2001 HONDA PASSPORT light

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

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

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

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

Jum
p Startin g
D o no t pus h o r to w you r vehicl e
t o star t it . Unde r som e condition s
thi s ma y damag e th e three-wa y
catalyti c converte r o r othe r parts
o f th e vehicle .
I f you r vehicl e ha s a discharge d
battery , i t ca n b e starte d b y usin g
th e batter y in anothe r vehicle ; a
procedur e calle d "jum p starting. "T
o jum p star t you r vehicle :
1 . Positio n th e vehicl e wit h th e
goo d (charged ) batter y s o tha t
th e jump-startin g cable s wil l
reach . D o no t allo w th e vehicle s
t o touch . Chec k t o se e tha t th e
bumper s d o no t touch .
2 . Tur n of f al l electri c motor s
an d accessorie s i n bot h
vehicles . Tur n of f al l light s
excep t hazar d flasher s an d
light s neede d t o ligh t u p th e
wor k area . Tur n of f th e
ignition , appl y th e parkin g
brak e firmly , an d shif t a n
automati c transmissio n t o
"P " (Park ) an d a manua l
transmissio n t o "N " (Neutral )
i n bot h vehicles .
3 . Chec k flui d leve l o f th e
batter y befor e attemptin g t o
charg e o r jum p start . (D o no t us
e a n ope n flam e to check ,
an d d o no t smoke. )

BLU E

COLORLES
S
I f th e batter y i s a seale d typ e
an d if th e flui d leve l i s belo w
th e lowe r leve l lin e o n th e sid e
o f th e battery , d o no t tr y t o
jum p star t th e vehicl e o r
charg e o r tes t th e battery . D o
no t ad d fluid . Instead , instal l a
ne w battery .
I n Cas e o f Emergenc y

A
batter y ca n explod e i f yo u

d o no t follo w th e correc t

procedure , seriousl y injurin g

anyon e nearby .

Kee p al l sparks , ope n flames ,

an d smokin g material s awa y

fro m th e battery .
LOWE
R

LEVE L
CHARGIN G
NECESSAR Y

CHARG
E
TES T

INDICATO R

UPPE R
LEVE L

O K

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