2002 HONDA PASSPORT light

199Care and Maintenance
Hood Release
The hood release lever is on the
left side of the instrument panel.
To Open
1. Pull the lever to release thehood lock.
2. Lift the under-hood leverwhile lifting the hood slightly.3. Raise the hood, and hold itopen with the hood support
rod in the hole on the right
side of the hood.

200 Care and Maintenance
To Close
1.
Lift the hood slightly to remove
tension from the support rod.
2. Place the support rod in its
retaining clip and lower the
hood.
Always make sure the hood is
securely latched before you begin
driving.
Engine Oil Dipstick
Check the oil level when the
engine is off and the oil is warm,
such as during a fuel stop. See
page 213. Your Honda operates most
effectively on unleaded gasoline
with a pump octane number of 86
or higher. Use of a lower octane
gasoline can cause a persistent,
heavy metallic rapping noise in
the engine that can lead to
mechanical damage.
We recommend gasolines containing
detergent additives that help prevent
fuel system and engine deposits.
Using gasoline containing lead will
damage your vehicle
’s emission
controls. This contributes to air
pollution and can void certain parts
of your warranty.
Oxygenated Fuels
Some conventional gasolines are
being blended with alcohol or an
ether compound. These gasolines
are collectively referred to as
oxygenated fuels. To meet clean air
Fuel Requirements

208 Care and Maintenance
Promptly take any safety
problems to your Honda dealer
for service advice.
Parking
brake — Park on a fairly
steep hill and hold the vehicle
with the parking brake only. This
checks its holding ability.
Starter safety switch (automatic
transmission) —
Check the safety
switch by trying to start the
engine in each gear. The starter
should work only with the shift
lever in the “P” (Park) or “N”
(Neutral) position.
Starter safety switch (manual
transmission) —
To check the
safety switch, place the shift lever
in “Neutral,” push the clutch
pedal halfway and try to start the
engine. The starter should not
work. The starter should work only when the clutch pedal is fully
depressed.
Transmission shift indicator
(automatic transmission)
—
Check that the indicator points to
the gear chosen.
Steering — Be alert for any
changes in steering action. An
inspection or service is needed
when the steering wheel is harder
to turn or has too much free play,
or if there are unusual sounds
when turning or parking.
Wheel alignment, balance and
tires —
Uneven or abnormal tire
wear, or pulling to the right or left
on a straight and level road may
show the need for a wheel
alignment. A vibration of the
steering wheel or seat at normal
highway speeds means wheel balancing is needed. Check tire
pressures (including the spare) at
least monthly and whenever the
vehicle is serviced (see page 163).
Brakes — Watch for the
“
BRAKE” light coming on. Other
signs of possible brake trouble are
such things as repeated pulling to
one side when braking, unusual
sounds when braking or between
brake applications, or increased
brake pedal travel. If you note one
of these conditions, have the
system checked at once and
repaired if needed.
Owner Safety Checks

210Care and Maintenance
Seat-back latches — Seat-back
latches are designed to prevent
forward motion of the seat-back
when the vehicle stops suddenly.
Check to see that the seat-back
latches are holding by pulling
forward on the top of the folding
seat-back.
Also check to see that the
reclining seats are operating
properly.
Lights and beepers — Check
panel lighting, warning lights, and
the seat belt reminder light and
beeper. Also check the key beeper
and interior lights. On the outside,
check the license plate light, side
marker lights, headlights, parking
lights, taillights, brake lights, turn
signals, backup lights and hazard
warning flashers. Have the
headlight aim checked promptly if the beams seem to be aimed
improperly.
Glass — Check for broken,
scratched or damaged glass that
could reduce visibility or cause
injury.
Door latches — Check that the
doors close, latch and lock
securely.
Hood latch — Check that the
hood closes firmly. Check for
broken, damaged, or missing parts
that might prevent secure
latching. Make sure the secondary
latch keeps the hood from
opening all the way when first
released.
Fluid leaks — Check for fuel,
water, oil or other fluid leaks by
looking at the surface beneath the
vehicle after it has been parked
for awhile. Water dripping from
the air conditioning system after
use is normal. If you notice
gasoline fumes or fluid at any
time, locate the source and have it
corrected at once.
Spare tire and jack — Check that
the spare tire and all jack gear are
securely stowed at all times.
Tailgate latch — Check that the
tailgate closes, latches and locks
securely.

212Care and Maintenance
Change the oil and oil filter every
3,750 miles (6,000 kilometers) or
every three months if you drive
under one or more of these
“severe driving” conditions:
•Driving in dusty areas
•Towing a trailer
•Frequent idling or idling for
long periods
•Frequent short trips (4 miles [6
kilometers] or less) in cold or
freezing weather, where the
engine does not thoroughly
warm up.
•Change the oil and oil filter as
soon as possible after driving in
a dust storm.
Oil Change
Changing the oil and filter requires
special tools and access from
underneath the vehicle. The vehicle
should be raised on a service
station-type hydraulic lift for this
service. Unless you have the
knowledge and proper equipment,
you should have this maintenance
done by a skilled mechanic.
1. Warm up the engine. This
makes the oil drain faster and
more thoroughly.
2. Remove the oil filler cap.
3. Remove the drain plug and drain oil fully.
4. Install the drain plug, with a new gasket, and tighten it.
5. Fill the engine with the proper amount of new oil (see
“Specifications”). Oil Filter Installation
1. Remove the old oil filter with
the filter wrench.
2. Apply a light coat of engine oil to the oil filter gasket.
3. Hand-tighten the filter until the gasket contacts the sealing
face.
4. Using the filter wrench, tighten the filter one full turn.
5. Run the engine and inspect for leaks.
6. Shut off the engine. After a couple of minutes, check the
oil level. If necessary, add oil
to bring it to the
FULL mark.

An improperly installed oil filter
can result in severe engine
damage.

220 Care and Maintenance
If the diaphragm inside the
reservoir cap is deformed, return
it to the original (collapsed)
condition, then tighten the cap.
It is normal for the brake fluid
level to go down slightly as the
front brake pads wear. So be sure
to keep the reservoir fluid at the
proper level.
If the reservoir needs frequent
refilling, it may indicate a serious
mechanical problem.
Brake fluid absorbs water from
the air. Never use brake fluid that
has been open to the air for an
extended period. Throw it away
and use new brake fluid from a
sealed container.

Brake fluid can damage your
vehicle’s paint. Thoroughly clean
up any brake fluid spills.
Shift-on-the-Fly System
The fluid level in the system should
be checked at the intervals shown
in the Maintenance Schedule.
FILLER
PLUG
Remove the filler plug and make
sure the fluid level is up to the
edge of the hole. If it is not, add
GL-5 gear oil to bring to that
level. Use the same
GL-5 gear oil
specified for the front axle (see
page 216).
Front Wheel Bearings
Clean and repack the front wheel
bearings whenever the front brake
pads are replaced. Due to the
weight of the tire and wheel
assembly it is recommended that
they be removed from the hub
before lubricating the bearings to
prevent damage to the oil seal.
“Long Fiber” grease should not be
used to lubricate the wheel bearings.
It can cause damage. Clean the old
grease out of the bearings and hubs
before repacking.

221Care and Maintenance
Hood Latch and Hinges
Lubricate the hood latch assembly
and hood hinge assembly as
follows:
1. Wipe off any accumulation ofdirt or contamination on the
latch parts.
2. Apply multipurpose-type grease (
NLGI No. 1 or 2) to
the hood latch pin cam.
3. Apply light engine oil to all pivot points in the release
mechanism.
4. Lubricate hood hinges with multipurpose-type grease
(
NLGI No. 1 or 2).
5. Check the hood hinges and latch mechanism to assure
they are working correctly.
Air Conditioning
Periodically have your Honda
dealer check your air conditioning
system to be sure there has been
no loss in cooling output. See
your Honda dealer if you suspect
that the system is not performing
as it should.
Body Lubrication
Normal use of a vehicle causes
metal-to-metal movement at certain
points in the body. Noise, wear and
improper operation at these points
will result when a protective film
of lubricant is not provided.
For exposed surfaces such as door
checks, door lock bolts, lock
striker plates, etc., apply a thin
film of light engine oil.
Any lubricant should be used
sparingly. After application, all excess lubricant should be
carefully wiped off.
The seat adjusters and seat track
should be lubricated with water-
resistant
EP chassis lubricant.
There are other points on the
vehicle body which may
occasionally require lubrication.
Window regulators and controls
are confined in the space between
the upholstery and the outside
door panel. Easy access to the
working parts may be made by
removing the trim. Door
weatherstrips and rubber hood
bumpers should be lightly coated
with a rubber lubricant.

224Care and Maintenance
Wheel Alignment
Proper wheel alignment improves
tire mileage. Your vehicle’s
suspension parts should be
inspected often and aligned when
needed (see the “Technical Data”
section). Improper alignment will
cause the front tires to roll at an
angle that will result in faster tire
wear.
Proper tire balancing provides the
best riding comfort and helps
reduce tire tread wear.
Out-of-balance tires can cause
annoying vibration and uneven
tire wear such as cupping and flat
spots.
Washing Your Vehicle
The best way to preserve your
vehicle ’s finish is to keep it clean by
frequent washings. Wash the vehicle
with lukewarm or cold water.
Do not use hot water or wash in
direct sunlight. Do not use strong
soap or chemical detergents. All
cleaning agents should be promptly
flushed from the surface and not
allowed to dry on the finish.
Polishing and Waxing
Your Vehicle
Polishing is recommended to
remove accumulated residue and
eliminate any “weathered”
appearance.
Your Honda dealer offers several
polishes and cleaners that have
proven to maintain the original
finish appearance and durability.
Protection of Exterior
Bright Metal Parts
Bright metal parts should be cleaned
regularly to keep their luster.
Washing with water is all that is
usually needed. However, chrome
polish may be used on chrome or
stainless steel trim, if necessary. A
coating of wax, rubbed to a high
polish, is recommended for all bright
metal parts.
Care of Aluminum Wheels
Aluminum wheels have a
clear-coat finish similar to paint.
Use a chamois skin, sponge or
other soft material when washing
the wheels.
Foreign Material Deposits
Calcium chloride and other salts,
ice melting agents, road oil and
tar, tree sap, bird droppings,
Exterior