2002 HONDA PASSPORT lights

156 Driving Tips
Driving Guidelines
Your Honda has higher ground
clearance than a passenger car
designed for use only on
pavement. Higher ground
clearance has many advantages
for off-road driving. It allows you
to travel over bumps, obstacles,
and rough terrain. It also provides
good visibility so you can
anticipate problems earlier.
These advantages come at some
cost. Because your vehicle is
taller and rides higher off the
ground, it has a high center of
gravity. This means that your
vehicle can tip or roll over if you
make abrupt turns. Utility
vehicles have a significantly
higher rollover rate than other
types of vehicles. To prevent rollover or loss of
control:
•
Take corners at slower speeds
than you would with a
passenger car.
• Avoid sharp turns and abrupt
maneuvers whenever possible.
• Do not modify your vehicle in
any way that would raise the
center of gravity (see page 174).
•Do not carry heavy cargo on
the roof (see page 177).
For off-road driving guidelines,
see the Off-Road Driving
Information booklet that came
with your vehicle.
Before Entering the Vehicle
1. Check that the windows, mirrors, lights and reflectors
are clean and unobstructed. 2. Check the tires to see if they
are low or flat. You will need
a pressure gauge to tell if tires
are properly inflated.
3. Check that all lights work.
4. Check for fluid leaks.
5. Be sure everything is properly stowed.
6. Check the area behind the vehicle if you are about to
back up.
Before Driving the Vehicle
1. Lock all doors.
2. Adjust the seat and anymovable head restraints.
3. Adjust the inside and outside mirrors.
4. Check that all the indicator lights work when the key
Before Driving

158Driving Tips
You may drive your new vehicle
from its very first mile/kilometer
without following a formal
“break-in” schedule. However,
there are things you can do during
the first few hundred miles/
kilometers of driving that will add
to the future performance and
economy of your vehicle.
It is recommended that your speed
during the first 500 miles (800
kilometers) be limited to a
maximum of 55 mph (90 km/h)
and that you do not drive for long
periods at any one constant speed,
either fast or slow. During this
period, avoid full-throttle starts
and, if possible, avoid hard stops;
especially during the first 200
miles (320 kilometers) of driving.
Always drive at moderate speed
until the engine has completely
warmed up.
When leaving your vehicle
unattended:
•Set the parking brake.
•Place the shift lever in
“P”
(Park) position for automatic
transmission.
•When parking a vehicle equipped
with a manual transmission on an
upward slope, or on a level
surface, place the shift lever in
the “1st” position.
•When parking a vehicle
equipped with a manual
transmission on a downward
slope, place the shift lever in
the “
R” (Reverse) position.
•Turn the key to the “LOCK”
position.
•Remove the key. The beeper
will remind you.
•Close all windows and lock all
doors.
•Check to make certain the
lights are turned off. The
beeper will remind you.
•If your vehicle is equipped with
a transfer case (4
WD), make
sure the shift lever is in 4
H or
4
L.
Parking Tips
•Never drive the vehicle with
the parking brake set. This can
overheat the rear brakes,
reducing their effectiveness and
causing excessive wear or
damage.
•Always apply the parking brake
whenever you leave the vehicle,
whether it is equipped with a
manual or automatic transmission.
New Vehicle Break-InParking

162Driving Tips
Self-Adjusting Brakes
The brakes on this vehicle are
self-adjusting. They have been
designed so that periodic brake
adjustment is not needed.
The brakes adjust themselves each
time you firmly apply them.
Thus, if the brake pedal goes down
farther than normal due to a lack of
adjustment, drive backward and
forward a few times. Apply the
brakes intermittently.
See your Honda dealer if the
brake pedal height does not return
to normal or if there is a rapid
increase in pedal travel. Either is a
sign of other brake trouble. Also,
see your Honda dealer if the
parking brake needs adjustment.
Braking Tips
Control your vehicle’s speed on a
steep or long downhill grade by
shifting the transmission to a
lower gear. Constantly using the
brakes can cause them to overheat
and lose effectiveness.
Resting your foot on the brake
pedal when you are not intending
to brake (“riding the brakes”) can cause them to overheat. This
reduces their effectiveness, wears
them out faster, and can reduce
fuel mileage. It also causes your
brake lights to stay on all the time,
confusing drivers behind you.
Brake Wear Indicators
The front and rear brakes have
built-in wear indicators. These make a high-pitched squealing or
cricket-like warning sound when
the brake pads or linings are worn
to the point of replacement. The
sound may come and go or be
heard all the time when the vehicle
is moving, but may stop when the
brake pedal is pushed down firmly.
Expensive damage can result if
pads or linings are not replaced
immediately when needed.
Driving on Slippery Surfaces
Driving, steering, and braking
traction are reduced when the
road is coated with water, snow,
ice, gravel, or other materials.
Slow down and adjust your
driving to such conditions. It is
important to slow down when it is
slippery because stopping

170Driving Tips
Driving for Best Fuel
Economy
How, where, and when you drive
all affect how many miles/
kilometers you can get from a
gallon/liter of fuel. The careful
attention you give your vehicle as
far as maintenance and repairs
will also help fuel economy.
Fuel Selection
Use only unleaded gasoline
meeting federal government
regulations. The federal
government specifies the
minimum octane rating number of
unleaded gasoline. Unleaded
gasoline must be used for proper
emissions control system
operation. It will also minimize
spark plug fouling. The use of
leaded gasoline can damage the
emissions control system andcould result in loss of warranty
coverage.
“Jackrabbit” Starts
You can save fuel (and prolong
engine and tire life) by avoiding
fast starts away from lights and
stop signs.
Stop-and-Go Driving
Frequent stop-and-go driving
during a trip will cut down on
your miles per gallon (kilometers
per liter). Plan even your short
shopping trips to take advantage
of through streets to avoid traffic
lights. Pace your driving to avoid
unplanned stops.
Excessive Idling
An idling engine uses fuel, too. If
you’re faced with more than a few
minutes wait and you
’re not intraffic, it is better to turn off the
key and start the engine again
later.
Repetitive Harsh Stopping
Harsh stops can also waste fuel;
instead of moving the vehicle, the
energy is wasted as heat in
braking. Energy in the form of
fuel is also needed to accelerate
back to driving speed.
Lubricants
A well-lubricated vehicle means
less friction between moving
parts. This manual lists the proper
lubrication intervals in the
“Care
and Maintenance ” section.
Air Cleaner
Your vehicle gets its power from a
mixture of fuel and air. The air is
taken into the engine through the
Fuel Economy

174 Driving Tips
systems, such as the
SRS
and
anti-lock brake system.
However, if electronic accessories
are improperly installed, or
exceed your vehicle ’s electrical
system capacity, they can interfere
with the operation of your vehicle,
or even cause the airbags to
deploy.
Before installing any accessory:
• Make sure the accessory does
not obscure any lights, or
interfere with proper vehicle
operation or performance.
• Be sure electronic accessories
do not overload electrical
circuits (see page 240).
•Have the installer contact your
Honda dealer for assistance
before installing any electronic
accessory. If possible, have your dealer
inspect the final installation.
Modifications
Do not remove any original
equipment or modify your vehicle
in any way that would alter its
design or operation. This could
make your vehicle unsafe and
illegal to drive.
For example, do not make any
modifications that would change
the ride height of your vehicle, or
install wheels and tires with a
different overall diameter.
Such modifications can adversely
affect handling, and interfere with
the operation of the vehicle
’s
anti-lock brakes and other
systems.
In addition, any modifications that
decrease ground clearance increase the chance of
undercarriage parts striking a
curb, speed bump, or other raised
object, which could cause your
airbags to deploy.
Do not modify your steering
wheel or any other part of your
Supplemental Restraint System.
Modifications could make the
system ineffective.
Additional Safety Precaution
Do not attach or place objects on
the airbag covers. Any object
attached to, or placed on, the
covers marked “
SRS,” in the
center of the steering wheel and
on top of the dashboard, could
interfere with the proper operation
of the airbags. Or, if the airbags
inflate, the objects could be
propelled inside the vehicle and
hurt someone.

181Driving Tips
Safety Chain
Always use suitable safety chains
between your vehicle and the
trailer.
Check with your trailer
manufacturer for the required
equipment. Cross the safety
chains under the hitch and attach
them to the trailer hitch hardware.
This will prevent the trailer from
dropping to the ground in the
event the hitch disengages. For
proper use and installation,
consult your trailer manufacturer.
Trailer Lights
Trailer lights and equipment must
comply with federal, state and
local regulations. Check with your
local recreational vehicle dealer
for the requirements in your area.Use only equipment designed for
your vehicle.
Improper equipment or
installation can cause damage to
your vehicle’
s electrical system
and affect your vehicle warranty.
Consult your Honda dealer for
installation.
Tires
Always check the condition of
your vehicle’ s tires and trailer ’s
tires before operation. Replace
worn or damaged tires before
operation.
Inflate tire pressure to the
recommended cold tire pressure
indicated in the tire
manufacturer ’ s warranty booklet
in the glove box packet. Check the tire manufacturer
’s
requirements when replacement
tires are installed on your vehicle.
Trailer tire condition, size, load
rating, and proper inflation
pressure should be in accordance
with the tire manufacturer ’s
specifications. Improper tire size
and inflation can cause tire
failure, possibly resulting in
vehicle damage and personal
injury.
Trailer Brakes
Trailers with a total weight of
1,000 pounds or more require
trailer brakes. If your trailer is
equipped with a braking system,
make sure it conforms to federal,
state, and local equipment
regulations.

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

190In Case of Emergency
Reverse this procedure to store
the spare tire. Connect the spare
tire to the bracket with the outside
of the wheel facing up. Make sure
the tire does not catch on any part
of the underbody of the vehicle as
you are raising it, and that the
spare tire is stored securely before
driving.
If the engine overheats:
•The engine coolant temperature
gauge pointer will move up to
the
“
H” or higher.
•Engine “ping” will become
excessive.
•Loss of engine power will be
noticed.
•Either steam or boiling water
will squirt out of the radiator.
If you find that the engine is
overheating:
•Stop the vehicle, and turn on
the hazard warning lights.
•If you see or hear steam or
coolant coming from the
engine compartment, turn off
the engine immediately.
Steam and spray from an
overheated engine can
seriously scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out.
•
If you do not see or hear steam
or spray, turn off the
A/C (if
on) and run the engine at a
speed slightly higher than idle
speed (about 1,500 rpm) for
several minutes. Watch the
coolant temperature gauge. If it
remains at the “
H” mark, turn
off the engine.
•Open the hood only after all
signs of steam or hot coolant
spray have stopped. Look for
signs of an obvious leak, such
as a split radiator hose. If you
Engine Overheating