2004 HONDA CR-V Owners Manual

Your Honda can be towed behind a
motorhome at legal highway speeds
up to 65 mph(100 km/h). Do not
exceed 65 mph(100km/h).
Otherwise, severe transmission
damage will occur. To avoid damage
to the 4WD system, it must be towed
with all f our wheels on the ground
(f lat towing).
When purchasing a tow bar, make
sure you select a reputable
manuf acturer and installer. Follow
the manufacturer’s attachment
instructions caref ully.Perf orm the f ollowing procedure
everyday immediately bef ore you
begin towing. Otherwise severe
automatic transmission damage will
occur.
Check the transmission f luid level
(see page ).
Start the engine.
Press on the brake pedal. Move
the shif t lever through all its
positions.
ShifttoD,thentoN.Letthe
engine run f or three minutes, then
turn it off.
Leave the ignition switch in
ACCESSORY (I) so the steering
wheel does not lock. Make sure
the radio and any items plugged
into the accessory power sockets
are turned of f so you do not run
down the battery. If you tow more than 8 hours in one
day, you should repeat the above
procedure at least every 8 hours
(when you stop f or f uel, etc.)
Release the parking brake. 179
Do not overf ill.
Driving
Towing Your Vehicle Behind a Motorhome
Ext ended T owing
157
NOTICE:
NOTICE:T he steering system can be
damaged if the steering wheel is locked.
Leave the ignition switch in Accessory
(I), and make sure the steering wheel
turns f reely bef ore you begin towing.
Failure to f ollow the above
instructions exactly will result in severe
automatic transmission damage. If you
cannot shif t the transmission or start
the engine, your vehicle must be
transported on a f lat-bed truck or
trailer.

When towing your CR-V f or long
periods, remove the 7.5A Accessory/
Radio f use to reduce drain on battery.
This f use in located in the interior
f use box and is shown as number 8
below.
Only remove the fuse after you have
perf ormed the transmission shif ting
procedure, and the key is in the
ACCESSORY (I) position. Store the
f use in an obvious location (center
tray, coin pockets, etc) as a reminder
to re-install the fuse before driving
the vehicle.If youtowaCR-Vwithanautomatic
transmission, the transmission f luid
must be changed every two years or
30,000 miles (48,000 km), whichever
comes f irst.
Towing Your Vehicle Behind a Motorhome
Driving
Automatic Transmission
Ext ended T owing
158
NOTICE:INTERIOR FUSE BOX
ACC/RADIO FUSEThis f use MUST be re-
installed bef ore driving the vehicle.
Failure to re-install the f use may allow
youtoremovethekeywiththe
transmission in gear.
Severe automatic transmission damage
will occur if the vehicle is shif ted f rom
reverse to neutral and then towed with
the drive wheels on the ground.

To avoid loss of control or rollover,
be sure to f ollow all precautions and
recommendations.Be sure to store cargo properly
and do not exceed your Honda
cargo load limits (see pages and ).
Wherever you drive, make sure
you and your passengers always
wear seat belts.
Keep your speed low, and never
go faster than the conditions allow.
It’s up to you to continually assess
the situation and drive within the
limits.
Your vehicle has been designed
primarily f or use on pavement. But
its higher ground clearance allows
you to occasionally travel on unpaved
roads, to campgrounds, picnic sites,
and similar locations. It is not
designed f or trail-blazing, mountain
climbing, or other challenging of f -
road activities.
If you decide to drive on unpaved
roads, you will f ind that it requires
somewhat dif f erent driving skills.
Your vehicle will also handle
somewhat dif f erently than it does on
pavement. So be sure to read this
owner’s manual, pay special attention
to the precautions and tips in this
section, and get acquainted with
your vehicle before you leave the
pavement.
133 151
Driving
General Inf ormation
Important Saf ety Precautions
Of f -Highway Driving Guidelines
159
Improperly operating this
vehicle on or off-pavement can
cause an accident or rollover in
which you and your passengers
could be seriously injured or
killed.
Follow all instructions and
guidelines in the owner’s
manual.
Keep your speed low and
don’t drive faster than
conditions permit.

Before you leave the pavement, be
sure to do all scheduled maintenance
and service and that you inspect your
vehicle. Pay special attention to the
condition of the tires and check the
tire pressure.
After you return to the pavement,
caref ully inspect your vehicle to
make sure there is no damage that
could make driving it unsaf e.
Recheck the condition of the tires
and the tire pressure.
The route presents limits (too steep
or bumpy roads). You have limits
(driving skill and comf ort). And your
vehicle has limits (traction, stability,
and power).
Driving of f -highway can be
hazardous if you f ail to recognize
limits and take the proper
precautions.Forbettertractiononallsurfaces,
accelerate slowly and gradually build
up speed. If you try to start too fast
on wet soil, mud, snow, or ice, you
might not have enough traction to
get underway and you may dig
yourself a hole. Starting with the
shif t lever in second gear (2) will
help you have a smoother start on
snow and ice.
Keep in mind that you will usually
need more time and distance to
brake to a stop on unpaved surf aces.
Avoid hard braking. Do not pump
the brakes; let the anti-lock braking
system pump them f or you.
Debris in the road can damage your
suspension or other components.
Because your vehicle has a high
center of gravity, driving over a large
obstacle, or allowing a wheel to drop
into a deep hole can cause yourvehicle to tip or roll over.
If you can’t clearly see all road
conditions or obstacles, walk the
slope bef ore you drive on it. If you
have any doubt whether or not you
can saf ely drive on the slope, don’t
do it. Find another route.
If you are driving up a hill and f ind
that you cannot continue,
. Your vehicle could roll
over. Slowly back down the hill,
f ollowing the same route you took up
the hill.
do not try to
turn around
Of f -Highway Driving Guidelines
Driving
Check Out Your Vehicle
Remember: Accelerating and Braking
Avoiding ObstaclesDriving on Slopes
160

Avoid driving through deep water. If
you encounter water in your route (a
small stream or large puddle, f or
example), evaluate it carefully before
going ahead. Make sure it is shallow,
f lowing slowly, and has f irm ground
underneath. If you are not sure of
the depth or the ground, turn around
andfindanotherroute.
Driving through deep water can also
damage your vehicle. The water can
get into the transmission and
dif f erential, diluting the lubricant
and causing an eventual failure. It
can also wash the grease out of the
wheel bearings.Avoid driving on sof t sand, deep mud,
or other surf aces where you could
get stuck. If you do happen to get
stuck because of inclement weather
or other conditions, choose a saf e
and appropriate course of action.
You should never use a jack to try
getting unstuck. A jack only works
on f irm, level ground. Also, your
vehicle could easily slip of f the jack
and hurt you or someone else.
If you spin the wheels excessively
trying to get unstuck, you may
overheat the components of the
4-wheel drive system. If this happens,
the 4-wheel drive system shuts off
and only the f ront wheels receive
power. If this happens, stop and
allow everything to cool down. The
4-wheel drive system will work again
after its temperature drops.
If you slip the clutch f or a long time
while trying to get unstuck, you may
overheat and damage it.
Of f -Highway Driving Guidelines
If You Get Stuck
Crossing a Stream4-Wheel Drive Vehicles
Driving161

162

This section explains why it is
important to keep your vehicle well
maintained and how to f ollow basic
maintenance saf ety precautions.
This section also includes
Maintenance Schedules f or normal
driving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions f or simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself .
If you have the skills and tools to per-
f orm more complex maintenance
tasks on your Honda, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See
page f or inf ormation on how to
obtain a copy, or see your Honda
dealer.......................
Maintenance Saf ety .164
.................
Maintenance Schedule . 165
....................
Maintenance Record .170
..............................
Fluid Locations .172
........................
Adding Engine Oil .173
.........
Changing the Oil and Filter . 174
..............................
Engine Coolant .176
....................
Windshield Washers .178
.......................
Transmission Fluid .179
................
Brake and Clutch Fluid . 181
....................
Power Steering Fluid . 182
....................................
Hood Latch .182
.............................................
Lights .183
.......................................
Seat Belts .187
.....................................
Floor Mats .188
..................
Dust and Pollen Filter . 188
.................................
Wiper Blades .189
...............................................
Tires .190
...................
Checking the Battery . 196
.............................
Vehicle Storage .197
243
Maintenance
Maint enance163

All service items not detailed in this
section should be perf ormed by a
Honda technician or other qualif ied
mechanic.
To eliminate potential hazards, read
the instructions bef ore you begin,
and make sure you have the tools
and skills required.Make sure your vehicle is parked
on level ground, the parking brake
is set, and the engine is of f .
To clean parts, use a commercially
available degreaser or parts
cleaner, not gasoline.
To reduce the possibility of f ire or
explosion, keep cigarettes, sparks,
and f lames away f rom the battery
and all f uel-related parts. Let the
engine and exhaust system cool
bef ore touching any parts.
Do
not run the engine unless
instructed to do so. Be sure there is
adequate ventilation whenever you
operate the engine.
Wear eye protection and
protective clothing when working
with the battery or compressed air.
Maintenance Saf ety
Maint enance
Important Saf ety Precautions Potential Vehicle Hazards
Burns f rom hot parts.
Injury f rom moving parts. Carbon Monoxide poison f rom
engine exhaust.
164
Improperly maintaining this
vehicle or failing to correct a
problem before driving can
cause a crash in which you can
be seriously hurt or killed.
Always follow the inspection
and maintenance
recommendations, and
schedules in this owner’s
manual.