Before Driving -> Service Station Procedures for Your Honda CR-V SUV First Generation (1995-2000)

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Service Station Procedures  
Oil Check  
DIPSTICK  
SUPPORT ROD  
2. Wipe the dipstick with a clean  
cloth or paper towel.  
3. Pull the support rod out of its clip  
and insert the end into the hole on  
the front of the hood around the  
center.  
Check the engine oil level every time  
you fill the vehicle with fuel. Wait a  
few minutes after turning the engine  
off before you check the oil.  
To close the hood, lift it up slightly to  
remove the support rod from the  
hole. Put the support rod back into  
its holding clip. Lower the hood to  
about a foot (30 cm) above the  
fender, then let it drop.  
1. Remove the dipstick (orange  
handle).  
After closing the hood, make sure it  
is securely latched.  
CONTINUED  
Before Driving  
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Service Station Procedures  
Engine Coolant Check  
RESERVE TANK  
UPPER MARK  
LOWER MARK  
MAX  
MIN  
3. Insert it all the way back in its tube. 4. Remove the dipstick again and  
Look at the coolant level in the  
radiator reserve tank. Make sure it is  
between the MAX and MIN lines. If  
it is below the MIN line, see Adding  
Engine Coolant on page 201 for  
information on adding the proper  
coolant.  
check the level. It should be  
between the upper and lower  
marks.  
If it is near or below the lower mark,  
see Adding Oil on page 197.  
Refer to Owner Maintenance  
Checks on page 195 for information  
on checking other items in your  
Honda.  
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Fuel Economy  
A cold engine uses more fuel than a  
warm engine. It is not necessary to  
"warm-up" a cold engine by letting it  
idle for a long time. You can drive  
away in about a minute, no matter  
how cold it is outside. The engine  
will warm up faster, and you get  
better fuel economy. To cut clown on  
the number of "cold starts," try to  
combine several short trips into one.  
The condition of your vehicle and  
your driving habits are the two most  
important things that affect the fuel  
mileage you get.  
Driving Habits  
You can improve fuel economy by  
driving moderately. Rapid acceler-  
ation, abrupt cornering, and hard  
braking use more fuel.  
Vehicle Condition  
Always maintain your vehicle accord-  
ing to the maintenance schedule.  
This will keep it in top operating-  
condition.  
Always drive in the highest gear that  
allows the engine to run and acceler-  
ate smoothly.  
Depending on traffic conditions, try  
to maintain a constant speed. Every  
time you slow down and speed up,  
your vehicle uses extra fuel. Use the  
cruise control, when appropriate, to  
increase fuel economy.  
The air conditioning puts an extra  
load on the engine which makes it  
use more fuel. Turn off the A/C to  
cut down on air conditioning use.  
Use the flow-through ventilation  
when the outside air temperature is  
moderate.  
An important part of that mainte-  
nance is the Owner Maintenance  
Checks (see page 195). For  
example, an underinflated tire  
causes more "rolling resistance,"  
which uses fuel. It also wears out  
faster, so check the tire pressure at  
least monthly.  
In winter, the build-up of snow on  
your vehicle's underside adds weight  
and rolling resistance. Frequent  
cleaning helps your fuel mileage and  
reduces the chance of corrosion.  
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Accessories and Modifications  
operation of your vehicle, or even  
cause the airbags to deploy.  
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.  
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.  
Before installing any accessory:  
Make sure the accessory does not  
obscure any lights, or interfere  
with proper vehicle operation or  
performance.  
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.  
Follow all instructions in this  
owner's manual regarding  
accessories and modifications.  
Be sure electronic accessories do  
not overload electrical circuits  
(see page 268 ).  
Have the installer contact your  
Honda dealer for assistance before  
installing any electronic accessory.  
When properly installed, cellular  
phones, alarms, two-way radios, and  
low-powered audio systems should  
not interfere with your vehicle's  
computer-controlled systems, such  
as the SRS and anti-lock brake  
system.  
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  
If possible, have your dealer inspect  
the final installation.  
"Modifications" on page 147 for  
additional information.)  
However, if electronic accessories  
are improperly installed, or exceed  
your vehicle's electrical system  
capacity, they can interfere with the  
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Accessories and Modifications  
In addition, any modifications that  
decrease ground clearance increase  
the chance of undercarriage parts  
striking a curb, speed bump, or other  
raised object, which could cause  
your airbags to deploy.  
Additional Safety Precaution  
Do not attach or place objects on the  
airbag covers. Any object attached to  
or placed on the covers marked "SRS  
AIRBAG," in the center of the  
steering wheel and on top of the  
dashboard, could interfere with the  
proper operation of the airbags. Or,  
if the airbags inflate, the objects  
could be propelled inside the vehicle  
and hurt someone.  
Modifications  
Do not remove any original  
equipment or modify your vehicle in  
any way that would alter its design or  
operation. This could make your  
vehicle unsafe and illegal to drive.  
Do not modify your steering wheel  
or any other part of your  
Supplemental Restraint System.  
Modifications could make the  
system ineffective.  
For example, do not make any  
modifications that would change the  
ride height of your vehicle, or install  
wheels and tires with a different  
overall diameter.  
Such modifications can adversely  
affect handling, and interfere with  
the operation of the vehicle's anti-  
lock brakes and other systems.  
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CarryingCargo  
Your vehicle has several convenient  
storage areas so you can stow cargo  
safely.  
SEAT UNDER-BOX  
CARGO FLOOR POCKET  
TAILGATE  
POCKET  
DOOR POCKET  
The glove box, and the pockets in  
the front doors and seat-backs, are  
designed for small, lightweight items.  
The cargo area is intended for larger,  
heavier items. In addition, the back  
seat can be folded down to allow you  
to cany more cargo or longer items.  
However, carrying too much cargo,  
or improperly storing it, can affect  
your vehicle's handling, stability and  
operation and make it unsafe. Before  
carrying any type of cargo, be sure to  
read the following pages.  
CARGO AREA  
GLOVE BOX  
CENTER POCKET  
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CarryingCargo  
Load Limit  
The maximum load for your vehicle  
Carrying Items in the Passenger  
Compartment  
is 850 Ibs (395 kg).  
Overloading or improper  
Store or secure all items that could  
be thrown around and hurt  
someone during a crash.  
loading can affect handling and  
stability and cause a crash in  
which you can be hurt or killed.  
This figure includes the total weight  
of all occupants, cargo, accessories,  
and the tongue weight if you are  
towing a trailer.  
Be sure items placed on the floor  
behind the front seats cannot roll  
under the seats and interfere with  
the driver's ability to operate the  
pedals, or with the proper  
Follow all load limits and other  
loading guidelines in this  
manual.  
To figure out how much cargo you  
can cany:  
operation of the seats.  
Add up the weight of all occupants.  
Keep the glove box closed while  
driving. If the lid is open, a  
passenger could injure their knees  
during a crash or sudden stop.  
If you are towing a trailer, add the  
tongue weight to the number  
above.  
Subtract the total from 850 Ibs  
(395 kg).  
The final number is the total weight  
of cargo you can carry.  
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Carrying Cargo  
Carrying Cargo in the Cargo Area  
or on a Roof Rack  
Distribute cargo evenly on the  
floor 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.  
If you carry large items that  
prevent you from closing the  
tailgate, exhaust gas can enter the  
passenger area. To avoid the  
possibility of carbon monoxide  
poisoning, follow the instructions  
on page 49 .  
If you can carry any items on a  
roof rack, be sure the total weight  
of the rack and the items does not  
exceed 75 Ibs (34 kg). Please  
contact your Honda dealer for  
further information.  
Before Driving