2002 HONDA PASSPORT Owners Manual

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

183In Case of Emergency
This section covers the most
common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you information on how to
safely evaluate those problems,
with tips to help get you going
again. Lastly, it tells you how to
have your vehicle towed.
Jump Starting184
. . . . . . . . . . . .
Changing a Tire186 . . . . . . . . . .
Lifting Points187 . . . . . . . . . .
Tool Locations188 . . . . . . . . . . .
Engine Overheating190 . . . . . . .
Towing 191 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Precautions191 . . . . . . . . . . .
Towing Tips192 . . . . . . . . . . .
All Four Wheels
on the Ground192 . . . . . .
Front Wheels
off the Ground192 . . . . . .
Rear Wheels
off the Ground193 . . . . . .
Inoperative Electrical
Devices193 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

In Case of Emergency

184In Case of Emergency
Do not push or tow your vehicle
to start it. Under some conditions
this may damage the three-way
catalytic converter or other parts
of the vehicle.
If your vehicle has a discharged
battery, it can be started by using
the battery in another vehicle; a
procedure called “jump starting.”
A battery can explode if you
do not follow the correct
procedure, seriously injuring
anyone nearby.
Keep all sparks, open flames,
and smoking materials away
from the battery.
To jump start your vehicle:
1. Position the vehicle with the
good (charged) battery so that
the jump-starting cables will
reach. Do not allow the vehicles
to touch. Check to see that the
bumpers do not touch.
2. Turn off all electric motors and accessories in both
vehicles. Turn off all lights
except hazard flashers and
lights needed to light up the
work area. Turn off the
ignition, apply the parking
brake firmly, and shift an
automatic transmission to
“
P” (Park) and a manual
transmission to “
N” (Neutral)
in both vehicles.
3. Check fluid level of the battery before attempting to
charge or jump start. (Do not use an open flame to check,
and do not smoke.)
CHARGE
TEST
INDICATOR
UPPER
LEVEL
LOWER
LEVEL
CHARGING
NECESSARY
OK
BLUE COLORLESS
If the battery is a sealed type
and if the fluid level is below
the lower level line on the side
of the battery, do not try to
jump start the vehicle or
charge or test the battery. Do
not add fluid. Instead, install a
new battery.
Jump Starting

185In Case of Emergency

If a battery sits in extreme cold,
the electrolyte inside can freeze.
Attempting to jump start a frozen
battery can cause it to rupture.
4. Jumper Cable Connection Instructions:
Make connections
in numerical order.
DISCHARGED
VEHICLE CHARGED
VEHICLE
1
st CABLE
2
ndCABLE
Make last connection
on engine away from
the battery. Do not allow the
vehicles to touch.2
3
14
•12
and Connect the first
jumper cable from the
positive “+” (red) terminal
on one battery to the
positive “+” (red) terminal
on the other battery. Never
connect “+” (red) to “–”
(black) or “–” to “+.”
•3 Next, connect one end
of the second cable to the
grounded negative “–”
(black) terminal of the good
(charged) battery.
•4 Lastly, connect the other
end of the second, grounded
jumper cable to a solid,
stationary, metallic point on
the engine of the vehicle
with the discharged battery but at a point at least 18
inches (45 cm) away from
the battery. Do not connect
it to pulleys, fans, or other
parts that move. Beware of
touching hot manifolds that
can cause burns. (The
mounting brackets for the
alternator or air
conditioning compressor
generally make a good
point for this final ground
attachment point. Take care
that the jumper cable does
not contact moving parts on
or near the alternator or
compressor.)
5. Start the engine on the vehicle with the good (charged) battery
and run the engine at moderate
speed.

186 In Case of Emergency
6.
Start the engine of the vehicle
that has the discharged battery.
7. Remove the battery cables by
reversing the above sequence
exactly. Start by removing the
last clamp first; that is,
remove the jumper cable from
the engine of the vehicle with
the discharged battery as the
first step. If you have a flat tire while
driving, stop in a safe place to
change it. Stopping in traffic or on
the shoulder of a busy road is
dangerous. Drive slowly along the
shoulder until you get to an exit or
an area to stop that is far away
from the traffic lanes.
The vehicle can easily roll off
the jack, seriously injuring
anyone underneath.
Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and
never get under the vehicle
when it is supported only by
the jack.
1.
Park on a level surface and set
the parking brake firmly. Turn
on the hazard warning flasher,
and turn the ignition switch to
LOCK.
2. Set the automatic transmission
in “Park” (the manual
transmission in “Reverse”)
and transfer case in gear if it
is a four-wheel drive vehicle.
3. Have your passengers get out
of the vehicle.
4. Remove the jacking tools (see
page 188) and spare tire from
their stowage areas.
Changing a Tire

187In Case of Emergency
5. Block the wheel that is
diagonally opposite the one to
be changed.
6. Loosen, but do not remove,the wheel nuts by turning the
wrench counterclockwise.
7. There are two jacking points on each side of the vehicle.
Set the jack in position, as
shown.
JACK BAR
JACK
JACK HANDLE
FRONT
The lift point is the outer bolt
head at the crossmember.
REAR
Under the rear axle
housing near the wheel.
Position the jack at the correct
jack point as shown.
Make sure that the jack is
positioned on a level and solid
surface.
Do not position the jack at any
points other than those specified.

188In Case of Emergency
8. Turn the jack handle
clockwise with a slow, smooth
motion to raise the vehicle so
the inflated spare tire will
clear the surface.
9. Remove the wheel nuts and the wheel.
10. Install the wheel and replace the wheel nuts with the
cone-shaped end toward the
wheel, then hand-tighten each
nut. The wheel must be seated
on the hub.
11. Lower the vehicle by turning the jack handle counter-
clockwise, then fully tighten
the wheel nuts in a crisscross
sequence by turning the
wrench clockwise. Have the
wheel nut torque checked at
the nearest automotive service
facility.
87 lb-ft (118 N·m) 12. Stow the jacking tools and flat
tire in their proper locations.
EX model
Use the screwdriver to remove the
center cap from the wheel before
stowing the flat tire.
Loose items can fly around the
interior in a crash and could
seriously injure the occupants.
Store the wheel, jack, and
tools securely before driving.
The jack is stored in a
compartment on the driver ’s side
rear wheel panel.
To remove the jack from its
compartment, turn the handle
counterclockwise. Disconnect the
hold-down strap.
Tool Locations

189In Case of Emergency
The tire wrench and jack handle
are concealed under the right rear
seat cushion.
UNDERSIDE
OF RIGHT REAR
SEAT CUSHION
TIRE WRENCH AND JACK HANDLE
The screwdriver is stored in a
pouch under the left rear seat
cushion.
LX model
The spare tire is mounted on the
rear door. To remove it, unlock
the spare tire lock (if so
equipped). Use the wheel wrench
to remove the retaining bolts.
When replacing the spare tire,
make sure you put it on the carrier
with the outside of the wheel
facing out. Tighten the bolts
securely.
EX model
The spare tire is stored under the
cargo area floor. To lower it, open
the rear door. Insert the jack
handle between the body and the
top of the rear bumper. Insert the
end of the jack handle into the slot
in the tire winch, then turn the
handle counterclockwise to lower
the tire. Lower the tire to the
ground, then remove the bracket
in the center of the wheel.
Spare Tire Removal