2001 HONDA PASSPORT brakes

a
s indicate d b y th e "U/S " (upshift )
ligh t o n th e instrumen t panel .
I f vehicl e spee d drop s belo w
2 0 mp h (3 0 km/h) , o r i f th e
engin e is no t runnin g smoothly ,
yo u shoul d downshif t t o th e nex t
lowe r gear . Yo u ma y need to
downshif t tw o o r mor e gear s t o
kee p th e engine runnin g smoothl y
o r fo r satisfactory performance .
Thi s indicato r come s o n fo r a fe w
seconds when yo u tur n th e
ignitio n switc h t o th e "ON "

position .
4-Whee
l Driv e

(4WD ) Indicato r

4WD models only

Thi s indicato r light s whe n th e
4-Whee l Driv e syste m is engaged .
Wit h th e 4WD-2W D switc h in th e
"OFF " o r 2W D position , thi s ligh t
wil l com e o n t o provid e a "bul b
check " whe n th e ke y i s turne d to
th e "ON " position , bu t shoul d g o
ou t afte r th e engin e is started .
I f th e 4WD-2W D switc h i s i n th e
"ON " o r 4W D position , thi s ligh t
wil l com e o n whe n th e ke y i s
turne d to th e "ON " positio n an d
remai n o n afte r th e engin e is

started .
Anti-Loc
k Indicato r

Thi s ligh t wil l com e o n an d g o ou t
whe n th e ignitio n switc h is turne d
t o th e "ON " position . (I f th e ligh t
doe s no t com e on , se e you r Hond a
deale r t o hav e th e syste m

repaired. )

I f th e ligh t remain s o n afte r
engin e start-u p o r come s o n
durin g operatio n o f th e vehicle ,
sto p a s soo n a s possibl e an d tur n
th e ke y off . The n star t th e engin e
t o rese t th e system . I f th e ligh t
stay s on , o r i t come s o n agai n
whil e you'r e driving , th e anti-loc k
brak e syste m shoul d b e checke d
a t you r Hond a dealer .
Unti l yo u ge t i t fixed , you'l l hav e
norma l brakes , bu t yo u won' t
hav e anti-lock .

Instrument s an d Control s
ABS

Parkin
g Brak e

Operatio n

T o se t th e parkin g brake , full y
pul l u p o n th e handl e betwee n th e
seats . T o releas e th e parkin g
brake , pul l upwar d slightly . The n
depres s th e pushbutto n an d pus h
dow n al l th e way .
T o hel p remin d you , th e brak e
syste m warnin g ligh t i s designe d
t o com e o n if th e parkin g brak e contro
l i s no t full y release d whe n
th e ke y i s on .
Alway s pul l th e parkin g brak e
leve r a s fa r u p a s possibl e t o mak e
sur e i t set s fully . I f th e parkin g
brak e i s no t full y set , th e vehicl e
coul d rol l i f i t i s parke d o n a n

incline .

Parkin g Tip s

Neve r driv e awa y wit h th e
parkin g brak e stil l set . Thi s ma y
overhea t th e rea r brakes , reducin g
thei r effectivenes s an d causin g
excessiv e wea r o r damage .
Alway s appl y th e parkin g brak e
wheneve r yo u leav e th e vehicle ,
whethe r i t i s equippe d wit h a
manua l o r automati c transmission .I
f you r vehicl e i s equippe d wit h
a n automati c transmission , yo u
shoul d se t th e parkin g brak e
wheneve r yo u leav e th e driver' s
seat . I f th e vehicl e is parke d o n a
grad e an d th e shif t leve r i s place d
i n "P " (Park ) positio n befor e th e
parkin g brak e i s set , th e weigh t
o f th e vehicl e ma y exer t s o muc h
forc e o n th e parkin g mechanis m
i n th e transmissio n tha t yo u ma y
hav e difficult y movin g th e shif t
leve r ou t o f "P " (Park) .
T o preven t this , appl y th e parkin g
brak e BEFOR E yo u mov e th e
shif t leve r t o "P " (Park ) position .
Whe n preparin g t o driv e away ,
mov e th e shif t leve r ou t o f th e
"P " (Park ) positio n BEFOR E yo u
releas e th e parkin g brake . I t i s
goo d drivin g practic e t o se t th e

Instrument s an d Control s

RELEAS
E

Yo
u ma y driv e you r ne w vehicl e
fro m its ver y firs t mile/kilomete r
withou t followin g a forma l
"break-in " schedule. However ,
ther e ar e thing s yo u ca n d o durin g
th e firs t fe w hundre d miles /
kilometer s o f drivin g tha t wil l ad d
t o th e futur e performanc e an d
econom y o f you r vehicle.
I t i s recommende d tha t you r speed
durin g th e firs t 50 0 mile s (80 0
kilometers ) b e limite d to a
maximu m o f 5 5 mp h (9 0 km/h )
an d tha t yo u d o no t driv e fo r lon g
period s a t an y one constant speed,
eithe r fas t o r slow . Durin g thi s
period , avoi d full-throttl e start s
and , i f possible , avoi d har d stops ;
especiall y durin g th e firs t 20 0
mile s (32 0 kilometers ) o f driving .
Alway s driv e a t moderate speed
unti l th e engin e ha s completel y
warme d up .
Parkin
g

Whe n leavin g you r vehicl e

unattended :
Set
th e parkin g brake . Place
th e shif t leve r i n "P "
(Park ) positio n fo r automati c

transmission .
Whe
n parkin g a vehicl e equippe d
wit h a manua l transmissio n o n a n
upwar d slope , o r o n a leve l
surface , plac e th e shif t leve r i n
th e "1st " position . Whe
n parkin g a vehicl e
equippe d wit h a manua l
transmissio n o n a downwar d
slope , plac e the shif t leve r i n
th e "R " (Reverse ) position . Tur
n the ke y t o th e "LOCK "

position .
Remov
e th e key . Th e beeper
wil l remin d you . Clos
e al l window s an d loc k al l

doors .
Chec
k to mak e certai n th e
light s ar e turne d off . Th e
beeper wil l remin d you . I
f you r vehicl e is equippe d wit h
a transfe r case (4WD) , mak e
sur e th e shif t leve r i s in 4 H o r

4L .

Parkin g Tip s
Neve
r driv e th e vehicl e wit h

th e parkin g brak e set . Thi s ca n

overhea t th e rea r brakes ,

reducin g thei r effectivenes s an d
causin g excessiv e wea r o r

damage .
Alway
s appl y th e parkin g brak e

wheneve r yo u leav e th e vehicle ,

whethe r i t i s equippe d wit h a

manua l o r automati c transmission .

Drivin g Tip s

Ne
w Vehicl e Break-I n

hazard
. Thi s is sometime s referre d
t o a s "stomp and steer."
Yo u wil l fee l a pulsatio n in th e
brak e peda l whe n th e AB S
activates , an d yo u ma y hea r som e
noise . Thi s i s normal , i t i s th e
AB S rapidl y pumpin g th e brakes .
Activatio n varie s wit h th e amount
o f tractio n you r tire s have . O n dr y
pavement , yo u wil l nee d to pres s
o n th e brak e peda l ver y har d
befor e yo u activat e th e ABS .
However , yo u ma y fee l th e AB S
activat e immediatel y i f yo u ar e
tryin g t o sto p o n sno w o r ice .
Important Safety Reminders

AB S doe s no t reduc e th e tim e

o r distanc e i t take s t o sto p th e

vehicle , i t onl y help s wit h steerin g
contro l durin g braking . Yo u
shoul d alway s maintai n a saf e followin
g distanc e fro m othe r
vehicles .
AB S wil l no t preven t a ski d tha t
result s fro m changin g directio n
abruptly , suc h a s tryin g to tak e a
corne r to o fas t o r makin g a
sudde n lan e change . Alway s driv e
a t a safe , pruden t spee d fo r th e
roa d an d weathe r conditions .

AB S canno t preven t a los s o f

stability . Alway s stee r moderatel y

whe n yo u ar e brakin g hard .

Sever e o r shar p steerin g whee l

movemen t ca n stil l caus e you r

vehicl e t o vee r int o oncomin g

traffi c o r of f th e road .
A vehicl e wit h AB S ma y requir e
a longe r distanc e t o sto p o n
loos e o r uneve n surfaces , suc h a s
grave l o r snow , tha n a vehicl e
withou t anti-lock . Slo w dow n an d allo
w a greate r distanc e betwee n
vehicle s unde r thos e conditions .
AB S Indicato r
Th e AB S is self-checking . Yo u
ma y fee l a sligh t movemen t o f th e
brak e peda l jus t afte r yo u star t th e
engine . Thi s i s th e AB S performin g
a check . I t als o check s itsel f
wheneve r yo u us e th e brakes .
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

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

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