2002 HONDA CR-V drive

Follow all normal precautions when
parking, including f irmly setting the
parking brake and putting the
transmission in Park (automatic) or
in 1st or Reverse (manual). Also,
place wheel chocks at each of the
trailer’s tires. Always drive slowly and have
someone guide you when backing up.
Grip the of the steering
wheel; then turn the wheel to the lef t
to get the trailer to move to the lef t,
andturnthewheelrighttomovethe
trailer to the right.
When driving down hills, reduce
your speed and shif t down to 3rd
gear on the manual transmission,
and turn off the Over drive (O/D)
mode on the automatic transmission.
Do not ‘‘ride’’ the brakes, and
remember it will take longer to slow
downandstopwhentowingatrailer.
Crosswinds and air turbulence
caused by passing trucks can disrupt
your steering and cause trailer
swaying. When being passed by a
large vehicle, keep a constant speed
and steer straight ahead. Do not try
to make quick steering or braking
corrections.
bottom
Parking
Backing Up
Handling Crosswinds and Buf f et ing
Driving
Towing a Trailer
223

Start the engine.
Press on the brake pedal. Shif t the
lever through all the positions (P,
R, N, D, 2, 1)
ShifttoD,thentoN.Letthe
engine run f or three minutes, then
turn of f the engine.
Release the parking brake.
Leave the ignition switch in
ACCESSORY (I) so the steering
wheel does not lock. Make sure
the radio and any items plugged
into the accessory power sockets
are turned of f so you do not run
down the battery.If you tow more than 8 hours in one
day, you should repeat the above
procedure at least every 8 hours.
(when you stop f or f uel, etc.)
If youtowaCR-Vwithanautomatic
transmission, the transmission f luid
must be changed every two years or
30,000 miles (48,000 km), whichever
comes f irst.Ext ended T owing
Towing Your Vehicle Behind a Motorhome
Driving225
Failure to f ollow the above instructions
exactly will result in severe automatic
transmission damage. If you cannot
shif t the transmission or start the
engine, your vehicle must be
transported on a f lat-bed truck or
trailer. The steering system can be damaged if
the steering wheel is locked. Leave the
ignition switch in Accessory (I), and
make sure the steering wheel turns
f reely bef ore you begin towing.Severe automatic transmission damage
will occur if the vehicle is shif ted f rom
reverse to neutral and then towed with
the drive wheels on the ground.

Your CR-V has been designed
primarily f or use on pavement. But
its higher ground clearance allows
you to occasionally travel on unpaved
roads, to campgrounds, picnic sites,
and similar locations. It is not
designed f or trailblazing, mountain
climbing, or other challenging of f -
road activities.
If you decide to drive on unpaved
roads, you will f ind that it requires
somewhat dif f erent driving skills.
Your CR-V will also handle
somewhat dif f erently than it does on
pavement. So be sure to read this
owner’s manual, pay special attention
to the precautions and tips in this
section, and get acquainted with
your vehicle before you leave the
pavement. General Inf ormation
Off-Highway Guidelines
Driving226

Remember that your CR-V has
higher ground clearance and a
higher center of gravity than
passenger vehicles designed f or use
only on pavement. This means your
vehicle can more easily tip or roll
over if you make abrupt turns or
drive on slopes.
Utility vehicles have a signif icantly
higher rollover rate than other types
of vehicles. To avoid loss of control
or rollover, be sure to f ollow all
recommendations and precautions
on page and in this section.
Seat belts are just as important of f -
road as on paved roads. Wherever
you drive, make sure you and your
passengers always wear seat belts. If
children or inf ants are along f or the
ride, see that they are properly
secured. In a rollover crash, an
unbelted person is more likely to die
than a person wearing a seat belt.On many unpaved roads, you won’t
f ind lane markers, traf f ic signals, or
signs to warn you of possible trouble
ahead. It’s up to you to continually
assess the situation and drive within
limits.The route presents limits (some
roads are too steep and bumpy f or
example). You have limits (in driving
skills and comf ort). And your vehicle
also has limits (traction, stability, and
power, f or instance).
Driving of f -highway can be
hazardous if you f ail to recognize
limits and take proper precautions.
For example, you can have an
accident or rollover during
maneuvers such as turning, driving
on hills, or over large obstacles.
Be sure to store cargo properly, and
do not exceed your CR-V’s cargo or
trailer load limits (see pages and
). 194
198
217
Important Saf ety Precautions
Off-Highway Guidelines
Driving227
Improperly operating this
vehicle on or off-pavement can
cause an accident or rollover in
which you and your passengers
could be seriously injured or
killed.
Follow all instructions and
guidelines in the owner’s
manual.
Keep your speed low and
don’t drive faster than
conditions permit.

Bumps, holes, rocks, and other
obstacles can be hazardous. Debris
in the road can damage your
suspension or other components.
Even small rocks can cut your tires.
More important, because your
vehicle has a high center of gravity,
driving over a large obstacle, or
allowing a wheel to drop into a deep
hole, can cause your vehicle to tip or
roll over.
Drive slow enough to observe
obstacles ahead and maneuver
around them. If you can’t avoid a
serious obstacle, turn around and
look f or a better route.
Bef ore driving up or down a hill, stop
and assess the situation. If you can’t
clearly see all road conditions (good
traction, no bumps, holes or other
obstacles, a safe way out, etc.) walk
the slope bef ore you drive on it. If
you have any doubt about whether
you can saf ely drive on the slope,
. Find another route.
If you are driving up a hill and f ind
that you cannot continue (because of
the steepness, a large obstacle, etc.), . Your vehicle
could roll over. Slowly back down the
hill, f ollowing the same route you
took up the hill.
You should have no problem making
sharp turns at low speed on level
ground. But never make an abrupt
turn at higher speeds, on or of f
pavement. With a higher center of
gravity, your vehicle can more easily
tip or roll over. Off-highway, the basic turning
technique is to drive at low speed
and gradually adjust the amount of
steering to suit the surf ace. Test your brakes from time to time
to make sure they are operating
properly. This will also give you a
f eel f or how much traction you have
on a given surf ace.
don’t do it
do not try to turn around
Avoiding Obstacles
Driving on Slopes
Off-Highway Guidelines
Driving
T urning
229

If you spin the wheels excessively
trying to get unstuck, you may
overheat the components of the
4-wheel drive system. If this happens,
the 4-wheel drive system shuts off
and only the f ront wheels receive
power. If this happens, stop and
allow everything to cool down. The
4-wheel drive system will work again
after its temperature drops.
If you slip the clutch f or a long time
while trying to get unstuck, you may
overheat and damage it.
Off-Highway Guidelines
Driving
4-Wheel Drive Vehicles
231

This section explains why it is
important to keep your vehicle well
maintained and to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.
This section also includes
Maintenance Schedules f or normal
driving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions f or simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself .
If you have the skills and tools to per-
f orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your Honda, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your Honda
dealer.......................
Maintenance Saf ety .234
.
Important Safety Precautions . 235
.................
Maintenance Schedule . 236 ...
Required Maintenance Record . 243
.......
Owner Maintenance Checks . 245
..............................
Fluid Locations .246
......................................
Engine Oil .247
..................................
Adding Oil .247
....................
Recommended Oil .247
..............................
Synthetic Oil .248
....................................
Additives .248
.....
Changing the Oil and Filter . 249
.............................
Cooling System .251
............
Adding Engine Coolant . 251
.......
Replacing Engine Coolant . 253
....................
Windshield Washers .258
.......................
Transmission Fluid .260
..........
Automatic Transmission . 260
5-speed Manual .........................
Transmission .261
.................
Rear Dif f erential Fluid . 262
................
Brake and Clutch Fluid . 263
............................
Brake System .263
...........................
Clutch System .264
..............................
Power Steering .264
.....................
Air Cleaner Element .265
....................................
Hood Latch .266
....................................
Spark Plugs .267
..............................
Replacement .267 ............................
Specif ications .268
...........................................
Battery .269
.................................
Wiper Blades .271
..............
Air Conditioning System . 274
..................
DustandPollenFilter . 275
.......................................
Drive Belt .277
...............................................
Tires .278
......................................
Inf lation .278
Recommended Tire Pressures f or Normal ...........................
Driving .279
Tire Pressure Adjustment f or ..........
High Speed Driving . 279
..................................
Inspection .280
..............................
Maintenance .280
.............................
Tire Rotation .281
...
Replacing Tires and Wheels . 282
......................
Wheels and Tires .283
..........................
Winter Driving .283
.............................
Snow Tires .283
............................
Tire Chains .284
.............................................
Lights .285
.....................
Headlight Aiming .287
........................
Replacing Bulbs .287
....................
Storing Your Vehicle .295
357
Maintenance
Maint enance233

µ
The services and time or distance
intervals shown in the maintenance
schedule assume you will use your
vehicle as normal transportation f or
passengers and their possessions.
You should also f ollow these
recommendations:
The Maintenance Schedule specif ies
how of ten you should have your
vehicle serviced and what things
need attention. It is essential that
you have your vehicle serviced as
scheduled to retain its high level of
saf ety, dependability, and emissions
control perf ormance.
Avoid exceeding your vehicle’s
load limit. This puts excess stress
on the engine, brakes, and many
other parts of your vehicle. The
load limit is shown on the label on
the driver’s doorjamb.
Operate your vehicle on
reasonable roads within the legal
speed limit.
Drive your vehicle regularly over a
distance of several miles
(kilometers).
Always use unleaded gasoline with
the proper octane rating (see page). Service your vehicle according to the
time and mileage periods on one of
the Maintenance Schedules on the
f ollowing pages.
Follow the
Maintenance Schedule f or Severe
Conditions if you drive your vehicle
MAINLY under one or more of the
f ollowing conditions.
Driving less than 5 miles (8 km)
per trip or, in f reezing
temperatures, driving less than 10
miles (16 km) per trip.
Driving in extremely hot [over
90°F (32°C)] conditions.
Extensive idling or long periods of
stop-and-go driving.
Trailer towing, driving with a roof
rack, or driving in mountainous
conditions.
184
Maintenance Schedule
Maint enance
Which Schedule to Follow:
U.S.Owners
236