Get Driving -> Transmission Guide for Honda CR-V SUV Second Generation (2001-2005)

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Manual Transmission

Come to a full stop before you shift

into reverse. You can damage the

transmission by trying to shift into

reverse with the vehicle moving.

Push down the clutch pedal, and

pause for a few seconds before

shifting into reverse, or shift into one

of the forward gears for a moment.

This stops the gears so they won’t

‘‘grind.’’

Rapid slowing 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.

When slowing down, you can get

extra braking from the engine by

shifting to a lower gear. This extra

braking can help you maintain a safe

speed and prevent your brakes from

overheating while going down a

steep hill. To prevent serious engine

and transmission damage, do not

skip gears when downshifting, and

do not let the engine speed go into

the red zone of the tachometer.

The manual transmission is

synchronized in all forward gears for

smooth operation. It has a lockout so

you cannot shift directly from fifth to

reverse. When shifting up or down,

make sure you push the clutch pedal

down all the way, shift to the next

gear, and let the pedal up gradually.

Do not skip gears. When you are not

shifting, do not rest your foot on the

clutch pedal. This can cause your

clutch to wear out faster.

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Manual Transmission

Recommended Shift Points

Drive in the highest gear that lets

the engine run and accelerate

smoothly. This will give you good

fuel economy and effective

Engine Speed Limiter

If you exceed the maximum speed

for the gear you are in, the engine

speed will enter into the tachometer’s

red zone. If this occurs, you may feel

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.

emissions control. The following

shift points are recommended:

Shift up

Normal acceleration

1st to 2nd

2nd to 3rd

3rd to 4th

4th to 5th

15 mph (24 km/h)

25 mph (40 km/h)

40 mph (64 km/h)

48 mph (77 km/h)

The engine speed limiter only works

when you upshift; engine speed is

not limited during downshifts. To

prevent serious engine damage

during downshifts, do not skip gears,

and do not let the engine speed enter

the red zone of the tachometer.

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Automatic Transmission

Shift Lever Position Indicators

The ‘‘D’’ indicator comes on for a

few seconds when you turn the

ignition switch to the ON (II)

position. If it flashes while driving (in

any shift position), it indicates a

possible problem in the transmission.

Shifting

If the malfunction indicator lamp

comes on along with the ‘‘D’’

indicator, there is a problem in the

automatic transmission control

system. Avoid rapid acceleration, and

have the transmission checked by

your dealer as soon as possible.

SHIFT LEVER

These indicators on the instrument

panel show which position the shift

lever is in.

To shift from any position, press

firmly on the brake pedal and pull

the lever toward you. You cannot

shift out of Park when the ignition

switch is in the LOCK (0) or the

ACCESSORY (I) position.

CONTINUED

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Automatic Transmission

Park (P) － This position mechani-

Reverse (R) － Press the brake

cally locks the transmission. Use

pedal and pull the shift lever towards

Park whenever you are turning off or you to shift from Park to reverse. To

starting the engine. To shift out of

Park, you must press on the brake

pedal and have your foot off the

accelerator pedal. Pull the shift lever

towards you, then move it out of

Park.

shift from reverse to neutral, come

to a complete stop, and then shift.

Pull the shift lever towards you

before shifting into reverse from

neutral.

Your vehicle has a reverse lockout so

you cannot accidentally shift to

reverse when the vehicle speed

exceeds 5 mph (8 km/h).

If you have done all of the above and

still cannot move the lever out of

Park, see Shift Lock Release on

page 165 .

To shift from:

P to R

Do this:

Press the brake pedal and

pull the shift lever towards

you.

If you cannot shift to reverse when

the vehicle is stopped, press the

brake pedal, slowly shift to neutral,

and then shift to reverse.

You must also pull the shift lever

towards you to shift into Park. To

avoid transmission damage, come to

a complete stop before shifting into

Park. The shift lever must be in Park

for you to remove the key from the

ignition switch.

R to P

N to R

D to 2

2 to 1

Pull the shift lever towards

you.

If there is a problem in the reverse

lockout system, or your vehicle’s

battery is disconnected or goes dead,

you cannot shift to reverse. (Refer to

Shift Lock Release on page 165 ).

1 to 2

2 to D

D to N

N to D

R to N

Move the shift lever.

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Automatic Transmission

Neutral (N) － Use Neutral if you

need to restart a stalled engine, or if

it is necessary to stop briefly with

the engine idling. Shift 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.

higher engine speeds when the

engine is cold. This helps the engine

warm up faster.

the ON (II) position and the shift

lever is in the D position.

D3 Mode

After you stop in D, 2, 1, N, or R

position with the ignition switch in

the ACCESSORY (I) position for 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 shift out of neutral.

D3 MODE INDICATOR

When the D3 mode is on, the

transmission selects only the first

three gears. Use D3 mode when

towing a trailer, or to provide engine

braking when going down a steep hill.

D3 mode can also keep the

transmission from cycling between

third and fourth gears in stop-and-go

driving.

Press the D3 switch on the edge of

the shift lever to turn this mode on

or off; the D3 mode indicator comes

on whenever the D3 mode is

selected.

Drive (D) － Use this position for

your normal driving. The

transmission automatically selects a

suitable gear (1 through 5) for your

speed and acceleration. You may

notice the transmission shifting up at

D3 mode can be turned on or off

only when the ignition switch is in

CONTINUED

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Automatic Transmission

Shifting out from the D position will

cancel the D3 mode, and the D3

indicator will go out. Selecting the

D3 position again will resume the D3

mode and the indicator comes on.

Use second gear:

If you shift into first position when

the vehicle speed is above 31 mph

(50 km/h), the transmission shifts

into second gear first to avoid

sudden engine braking.

For more power when climbing.

To increase engine braking when

going down steep hills.

Turning the ignition switch to the

LOCK (0) position turns this mode

off. When you restart the engine,

select the D position and press the

D3 mode switch again to use this

mode.

For starting out on a slippery

surface or in deep snow.

Engine Speed Limiter

If you exceed the maximum speed

for the gear you are in, the engine

speed will enter into the tachometer’s

red zone. If this occurs, you may feel

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.

To help reduce wheel spin.

When driving downhill with a

trailer.

The D3 mode indicator also comes

on for a few seconds when you turn

the ignition switch to the ON (II)

position.

First (1) － To shift from second to

first, pull the shift lever towards you,

then shift to the lower gear. This

position locks the transmission in

first gear. By upshifting and

downshifting through 1, 2, and D,

you can operate the transmission

much like a manual transmission

without a clutch pedal.

Second (2) － To shift to second,

pull the shift lever towards you, then

shift to the lower gear. This position

locks the transmission in second

gear. It does not downshift to first

gear when you come to a stop.

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Automatic Transmission

Shift Lock Release

COVER

This allows you to move the shift

lever out of Park if the normal

method of pushing on the brake

pedal does not work. This procedure

is also used to release the reverse

lockout.

1. Set the parking brake.

2. Remove the key from the ignition

switch.

SHIFT LOCK RELEASE SLOT

3. Put a cloth on the edge of the shift

lock release slot cover. Using a

small flat-tipped screwdriver or

metal fingernail file, carefully pry

on the edge of the cover to remove

it.

4. Insert a flat-tipped screwdriver

into the shift lock release slot.

6. Remove the screwdriver from the

shift lock release slot, then

reinstall the cover. Make sure the

notch on the cover is on the right

side. Press the brake pedal and

restart the engine.

5. Push down on the screwdriver and

move the shift lever out of Park to

neutral.

If you need to use the shift lock

release, it means your vehicle is

developing a problem. Have the

vehicle checked by your dealer.

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Parking

Always use the parking brake when

you park your vehicle. Make sure

the parking brake is set firmly, or

your vehicle may roll if it is parked

on an incline.

Parking Tips

If the vehicle is facing uphill, turn

the front wheels away from the

curb. If you have a manual

Make sure the moonroof (if

equipped) and the windows are

closed.

transmission, put it in first gear.

Turn off the lights.

If the vehicle is facing downhill,

turn the front wheels toward the

curb. If you have a manual

If your vehicle has an automatic

transmission, set the parking brake

before you put the transmission in

Park. This keeps the vehicle from

moving and putting pressure on the

parking mechanism in the

Place any packages, valuables, etc.

in the cargo area or take them

with you.

transmission, put it in reverse gear.

Make sure the parking brake is

fully released before driving away.

Driving with the parking brake

partially set can overheat or

damage the rear brakes.

Lock the doors and the tailgate.

Make sure the hatch glass is

closed securely.

transmission.

Never park over dry leaves, tall

grass, or other flammable

materials. The hot three way

catalytic converter could cause

these materials to catch on fire.

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