Roa d
Drivin g Informatio n

I
f yo u Ge t Stuc k

I f yo u eve r ge t stuc k off-road ,
stop , asses s th e situation , conside r
al l you r options , the n choos e a
saf e an d appropriat e cours e o f

action .

Alway s pu t you r safet y an d you r
passengers ' safet y first . Ther e
ma y b e time s whe n quic k actio n is
necessary , bu t it' s generall y bes t i f
yo u d o no t over-react . Tryin g t o
muscl e you r wa y ou t b y
continuin g t o spi n th e wheel s
rarel y helps , an d it ca n mak e it
eve n harder to ge t out . Othe
r thing s yo u shoul d no t d o

are:
D
o no t us e a jack . A jac k onl y
work s o n firm , leve l terrain .
Also , you r vehicl e coul d easil y
sli p of f th e jac k an d hur t yo u o r
someon e else . D
o no t "rock " th e vehicl e
forwar d an d backwar d b y
shiftin g bac k an d fort h betwee n
Firs t an d Reverse . Thi s ca n
damag e you r transmission .
Followin g ar e a fe w tip s o n ho w
yo u migh t dea l wit h thre e
differen t situations . Stuc
k in Mud or Loose

Terrai n

Her e ar e som e option s fo r yo u t o
conside r i f yo u ge t stuc k i n sof t
sand , loos e soi l o r gravel , o r dee p

mud :
Shif
t int o 4-whee l driv e i f yo u
hav e 4-wheel drive an d aren' t
alread y i n it . I f yo u aren' t i n
to o deep , thi s ma y b e al l yo u
nee d t o ge t going . Lettin
g som e ai r ou t o f th e tire s
ma y hel p yo u ge t bette r

traction .
Yo
u ma y wan t t o use a shove l
t o di g ou t som e soi l aroun d th e
tires. If yo u do , kee p a safe
distanc e fro m th e vehicl e i n
case it moves .
Off-Roa d Drivin g Informatio n