Page 1 of 374

2003 CR-V Online Reference Owner's Manual Use these links (and links throughout this ma nual) to navigate through this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.helminc.com.
Contents
Owner's Identification Form
Introduction ........................................................................\
............................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safety ........................................................................\
.................................................. ii
Important Handling Information ........................................................................\
..................................... iii
Your Vehicle at a Glance ........................................................................\
....................................................... 2
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
............................................... 5
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restraint System.
Instruments and Controls ........................................................................\
................................................... 63
Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
............................... 127
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features.
Before Driving ........................................................................\
..................................................................... 183
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new ve hicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
................................................................................... 197
The proper way to start the engine, shift the tr ansmission, and park, plus towing a trailer.
Maintenance ........................................................................\
......................................................................... 233
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Care ........................................................................\
................................................................. 297
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your vehicle ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpected ........................................................................\
....................................... 307
This section covers several problems motorists someti mes experience, and how to handle them.
Technical Information ........................................................................\
....................................................... 339
ID numbers, dimensions, capaciti es, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada) ......................................................................353
A summary of the warranties covering your new Honda, and how to contact us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only) ........................................................................\
....................................... 357
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index ........................................................................\
......................................................................................... I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need wh en you pull up to the fuel pump.
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Your Vehicle at a Glance
2
POWER DOOR
LOCK SWITCH
(P.88)MIRROR CONTROLS
(P.114)
INDICATORS
GAUGES AUDIO SYSTEM
(P.138, 154)
DIGITAL CLOCK
(P.144, 162)
PARKING BRAKE
(P. 82)
HEATING/COOLING
CONTROLS
(P.128)
HOOD RELEASE HANDLE
(P.186)
FUEL FILL DOOR RELEASE HANDLE
(P.185)
A/T model is shown. (P.94) HATCH GLASS RELEASE
BUTTON
(P.110) POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES (P.72)
(P.65)
Page 68 of 374
Control L ocations
Inst rument s and Cont rols64
POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCH
(P.88)
(P.110) POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
(P.186) HOOD RELEASE
HANDLE
(P.94) HATCH GLASS
RELEASE BUTTON
A/T model is shown. FUEL FILL DOOR RELEASE HANDLE
(P.185)
(P.128)
HEATING/COOLING CONTROLS (P.82) PARKING BRAKE
(P.144,
162)
DIGITAL CLOCK (P.138,
154)
AUDIO SYSTEM
MIRROR CONTROLS
(P.114)
Page 91 of 374

µµ
µ µ
You can insert or
remove the key only in this position.
To switch f rom ACCESSORY to
LOCK, you must push the key in
slightly as you turn it. If your vehicle
has an automatic transmission, the
shif t lever must also be in Park. The
anti-thef t lock will lock the steering
column when you remove the key.
If the f ront wheels are turned, the
anti-thef t lock may sometimes make
it difficult to turn the key from
LOCK to ACCESSORY. Firmly turn
the steering wheel to the lef t or to
the right as you turn the key. Use this position
only to start the engine. The switch
returns to ON (II) when you let go of
the key.
You will hear a reminder beeper if
you leave the key in the ignition
switch in the LOCK (0) or
ACCESSORY (I) position and open
the driver’s door. Remove the key to
turn of f the beeper. The engine will not start if the
Immobilizer System does not
recognize the key’s coding (see page ).
This is the normal key
position when driving. All f eatures
and accessories on the vehicle are
usable. Several of the lights on the
instrument panel come on as a test
when you turn the ignition switch
f rom ACCESSORY to ON. In this position,
you can operate the audio system
and the accessory power sockets. 85
Keys and Locks
Inst rument s and Cont rols
L OCK (0)
ST A RT (III)
ON (II) A CCESSORY (I)
87
Removing the key from the
ignition switch while driving
locks the steering. This can
cause you to lose control.
Remove the key from the
ignition switch only when
parked.
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.....................
Heating and Cooling .128
.........
What Each Control Does . 128
............
How to Use the System . 131
..........
To Turn Everything Of f . 136
................................
Audio System .137
Audio System (U.S. and ........................
Canadian LX) .138
AM/FM/Cassette/CD Audio ....................................
System .138
.................
Operating the Radio . 139
.................
Adjusting the Sound . 143
............
Audio System Lighting . 144
..............................
Digital Clock .144
.........
Operating the CD Player . 146
....
CD Player Error Indications . 148
.....
Operating the CD Changer . 149
CD Changer Error .............................
Indications .150
Operating the Cassette .....................................
Player .151
............
Tape Search Functions . 152
Audio System (U.S. EX and .......
Canadian EX and EX-L) . 154
AM/FM/Cassette/CD ........
Changer Audio System . 154
.................
Operating the Radio . 155.................
Adjusting the Sound . 159
............
Audio System Lighting . 160
....................
Radio Frequencies . 160
........................
Radio Reception .161
..............................
Digital Clock .162
Operating the Cassette .....................................
Player .164
............
Tape Search Functions . 165
Caring f or the Cassette .....................................
Player .168
.....
Operating the CD Changer . 169
..
Loading CDs in the Changer . 170
...................................
Operation .172
Removing CDs from the .................................
Changer .174
.......
Protecting Compact Discs . 176
CD Changer Error .............................
Indications .177
.......................
Thef t Protection .178
...............................
Cruise Control .179
Comf ort and Convenience Features
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures127
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Your vehicle has either of the audio
systems described in this section.
Read the appropriate pages in this
section f or operation of the audio
system installed in your vehicle.
Also, read page for how to take
care of your cassette player.
If your vehicle has a dif f erent audio
system f rom these two types, read
the radio manuf acturer’s manual that
came with your vehicle f or its
operation.pages
138to153 f or LX model
pages 154to177 f or EX and EX-L
models
168
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
Audio System
EX and EX-L Models LX Model
137
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Your Honda’s audio system provides
clear reception on both AM and FM
bands, while the preset buttons allow
you to easily select your f avorite
stations.
The anti-thef t f eature will disable the
system if it is disconnected f rom the
vehicle’s battery. To get the system
working again, you must enter a
code number (see page ).178
On LX model in the U.S. and Canada
Audio System
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures
A M/FM/Cassette/CD A udio
System
138
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CONT INUED
The ignition switch must be in
ACCESSORY (I) or ON (II) to
operate the audio system. Turn the
system on by pressing the PWR/
VOL knob, or the AM or FM button.
Adjust the volume by turning the
knob.
The band and f requency that the
radio was last tuned to is displayed.
To change bands, press the AM or
FM button. On the FM band, ST will
be displayed if the station is broad-
castinginstereo.Stereo
reproduction on AM is not available. Operating the Radio
Audio System
Comf ort and Convenience Feat ures139
PWR/VOL KNOBPRESET BUTTONS
AM BUTTON SEEK BUTTONSTUNE KNOB
SCAN BUTTON FM BUTTON