
2008 CR-V Online Reference Owner's Manual 
                          Contents  
  
 Owner's Identification Form
 
 Introduction  ..........................................................................................................................................................  i      A Few Words About Safety  ..............................................................................................................................  iii    Important Handling Information .................................................................................................................... iv 
 Your  Vehicle  at  a  Glance  (main  controls)  ....................................................................................................  3
 Driver  and  Passenger  Safety  (seat  belts,  SRS,  and  child  protection)   ....................................................  5   
 Instruments  and  Controls  
(indicators,  gauges, information display, dashboard,  and  steering  column)
  ..............  57  
 Features  (
climate control,audio,,steering wheel,security and cruise control
)
   ...................................................  125 
 Before  Driving  (fuel,  vehicle  break- in,  and  cargo  loading)   .....................................................................  225  
 Driving  (engine  and  transmission  operation) ................................................................................................  243  
 Maintenance   (minder,  fluid  checking,  minor  services,  and  vehicle  storage)...........................................  271  
 Taking  Care  of  the  Unexpected  (flat  tire,  dead  battery,  overheating, fuses) ......................................  311  
 Technical  Information  (vehicle  specifications,  tires,  and  emissions  controls) .......................................  333  
 Warranty  and  Customer  Relations  (U. S.  and  Canada  only) (warranty  and  contact  information) ... 349  
 Authorized  Manuals  (U. S.  only) (how  to  order) .........................................................................................  353  
 Index  ............................................................................................................................... ........................................  I  
  
Service  Information  Summary  ( fluid  capacities  and  tire  pressures)      
                                                                                                                                                                                                      1  00X31-SWA-6100 

A convenient ref erence to the 
sections in this manual. 
A quick ref erence to the main 
controls in your vehicle. 
Explains the purpose of each 
instrument panel indicator and gauge,
and how to use the controls on the
dashboard and steering column. 
How to operate the heating and air 
conditioning system, the audio
system, and other convenience
f eatures.What gasoline to use, how to break- 
in your new vehicle, and how to load
luggage and other cargo. 
The proper way to start the engine, 
shif t the transmission, and park; plus
what you need to know if you’re 
planning to tow a trailer.
How to order manuals and other
technical literature. 
A summary of the inf ormation you 
need when you pull up to the f uel
pump.
Important inf ormation about the
proper use and care of your vehicle’s
seat belts, an overview of the
supplemental restraint system, and
valuable inf ormation on how to
protect children with child restraints. A summary of the warranties 
covering your new vehicle, and how
to contact us for any reason. Refer to
your warranty manual f or detailed
inf ormation.
The maintenance minder shows you 
when you need to take your vehicle
to the dealer for maintenance service.
There is also a list of things to check
and instructions on how to check 
them. 
ID numbers, dimensions, capaci- 
ties, and technical inf ormation. 
This section covers several problems 
motorists sometimes experience,
and details how to handle them.
Overview of Contents
Contents 
Your Vehicle at a Glance
Driver and Passenger Saf ety 
Instruments and Controls 
Features Driving
Maintenance
Warranty and Customer 
Relations
(U.S. and Canada only) 
Authorized Manuals 
(U.S. only) 
Index
Bef ore Driving
Service Inf ormation Summary
T echnical Inf ormation 
T aking Care of the Unexpected
2
\f—\f—y
y
(,
\fy\f\f\fy
 2008  CR- V   

After all occupants have adjusted 
their seats and head restraints, and
put on their seat belts, it is very 
important that they continue to sit 
upright, well back in their seats, with
their feet on the floor, until the
vehicle is parked and the engine is
of f .
The front seats have adjustable seat 
belt anchors. To adjust the height of
an anchor, press and hold the release
buttons, and slide the anchor up or
down as needed (it has f our
positions). This could cause
very serious injuries in a crash. 
See page f or additional 
inf ormation about your seat belts 
and how to take care of them. Using a seat
belt that is not working properly can 
result in serious injury or death.
Have your dealer check the belt as
soon as possible. 
If a seat belt does not seem to work 
properly, it may not protect the
occupant in a crash.
Sitting improperly can increase the 
chance of injury during a crash. For
example, if an occupant slouches,
lies down, turns sideways, sits
forward, leans forward or sideways,
or puts one or both f eet up, the
chance of injury during a crash is
greatly increased.
18
CONT INUED
Maintain a Proper Sitting 
Position
6.Never place t he shoulder port ion of a
lap/shoulder belt under your arm orbehind your back.
No one should sit in a seat wit h aninoperat ive seat belt .
Protecting A dults and Teens
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
15
RELEASE BUTTONS
\f—\f—y
\fy
(,
\fy\f\f\fy
 2008  CR- V   

When you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position, this indicator
comes on brief ly then goes of f . This
tells you the system is working
properly.If the indicator comes on or
flashesonandoff whileyoudrive. If the indicator stays on after the
engine starts. If the SRS indicator does not come
on after you turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position.
If the indicator comes on at any
other time, or does not come on at all,
you should have the system checked
by your dealer. For example: If you see any of these indications,
the airbags and seat belt tensioners
may not work properly when you
need them.
The SRS indicator alerts you to a
potential problem with your airbags
or seat belt tensioners. This indicator alerts you that the
passenger’s side airbag has been
automatically shut off. It does
mean there is a problem with your
side airbags.
When you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position, the indicator
should come on brief ly and then go
off(seepage ).Ifitdoesn’tcome
on, stays on, or comes on while
driving without a passenger in the
f ront seat, have the system checked.61
Additional Inf ormation About Your Airbags
How the SRS Indicator
Works
How the Side
Airbag Of f
Indicator Works
not
Driver and Passenger Saf ety
31
U.S.
Canada
Ignoring the SRS indicator can
result in serious injury or death
if the airbag systems or
tensioners do not work properly.
Have your vehicle checked by a
dealer as soon as possible if
the SRS indicator alerts you to
a possible problem.
——y
y
(,
yy
 2008  CR- V   

The instrument panel has many 
indicators that give you important
inf ormation about your vehicle. 
See page . 
If this indicator comes on when the 
engine is running, the battery is not
being charged. For more inf ormation,
see page . 
The engine can be severely damaged 
if this indicator f lashes or stays on
when the engine is running. For
more information, see page .This indicator comes on when you 
turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position. It reminds you and your
passengers to f asten your seat belts.
A beeper also sounds if you have not
f astened your seat belt. 
If you turn the ignition switch to the 
ON (II) position bef ore f astening
your seat belt, the beeper sounds,
and the indicator f lashes. If you do
notfastenyourseatbeltbeforethe
beeper stops, the indicator stops
f lashing but remains on. 
If your f ront passenger does not 
f asten their seat belt, the indicator
comes on about 6 seconds af ter the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
(II) position.
This indicator has two f unctions:
Itcomesonwhenyouturnthe 
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position. It is a reminder to check 
the parking brake. A beeper
sounds if you drive with the
parking brake not f ully released.
Driving with the parking brake not
fully released can damage the
brakes and tires. 
If it stays on after you have fully 
released the parking brake while 
the engine is running, or if it
comes on while driving, there
could be a problem with the brake
system. For more inf ormation, see
page .
2. 
1.
325
324
324 326
Malf unction Indicator 
Lamp 
L ow Oil Pressure 
Indicator 
Charging System 
Indicator
Seat Belt Reminder 
Indicator
Parking Brake and
Brake System
Indicator
Instrument Panel Indicators
60
U.S. Canada
\f—\f—y
\f
y
(,
\fy\f\fy
 2008  CR- V   

If either of you do not f asten your 
seat belt while driving, the beeper
will sound and the indicator will f lash 
again at regular intervals. For more 
inf ormation, see page . 
This indicator comes on brief ly when 
you turn the ignition switch to the
ON (II) position. If it comes on at
any other time, it indicates a
potential problem with your f ront
airbags. This indicator will also alert
you to a potential problem with your
side airbags, passenger’s side airbag 
cutof f system, side curtain airbags, 
automatic seat belt tensioners,
driver’s seat position sensor, or the
f ront passenger’s weight sensors.
For more inf ormation, see page .This indicator normally comes on f or 
a f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position, and when the ignition
switch is turned to the START (III)
position. If it comes on at any other
time, there is a problem in the ABS. 
If this happens, have your vehicle
checked by your dealer. With the
indicator on, your vehicle still has
normal braking ability but no anti-
lock. For more inf ormation, see page
.
This indicator comes on brief ly when 
you turn the ignition switch to the
ON (II) position. If it comes on at
any other time, it indicates that the
passenger’s side airbag has 
automatically shut off. For more
inf ormation, see page . 
This indicator comes on brief ly when 
you turn the ignition switch to the
ON (II) position. It will then go of f if
you have inserted a properly-coded
ignition key. If it is not a properly-
coded key, the indicator will blink,
and the engine’s f uel system will be
disabled (see page ).
18
3180 31
254
Instrument Panel Indicators
Supplemental Restraint 
System Indicator Anti-lock Brake System
(A BS) Indicator
Immobilizer System
Indicator Side Airbag Of f
Indicator
Inst rument s and Cont rols
61
Canada
U.S.
\f—\f—y
y
(,
\fy\f\fy
 2008  CR- V   

The odometer shows the total 
distance your vehicle has been
driven. It measures miles in U.S. 
models and kilometers in Canadian 
models. It is illegal under U.S.
federal law and Canadian provincial
regulations to disconnect, reset, or
alter the odometer with the intent to 
change the number of miles or
kilometers indicated.This indicator displays the outside
temperature in Fahrenheit (U.S. 
models) or Centigrade (Canadian 
models).
This shows how much f uel you have.
It may show slightly more or less
than the actual amount. This shows the temperature of the 
engine’s coolant. During normal
operation, the reading should be in 
the middle of the gauge. In severe 
driving conditions, such as very hot
weather or a long period of uphill
driving, the reading may reach near
the red mark. If it reaches the red 
(Hot) mark, pull saf ely to the side of
the road. See page f or
instructions and precautions on
checking the engine’s cooling
system.
322
If equipped
CONT INUED
Outside Temperature Indicator
Temperature Gauge
Odometer 
Fuel Gauge
Gauges
Inst rument s and Cont rols
69
OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE INDICATOR
Avoid driving with an extremely low 
f uel level. Running out of f uel could
cause the engine to misf ire, damaging 
the catalytic converter.
\f—\f—y
\fy
(,
\fy\f\fy
 2008  CR- V   

If your f uel f ill cap is loose or 
missing, a ‘‘CHECK FUEL CAP’’
message appears on the information 
display af ter you start the engine. 
For more inf ormation, see page .The inf ormation display in the
instrument panel shows you the
engine oil lif e and maintenance 
service items when the ignition 
switch is in the ON (II) position. This
inf ormation helps to keep you aware
of the periodic maintenance your
vehicle needs f or continued trouble- 
f ree driving. Ref er to page f or
more inf ormation.
228
273
Gauges
Maintenance Minder
Check Fuel Cap Message
Inst rument s and Cont rols
71
\f—\f—y
y
(,
\fy\f\fy
 2008  CR- V