Page 239 of 373

Raising your vehicle with a 
non-Honda suspension kit can
af f ect the handling and stability.
Removing parts f rom your vehicle, 
or replacing components, with
non-Honda components could
seriously af f ect your vehicle’s
handling, stability, and reliability. 
Herearesomeexamples:
Lowering the vehicle with a non- 
Honda suspension kit that
signif icantly reduces ground
clearance can allow the
undercarriage to hit speed bumps
or other raised objects, which
could cause the airbags to deploy. Non-Honda wheels, because they 
are a universal design, can cause
excessive stress on suspension
components, and are not
compatible with the tire pressure
monitoring system (TPMS). 
Larger or smaller wheels and tires 
can interf ere with the operation of
your vehicle’s anti-lock brakes and 
other systems. 
Modif ying your steering wheel or 
any other part of your vehicle’s
safety features can make the
systems inef f ective.
If you plan to modif y your vehicle,
consult your dealer.
A ccessories and Modif ications
Modif ying Your Vehicle
Bef ore Driving
235
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Store or secure all items that could 
be thrown around and hurt
someone during a crash. 
Be sure items placed on the f loor 
behind the f ront seats cannot roll
underneath and interf ere with the
proper operation of the seats, the 
sensors under the seats, or the
driver’s ability to operate the
pedals. 
Keep the lower glove box closed 
while driving. If it is open, a
passenger could injure their knees
during a crash or sudden stop.If you carry large items that
prevent you f rom closing the
tailgate, exhaust gas can enter the 
passenger area. To avoid the 
possibility of
, f ollow the instructions
on page . 
Distribute cargo evenly on the 
f loor of the cargo area, placing the
heaviest items on the bottom and 
as far forward as possible. Tie 
down items that could be thrown
about the vehicle during a crash or
sudden stop. 
Do not stack items higher than the 
back of the rear seats. They can
block your view and be thrown
around the vehicle during a crash.
If youfoldtherearseatsupor 
down, tie down items that could be
thrown about the vehicle during a
crash or sudden stop. Also, keep
all cargo below the bottom of the
windows. If it is higher, it could
interf ere with the proper operation
of thesidecurtainairbags.
Do not use the dual deck cargo shelf 
with any rear seat f olded up or down.
54
CONT INUED
On all models except LX
Carrying Cargo in the Passenger 
Compartment
carbon monoxide
poisoning
Carrying Cargo in the Cargo A rea
or on a Roof Rack
Carrying Cargo
Bef ore Driving
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If you carry any items on a roof 
rack,besurethetotalweightof
the rack and the items does not 
exceed 165 lbs (75 kg).
If you use an accessory roof rack, 
the roof rack weight limit may be
lower. Ref er to the inf ormation that 
came with your roof rack.
Do not exceed the dual deck cargo
shelf load limit of 20 lbs on U.S.
models, and 10 kg on Canadian
models. 
Do not use the dual deck cargo shelf 
if the rear seats are f olded down. 
Do not put any items on the dual 
deck cargo shelf that could block
your view or be thrown around the
vehicle during a crash.
On all models except LXOn U.S. model is shown
Carrying Cargo on the Dual Deck 
Cargo Shelf
Carrying Cargo
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        Page 247 of 373

This section gives you tips on 
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the 
automatic transmission. It also 
includes important inf ormation on
parking your vehicle, the braking
system, the vehicle stability assist
(VSA) system, the tire pressure 
monitoring system (TPMS) and f acts
you need if you are planning to tow a
trailerordriveoff-highway.........................
Driving Guidelines .244
....................
Preparing to Drive .245
.......................
Starting the Engine .246
..............
Automatic Transmission .247
...........................................
Parking .252
.............................
Braking System .253
...............
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) .254 
Vehicle Stability Assist
............................
(VSA) System .256
Tire Pressure Monitoring System ......................................
(TPMS) .258
...........................
Towing a Trailer .261 
Towing Your Vehicle Behind a
................................
Motorhome .266
Of f -Highway Driving ..................................
Guidelines .268
Driving
Driving
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        Page 249 of 373
Make sure all windows, mirrors, 
and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove f rost, snow, 
or ice. 
Check that the hood is f ully closed.Check the seat adjustment (see 
page ). 
Check the adjustment of the 
inside and outside mirrors (see
page ). 
Check the steering wheel 
adjustment (see page ). 
Fasten your seat belt. Check that 
your passengers have f astened
their seat belts (see page ). 
When you start the engine, check 
the gauges and indicators in the
instrument panel (see page ).
Check that any items you may be
carrying are stored properly or
f astened down securely. 
Visually check the tires. If a tire 
looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure (see page ).
Youshoulddothefollowingchecks 
and adjustments bef ore you drive
your vehicle.
Make sure the doors and the
tailgate are securely closed and
locked.
1. 
2.
10.14
3. 
4. 5. 
6. 
7. 
8. 
9.
79
59
302 111
95
Driving Guidelines
Preparing to Drive
Driving
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        Page 251 of 373
These indicators on the instrument 
panel show which position the shif t
lever is in.The ‘‘D’’ indicator comes on f or a 
f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. If it f lashes while driving (in
any shif t position), it indicates a
possible problem in the transmission. 
If the malf unction indicator lamp 
comes on along with the ‘‘D’’
indicator, there is a problem with the
automatic transmission control
system. Avoid rapid acceleration, and
have the transmission checked by
your dealer as soon as possible.
To shif t f rom any position, press
f irmly on the brake pedal and press
the release button on the side of the
shiftlever.Youcannotshiftoutof
Park when the ignition switch is in
the LOCK (0) or ACCESSORY (I)
position.
CONT INUED
Shif t L ever Position Indicators Shif ting
Automatic Transmission
Driving
247
SHIFT LEVER
U.S. model is shown RELEASE 
BUTTON
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µµ
If you have done all of the above and 
still cannot move the lever out of
Park, see on
page . This position mechani-
cally locks the transmission. Use 
Park whenever you are turning of f or 
starting the engine. To shif t out of 
Park, you must press on the brake
pedal and have your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal. Press the release
button on the side of the shift lever 
to move it. 
To avoid transmission damage, come 
to a complete stop bef ore shif ting
into Park. You must also press the
release button to shift into Park. The
shif t lever must be in Park bef ore
you can remove the key f rom the
ignition switch. Press the brake
pedal and press the release button 
on the side of the shif t lever to shif t 
f rom Park to reverse. To shif t f rom 
reverse to neutral, come to a
completestopandthenshift.Press
the release button bef ore shif ting
into reverse f rom neutral.
251To shift from: PtoR 
RtoP
NtoR Dto2 2to1 
1to2
2toD
DtoN
NtoD RtoN
DtoD
DtoD Do this:
Press the brake pedal and
press the shift lever release
button. 
Press the shift lever release 
button. 
Move the shift lever. 
Press the D button.
3
3 3
Automatic Transmission
Shif t L ock Release
Park (P) Reverse (R)
248
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µµ
Turning the ignition switch to the 
LOCK (0) position turns this mode
of f . When you restart the engine,
select the D position and press the
D3 mode switch again to use this 
mode. 
TheD3modeindicatoralsocomes 
on f or a f ew seconds when you turn
the ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. If you shif t into f irst position when 
the vehicle speed is above 31 mph
(50 km/h), the transmission shif ts
into second gear first to avoid
sudden engine braking. 
If you exceed the maximum speed 
f or the gear you are in, the engine
speed will enter into the tachometer’s
red zone. If this occurs, you may f eel 
the engine cut in and out. This is
caused by a limiter in the engine’s
computer controls. The engine will
run normally when you reduce the
rpm below the red zone.
Use second gear:
For more power when climbing. 
To increase engine braking when 
going down steep hills. 
For starting out on a slippery 
surf ace or in deep snow. 
To help reduce wheel spin.
When driving downhill with a 
trailer.
To shif t to second,
pressthereleasebuttonontheside
of the shif t lever. This position locks 
the transmission in second gear. It 
does not downshif t to f irst gear
when you come to a stop. To shif t f rom second to
first, press the release button on the
side of the shif t lever. This position
locks the transmission in f irst gear.
By upshif ting and downshif ting
through 1, 2, D , and D, you can
operate the transmission much like a
manual transmission without a
clutch pedal.
Shif ting out f rom the D position will 
canceltheD3mode,andtheD3
indicator will go out. Selecting the D
position again will resume the D3
mode and the indicator comes on.
3
Automatic Transmission
Engine Speed L imiter
Second (2) First (1)
250
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