2005 HONDA CR-V towing

2005 CR-V Online Reference Owner's Manual
Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through\
this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.h\
elminc.com.
Contents

Owner's Identification Form
Introduction ........................................................................\
................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safet y........................................................................\
.........................................ii
Important Handling Information........................................................................\
.............................iii
Your Vehicle at a Glance........................................................................\
............................................ .3
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
......................................5
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restr\
aint System.
Instruments and Control s........................................................................\
.........................................53
Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
..................... . 97
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
..........................................................129
What gasoline to use, how to break -in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
..................................................................... .143
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
.............................................................171
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take you r vehicle to the dealer.
Taking Care of the Unexpecte d........................................................................\
............................. .207
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, an d how to handle them.
Technical Informatio n........................................................................\
............................................ .231
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)............................................................... .243
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manu als (U.S. only)........................................................................\
............................. .247
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index........................................................................\
........................................................................\
...... I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.

µ·CONT INUED
Steps f or determining correct load
limit:
The maximum load f or your vehicle
is 850 lbs (385 kg) f or U.S.A, 395 kg
f or Canada. This f igure includes the
total weight of all occupants, cargo,
and accessories, and the tongue load
if you are towing a trailer. Locate the statement, ‘‘the
combined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed 850
lbs’’ on your vehicle’s placard.
[The placard is on the driver’s
doorjamb.]
Determine the combined weight
of the driver and passengers that
will be riding in your vehicle.
Subtract the combined weight of
the driver and passengers f rom
850 lbs.
The resulting f igure equals the
available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity. For
example, if the maximum load is
850 lbs and there will be f ive 150 lb.
passengers in your vehicle, the
amount of available cargo and
luggage load capacity is 100 lbs.
[850 750 (5 150) = 100 lbs.]Determine the combined weight
of luggage and cargo being loaded
in the vehicle. That weight may
not saf ely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity in
step 4.
If yourvehiclewillbetowinga
trailer, load f rom your trailer will
be transf erred to your vehicle.
Consult this manual to determine
how this reduces the available
cargo and luggage load capacity of
your vehicle. [See page .]
In addition, the total weight of the
vehicle, all occupants, accessories,
cargo, and trailer tongue load must
not exceed the gross vehicle weight
rating (GVWR) or the gross axle
weight rating (GAWR). Both are on
a label on the driver’s doorjamb.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
172
Carrying Cargo
Load Limits
Bef ore Driving
151
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.

This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
manual and automatic transmissions.
It also includes important
information on parking your vehicle,
the braking system, the vehicle
stability assist (VSA) system, and
f acts you need if you are planning to
tow a trailer or drive off-highway.........................
Driving Guidelines .156
....................
Preparing to Drive .157
.......................
Starting the Engine .158
...................
Manual Transmission . 159
..............
Automatic Transmission . 161
...........................................
Parking .166
.............................
Braking System .167
...............
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) . 168
Vehicle Stability Assist ............................
(VSA) System .170
...........................
Towing a Trailer .172
Towing Your Vehicle Behind a ................................
Motorhome .177
Of f -Highway Driving ..................................
Guidelines .179
Driving
Driving
155

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Use Neutral if you
need to restart a stalled engine, or if
it is necessary to stop brief ly with
the engine idling. Shif t to the Park
position if you need to leave your
vehicle for any reason. Press on the
brake pedal when you are moving
the shift lever from Neutral to
another gear.
Use this position f or
your normal driving. The
transmission automatically selects a
suitable gear (1 through 5) f or your
speed and acceleration. You may
notice the transmission shif ting up at
higher engine speeds when the
engine is cold. This helps the engine
warm up f aster.
D3 mode can be turned on or of f
only when the ignition switch is in
the ON (II) position and the shif t
lever is in the D position.
Press the D3 switch on the edge of
the shif t lever to turn this mode on
or of f ; the D3 mode indicator comes
on whenever the D3 mode is
selected.
WhentheD3modeison,the
transmission selects only the f irst
three gears. Use D3 mode when
towing a trailer, or to provide engine
brakingwhengoingdownasteephill.
D3 mode can also keep the
transmission f rom cycling between
third and f ourth gears in stop-and-go
driving.
Af ter you stop in D, 2, 1, N, or R
position with the ignition switch in
the ACCESSORY (I) position f or an
extended period, you may not be
able to move the shift lever from
neutral to reverse or Park. In this
case, press the brake pedal, and turn
the ignition switch to the ON (II)
position, then shif t out of neutral.
CONT INUED
Neutral (N)
Drive (D)
Automatic Transmission
D3 Mode
Driving
163
D3 MODE INDICATOR

Your vehicle has been designed to
primarily carry passengers and their
cargo. You can also use it to tow a
trailer if you caref ully observe the
load limits, use the proper equipment,
and f ollow the guidelines in this
section.
Be sure to read thesectiononpage
if you plan to tow of f paved
surf aces.
The
maximum allowable weight of the
trailer and everything in or on it
must not exceed 1,500 lbs (680 kg).
Towing a load that is too heavy can
seriously af f ect your vehicle’s
handling and perf ormance. It can
also damage the engine and
drivetrain. Theweightthatthe
tongue of a f ully-loaded trailer puts
on the hitch should be approximately
10 percent of the total trailer weight.
Too much tongue load reduces f ront-
tire traction and steering control.
Too little tongue load can make the
trailer unstable and cause it to sway.
179
Off-Highway
Driving Guidelines Load Limits
T otal T railer Weight:
T ongue L oad:
Towing a Trailer
172
Exceeding any load limit or
improperly loading your vehicle
and trailer can cause a crash in
which you can be seriously hurt
or killed.
Check the loading of your
vehicle and trailer carefully
beforestartingtodrive.

µ
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µ
To achieve a proper tongue load,
start by loading 60 percent of the
load toward the front of the trailer
and 40 percent toward the rear, then
re-adjust the load as needed.
Discuss your needs with your trailer
sales or rental agency, and f ollow the
guidelines in this section. Also make
sure that all equipment is properly
installed and maintained, and that it
meets f ederal, state, province, and
local regulations.
Any hitch used on your vehicle must
be properly bolted to the underbody.
Always use saf ety chains when you
tow a trailer. Make sure the chains
are secured to the trailer and hitch,
and that they cross under the tongue
and can catch the trailer if it
becomes unhitched. Leave enough
slack to allow the trailer to turn
corners easily, but do not let the
chains drag on the ground.
The maximum
allowable weight of the vehicle, all
occupants, all accessories, all cargo,
and the tongue load is 4,450 lbs
(2,020 kg).
The maximum
allowable weight of the vehicle, all
occupants, all accessories, all cargo,
and the tongue load must not exceed
2,200 lbs (1,000 kg) on the f ront axle,
and 2,290 lbs (1,040 kg) on the rear
axle.
The maximum
allowable weight of the f ully loaded
vehicle and trailer is 5,950 lbs (2,700
kg)
Towing can require a variety of
equipment, depending on the size of
your trailer, how it will be used, how
much load you are towing, and
where you tow.
Using a suitable scale or a special
tongue load gauge, check the tongue
load the f irst time you set up a
towing combination (a f ully-loaded
vehicle and trailer), then recheck the
tongue load whenever the conditions
change.
Thebestwaytoconfirmthatvehicle
and trailer weights are within limits
is to have them checked at a public
scale.
CONT INUED
Towing a Trailer
Hitches
Saf et y Chains
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR)
Gross Axle Weight Ratings
(GA WR)
Gross Combined Weight Rating
(GCWR)
T owing Equipment and
A ccessories
Checking L oads
Driving
173

Honda requires that any trailer with
a total weight of 1,000 lbs (455 kg) or
more be equipped with its own
electric or surge-type brakes.
If you choose electric brakes, be
sure they are electrically actuated.
Do not attempt to tap into your
vehicle’s hydraulic system. No
matter how successf ul it may seem,
any attempt to attach trailer brakes
to your vehicle’s hydraulic system
will lower braking ef f ectiveness and
create a potential hazard.
Seeyourtrailerdealerformore
inf ormation on installing electric
brakes.
Trailer lights and equipment must
comply with f ederal, state, province,
and local regulations. Check with
your local trailer sales or rental
agencies f or the requirements in
your area where you plan to tow, and
use only equipment designed f or
your vehicle.
Your vehicle has a trailer lighting
connector located behind the lef t
side panel in the cargo area. Ref er to
the drawing above f or the wiring
color code and purpose of each pin.
If you use a non-Honda trailer
lighting harness and converter, you
can get the connector and pins that
mate with the connector in your
vehicle f rom your dealer.
Since lighting and wiring vary by
trailer type and brand, you should
have a qualified technician install a
suitable connector between the
vehicle and the trailer. Improper
equipment or installation can cause
damage to your vehicle’s electrical
system and af f ect your vehicle
warranty.
Towing a Trailer
T railer L ights Trailer Brakes
174
BACK-UP LIGHT(GREEN/BLACK)
LEFT TURN SIGNAL(GREEN/RED)
GROUND (BLACK)
TAILLIGHT (RED/YELLOW)
RIGHT TURN SIGNAL(GREEN/YELLOW)
BRAKE LIGHT(WHITE/BLACK)

The lights and brakes on your
vehicle and the trailer are working
properly.
When preparing to tow, and bef ore
driving away, be sure to check the
f ollowing:
The vehicle has been properly
serviced, and the tires, brakes,
suspension, cooling system, and
lights are in good operating
condition.
(If you tow f requently, f ollow the
severe conditions maintenance
schedule.)
The trailer has been properly
serviced and is in good condition.
All weights and loads are within
limits.
Thehitch,safetychains,andany
other attachments are secure.
All items in or on the trailer are
properly secured and cannot shif t
while you drive.
The added weight, length, and
height of a trailer will af f ect your
vehicle’s handling and perf ormance,
so driving with a trailer requires
some special driving skills and
techniques.
Many states and Canadian provinces
require special outside mirrors when
towing a trailer. Even if they don’t,
you should install special mirrors if
you cannot clearly see behind you, or
if the trailer creates a blind spot.
Askyourtrailersalesorrental
agency if any other items are
recommended or required f or your
towing situation.
Your vehicle tires and spare are
properly inf lated, and the trailer
tires and spare are inf lated as
recommended by the trailer
maker.
Foryoursafetyandthesafetyof
others, take time to practice driving
maneuvers bef ore heading f or the
open road, and f ollow the guidelines
in this section.
CONT INUED
Towing a Trailer
Pre-T ow Checklist
Driving Saf ely With a T railer
A ddit ional T owing Equipment
Driving
175