Honda Passport (2002 year). Instruction

158

Driving Tips

You may drive your new vehicle
from its very first mile/kilometer
without following a formal
“break-in” schedule. However,
there are things you can do during
the first few hundred miles/
kilometers of driving that will add
to the future performance and
economy of your vehicle.

It is recommended that your speed
during the first 500 miles (800
kilometers) be limited to a
maximum of 55 mph (90 km/h)
and that you do not drive for long
periods at any one constant speed,
either fast or slow. During this
period, avoid full-throttle starts
and, if possible, avoid hard stops;
especially during the first 200
miles (320 kilometers) of driving.
Always drive at moderate speed
until the engine has completely
warmed up.

When leaving your vehicle
unattended:

•

Set the parking brake.

•

Place the shift lever in “

”

(Park) position for automatic
transmission.

•

When parking a vehicle equipped
with a manual transmission on an
upward slope, or on a level
surface, place the shift lever in
the “1st” position.

•

When parking a vehicle
equipped with a manual
transmission on a downward
slope, place the shift lever in
the “

” (Reverse) position.

•

Turn the key to the “

LOCK

”

position.

•

Remove the key. The beeper
will remind you.

•

Close all windows and lock all
doors.

•

Check to make certain the
lights are turned off. The
beeper will remind you.

•

If your vehicle is equipped with
a transfer case (4

), make

sure the shift lever is in 4

Parking Tips

•

Never drive the vehicle with
the parking brake set. This can
overheat the rear brakes,
reducing their effectiveness and
causing excessive wear or
damage.

•

Always apply the parking brake
whenever you leave the vehicle,
whether it is equipped with a
manual or automatic transmission.

New Vehicle Break-In

Parking

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Driving Tips

•

If your vehicle is equipped with
an automatic transmission, set
the parking brake before you
leave the driver’s seat. If the
vehicle is parked on a grade
and the transmission shift lever
is placed in “P” (Park) position
before you set the parking
brake, the weight of the vehicle
may exert so much force on the
transmission that you may have
difficulty moving the shift
lever out of “P” (Park)
position. To prevent this, apply
the parking brake

BEFORE

moving the shift lever to “

”

(Park). When you want to drive
away, move the shift lever out
of the “P” (Park) position

BEFORE

releasing the parking

brake. It is good driving
practice to set the parking
brake first, then place the
transmission in “

PARK

”

position, even on level
surfaces.

•

If the parking brake does not
seem to hold the vehicle as
well as before, have the vehicle
serviced by your Honda dealer.

•

Do not park your vehicle over
high grass, dry leaves or other
combustible materials. The
catalytic converter gets very
hot and could set fire to these
materials.

Anti-Lock Brakes

Your vehicle has an Anti-lock
Brake System (

ABS

) as standard

equipment.

ABS

helps to prevent

the wheels from locking up and
skidding during hard braking,
allowing you to retain steering
control.

When the front tires skid, you
lose steering control; the vehicle
continues straight ahead even
though you turn the steering
wheel. The

ABS

helps to prevent

lock-up and retain steering control
by pumping the brakes rapidly;
much faster than a person can do it.

You should never pump the
brake pedal, this defeats the
purpose of the

ABS

. Let the

ABS

work for you by always keeping
firm, steady pressure on the brake
pedal as you steer away from the

Brakes

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Driving Tips

hazard. This is sometimes referred
to as “stomp and steer.”

You will feel a pulsation in the
brake pedal when the

ABS

activates, and you may hear some
noise. This is normal, it is the

ABS

rapidly pumping the brakes.

Activation varies with the amount
of traction your tires have. On dry
pavement, you will need to press
on the brake pedal very hard
before you activate the

ABS

However, you may feel the

ABS

activate immediately if you are
trying to stop on snow or ice.

Important Safety Reminders

ABS

does not reduce the time

or distance it takes to stop the
vehicle, it only helps with steering
control during braking. You
should always maintain a safe

following distance from other
vehicles.

ABS

will not prevent a skid that

results from changing direction
abruptly, such as trying to take a
corner too fast or making a
sudden lane change. Always drive
at a safe, prudent speed for the
road and weather conditions.

ABS

cannot prevent a loss of

stability. Always steer moderately
when you are braking hard.
Severe or sharp steering wheel
movement can still cause your
vehicle to veer into oncoming
traffic or off the road.

A vehicle with

ABS

may require

a longer distance to stop on
loose or uneven surfaces, such as
gravel or snow, than a vehicle
without anti-lock. Slow down and

allow a greater distance between
vehicles under those conditions.

ABS Indicator
The

ABS

is self-checking. You

may feel a slight movement of the
brake pedal just after you start the
engine. This is the

ABS

performing

a check. It also checks itself
whenever you use the brakes.

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Driving Tips

If anything goes wrong, the

ABS

indicator on the instrument panel
comes on (see page

). This

means the anti-lock function of
the braking system has shut down.
The brakes still work like a
conventional system without
anti-lock, providing normal
stopping ability. You should have
the dealer inspect your vehicle as
soon as possible if this light stays
on after you start the engine, or
comes on while driving.

Driving With Wet Brakes

Driving through deep water may
get the brakes wet and reduce
their effectiveness. As a result, the
vehicle may not slow down
normally or may pull in one
direction or the other.

If you drive through deep water,
apply the brakes lightly to see if
the water has affected them. To
dry the brakes quickly, press
lightly on the brake pedal while
maintaining the same speed with
the accelerator pedal. Continue
this until the brakes operate
normally.

Power Brakes

The braking system uses engine
vacuum to provide power assist. If
the power assist fails because of a
stalled engine or other reason, the
reserve vacuum in the system will
usually allow you to apply the
brakes at least one time.

The reserve vacuum is partly used
up each time the brake pedal is
applied and released. Do not
pump the brakes when the power
assist has been lost, except when
needed to maintain steering
control on slippery surfaces.

You can still stop the vehicle
without the power assist by pushing
harder on the brake pedal.
However, the stopping distance
may be longer, even though the
brakes themselves remain fully
operational.

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Driving Tips

Self-Adjusting Brakes

The brakes on this vehicle are
self-adjusting. They have been
designed so that periodic brake
adjustment is not needed.

The brakes adjust themselves each
time you firmly apply them.

Thus, if the brake pedal goes down
farther than normal due to a lack of
adjustment, drive backward and
forward a few times. Apply the
brakes intermittently.

See your Honda dealer if the
brake pedal height does not return
to normal or if there is a rapid
increase in pedal travel. Either is a
sign of other brake trouble. Also,
see your Honda dealer if the
parking brake needs adjustment.

Braking Tips

Control your vehicle’s speed on a
steep or long downhill grade by
shifting the transmission to a
lower gear. Constantly using the
brakes can cause them to overheat
and lose effectiveness.

Resting your foot on the brake
pedal when you are not intending
to brake (“riding the brakes”) can
cause them to overheat. This
reduces their effectiveness, wears
them out faster, and can reduce
fuel mileage. It also causes your
brake lights to stay on all the time,
confusing drivers behind you.

Brake Wear Indicators

The front and rear brakes have
built-in wear indicators. These

make a high-pitched squealing or
cricket-like warning sound when
the brake pads or linings are worn
to the point of replacement. The
sound may come and go or be
heard all the time when the vehicle
is moving, but may stop when the
brake pedal is pushed down firmly.
Expensive damage can result if
pads or linings are not replaced
immediately when needed.

Driving on Slippery Surfaces

Driving, steering, and braking
traction are reduced when the
road is coated with water, snow,
ice, gravel, or other materials.

Slow down and adjust your
driving to such conditions. It is
important to slow down when it is
slippery because stopping

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Driving Tips

distances will be longer and
vehicle control more limited.
While driving on a surface with
reduced traction, avoid maneuvers
involving sudden steering,
acceleration, or braking (including
engine braking due to shifting to
lower gear), that could cause the
tires to skid.

Drivers may not realize the
surface is slippery until the
vehicle is skidding.

Learn to recognize warning
clues—such as enough water or
ice on the road to make a
“mirrored surface”—and slow
down when there is any doubt.
Also see “Traction” under “Tires”
in this section.

Rapid slowing down or
speeding-up can cause loss
of control on slippery
surfaces. If you crash, you
can be injured.

Use extra care when driving
on slippery surfaces.

To safely operate your vehicle,
your tires must be the proper type
and size, in good condition with
adequate tread, and correctly
inflated. The following pages give
more detailed information on how
and when to check air pressure,
how to inspect your tires for
damage and wear, and what to do
when your tires need to be
replaced.

Using tires that are excessively
worn or improperly inflated can
cause a crash in which you
can be seriously hurt or killed.

Follow all instructions in this
owner’s manual regarding tire
inflation and maintenance.

Tires

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Driving Tips

Inflation

Keeping the tires properly inflated
provides the best combination of
handling, tread life, and riding
comfort. Underinflated tires wear
unevenly, adversely affect handling
and fuel economy, and are more
likely to fail from being overheated.
Overinflated tires can make your
vehicle ride more harshly, are
more prone to damage from road
hazards, and wear unevenly.
We recommend that you visually
check your tires every day. If you
think a tire might be low, check it
immediately with a tire gauge.
Use a gauge to measure the air
pressure at least once a month.
Even tires that are in good
condition may lose one to two psi
per month. Remember to check
the spare tire at the same time you
check all the other tires.

Check the pressure in the tires
when they are cold. This means
the vehicle has been parked for at
least three hours. If you have to
drive the vehicle before checking
the tire pressure, the tires can still
be considered “cold” if you drive
less than 1 mile (1.6 km).

If you check the pressure when
the tires are hot (the vehicle has
been driven several miles), you
will see readings 4 to 6 psi (28 to
41 kPa, 0.3 to 0.4 kg/cm

) higher

than the cold reading. This is
normal. Do not let air out to
match the specified cold pressure.
The tire will be underinflated.

You should get your own tire
pressure gauge and use it at all
times. That makes it easier for
you to tell if a pressure loss is
caused by a tire problem and not a
variation between gauges.

Recommended Tire Pressures for
Normal Driving

The following chart shows the
recommended cold tire pressures
for most normal driving
conditions and speeds.

Tire Size

Cold Tire Pressure for

Normal Driving

225/75R16

29 psi (200 kPa)

225/75R16

29 psi (200 kPa)

245/70R16

26 psi (180 kPa)

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Driving Tips

These pressures are also given on
the tire information label on the
driver’s doorjamb.

LABEL

Tubeless tires have some ability to
self-seal if they are punctured.
However, because leakage is often
very slow, you should look
closely for punctures if a tire
starts losing pressure.

Inspection

Every time you check inflation,
you should also examine the tires
for damage, foreign objects, and
wear.

You should look for:

•

Bumps or bulges in the tread or
side of the tire. Replace the tire
if you find either of these
conditions.

•

Cuts, splits, or cracks in the
side of the tire. Replace the tire
if you can see fabric.

•

Excessive tread wear.

Your vehicle’s tires have wear
indicators molded into the tread.

TREAD
WEAR
INDICATORS

When the tread wears down to that
point, you will see a 1/2 inch (12.7
mm) wide band running across the
tread. This shows that there is less
than 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) of tread
left on the tire. A tire that is this
worn gives very little traction on
wet roads. You should replace the
tire if you can see the tread wear

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Driving Tips

indicator in three or more places
around the tire.

Maintenance

In addition to proper inflation,
correct wheel alignment helps to
decrease tire wear. You should get
your vehicle’s suspension parts
inspected often, and aligned when
needed.

The tires were properly balanced
at the factory. They may need to
be rebalanced at some time before
they are worn out. Have your
dealer check the tires if you feel a
consistent vibration while driving.
A tire should always be
rebalanced if it is removed from
the wheel for repair.

Make sure the installer balances
the wheels when you have new
tires installed. This increases

riding comfort and tire life. Your
vehicle’s original tires were
dynamic or “spin” balanced at the
factory. For best results, have the
installer perform a dynamic
balance.

Tire Rotation

To help increase tire life and
distribute wear more evenly, you
should have the tires rotated every
7,500 miles (12,000 km).

FRONT

4 WHEEL

5 WHEEL

Move the tires to the positions
shown in the diagram each time
they are rotated.

Replacing Tires and Wheels

The tires that came with your
vehicle were selected to match its
performance capabilities while
providing the best combination of
handling, ride comfort, and long
life. You should replace them with
radial tires of the same size, load
range, speed rating, and maximum
cold tire pressure rating (as shown
on the tire’s sidewall). Mixing
radial and bias-ply tires on your
vehicle can reduce its braking
ability, traction, and steering
accuracy.

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Driving Tips

We urge you not to install
oversize tires and wheels that
would change your vehicle’s
ride height and possibly affect
handling and stability.

Installing improper tires on
your vehicle can affect
handling and stability. This
can cause a crash in which
you can be seriously hurt or
killed.

Always use the size and type
of tires recommended in this
owner’s manual.

It is best to replace all four tires at
the same time. If that is not
possible or necessary, then replace
the two front tires or the two rear
tires as a pair. Replacing just one
tire can seriously affect your
vehicle’s handling.

The

ABS

works by comparing the

speed of the wheels. When
replacing tires, use the same size
originally supplied with the
vehicle. Tire size and construction
can affect wheel speed and may
cause the system to work
inconsistently.

If you ever need to replace a
wheel, make sure the
replacement’s specifications
match the wheels that originally
came on your Honda.

Replacement wheels are available
at your Honda dealer.

Wheels and Tires

Wheels:

16 x 7 JJ

Tires:
Standard on

2WD

225/75R16

Standard on all other models

245/70R16

See page

250

for information

about DOT Tire Quality Grading.

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Driving Tips

Traction

A decrease in driving, cornering,
and braking traction occurs when
water, snow, ice, gravel, or other
materials are on the road. Vehicle
speed should be adjusted to the
road conditions.

When driving on wet or slushy
roads, a wedge of water can build
up between the tire and road. This
is known as hydroplaning and
may cause partial or complete loss
of traction, vehicle control, and
stopping ability. To reduce the
chance of traction loss, follow
these tips:

1. Slow down during rainstorms

or when roads are slushy.

2. Slow down if the road has

standing water or puddles.

3. Replace tires when they are

worn to a point where 1/16
inch (1.6 mm) or less tread
remains, or cord or fabric
can be seen.

4. Keep the tires properly

inflated.

If your vehicle has snow tires, be
sure they are the same size, load
range and construction type as your
other tires. Vehicle speed should be
limited to a maximum of 75 mph
(120 km/h) when equipped with
either passenger vehicle-type or
truck-type snow tires.

Tire Chains

To prevent tire chains from
damaging your vehicle:

•

Install the chains on the rear
tires as tightly as possible.

Tighten them again after
driving 1/4 to 1/2 mile (0.4 to
0.8 kilometer). Using chains on
the front tires is not
recommended. They may
contact the body and possibly
damage the vehicle. If you
intend to use chains on the
front tires, be sure there is
enough clearance.

•

Do not exceed 45 mph
(70 km/h) or the chain
manufacturer’s suggested speed
limit if it is lower.

•

Drive in a restrained manner
and avoid large bumps,
potholes, severe turns or other
maneuvers that could cause the
vehicle to bounce up and down.

•

Follow the chain
manufacturer’s instructions.

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Driving Tips

Wheel Replacement
Considerations

Damaged wheels must be
replaced. For example, replace
wheels if they are bent, cracked or
heavily rusted, or if wheel nuts
often become loose. Also replace
wheels that leak air (except some
aluminum wheels that can be
repaired). See your Honda dealer.

Do not use bent wheels that have
been straightened, and do not use
tubes in leaking wheels designed
for tubeless tires. Such wheels
may have structural damage and
could fail without warning.

Maximum loads, maximum
inflation pressures, wheel
identification codes, and wheel
sizes are stamped on each wheel.
Service-tested and approved

wheels are available from your
Honda dealer.

When obtaining wheels for any
reason from any other source, the
replacement wheels should be
equal in load capacity, inflation
pressure capacity, diameter, width,
offset and mounting configuration
to those originally installed on
your vehicle. A wheel of the
wrong size or type may adversely
affect load carrying capacity,
wheel and bearing life, brake
cooling, speedometer/odometer
calibration, stopping ability,
headlight aim, bumper height,
vehicle ground clearance, and tire
or tire chain clearance to the body
and chassis. Replacement with
used wheels is not advised: They
may have been subjected to harsh

treatment or very high mileage and
could fail without warning.

Installing wheels and/or tires that
have a higher load carrying limit
than those that originally came on
your vehicle does not increase the

GAWR

GVWR

of the vehicle.

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Driving Tips

Driving for Best Fuel
Economy

How, where, and when you drive
all affect how many miles/
kilometers you can get from a
gallon/liter of fuel. The careful
attention you give your vehicle as
far as maintenance and repairs
will also help fuel economy.

Fuel Selection

Use only unleaded gasoline
meeting federal government
regulations. The federal
government specifies the
minimum octane rating number of
unleaded gasoline. Unleaded
gasoline must be used for proper
emissions control system
operation. It will also minimize
spark plug fouling. The use of
leaded gasoline can damage the
emissions control system and

could result in loss of warranty
coverage.

“Jackrabbit” Starts

You can save fuel (and prolong
engine and tire life) by avoiding
fast starts away from lights and
stop signs.

Stop-and-Go Driving

Frequent stop-and-go driving
during a trip will cut down on
your miles per gallon (kilometers
per liter). Plan even your short
shopping trips to take advantage
of through streets to avoid traffic
lights. Pace your driving to avoid
unplanned stops.

Excessive Idling

An idling engine uses fuel, too. If
you’re faced with more than a few
minutes wait and you’re not in

traffic, it is better to turn off the
key and start the engine again
later.

Repetitive Harsh Stopping

Harsh stops can also waste fuel;
instead of moving the vehicle, the
energy is wasted as heat in
braking. Energy in the form of
fuel is also needed to accelerate
back to driving speed.

Lubricants

A well-lubricated vehicle means
less friction between moving
parts. This manual lists the proper
lubrication intervals in the “Care
and Maintenance” section.

Air Cleaner

Your vehicle gets its power from a
mixture of fuel and air. The air is
taken into the engine through the

Fuel Economy

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Driving Tips

air cleaner, so it’s important to
replace the air cleaner filter at
required intervals. See “Care and
Maintenance.” A dirty air cleaner
filter reduces engine performance
and can waste fuel.

Air Conditioning

Turn off the air conditioning when
it is not needed. The air
conditioning compressor is not on
in this position and the reduced
engine load can improve fuel
economy.

Tuned Engine

An engine that is properly
maintained will provide better
fuel economy than one that is not.
One misfiring spark plug will cut
fuel economy significantly, and
will make a difference in the
amount of pollution emitted from
your vehicle.

Excessive Weight

Fuel economy is related to the
work the engine must do. The
heavier the load, the more fuel it
takes to run your vehicle. Keep
weight to a minimum by removing
unnecessary luggage or cargo.

Tire Inflation

Underinflation not only causes
needless tire wear but can also
waste fuel. It’s a good idea to
check tire pressure often and keep
your tires inflated to the pressures
shown on the tire placard located
on the driver’s doorjamb.

Wheel Alignment

Improper alignment will cause the
front tires to roll at an angle that
will result in faster tire wear. It
takes power to overcome this
improper alignment, which, in
turn, wastes fuel.

Use of 4-Wheel Drive

In normal driving, put the
4WD-2WD switch in the 2WD
position.

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The three-way catalytic converter
is an emissions control device
added to the exhaust system to
reduce exhaust gas pollutants. The
converter contains a ceramic
material coated with noble metal
catalysts. To prevent
contamination of the catalysts,
unleaded gasoline must be used.
Unleaded gasoline also reduces
combustion chamber deposits and
exhaust system corrosion.

The three-way catalytic converter
requires the use of unleaded
gasoline. Use of leaded gasoline
will cause the converter to lose its
effectiveness.

To Help Prevent Damage

1. Keep your engine properly

maintained. Engine
malfunctions involving the

electrical, electronic fuel
injection or ignition systems
may result in unusually high
converter and exhaust system
temperatures. Do not keep
driving your vehicle if you
detect engine misfire,
noticeable loss of performance,
or other unusual operating
conditions. Have it serviced
promptly. A properly
maintained engine will
minimize malfunctions that
could damage the converter. It
will also help provide good
emissions control and fuel
economy. (See the
Maintenance Schedule on page

204

for information on

inspecting and maintaining the
engine, exhaust system and
other components.)

2. Do not push or tow your

vehicle to start it. This could
damage the converter.

3. Do not park your vehicle over

high grass, dry leaves or other
combustible materials. The
catalytic converter gets very
hot and could set fire to these
materials.

Three-Way Catalytic Converter

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converter. These replacements
are not covered under warranty.

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Driving Tips

If you are planning to take your
Honda outside the U.S. or
Canada, contact the tourist
bureaus in the areas you will be
traveling in to find out about the
availability of unleaded gasoline
with the proper octane rating.

If unleaded gasoline is not
available, be aware that using
leaded gasoline in your Honda
will affect performance and fuel
mileage, and damage its
emissions controls. It will no
longer comply with U.S. and
Canadian emissions regulations,
and will be illegal to operate in
North America. To bring your
vehicle back into compliance will
require the replacement of several
components, such as the oxygen
sensor and the three-way catalytic

Modifying your vehicle, or
installing some non-Honda
accessories, can make your vehicle
unsafe. Before you make any
modifications or add any
accessories, be sure to read the
following information.

Accessories

Your dealer has Genuine Honda
accessories that allow you to
personalize your vehicle. These
accessories have been designed and
approved for your vehicle, and are
covered by warranty.

Non-Honda accessories are
usually designed for universal
applications. Although
aftermarket accessories may fit on
your vehicle, they may not meet
factory specifications, and could
adversely affect your vehicle’s
handling and stability. (See

“Modifications” on the next page
for additional information.)

Improper accessories or
modifications can affect
your vehicle’s handling,
stability and performance,
and cause a crash in
which you can be hurt or
killed.

Follow all instructions in
this owner’s manual
regarding accessories and
modifications.

When properly installed, car
phones, alarms, two-way radios,
and low-powered audio systems
should not interfere with your
vehicle’s computer-controlled

Operation in
Foreign Countries

Accessories & Modifications

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Honda Passport (2002 year). Instruction - part 11