Get Taking Care of the Unexpected Guide for Honda CR-V SUV Third Generation (2006-2010)

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Taking Care of the Unexpected

This section covers the more

Compact Spare Tire....................... 382

Changing a Flat Tire ..................... 383

If the Engine Won’t Start.............. 388

Jump Starting ................................. 390

If the Engine Overheats ............... 392

Low Oil Pressure Indicator .......... 394

Charging System Indicator........... 394

Malfunction Indicator Lamp ........ 395

Brake System Indicator ................ 396

Fuses ............................................... 397

Fuse Locations............................... 401

Emergency Towing....................... 403

common problems that motorists

experience with their vehicles. It

gives you information about how to

safely evaluate the problem and what

to do to correct it. If the problem has

stranded you on the side of the road,

you may be able to get going again.

If not, you will also find instructions

on getting your vehicle towed.

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Compact Spare Tire

Use the compact spare tire as a

temporary replacement only. Get

your regular tire repaired or replaced,

and put it back on your vehicle as

soon as you can.

Do not mount snow chains on the

compact spare tire.

INDICATOR LOCATION MARK

Do not use your compact spare

tire on another vehicle unless it is

the same make and model.

Check the air pressure of the

compact spare tire every time you

check the other tires. It should be

inflated to:

The low tire pressure indicator

comes on and stays on after you

replace the flat tire with the

compact spare tire. After several

miles (kilometers) driving with the

compact spare tire, the TPMS

indicator comes on and the low

tire pressure indicator goes off.

60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm )

TREAD WEAR INDICATOR BAR

Follow these precautions:

Replace the tire when you can see

the tread wear indicator bars. The

replacement should be the same size

and design tire, mounted on the

same wheel. The spare tire is not

designed to be mounted on a regular

wheel, and the spare wheel is not

designed for mounting a regular tire.

Never exceed 50 mph (80 km/h).

This tire gives a harsher ride and

less traction on some road

surfaces. Use greater caution

while driving.

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Changing a Flat Tire

If you have a flat tire while driving,

stop in a safe place to change it.

Drive slowly along the shoulder until

you get to an exit or an area to stop

that is far away from the traffic lanes.

SPARE TIRE

STRAP

The vehicle can easily roll off

the jack, seriously injuring

anyone underneath.

TOOLS

FLOOR LID

JACK

Follow the directions for

changing a tire exactly, and

never get under the vehicle

when it is supported only by the

jack.

2. Turn on the hazard warning lights,

and turn the ignition switch to the

LOCK (0) position. Have all

passengers get out of the vehicle

while you change the tire.

3. Open the tailgate. Raise the cargo

area floor lid by lifting up with the

strap, and remove it from cargo

area by disengaging the tabs.

When you store the flat tire in the

spare tire well, do not reinstall the

cargo area floor lid forcibly. This

will damage the tabs on the lid.

1. Park the vehicle on firm, level, and

non-slippery ground. Put the

transmission in Park. Apply the

parking brake.

If you are towing a trailer, unhitch

the trailer.

4. Take the tool kit out of the spare

tire.

CONTINUED

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Changing a Flat Tire

WHEEL NUT WRENCH

JACKING POINT

JACK

5. Take the jack out of the spare tire

area.

7. Loosen each wheel nut 1/2 turn

with the wheel nut wrench.

8. Place the jack under the jacking

point nearest the tire you need to

change. Turn the end bracket

clockwise until the top of the jack

contacts the jacking point. Make

sure the jacking point tab is

Turn the jack’s end bracket

counterclockwise to loosen it, then

remove the jack by lifting it

straight up.

resting in the jack notch.

6. Unscrew the wing bolt and take

the spare tire out of its well.

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Changing a Flat Tire

12. Put on the spare tire. Put the

wheel nuts back on finger-tight,

then tighten them in a crisscross

pattern with the wheel nut wrench

until the wheel is firmly against

the hub. Do not try to tighten the

wheel nuts fully.

13. Lower the vehicle to the ground,

and remove the jack.

EXTENSION

BRAKE HUB

WHEEL NUT WRENCH

9. Use the extension and the wheel

nut wrench as shown to raise the

vehicle until the flat tire is off the

ground.

11. Before mounting the spare tire,

wipe any dirt off the mounting

surface of the wheel and hub with

a clean cloth. Wipe the hub

carefully; it may be hot from

driving.

10. Remove the wheel nuts, then

remove the flat tire. Handle the

wheel nuts carefully; they may be

hot from driving. Place the flat tire

on the ground with the outside

surface facing up.

CONTINUED

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Changing a Flat Tire

WING BOLT

For spare For normal

tire tire

CENTER CAP

SPACER CONE

14. Tighten the wheel nuts securely in

Except LX model

16. Place the flat tire face down in the

spare tire well.

the same crisscross pattern. Have 15. Remove the center cap before

the wheel nut torque checked at

the nearest automotive service

facility.

Tighten the wheel nuts to:

80 lbf·ft (108 N·m , 11 kgf·m)

storing the flat tire.

17. Remove the spacer cone from the

wing bolt, turn it over, and put it

back on the bolt.

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Changing a Flat Tire

19. Store the jack in its holder. Turn

the jack’s end bracket to lock it in

place. Store the tools, and place

the cover on the flat tire of the

cargo area.

22. Your vehicle’s original tire has a

tire pressure monitoring system

sensor. To replace a tire, refer to

Changing a Tire with TPMS (see

page 328 ).

SPACER CONE

Loose items can fly around the

interior in a crash and could

seriously injure the occupants.

TAB

Store the wheel, jack, and tools

securely before driving.

To remove the spacer cone, squeeze

the tabs on the wing bolt to

disengage it from the center of the

spacer cone, then pull the bolt

downward.

20. Store the center cap in the spare

tire well. Make sure it does not get

scratched or damaged.

To install the wing bolt to the spacer

cone, reverse this procedure.

21. Close the tailgate.

18. Secure the flat tire by screwing

the wing bolt back into its hole.

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If the Engine Won’t Start

Diagnosing why the engine won’t

start falls into two areas, depending

on what you hear when you turn the

ignition switch to the START (III)

position:

Nothing Happens or the Starter

Motor Operates Very Slowly

When you turn the ignition switch to

the START (III) position, you do not

hear the normal noise of the engine

trying to start. You may hear a

clicking sound, a series of clicks, or

nothing at all.

Turn the ignition switch to the

START (III) position. If the

headlights do not dim, check the

condition of the fuses. If the fuses

are OK, there is probably

something wrong with the

You hear nothing, or almost

nothing. The engine’s starter

motor does not operate at all, or

operates very slowly.

electrical circuit for the ignition

switch or starter motor. You will

need a qualified technician to

determine the problem. See

Emergency Towing on page 403 .

Check these things:

Check the transmission interlock.

The transmission must be in Park

or neutral or the starter will not

operate.

You can hear the starter motor

operating normally, or the starter

motor sounds like it is spinning

faster than normal, but the engine

does not start up and run.

If the headlights dim noticeably or

go out when you try to start the

engine, either the battery is

discharged or the connections are

corroded. Check the condition of the

battery and terminal connections

(see page 376 ). You can then try

jump starting the vehicle from a

booster battery (see page 390 ).

Turn the ignition switch to the ON

(II) position. Turn on the

headlights, and check their

brightness. If the headlights are

very dim or do not come on at all,

the battery is discharged. See

Jump Starting on page 390 .

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If the Engine Won’t Start

The Starter Operates Normally

In this case, the starter motor’s

speed sounds normal, or even faster

than normal, when you turn the

ignition switch to the START (III)

position, but the engine does not run.

Do you have fuel? Check the fuel

gauge; the low fuel indicator may

not be working.

There may be an electrical

problem, such as no power to the

fuel pump. Check all the fuses

(see page 397 ).

Are you using a properly coded

key? An improperly coded key will

cause the immobilizer system

indicator in the instrument panel

to blink rapidly (see page 63 ).

If you find nothing wrong, you will

need a qualified technician to find

the problem. See Emergency

Towing on page 403 .

Are you using the proper starting

procedure? Refer to Starting the

Engine on page 314 .

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Jump Starting

Although this seems like a simple

procedure, you should take several

precautions.

To Jump Start Your Vehicle:

1. Open the hood, and check the

physical condition of the battery.

In very cold weather, check the

condition of the electrolyte. If it

seems slushy or frozen, do not try

jump starting until it thaws.

A battery can explode if you do

not follow the correct procedure,

seriously injuring anyone

nearby.

If a battery sits in extreme cold, the

electrolyte inside can freeze.

Attempting to jump start with a frozen

battery can cause it to rupture.

Keep all sparks, open flames,

and smoking materials away

from the battery.

BOOSTER BATTERY

The numbers in the illustration show

you the order to connect the jumper

cables.

2. Turn off all the electrical acces-

sories: heater, A/C, climate

control, audio system, lights, etc.

Put the transmission in Park, and

set the parking brake.

You cannot start your vehicle by

pushing or pulling it.

3. Connect one jumper cable to the

positive (＋) terminal on your

battery. Connect the other end to

the positive (＋) terminal on the

booster battery.

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Jump Starting

5. If the booster battery is in another

vehicle, have an assistant start

that vehicle and run it at a fast idle.

6. Start your vehicle. If the starter

motor still operates slowly, check

that the jumper cables have good

metal-to-metal contact.

7. Once your vehicle is running,

disconnect the negative cable from

your vehicle, then from the

booster battery. Disconnect the

positive cable from your vehicle,

then from the booster battery.

4. Connect the second jumper cable

to the negative (－) terminal on

the booster battery. Connect the

other end to the stud bolt on the

engine side as shown. Do not

connect this jumper cable to any

other part of the engine.

Keep the ends of the jumper cables

away from each other and any metal

on the vehicle until everything is

disconnected. Otherwise, you may

cause an electrical short.

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If the Engine Overheats

The reading of the vehicle’s

temperature gauge should stay in

the midrange. If it climbs to the red

mark, you should determine the

reason (hot day, driving up a steep

hill, etc.).

3. If you do not see steam or spray,

leave the engine running, and

watch the temperature gauge. If

the high heat is due to overloading,

the engine should start to cool

down almost immediately. If it

does, wait until the temperature

gauge reading comes down to the

midpoint, then continue driving.

Steam and spray from an

overheated engine can

seriously scald you.

Do not open the hood if steam

is coming out.

If the vehicle overheats, you should

take immediate action. The only

indication may be the temperature

gauge climbing to or above the red

mark. Or you may see steam or

spray coming from under the hood.

1. Safely pull to the side of the road.

Put the transmission in Park, and

set the parking brake. Turn off all

the accessories, and turn on the

hazard warning lights.

4. If the temperature gauge reading

stays at the red mark, turn off the

engine.

Driving with the temperature gauge

reading at the red mark can cause

serious damage to the engine.

2. If you see steam and/or spray

coming from under the hood, turn

off the engine. Wait until you see

no more signs of steam or spray,

then open the hood.

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If the Engine Overheats

5. Look for any obvious coolant leaks,

such as a split radiator hose.

Everything is still extremely hot,

so use caution. If you find a leak, it

must be repaired before you

continue driving (see Emergency

Towing on page 403 ).

9. Start the engine, and set the

temperature to maximum heat

(climate control to AUTO at

Removing the radiator cap

while the engine is hot can

cause the coolant to spray out,

seriously scalding you.

‘‘

’’). Add coolant to the

radiator up to the base of the filler

neck. If you do not have the

proper coolant mixture available,

you can add plain water.

Remember to have the cooling

system drained and refilled with

the proper mixture as soon as you

can.

Always let the engine and

radiator cool down before

removing the radiator cap.

6. If you don’t find an obvious leak,

check the coolant level in the

radiator reserve tank. Add coolant

if the level is below the MIN mark.

8. Using gloves or a large heavy

cloth, turn the radiator cap

counterclockwise, without pushing

down, to the first stop. After the

pressure releases, push down on

the cap, and turn it until it comes

off.

7. If there was no coolant in the

reserve tank, you may need to add

coolant to the radiator. Let the

engine cool down until the reading

reaches the middle of the

temperature gauge or lower

before checking the radiator.

10. Put the radiator cap back on

tightly. Run the engine, and check

the temperature gauge. If it goes

back to the red mark, the engine

needs repair (see Emergency

Towing on page 403 ).

11. If the temperature stays normal,

check the coolant level in the

radiator reserve tank. If it has

gone down, add coolant to the

MAX mark. Put the cap back on

tightly.

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Low Oil Pressure Indicator, Charging System Indicator

Low Oil Pressure

Indicator

1. Safely pull off the road, and shut

off the engine. Turn on the hazard

warning lights.

Charging System

Indicator

This indicator should never come on

when the engine is running. If it

starts flashing or stays on, the oil

pressure has dropped very low or

lost pressure. Serious engine

damage is possible, and you should

take immediate action.

If the charging system indicator

comes on brightly when the engine

is running, the battery is not being

charged.

2. Let the vehicle sit for a minute.

Open the hood, and check the oil

level (see page 298 ). An engine

very low on oil can lose pressure

during cornering and other driving

maneuvers.

Immediately turn off all electrical

accessories. Try not to use other

electrically operated controls such as

the power windows. Keep the engine

running; starting the engine will

discharge the battery rapidly.

3. If necessary, add oil to bring the

level back to the full mark on the

dipstick (see page 349 ).

Running the engine with low oil

pressure can cause serious mechanical

damage almost immediately. Turn off

the engine as soon as you can safely get 4. Start the engine, and watch the oil

the vehicle stopped.

Go to a service station or garage

where you can get technical

pressure indicator. If it does not go assistance.

out within 10 seconds, turn off the

engine. There is a mechanical

problem that needs to be repaired

before you can continue driving

(see Emergency Towing on page

403 ).

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Malfunction Indicator Lamp

If the indicator comes on

If the indicator comes on repeatedly,

even though it may turn off as you

continue driving, have your vehicle

checked by your dealer as soon as

possible.

If the battery in your vehicle has

been disconnected or gone dead,

these codes may be erased. It can

take several days of driving under

various conditions to set the codes

again.

while driving, it means one

of the engine’s emissions control

systems may have a problem. Even

though you may feel no difference in

your vehicle’s performance, it can

reduce your fuel economy and cause

increased emissions. Continued

To check if they are set, turn the

ignition switch to the ON (II)

operation may cause serious damage. If you keep driving with the

malfunction indicator lamp on, you can

damage your vehicle’s emissions

position, without starting the engine.

The malfunction indicator lamp will

come on for 20 seconds. If it then

goes off, the readiness codes are set.

If it blinks five times, the readiness

codes are not set. If possible, do not

take your vehicle for an emissions

test until the readiness codes are set.

Refer to Emissions Testing for

more information (see page 419 ).

If you have recently refueled your

vehicle, the indicator coming on

could be due to a loose or missing

fuel fill cap. Tighten the cap until it

clicks at least once. Tightening the

cap will not turn the indicator off

immediately; it can take several days

of normal driving.

controls and engine. Those repairs may

not be covered by your vehicle’s

warranties.

The malfunction indicator lamp may

also come on with the ‘‘D’’ indicator.

Readiness Codes

Your vehicle has certain ‘‘readiness

codes’’ that are part of the on-board

diagnostics for the emissions

systems. In some states, part of the

emissions testing is to make sure

these codes are set. If they are not

set, the test cannot be completed.

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Brake System Indicator

U.S.

Canada

However, if the brake pedal does not

feel normal, you should take

If the ABS indicator and the VSA

system indicator come on with the

brake system indicator, have your

vehicle inspected by your dealer

immediately.

immediate action. A problem in one

part of the system’s dual circuit

design will still give you braking at

two wheels. You will feel the brake

pedal go down much farther before

the vehicle begins to slow down, and

you will have to press harder on the

pedal.

The brake system indicator normally

comes on when you turn the ignition

switch to the ON (II) position, and as

a reminder to check the parking

brake. It will stay on if you do not

fully release the parking brake.

If the brake system indicator comes

on while driving, the brake fluid level

is probably low. Press lightly on the

brake pedal to see if it feels normal.

If it does, check the brake fluid level

the next time you stop at a service

station (see page 357 ).

Slow down by shifting to a lower

gear, and pull to the side of the road

when it is safe. Because of the long

distance needed to stop, it is

hazardous to drive the vehicle. You

should have it towed and repaired as

soon as possible (see Emergency

Towing on page 403 ).

If the fluid level is low, take your

vehicle to a dealer, and have the

brake system inspected for leaks or

worn brake pads.

If you must drive the vehicle a short

distance in this condition, drive

slowly and carefully.

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Fuses

INTERIOR

INTERIOR (Auxiliary)

LID

UNDER-HOOD

TAB

FUSE

FUSES

FUSE LABEL

The vehicle’s fuses are contained in

three fuse boxes.

The auxiliary fuse box is located

next to the interior fuse box.

The under-hood fuse box is on the

driver’s side. To open it, push the

tabs as shown.

The interior fuse box is located

under the dashboard on the driver’s

side. The fuse label is attached

under the steering column.

To open the fuse box lid, pull the tab

in the direction as shown in the

illustration.

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Fuses

Checking and Replacing Fuses

If something electrical in your

vehicle stops working, check for a

blown fuse first. Determine from the

chart on pages 401 and 402 , or the

diagram on the fuse box lid, which

fuse or fuses control that device.

Check those fuses first, but check all

the fuses before deciding that a

blown fuse is the cause. Replace any

blown fuses, and check if the device

works.

1. Turn the ignition switch to the

LOCK (0) position. Make sure the

headlights and all other

FUSE

BLOWN

accessories are off.

2. Remove the cover from the fuse

box.

3. Check each of the large fuses in

the under-hood fuse box by

looking through the side window

at the wire inside. Removing these

fuses requires a Phillips-head

screwdriver.

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Fuses

FUSE

BLOWN

FUSE PULLER

4. Check the smaller fuses in the

under-hood fuse box and all the

fuses in the interior fuse box by

pulling out each one with the fuse

puller provided on the back of the

under-hood fuse box cover.

5. Look for a blown wire inside the

fuse. If it is blown, replace it with

one of the spare fuses of the same

rating or lower.

Your vehicle has spare fuses on

the back of the under-hood fuse

box cover.

CONTINUED

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Fuses

If you cannot drive the vehicle

without fixing the problem, and you

do not have a spare fuse, take a fuse

of the same rating or a lower rating

from one of the other circuits. Make

sure you can do without that circuit

temporarily (such as the accessory

power socket or radio).

If you replace the blown fuse with a

spare fuse that has a lower rating, it

might blow out again. This does not

indicate anything wrong. Replace the

fuse with one of the correct rating as

soon as you can.

6. If the replacement fuse of the

same rating blows in a short time,

there is probably a serious

electrical problem in your vehicle.

Leave the blown fuse in that

circuit and have your vehicle

checked by a qualified technician.

Replacing a fuse with one that has a

higher rating greatly increases the

chances of damaging the electrical

system. If you do not have a

replacement fuse with the proper rating

for the circuit, install one with a lower

rating.

If the radio fuse is removed, the

audio system will disable itself. The

next time you turn on the radio you

may see ‘‘ENTER CODE’’ in the

frequency display. Use the preset

buttons to enter the digit code (see

page 258 ).

On vehicles with a navigation system,

touch the appropriate icon to enter

the code number (see page 258 ).

400

Taking Care of the Unexpected for Your Honda CR-V SUV Third Generation (2006-2010)

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