2002 HONDA PASSPORT 4WD

171Driving Tips
air cleaner, so it’
s important to
replace the air cleaner filter at
required intervals. See “Care and
Maintenance.” A dirty air cleaner
filter reduces engine performance
and can waste fuel.
Air Conditioning
Turn off the air conditioning when
it is not needed. The air
conditioning compressor is not on
in this position and the reduced
engine load can improve fuel
economy.
Tuned Engine
An engine that is properly
maintained will provide better
fuel economy than one that is not.
One misfiring spark plug will cut
fuel economy significantly, and
will make a difference in the
amount of pollution emitted from
your vehicle. Excessive Weight
Fuel economy is related to the
work the engine must do. The
heavier the load, the more fuel it
takes to run your vehicle. Keep
weight to a minimum by removing
unnecessary luggage or cargo.
Tire Inflation
Underinflation not only causes
needless tire wear but can also
waste fuel. It’
s a good idea to
check tire pressure often and keep
your tires inflated to the pressures
shown on the tire placard located
on the driver ’s doorjamb. Wheel Alignment
Improper alignment will cause the
front tires to roll at an angle that
will result in faster tire wear. It
takes power to overcome this
improper alignment, which, in
turn, wastes fuel.
Use of 4-Wheel Drive
In normal driving, put the
4WD-2WD switch in the 2WD
position.

176Driving Tips
Load Limit
The maximum load for your
vehicle is:
LX 2WD
manual trans: 895 lb (407 kg)
automatic trans: 840 lb (382 kg)
LX 4WD
manual trans: 905 lb (411 kg)
automatic trans: 850 lb (386 kg)
EXmanual trans: 930 lb (423 kg)
automatic trans: 875 lb (398 kg)
This figure includes the total weight
of all occupants, cargo, accessories,
and the tongue weight if you are
towing a trailer. To figure out how much cargo
you can carry:
•Add up the weight of all
occupants.
•If you are towing a trailer, add
the tongue weight to the
number above.
•Subtract the total from the
maximum load figure.
The final number is the total
weight of cargo you can carry.
Overloading or improper
loading can affect handling
and stability and cause a
crash in which you can be
hurt or killed.
Follow all load limits and
other loading guidelines in
this manual.

179Driving Tips
Follow the recommendations in
this manual and ask your Honda
dealer for further details before
you tow a trailer with your
Passport.
Towing a trailer affects vehicle
maintenance requirements due
to the additional load. More
frequent maintenance intervals
will be required to assure
continued satisfaction with
your vehicle. Consult your
Honda dealer for recommended
maintenance and service.
The gross trailer weight (trailer
weight plus cargo load) must
never exceed 4,500 lb.
Additional equipment will be
required, depending on the
specific model/load combination.
See “Trailer Hitches” in this
section.
Exceeding the weight limit will
cause damage to your vehicle and
possibly result in personal injury.
•The Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (
GVWR) is the
combined weight of the
unloaded vehicle, passengers,
cargo, trailer hitch, trailer
tongue load, and optional
equipment. This value is
indicated on the
F.M.V.S.S.
Certification Label on the
driver ’ s doorjamb.
•The Gross Combined Weight
Rating (
GCWR) equals the
combined weight of your
vehicle (including passengers
and cargo) plus the total trailer
load. The following limits
apply.
2WD: 8,700 lb
4WD: 8,950 lb
•The Gross Axle Weight Rating
(
GAWR) is also indicated on
the Certification Label. The
load on either the front or rear
axle resulting from distribution
of the gross vehicle weight on
both axles must not exceed the
values listed. Remember to
account for additional
equipment and tongue load.

182Driving Tips
There are no provisions in your
vehicle to tap into its hydraulic
braking system. Any attempt to
attach the trailer
’s brakes to your
vehicle’ s hydraulic braking
system, no matter how successful
it may seem, will lower braking
effectiveness and create a
potential hazard.
Equipment Check
Before operating your vehicle,
check all safety equipment to
ensure safe operation. Be sure
your vehicle is properly serviced
to avoid mechanical failure.
Check that your vehicle remains
level when the loaded or unloaded
trailer is hitched. Do not drive if
the rear end of your vehicle is
abnormally higher or lower.
Check for proper tongue weight,
overload, improper weight distribution, worn suspension, or
other possible causes.
Make sure the trailer load is
properly positioned and secured
so its does not shift around while
driving.
Check if your rearview mirrors
comply with federal, state and
local regulations. If not, confirm
the proper mirrors required for
towing and have them installed.
Perform an equipment check of
all braking, lighting and safety
equipment to ensure they are
working properly.
Your safety depends on proper
operation and installation of
equipment. Never operate a
vehicle with faulty equipment.
Standard on 4WD models
The limited slip differential is
designed to improve traction by
limiting wheelspin. If one rear
wheel begins to spin on a slippery
surface, the limited slip
differential will automatically
transmit driving force to the other
rear wheel.
Limited Slip Differential

192In Case of Emergency
•Use only towing equipment
specifically designed for this
purpose, following the
instructions of the equipment
manufacturer. A separate safety
chain system must be used.
•For such towing, the parking
brake must be released, the
transmission must be in neutral
and the key switch turned to
the “
OFF” position (not
“
LOCK”).
•Towing attachments must be
made to main structural
members of the vehicle. Do not
attach to bumpers or associated
brackets.
•Remember that the power
brake assist will not be
available when the engine is
inoperative.
Towing Tips
All Four Wheels on the Ground
1. Transfer case in 2
H (4WD
model only).
2. Transmission in Neutral position.
3. Maximum speed 30 mph (50 km/h).
4. Maximum distance 50 miles (80 kilometers).
If you are towing the vehicle at
distances and speeds greater than
shown, disconnect the propeller
shaft from the rear axle carrier.
On 4
WD models, also disconnect
the front propeller shaft. Safely
secure the propeller shafts so they
will not fall and scrape the
ground. Front Wheels off the Ground
1. Transfer case in 2
H (4WD
model only).
2. Transmission in Neutral position.
3. Maximum speed 30 mph (50 km/h).
4. Maximum distance 50 miles (80 kilometers).
If you are towing the vehicle at
distances and speeds greater than
shown, disconnect the propeller
shaft from the rear axle carrier.
Safely secure the propeller shaft
so it will not fall and scrape the
ground.

193In Case of Emergency
Rear Wheels off the Ground
1.
Transfer case in 2
H (4WD
model only).
2. Transmission in Neutral
position.
3. Maximum speed 30 mph
(50 km/h).
4. Maximum distance 50 miles
(80 kilometers).
If you need to tow your vehicle by
this method, secure the steering
wheel to keep the front wheels
pointed straight ahead. Do not
rely on the steering column lock;
it is not strong enough to hold the
front wheels straight while
towing. The ignition switch must
be in the
OFF position. If you have electrical problems
without extreme damage to any
electrical parts, check for burned
out fuses, broken wires, poor
connections or poor grounding.
Correct as necessary.
The fuse boxes are located under
the left hand side of the
instrument panel and in the right
hand side of the engine
compartment. (See
“Fuses” on
page 240.)

Replacing a fuse with one that has
a higher rating greatly increases
the chances of damaging the
electrical system. If you do not
have a replacement fuse with the
proper rating for the circuit,
install one with a lower rating.
Inoperative Electrical Devices

215Care and Maintenance
Never run the engine with the air
cleaner filter removed. If the
engine should backfire, it could
possibly cause an engine
compartment fire.
Be sure to reinstall the air cleaner
filter and assembly correctly. If it
is installed incorrectly, engine
damage could result.
See the Maintenance Schedule to
find out how often the lubricant
level should be checked.
Check that the fluid level reaches
the plug hole by removing the
filler plug on the transmission and
transfer case. If the fluid level is
low, refill the case up to the filler
plug hole.
Use a high-quality engine oil
labeled SG or SF that is of the
correct viscosity for existing
ambient temperatures as follows.
Ambient
TemperatureViscosity
Lubricant
to Be Used
Areas where
ambient
temperatures of
90
F (32
C) and
higher are regularly
encountered.
SAE 15W-40 20W-40
20W-50
Other areasSAE 5W-30
(2WD)
OIL FILL PLUG
DRAIN PLUG
(4WD)
OIL FILL PLUG
DRAIN PLUG
RIGHT SIDE
LEFT SIDE
Manual Transmission Fluid

216Care and Maintenance
Proper Fluid
Kind of Fluid
TransmissionDEXRON III
Transfer
(4WD)SAE 5W-30
(Engine oil)
Have the fluid level in the
automatic transmission checked
during the regularly scheduled
maintenance at your Honda
dealer.
If you suspect an automatic
transmission fluid leak, take the
vehicle to your Honda dealer for
inspection and repair.
Transmission damage could result
if you let the fluid level get too
low.
Drain Intervals
The automatic transmission drain
interval is not time or mileage
dependent. It will vary according
to your driving habits and vehicle
usage.
Your dealer will check the
transmission fluid’s condition and
life expectancy during regularly
scheduled maintenance, and
inform you at what mileage it
should be changed. See the Maintenance Schedule
List to determine how often the
lubricant should be changed. Add
lubricant, if needed, by filling to
the level of the filler plug hole.
Use
GL-5 gear lubricant of the
proper viscosity as shown in the
chart.
If your vehicle is equipped with
the optional limited slip
differential (on the rear axle), use
GL-5 Limited Slip Differential
Gear Lubricant together with
Limited Slip Differential Gear
Lubricant Additive (Part No.
8-01052-358-0) or equivalent.
Use the correct viscosity for the
existing ambient temperatures.
Automatic Transmission FluidFront (4WD)
and Rear Axles