HONDA CR-V 2008 User Manual

Introduction

2008 CR- V

Main Menu

Congratulations! Your selection of a 2008 Honda CR-V was a wise
investment. It will give you years of driving pleasure.

One of the best ways to enhance the enjoyment of your new vehicle is to
read this manual. In it, you will learn how to operate its driving controls and
convenience items. Afterwards, keep this owner’s manual in your vehicle so
youcanrefertoitatanytime.

Several warranties protect your new vehicle. Read the warranty booklet
thoroughly so you understand the coverages and are aware of your rights
and responsibilities.

Maintaining your vehicle according to the maintenance minder shown in the
instrument panel helps to keep your driving trouble-free while it preserves
your investment. When your vehicle needs maintenance, keep in mind that
your dealer’s staff is specially trained in servicing the many systems unique
to your vehicle. Your dealer is dedicated to your satisf action and will be
pleased to answer any questions and concerns.

As you read this manual, you will
find inf ormation that is preceded by
a symbol. This
information is intended to help you
avoid damage to your vehicle, other
property, or the environment.

i

Introduction

2008 CR- V

Main Menu

California Proposition 65 Warning

WARNING:

defects or other reproductive harm.

Event Data Recorders

This vehicle is equipped with one or more devices commonly referred to as event data recorders. These
devices record front seat belt use, f ront passenger seat occupancy, airbag deployment data, and the f ailure
of any airbag system component.

except as legally required or with the permission of the vehicle owner.

Service Diagnostic Recorders
This vehicle is equipped with service-related devices that record information about powertrain performance. The data
can be used to verify emissions law requirements and/or help technicians diagnose and solve service problems. It may
also be combined with data f rom other sources for research purposes, but it remains confidential.

This product contains or emits chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth

This data belongs to the vehicle owner and may not be accessed by anyone else

ii

AFewWordsAboutSafety

2008 CR- V

Main Menu

Your safety, and the safety of others,
is very important. And operating this
vehicle safely is an important
responsibility.

To help you make informed
decisions about safety, we have
provided operating procedures and
other information on labels and in
this manual. This inf ormation alerts
you to potential hazards that could
hurt you or others.

Of course, it is not practical or
possible to warn you about all the
hazards associated with operating or
maintaining your vehicle. You must
use your own good judgement.

You will f ind this important safety information in a variety of forms,
including:

−

Safety Labels
Safety Messages

three signal words: , , or .
These signal words mean:

Safety Headings

Safety Precautions.

Safety Section
Instructions

This entire book is f illed with important saf ety information please read it
carefully.

on the vehicle.

−

preceded by a safety alert symbol and one of

DANGER WARNING CAUTION

You WILL be KILLED or SERIOUSLY
HURT if you don’t follow instructions.

You CAN be KILLED or SERIOUSLY
HURT if you don’t follow instructions.

You CAN be HURT if you don’t follow
instructions.

−

such as Important Safety Reminders or Important

−

such as Driver and Passenger Safety.

−

how to use this vehicle correctly and safely.

−

iii

Important Handling Information

2008 CR- V

Main Menu

Your CR-V has higher ground clearance than a passenger vehicle designed for use only on pavement. Higher ground
clearance has many advantages for off -highway driving. It allows you to travel over bumps, obstacles, and rough
terrain. It also provides good visibility so you can anticipate problems earlier.

These advantages come at some cost. Because your vehicle is taller and rides higher off the ground, it has a high
center of gravity. This means your vehicle can tip or roll over if you make abrupt turns. Utility vehicles have a
significantly higher rollover rate than other types of vehicles. In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly
more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt. As a reminder, make sure you and your passengers always wear
seat belts.

For information on how to reduce the risk of rollover, read ‘‘Driving Guidelines’’ on page of this manual and the

Off-Highway Driving Guidelines

control or an accident.

section on page . Failure to operate your vehicle correctly might result in loss of

268

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iv

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

Features (

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

climate control,audio,,steering wheel,security and cruise control) ................................................... 125

(indicators, gauges, information display, dashboard, and steering column)

.............. 57

Service Information Summary ( fluid capacities and tire pressures)

00X31-SWA-6100

1

Overview of Contents

2008 CR- V

Main Menu

Contents

A convenient reference to the
sections in this manual.

Your Vehicle at a Glance

A quick reference to the main
controls in your vehicle.

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

Important information 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.

Instruments and Controls

Explains the purpose of each
instrument panel indicator and gauge,
and how to use the controls on the
dashboard and steering column.

Features

How to operate the heating and air
conditioning system, the audio
system, and other convenience
features.

2

Before Driving

What gasoline to use, how to break­in your new vehicle, and how to load
luggage and other cargo.

Driving

The proper way to start the engine,
shift the transmission, and park; plus
what you need to know if you’re
planning to tow a trailer.

Maintenance

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.

Taking Care of the Unexpected

This section covers several problems
motorists sometimes experience,
and details how to handle them.

Technical Information

ID numbers, dimensions, capaci­ties, and technical information.

Warranty and Customer
Relations
(U.S. and Canada only)

A summary of the warranties
covering your new vehicle, and how
to contact us for any reason. Refer to
your warranty manual for detailed
information.

Authorized Manuals
(U.S. only)

How to order manuals and other
technical literature.

Index

Service Information Summary

A summary of the information you
need when you pull up to the fuel
pump.

Your Vehicle at a Glance

2008 CR- V

Main Menu

DRIVER’S FRONT
AIRBAG

MIRROR CONTROL
(P.112)

POWER DOOR LOCK
MASTER SWITCHES
(P.82)

POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
(P.109)

FUEL FILL DOOR
RELEASE HANDLE
(P.227)

U.S. EX-L without navigation system is shown.

(P.9, 25)

INSTRUMENT PANEL
INDICATORS
GAUGES

(P.66)

＊ If equipped:

(P.59)

HOOD RELEASE HANDLE
(P.229)

AUDIO SYSTEM
(P.139)

PASSENGER’S FRONT
AIRBAG
(P.9, 25)

HEATING/COOLING
CONTROLS
(P.126)
CLIMATE CONTROL
SYSTEM
(P.131)

AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
(P.247)

ACCESSORY POWER
SOCKETS
(P.120)

＊

＊

Your Vehicle at a Glance

3

Your Vehicle at a Glance

2008 CR- V

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INSTRUMENT PANEL
BRIGHTNESS

REMOTE AUDIO CONTROLS
(P.216)

＊

(P.76)

2

HAZARD WARNING
BUTTON

VEHICLE STABILITY
ASSIST (VSA) SYSTEM
ON/OFF SWITCH
(P.257)

MIRROR CONTROLS

STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENTS
(P.78)

PARKING BRAKE PEDAL
(P.78)

VOICE CONTROL SWITCHES

1:

＊

To use the horn, press the center pad of the steering wheel.

2:

＊

If equipped.

3:

＊

Refer to the navigation system manual.

(P.112)

＊

3

4

(P.76)

＊

1

HORN

CRUISE CONTROL
BUTTONS

PASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF INDICATOR

SEAT HEATER SWITCHES

(P.222)

(P.108)

AUDIO SYSTEM
CLOCK(P.32)

(P.219)

AUDIO SYSTEM
(P.170)

WINDSHIELD
WIPERS/WASHERS
(P.73)

REAR WINDOW
DEFOGGER BUTTON/
HEATED MIRRORS
BUTTON

SHIFT LEVER
(P.247)

＊

2

(P.139)

＊

2

(P.77/112)

Driver and Passenger Saf ety

2008 CR- V

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This section gives you important
information about how to protect
yourself and your passengers. It
shows you how to use seat belts. It
explains how your airbags work. And
it tells you how to properly restrain
infants and children in your vehicle.

.........Important Safety Precautions . 6

.......Your Vehicle’s Safety Features . 7

.........Protecting Adults and Teens . 11

.....1. Close and Lock the Doors . 11

...........2. Adjust the Front Seats . 11

............3. Adjust the Seat-Backs . 12

...4. Adjust the Head Restraints . 13

5. Fasten and Position the

.............................Seat Belts . 14

6. Maintain a Proper Sitting

................................Position . 15

.....Advice for Pregnant Women . 16

...Additional Safety Precautions . 17

Additional Information About

.......................Your Seat Belts . 18

......................Lap/Shoulder Belt . 19

Automatic Seat Belt

...............................Tensioners . 20

...............Seat Belt Maintenance . 20

Additional Information About

...........................Your Airbags . 22

How Your Front Airbags

.........................................Work . 25

How Your Side Curtain

..........................Airbags Work . 30

How the Side Airbag Off

......................Indicator Works . 31

How the Passenger Airbag

...............Off Indicator Works . 32

.............................Airbag Service . 33

Protecting Children General

All Children Must Be

−

................................Guidelines . 34

...............................Restrained . 34

..Seat Belt System Components . 18

......Airbag System Components . 22

...How Your Side Airbags Work . 28

..How the SRS Indicator Works . 31

...Additional Safety Precautions . 33

All Children Should Sit in a

.................................Back Seat . 35

The Passenger’s Front Airbag

If You Must Drive with Several

...................................Children . 37

If a Child Requires Close

..................................Attention . 37

Protecting Infants and Small

...................................Children . 39

.......................Protecting Infants . 39

.....................Selecting a Child Seat . 41

....................Installing a Child Seat . 42

...............................With LATCH . 43

..............................With a Tether . 48

...............Checking Seat Belt Fit . 50

..................Using a Booster Seat . 51

When Can a Larger Child Sit in

.........................................Front . 52

.............Carbon Monoxide Hazard . 54

...................................Safety Labels . 55

.........Can Pose Serious Risks . 35

...Additional Safety Precautions . 37

.........Protecting Small Children . 40

.........With a Lap/Shoulder Belt . 46

...........Protecting Larger Children . 50

...Additional Safety Precautions . 53

Driver and Passenger Safety

5

Important Safety Precautions

2008 CR- V

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You’ll find many saf ety
recommendations throughout this
section, and throughout this manual.
Therecommendationsonthispage
are the ones we consider to be the
most important.

Always Wear Your Seat Belt

A seat belt is your best protection in
all types of collisions. Airbags are
designed to supplement seat belts,
not replace them. So even though
your vehicle is equipped with airbags,
make sure you and your passengers
always wear your seat belts, and
wear them properly (see page ).

14

6

Restrain All Children

Children age 12 and under should
ride properly restrained in a back
seat, not the front seat. Infants and
smallchildrenshouldberestrained
in a child seat. Larger children
should use a booster seat and a lap/
shoulder belt until they can use the
belt properly without a booster seat
(see pages ).

Be Aware of Airbag Hazards

While airbags can save lives, they
can cause serious or fatal injuries to
occupants who sit too close to them,
or are not properly restrained.
Infants, young children, and short
adults are at the greatest risk. Be
sure to f ollow all instructions and
warnings in this manual.

Don’t Drink and Drive

Alcohol and driving don’t mix. Even
one drink can reduce your ability to
respond to changing conditions, and
your reaction time gets worse with

34 53

−

every additional drink. So don’t drink
and drive, and don’t let your friends
drink and drive, either.

Control Your Speed

Excessive speed is a major factor in
crash injuries and deaths. Generally,
the higher the speed, the greater the
risk, but serious injuries can also
occur at lower speeds. Never drive
faster than is safe for current
conditions, regardless of the
maximum speed posted.

Keep Your Vehicle in Safe
Condition

Having a tire blowout or a
mechanical failure can be extremely
hazardous. To reduce the possibility
of such problems, check your tire
pressures and condition frequently,
and perform all regularly scheduled
maintenance (see page ).

273

Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features

2008 CR- V

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(5)

(7)

(10)

(1)

(3)

(4)

(2)

(9)

(12)

(9)

(8)

(11)

(1) Safety Cage
(2) Crush Zones
(3) Seats and Seat-Backs
(4) Head Restraints
(5) Collapsible Steering Column
(6) Seat Belts
(7) Front Airbags
(8) Side Airbags
(9) Side Curtain Airbags
(10) Door Locks
(11) Front Seat Belt Tensioners
(12) Seat Belt Buckle Tensioners

(6)

(2)

Your vehicle is equipped with many
features that work together to
protect you and your passengers
during a crash.

Some features do not require any
action on your part. These include a
strong steel framework that forms a
safety cage around the passenger
compartment, front and rear crush
zones, a collapsible steering column,
and tensioners that tighten the front
seat belts in a crash.

However, you and your passengers
can’t take full advantage of these
features unless you remain sitting in
a proper position and

your seat belts

features can contribute to injuries if
they are not used properly.

The f ollowing pages explain how you
cantakeanactiveroleinprotecting
yourself and your passengers.

always wear

. In fact, some safety

Driver and Passenger Safety

7

Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features

2008 CR- V

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Seat Belts

Your vehicle is equipped with seat
belts in all seating positions.

Your seat belt system also includes
an indicator on the instrument panel
and a beeper to remind you and your
passengers to fasten your seat belts.

Why Wear Seat Belts

Seat belts are the single most
effectivesafetydeviceforadultsand
larger children. (Infants and smaller
children must be properly restrained
in child seats.)

Not wearing a seat belt properly
increases the chance of serious
injury or death in a crash, even
though your vehicle has airbags.

In addition, most states and all
Canadian provinces require you to
wear seat belts.

8

Not wearing a seat belt properly
increases the chance of serious
injury or death in a crash, even
though your vehicle has airbags.

Be sure you and your
passengers always wear seat
belts and wear them properly.

When properly worn, seat belts:

Keep you connected to the vehicle
so you can take advantage of the
vehicle’s built-in safety features.

Help protect you in almost every
type of crash, including frontal,
side, and rear impacts and
rollovers.

Help keep you from being thrown
against the inside of the vehicle
and against other occupants.

Keep you from being thrown out
of the vehicle.

Help keep you in a good position
should the airbags ever deploy. A
good position reduces the risk of
injury from an inflating airbag and
allows you to get the best
advantage from the airbag.

Of course, seat belts cannot
completely protect you in every
crash.Butinmostcases,seatbelts
can reduce your risk of serious
injury.

What You Should Do:

Always wear your seat belt, and
make sure you wear it properly.

Airbags

2008 CR- V

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Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features

Driver and Passenger Safety

Your vehicle has a supplemental
restraint system (SRS) with front
airbags to help protect the heads and
chests of the driver and a front seat
passenger during a moderate to
severe f rontal collision (see page

25

for more information on how

your front airbags work).

Your vehicle also has side airbags to
help protect the upper torso of the
driver or a front seat passenger
during a moderate to severe side
impact (see page for more

28

information on how your side airbags
work).

In addition, your vehicle has side
curtain airbags to help protect the
heads of the driver, front passenger,
and passengers in the outer rear
seating positions during a moderate
to severe side impact or rollover (see
page for more information on how

30

your side curtain airbags work).

CONTINUED

9

Your Vehicle’s Saf ety Features

2008 CR- V

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The most important things you need
to know about your airbags are:

Airbags do not replace seat belts.

They are designed to supplement
the seat belts.

Airbags off er no protection in rear
impacts, or minor frontal or side
collisions.

Airbags can pose serious hazards.

To do their job, airbags must
inflate with tremendous f orce. So
while airbags help save lives, they
can cause minor injuries or more
serious or even fatal injuries if
occupants are not properly
restrained or sitting properly.

10

What you should do:

Always wear
your seat belt properly, and sit
upright and as far back from the
steering wheel as possible while
allowing full control of the vehicle. A
front passenger should move their
seat as far back from the dashboard
as possible.

The rest of this section gives more
detailed inf ormation about how you
can maximize your safety.

Remember, however, that no safety
system can prevent all injuries or
deaths that can occur in a severe
crash, even when seat belts are
properly worn and the airbags deploy.

Protecting Adults and Teens

2008 CR- V

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The f ollowing pages provide
instructions on how to properly
protect the driver, adult passengers,
and teenage children who are large
enough and mature enough to drive
or ride in the front.

See pages for important

34 53

−

guidelines on how to properly
protect infants, small children, and
larger children who ride in your
vehicle.

Close and Lock the Doors1.

After everyone has entered the
vehicle, be sure the doors and the
tailgate are closed and locked.

Your vehicle has a door and

tailgate monitor on the
instrument panel to indicate when a
specific door or the tailgate is not
tightly closed.

Locking the doors reduces the
chance of someone being thrown out
of the vehicle during a crash, and it
helps prevent passengers f rom
accidentally opening a door and
falling out.

Locking the doors also helps prevent
an outsider from unexpectedly
opening a door when you come to a
stop.

See page for how to lock the
doors, and page for how the door

82

63

and tailgate open monitor works.

Your vehicle has the auto door
locking/unlocking feature. For more
information, see page .

83

Adjust theFront SeatsIntroduction

2.

Adjust the driver’s seat as far to the
rear as possible while allowing you to
maintain f ull control of the vehicle.
Have a front passenger adjust their
seat as far to the rear as possible.

CONTINUED

11

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Adults and Teens

2008 CR- V

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If you sit too close to the steering
wheel or dashboard, you can be
seriously injured by an inflating front
airbag, or by striking the steering
wheel or dashboard.

The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport
Canada recommend that drivers
allow at least 10 inches (25 cm)
between the center of the steering
wheel and the chest. In addition to
adjusting the seat, you can adjust the
steering wheel up and down, and in
and out (see page ).

If you cannot get far enough away
from the steering wheel and still
reach the controls, we recommend
that you investigate whether some
type of adaptive equipment may help.

78

12

Sitting too close to a front
airbag can result in serious
injury or death if the front
airbags inflate.

Always sit as far back from the
front airbags as possible.

On vehicles with manual adjustable
seats

Once your seat is adjusted correctly,
rock it back and forth to make sure
the seat is locked in position.

See page for how to adjust a
front seat (power adjustment) and
page f or a manual adjustment.

94

95

Adjust the Seat-Backs3.

Adjust the driver’s seat-back to a
comfortable, upright position,
leaving ample space between your
chest and the airbag cover in the
center of the steering wheel.

Passengers with adjustable seat­backs should also adjust their seat­back to a comfortable, upright
position.

Protecting Adults and Teens

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Adjust the Head Restraints4.

Reclining the seat-back too far
can result in serious injury or
death in a crash.

Adjust the seat-back to an
upright position, and sit well
back in the seat.

Reclining a seat-back so that the
shoulder part of the belt no longer
rests against the occupant’s chest
reduces the protective capability of
the belt. It also increases the chance
of sliding under the belt in a crash
and being seriously injured. The
farther a seat-back is reclined, the
greater the risk of injury.

See page for how to adjust the
manual adjustable seat-back, and
page f or the power adjustable
seat-back.

95

94

Adjust the driver’s head restraint so
the center of the back of your head
rests against the center of the
restraint.

Have passengers adjust their head
restraints properly as well. Taller
persons should adjust their restraint
as high as possible.

Improperly positioning head
restraints reduces their
effectiveness and you can be
seriously injured in a crash.

Make sure head restraints are
in place and positioned properly
before driving.

Properly adjusted head restraints
will help protect occupants from
whiplash and other crash injuries.

See page for how to adjust the
head restraints and how the driver’s
and front passenger’s active head
restraints work.

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Driver and Passenger Safety

13

Protecting Adults and Teens

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Fasten and Position the Seat

5.
Belts

Insert the latch plate into the buckle,
then tug on the belt to make sure the
belt is securely latched. Check that
the belt is not twisted, because a
twisted belt can cause serious
injuries in a crash.

The seat belt in the center position
of the back seat can be unlatched
and retracted to allow the back seat
to be folded up or down. This seat
belt should be latched whenever the
seat-back is in an upright position.
See page for how to unlatch and
relatch the seat belt.

107

14

Position the lap part of the belt as
low as possible across your hips,
then pull up on the shoulder part of
the belt so the lap part fits snugly.
This lets your strong pelvic bones
take the force of a crash and reduces
the chance of internal injuries.

If necessary, pull up on the belt again
to remove any slack, then check that
the belt rests across the center of
your chest and over your shoulder.

This spreads the forces of a crash
over the strongest bones in your
upper body.

Improperly positioning the seat
belts can cause serious injury
or death in a crash.

Make sure all seat belts are
properly positioned before
driving.

If the seat belt touches or crosses
your neck, or if it crosses your arm
instead of your shoulder, you need to
adjust the seat belt anchor height.

Protecting Adults and Teens

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RELEASE BUTTONS

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 four
positions).

Never place the shoulder portion of a
lap/shoulder belt under your arm or
behind your back.

This could cause

very serious injuries in a crash.

If a seat belt does not seem to work
properly, it may not protect the
occupant in a crash.

No one should sit in a seat with an
inoperative seat belt.

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.

See page for additional

18

information about your seat belts
and how to take care of them.

Maintain a Proper Sitting

6.
Position

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
off .

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 feet up, the
chance of injury during a crash is
greatly increased.

CONTINUED

15

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Adults and Teens

2008 CR- V

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In addition, an occupant who is out of
position in the front seat can be
seriously or f atally injured in a crash
by striking interior parts of the
vehicle or being struck by an
inflating front airbag.

Sitting improperly or out of
position can result in serious
injury or death in a crash.

Always sit upright, well back in
the seat, with your feet on the
floor.

16

Advice for Pregnant Women

If you are pregnant, the best way to
protect yourself and your unborn
child when driving or riding in a
vehicle is to always wear a seat belt,
and keep the lap part of the belt as
low as possible across the hips.

When driving, remember to sit
upright and adjust the seat as far
back as possible while allowing full
control of the vehicle. When riding
as a front passenger, adjust the seat
as far back as possible.

This will reduce the risk of injuries
to both you and your unborn child
that can be caused by a crash or an
inflating front airbag.

Each time you have a checkup, ask
your doctor if it’s okay for you to
drive.

Protecting Adults and Teens

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Additional Safety Precautions

Never let passengers ride in the
cargo area or on top of a folded­down back seat.

If they do, they
could be very seriously injured in a
crash.

Passengers should not stand up or
change seats while the vehicle is
moving.

A passenger who is not
wearing a seat belt during a crash
or emergency stop can be thrown
against the inside of the vehicle,
against other occupants, or out of
the vehicle.

Two people should never use the
same seat belt.

If they do, they
could be very seriously injured in a
crash.

Do not put any accessories on seat
belts.

Devices intended to improve
occupant comfort or reposition the
shoulder part of a seat belt can
reduce the protective capability of
thebeltandincreasethechanceof
serious injury in a crash.

Do not place hard or sharp objects
between yourself and a front
airbag.

Carrying hard or sharp
objects on your lap, or driving with
a pipe or other sharp object in
your mouth, can result in injuries
if your front airbag inflates.

Keep your hands and arms away
from the airbag covers.

If your
hands or arms are close to an
airbag cover, they could be injured
if the airbag inflates.

Do not attach or place objects on
the f ront airbag covers.

Objects on
the covers marked ‘‘SRS AIRBAG’’
could interf ere with the proper
operation of the airbags or be
propelled inside the vehicle and
hurt someone if the airbags inf late.

Do not attach hard objects on or
near a door.

If a side airbag or a
side curtain airbag inflates, a cup
holder or other hard object
attached on or near the door could
be propelled inside the vehicle and
hurt someone.

17

Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

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Seat Belt System Components

Your seat belt system includes lap/
shoulder belts in all five seating
positions. The front seat belts are
also equipped with automatic seat
belt tensioners.

This system uses the same sensors
as the front airbags to monitor
whether the front seat belts are
latched or unlatched, and how much
weight is on the front passenger’s
seat (see pages and ).

instrument panel and a beeper to
remind you and your passengers to
fasten your seat belts. If no obstructions are found, have

This system monitors the front seat
belts. If you turn the ignition switch
to the ON (II) position before your
seat belt is fastened, the beeper will
sound and the indicator will flash. If
your seat belt is not fastened bef ore

27 28

The seat belt system
includes an indicator on the

the beeper stops, the indicator will
stop flashing but remain on.

If a front passenger does not fasten
their seat belt, the indicator will
come on about 6 seconds after the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
(II) position.

If either the driver or a front
passenger does not fasten their seat
belt while driving, the beeper will
sound and the indicator will flash
again at regular intervals.

When no one is sitting in the front
passenger’s seat, or a child or small
adult is riding there, the indicator
should not come on and the beeper
should not sound.

If the indicator comes on or the
beeper sounds when the driver’s seat
belt is latched and there is no front
seat passenger and no items on the
front seat, something may be
interfering with the monitoring
system. Look f or and remove:

Any items under the f ront
passenger’s seat.

Any object(s) hanging on the seat
or in the seat-back pocket.

Any object(s), such as a folded­down back seat, that are touching
the rear of the seat-back.

your vehicle checked by a dealer.

18

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

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Lap/Shoulder Belt

The lap/shoulder belt goes over
your shoulder, across your chest,
and across your hips.

To fasten the belt, insert the latch
plate into the buckle, then tug on the
belt to make sure the buckle is
latched (see page for how to

14

properly position the belt).

To unlock the belt, press the red
PRESSbuttononthebuckle.Guide
the belt across your body so that it
retracts completely. Af ter exiting the
vehicle, be sure the belt is out of the
way and will not get closed in the
door.

All seat belts have an emergency
locking retractor. In normal driving,
the retractor lets you move freely in
your seat while it keeps some
tension on the belt. During a collision
or sudden stop, the retractor
automatically locks the belt to help
restrain your body.

The seat belts in all positions except
the driver’s have a lockable retractor
that must be activated to secure a
child seat (see page ).

46

If the shoulder part of the belt is
pulled all the way out, the lockable
retractor will activate. The belt will
retract, but it will not allow the
passenger to move freely.

To deactivate the lockable retractor,
unlatch the buckle and let the seat
belt fully retract. To refasten the
seat belt, pull it out only as far as
needed.

DETACHABLE SEAT BELT

The lap/shoulder belt in the center
seating position on the rear seat is
equipped with a detachable seat belt
that has two parts: a small latch plate
and an anchor buckle.

The detachable seat belt should
normally be latched whenever the
seat-backs are in an upright position.
For more inf ormation about the
detachable seat belt, see page .

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19

Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

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Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners Seat Belt Maintenance

For added protection, the front seat
belts are equipped with automatic
seat belt tensioners. When activated,
the tensioners immediately tighten
the belts to help hold the driver and
a front passenger in position.

The tensioners are designed to
activate in any collision severe
enough to cause the front airbags to
deploy, or if a sensor detects your
vehicle is about to roll over (see page

30

).

If a side airbag or side curtain airbag
deploys during a side impact, the
tensioner on that side of the vehicle
will also deploy.

The tensioners can also be activated
during a collision in which the front
airbags . In this case, the
airbags would not be needed, but the
additional restraint could be helpful.

When the tensioners are activated,
the seat belts will remain tight until
they are unbuckled.

do not deploy

For safety, you should check the
condition of your seat belts regularly.

Pull each belt out fully, and look for
frays, cuts, burns, and wear. Check
that the latches work smoothly and
the belts retract easily. If a belt does
not retract easily, cleaning the belt
may correct the problem (see page

297

). Any belt that is not in good
condition or working properly will
not provide good protection and
should be replaced as soon as
possible.

Honda provides a limited warranty
on seat belts. See your

Warranty Information

details.

booklet for

20

Honda

If a seat belt is worn during a crash,

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it must be replaced by your dealer. A
belt that has been worn during a
crash may not provide the same level
of protection in a subsequent crash.

The dealer should also inspect the
anchors for damage and replace
them if needed. If the automatic seat
belt tensioners activate during a
crash, they must be replaced.

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

Not checking or maintaining
seat belts can result in serious
injury or death if the seat belts
do not work properly when
needed.

Check your seat belts regularly
and have any problem
corrected as soon as possible.

Driver and Passenger Safety

21

Additional Information About Your Airbags

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Airbag System Components

(1) Driver’s Front Airbag
(2) Passenger’s Front Airbag
(3) Control Unit/Rollover Sensor
(4) Front Seat Belt Tensioners
(5) Side Airbags
(6) Driver’s Seat Position Sensor
(7) Front Passenger’s Weight Sensors
(8) Passenger Airbag Off Indicator
(9) Side Impact Sensors (First)
(10) Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS) Sensors
(11) Front Passenger’s Weight Sensor Unit/OPDS Sensors Control Unit
(12) SRS Indicator
(13) Seat Belt Buckle Tensioners

22

(3)

(12)

(1)

(8)

(9)

(6)

(2)

(4)

(11)

(5)

(10)

(5)

(4)

(7)

(13)

Additional Information About Your Airbags

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Your airbag system includes:

(14) (16)

(14) Front Crash Sensors
(15) Side Impact Sensor (Second)
(16) Side Curtain Airbags

(15)

Two SRS (supplemental restraint
system) front airbags. The driver’s
airbag is stored in the center of
the steering wheel; the front
passenger’sairbagisstoredinthe
dashboard. Both are marked ‘‘SRS
AIRBAG’’ (see page ).

25

Two side airbags, one for the
driver and one for a front
passenger. The airbags are stored
in the outer edges of the seat­backs. Both are marked ‘‘SIDE
AIRBAG’’ (see page ).

28

Two side curtain airbags, one f or
each side of the vehicle. The
airbags are stored in the ceiling,
above the side windows. The front
and rear pillars are marked ‘‘SIDE
CURTAIN AIRBAG’’ (see page

).

30

CONTINUED

23

Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Airbags

2008 CR- V

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Main Menu

Automatic front seat belt
tensioners (see page ).

Sensors that can detect a
moderate to severe front impact,
side impact, or if your vehicle is
about to rollover.

Sensors that can detect whether a
child is in the passenger’s side
airbag path and signal the control
unit to turn the airbag off (see
page ).

29

A driver’s seat position sensor that
monitors the distance of the seat
from the front airbag. If the seat is
too far forward, the airbag will
inflate with less force (see page

).

27

Weight sensors that monitor the
weight on the front passenger’s
seat. If the weight is about 65 lbs
(29 kg) or less (the weight of an
infant or small child), the

20

24

passenger’s front airbag will be
turned off (see page ).

Sensors that can detect whether
the driver’s seat belt and the front
passenger’s seat belt are latched
or unlatched (see page ).

A sophisticated electronic system
that continually monitors and
records information about the
sensors, the control unit, the
airbag activators, the seat belt
tensioners, and driver and f ront
passenger seat belt use when the
ignition switch is in the ON (II)
position.

An indicator on the instrument
panel that alerts you to a possible
problem with your airbags,
sensors, or seat belt tensioners
(see page ).

31

27

18

A rollover sensor that can detect if
your vehicle is about to roll over
and signal the control unit to
deploy both side curtain airbags
and front seat belt tensioners (see
page ).

30

An indicator on the instrument
panel that alerts you that the
passenger’s side airbag has been
turned off (see page ).

An indicator on the dashboard that
alerts you that the passenger’s
front airbag has been turned off
(see page ).

Emergency backup power in case
your vehicle’s electrical system is
disconnected in a crash.

32

31

Additional Information About Your Airbags

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How Your Front Airbags Work

If you ever have a moderate to
severe f rontal collision, sensors will
detect the vehicle’s rapid
deceleration.

If the rate of deceleration is high
enough, the control unit will instantly
inflate the driver’s and front
passenger’s airbags, at the time and
with the force needed.

During a frontal crash, your seat belt
restrains your lower body and torso,
and the f ront airbag helps protect
your head and chest.

Although both airbags normally
inflate within split second of each
other, it is possible for only one
airbag to deploy.

This can happen if the severity of a
collision is at the margin, or
threshold, that determines whether
or not the airbags will deploy. In
such cases, the seat belt will provide
sufficient protection, and the
supplemental protection offered by
the airbag would be minimal.

Only the driver’s airbag can deploy if
there is no passenger in the front
seat, or if the advanced airbag
system has turned the passenger’s
airbag off (see page ).

27

Driver and Passenger Safety

After inflating, the front airbags
immediately deflate, so they won’t
interfere with the driver’s visibility,
or the ability to steer or operate
other controls.

CONTINUED

25

Additional Information About Your Airbags

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The total time for inflation and
deflation is one-tenth of a second, so
fast that most occupants are not
aware that the airbags deployed until
they see them lying in their laps.

After a crash, you may see what
looks like smoke. This is actually
powder from the airbag’s surface.
Although the powder is not harmful,
people with respiratory problems
mayexperiencesometemporary
discomfort. If this occurs, get out of
the vehicle as soon as it is saf e to do
so.

26

Dual-Stage Airbags

Your front airbags are dual-stage
airbags. This means they have two
inflation stages that can be ignited
sequentially or simultaneously,
depending on crash severity.

more severe

In a crash, both stages
will ignite simultaneously to provide
the quickest and greatest protection.

less severe

In a crash, one stage will
ignite first, then the second stage
will ignite a split second later. This
provides longer airbag inflation time
with a little less force.

Dual-Threshold Airbags

Your front airbags are also dual­threshold airbags. Airbags with this
feature have two deployment
thresholds that depend on whether
sensors detect the occupant is
wearing a seat belt or not.

If the occupant’s belt is ,

not latched

the airbag will deploy at a slightly
lower threshold, because the
occupant would need extra
protection.

If the occupant’s belt is , the

latched

airbag will inf late at a slightly higher
threshold, when the airbag would be
needed to supplement the protection
provided by the seat belt.

Advanced Airbags

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Your front airbags are also advanced
airbags. The main purpose of this
feature is to help prevent airbag­caused injuries to short drivers and
children who ride in front.

For both advanced airbags to work
properly:

Occupants must sit upright and
wear their seat belts properly.

Additional Information About Your Airbags

DRIVER’S
SEAT
POSITION
SENSOR

PASSENGER’S
SEAT WEIGHT
SENSORS

Driver and Passenger Safety

Do not spill any liquids on or
under the seats, cover the sensors,
or put any objects or metal items
under the f ront seats.

Back-seat passengers should not
put their feet under the front seats.

Failure to follow these instructions
could damage the sensors or prevent
them from working properly.

The driver’s advanced front airbag
system includes a seat position
sensor under the seat. If the seat is
too far forward, the airbag will
inflate with less force, regardless of
the severity of the impact.

If there is a problem with the sensor,
the SRS indicator will come on, and
the airbag will inflate in the normal
manner regardless of the driver’s
seating position.

The passenger’s advanced f ront
airbag system has weight sensors
under the seat. Although Honda
does not encourage carrying an
infant or small child in front, if the
sensors detect the weight of an
infant or small child (up to about 65
lbs or 29 kg), the system will
automatically turn the passenger’s
front airbag off.

CONTINUED

27

Additional Information About Your Airbags

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Be aware that objects placed on the
passenger’s seat can also cause the
airbag to be turned off.

When the airbag is turned off, a
‘‘passenger airbag off’’ indicator in
the center of the dashboard comes
on (see page ).

If the weight sensors detect there is
no passenger in the front seat, the
airbag will be off. However, the
passenger airbag off indicator will
not come on.

To ensure that the passenger’s
advanced front airbag system will
work properly,

that would increase or decrease the
weight on the front passenger’s seat.

This includes:

A rear passenger pushing or
pulling on the back of the front
passenger’s seat.

32

do not do anything

28

Moving the front seat forcibly
back against cargo on the seat or
floor behind it.

Hanging heavy items on the front
passenger seat, or placing heavy
items in the seat-back pocket.

Moving the front seat or seat-back
forcibly back against the f olded
rear seat.

How Your Side Airbags Work

If you ever have a moderate to
severe side impact, sensors will
detect rapid acceleration and signal
the control unit to instantly inf late
either the driver’s or the passenger’s
side airbag and activate the seat belt
tensioner on the affected side.

Additional Information About Your Airbags

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Only one airbag will deploy during a
side impact. If the impact is on the
passenger’s side, the passenger’s
side airbag will deploy even if there
is no passenger.

To get the best protection from the
side airbags, front seat occupants
should wear their seat belts and sit
upright and well back in their seats.

Side Airbag Cutoff System

Your vehicle has a side airbag cutoff
system designed primarily to protect
a child riding in the front passenger’s
seat.

Although Honda does not encourage
children to ride in front, if the
position sensors detect a child has
leaned into the side airbag’s
deployment path, the airbag will shut
off.

Thesideairbagmayalsoshutoffifa
short adult leans sideways, or a
larger adult slouches and leans
sideways into the airbag’s
deployment path.

Objects placed on the front
passenger seat can also cause the
side airbag to be shut off.

If the side airbag off indicator comes
on (see page ), have the
passenger sit upright. Once the
passenger is out of the airbag’s
deployment path, the system will
turn the airbag back on, and the
indicator will go out.

There will be some delay between
the moment the passenger moves
into or out of the airbag deployment
pathandwhentheindicatorcomes
on or goes off.

A front seat passenger should not
use a cushion or other object as a
backrest. It may prevent the cutoff
system f rom working properly.

31

29

Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Airbags

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How Your Side Curtain Airbags
Work

SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG

In a Side Impact

In a moderate to severe side impact,
sensors will detect rapid acceleration
and signal the control unit to
instantly inflate the side curtain
airbag and activate the seat belt
tensioner on the driver’s or the
passenger’s side of the vehicle.

30

If the impact is on the passenger’s
side, the passenger’s side curtain
airbag will inflate even if there are no
occupants on that side of the vehicle.

In a Rollover

If the rollover sensor detects your
vehicle is about to roll over, it signals
the control unit, which immediately
deploys both side curtain airbags and
activates both front seat belt
tensioners.

The airbag on the passenger’s side
will deploy, and the seat belt
tensioner will activate, even if there
are no passengers on that side of the
vehicle.

To get the best protection from the
side curtain airbags, occupants
should wear their seat belts and sit
upright and well back in their seats.

Additional Information About Your Airbags

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How the SRS Indicator
Works

The SRS indicator alerts you to a
potential problem with your airbags
or seat belt tensioners.

When you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position, this indicator
comes on briefly then goes off. This
tells you the system is working
properly.

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 the SRS indicator does not come
on after you turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position.

If the indicator stays on after the
engine starts.

If the indicator comes on or
flashesonandoffwhileyoudrive.

If you see any of these indications,
the airbags and seat belt tensioners
may not work properly when you
need them.

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.

U.S.

Canada

How the Side
Airbag Off
Indicator Works

This indicator alerts you that the
passenger’s side airbag has been
automatically shut off. It does

not

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 briefly and then go
off(seepage ).Ifitdoesn’tcome

61

on, stays on, or comes on while
driving without a passenger in the
front seat, have the system checked.

31

Driver and Passenger Safety

Additional Information About Your Airbags

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How the Passenger Airbag Off
Indicator Works

PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF INDICATOR

Canada

U.S.

This indicator alerts you that the
passenger’s front airbag has been
shut off because weight sensors
detect about 65 lbs (29 kg) or less
(the weight of an infant or small
child) on the front passenger’s seat.
It does there is a problem

not mean

with the airbag.

32

Be aware that objects placed on the
front seat can cause the indicator to
come on.

If no weight is detected on the front
seat, the airbag will be automatically
shut off. However, the indicator will
not come on.

The passenger airbag off indicator
maycomeonandoffrepeatedlyif
the total weight on the seat is near
the airbag cutoff threshold.

If an adult or teenage passenger is
riding in front, move the seat as far
to the rear as possible, and have the
passenger sit upright and wear the
seat belt properly.

If the indicator comes on with no
front seat passenger and no objects
on the seat, or with an adult riding
there, something may be interfering
with the weight sensors. Look for
and remove:

Any items under the f ront
passenger’s seat.

Any object(s) hanging on the seat
or in the seat-back pocket.

Any object(s), such as a folded­down back seat, that are touching
the rear of the seat-back.

If no obstructions are found, have
your vehicle checked by a dealer as
soon as possible.

Additional Information About Your Airbags

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Airbag Service

Your airbag systems are virtually
maintenance free, and there are no
parts you can safely service.
However, you must have your
vehicle serviced if:

An airbag ever inflates.

Any airbag
that has deployed must be
replaced along with the control
unit and other related parts. Any
seat belt tensioner that activates
must also be replaced.

Do not try to remove or replace
anyairbagbyyourself.Thismust
be done by an authorized dealer or
a knowledgeable body shop.

The SRS indicator alerts you to a
problem.

Take your vehicle to an
authorized dealer as soon as
possible. If you ignore this
indication, your airbags may not
operate properly.

If your vehicle has a moderate to
severe impact.

Even if your
airbags do not inflate, your dealer
should inspect the driver’s seat
position sensor, the front
passenger’s weight sensors, the
front seat belt tensioners, and all
seat belts worn during a crash to
make sure they are operating
properly.

Additional Safety Precautions

Donotattempttodeactivateyour
airbags.

Together, airbags and
seat belts provide the best
protection.

Do not tamper with airbag
components or wiring for any
reason.

Tampering could cause
the airbags to deploy, possibly
causing very serious injury.

Do not expose the f ront passenger’s
seat-back to liquid.

If water or
another liquid soaks into a seat­back, it can prevent the side airbag
cutoff system from working
properly.

Do not cover or replace front seat­back covers without consulting
your dealer.

Improperly replacing
or covering front seat-back covers
can prevent your side airbags from
inflating during a side impact.

Do not remove or modif y a front
seat without consulting your
dealer.

This could make the
driver’s seat position sensor or the
front passenger’s weight sensors
ineffective. If it is necessary to
remove or modif y a f ront seat to
accommodate a person with
disabilities, first contact Honda
Automobile Customer Service at
[phone].

33

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Children General Guidelines

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Children depend on adults to protect
them. However, despite their best
intentions, many adults do not know
how to protect child
passengers.

If you have children, or ever need to
drive with a child in your vehicle, be
sure to read this section. It begins
with important general guidelines,
then presents special information for
infants, small children, and larger
children.

properly

−

All Children Must Be Restrained

Each year, many children are injured
or killed in vehicle crashes because
they are either unrestrained or not
properly restrained. In f act, vehicle
accidents are the number one cause
of the death of children aged 12 and
under.

To reduce the number of child
deaths and injuries, every state and
Canadian province requires that
infants and children be properly
restrained when they ride in a
vehicle.

Infants and small children must be
restrained in an approved child seat
that is properly secured to the
vehicle

(see pages ).

−

39 49

Children who are unrestrained
or improperly restrained can be
seriously injured or killed in a
crash.

Any child too small for a seat
belt should be properly
restrained in a child seat. A
larger child should be properly
restrained with a seat belt and
use a booster seat if necessary.

Larger children must be restrained
with a lap/shoulder belt and ride on
a booster seat until the seat belt f its
them properly

(see pages ).

−

50 53

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Protecting Children General Guidelines

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−

All Children Should Sit in a Back
Seat

According to accident statistics,
children of all ages and sizes are
safer when they are restrained in a
back seat. The National Highway
Traff ic Safety Administration and
Transport Canada recommend that
all children aged 12 and under be
properly restrained in a back seat.
Some states have laws restricting
where children may ride.

likely to be injured by striking
interior vehicle parts during a
collision or hard braking. Also,
children cannot be injured by an
inflating front airbag when they ride
in the back.

The Passenger’s Front Airbag
Can Pose Serious Risks

Front airbags have been designed to
help protect adults in a moderate to
severe f rontal collision. To do this,
the passenger’s front airbag is quite
large, and it can inflate with enough
force to cause very serious injuries.

Even though your vehicle has an
advanced front airbag system that
automatically turns the passenger’s
front airbag off (see page ),

31

please follow these guidelines:Children who ride in back are less

Never put a rear-facing child seat in
the front seat of a vehicle equipped
with a passenger’s front airbag.

If
the airbag inflates, it can hit the back
of the child seat with enough force
to kill or very seriously injure an
infant.

Small Children
Placing a f orward-facing child seat in
the front seat of a vehicle equipped
with a passenger’s front airbag can
be hazardous.

If the vehicle seat is
too far forward, or the child’s head is
thrown f orward during a collision, an
inflating front airbag can strike the
child with enough force to kill or
very seriously injure a small child.

Larger Children
Children who have outgrown child
seats are also at risk of being injured
or killed by an inflating passenger’s
front airbag.Infants

Whenever possible,
larger children should sit in the back
seat, on a booster seat if needed, and
be properly restrained with a seat
belt (see page f or important

50

information about protecting larger
children).

CONTINUED

35

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Children General Guidelines

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−

To remind you of the passenger’s
front airbag hazards, and that
children must be properly restrained
in a back seat, your vehicle has
warninglabelsonthedashboard
(U.S. models) and on the front visors.
Please read and follow the
instructions on these labels.

36

U.S. Models

SUN VISORS

Canadian Models

SUN VISORS

DASHBOARD

Protecting Children General Guidelines

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−

Children

Your vehicle has a back seat where
children can be properly restrained.
If you ever have to carry a group of
children, and a child must ride in
front:

Place the largest child in the front
seat, provided the child is large
enough to wear the lap/shoulder
belt properly (see page ).

50

Move the vehicle seat as far to the
rear as possible (see page ).

95

Have the child sit upright and well
backintheseat(seepage ).

15

Make sure the seat belt is properly
positioned and secured (see page

).

14

If a Child Requires Close
Attention

Many parents say they prefer to put
an infant or a small child in the front
passenger seat so they can watch the
child, or because the child requires
attention.

Placing a child in the front seat
exposes the child to hazards in a
frontal collision, and paying close
attention to a child distracts the
driver from the important tasks of
driving, placing both of you at risk.

If a child requires close physical
attention or frequent visual contact,
we strongly recommend that another
adult ride with the child in a back
seat. The back seat is far safer for a
child than the front.

Additional Safety PrecautionsIf You Must Drive with Several

Neverholdaninfantorchildon
your lap.

If you are not wearing a
seat belt in a crash, you could be
thrown forward and crush the
child against the dashboard or a
seat-back. If you are wearing a
seat belt, the child can be torn
from your arms and be seriously
hurt or killed.

Never put a seat belt over yourself
and a child.

During a crash, the
belt could press deep into the child
and cause serious or fatal injuries.

Never let two children use the
same seat belt.

If they do, they
could be very seriously injured in a
crash.

CONTINUED

Driver and Passenger Safety

37

Protecting Children General Guidelines

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

−

Make sure any unused seat belt
that a child can reach is buckled,
the lockable retractor is activated,
and the belt is fully retracted and
locked.

If a child wraps a loose
seat belt around their neck, they
can be seriously or fatally injured.
(See pages and for how to

46 47

activate and deactivate the
lockable retractor.)

Use the childproof door locks to
prevent children from opening the
rear doors.

This can prevent
children from accidentally falling
out (see page ).88

38

Do not leave children alone in a
vehicle.

Leaving children without
adult supervision is illegal in most
states and Canadian provinces,
and can be very hazardous.

For example, infants and small
childrenleftinavehicleonahot
day can die from heatstroke. A
child left alone with the key in the
ignition switch can accidentally set
the vehicle in motion, possibly
injuring themselves or others.

Lock all doors and the tailgate
when your vehicle is not in use.

Children who play in vehicles can
accidentally get trapped inside.
Teach your children not to play in
or around vehicles.

Keep vehicle keys/remote
transmitters out of the reach of
children.

Even very young
children learn how to unlock
vehicle doors, turn on the ignition
switch, and open the tailgate,
which can lead to accidental injury
or death.

Protecting Inf ants and Small Children

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Protecting Infants

Child Seat Type

An infant must be properly
restrained in a rear-facing, reclining
child seat until the child reaches the
seat maker’s weight or height limit
for the seat, and the child is at least
one year old.

Only a rear-facing child seat provides
proper support for a baby’s head,
neck, and back.

Two types of seats may be used: a
seat designed exclusively for infants,
or a convertible seat used in the rear­facing, reclining mode.

Do not put a rear-f acing child seat in
a forward-facing position.

If placed
facing forward, an infant could be
very seriously injured during a
frontal collision.

Rear-f acing Child Seat Placement

A rear-facing child seat can be placed
in any seating position in the back
seat, but not in the front.

rear-f acing child seat in the f ront
seat.

Never put a

If the passenger’s front airbag
inflates, it can hit the back of the
child seat with enough f orce to kill or
seriously injure an inf ant.

When properly installed, a rear­facing child seat may prevent the
driver or a front passenger from
moving their seat as far back as
recommended, or f rom locking their
seat-back in the desired position.

It could also interfere with proper
operation of the passenger’s
advanced front airbag system.

CONTINUED

39

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Inf ants and Small Children

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

In any of these situations, we
strongly recommend that you install
the child seat directly behind the
front passenger’s seat, move the seat
as far forward as needed, and leave it
unoccupied. Or, you may wish to get
a smaller rear-facing child seat.

Placing a rear-facing child seat
in the front seat can result in
serious injury or death during a
collision.

Always place a rear-facing child
seat in the back seat, not the
front.

40

Protecting Small Children

Child Seat Type

A child who is at least one year old,
and who fits within the child seat
maker’s weight and height limits,
should be restrained in a f orward­facing, upright child seat.

Of the different seats available, we
recommend those that have a five­point harness system as shown.

We also recommend that a small
child use the child seat until the child
reaches the weight or height limit
for the seat.

Child Seat Placement

We strongly recommend placing a
forward-facing child seat in a back
seat, not the front.

Placing a f orward-facing child seat in
the front seat of a vehicle equipped
with a passenger’s airbag can be
hazardous.

If the vehicle seat is too
far forward, or the child’s head is
thrown f orward during a collision, an
inflating airbag can strike the child
with enough force to cause very
serious or fatal injuries.

Protecting Inf ants and Small Children, Selecting a Child Seat

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Even with advanced front airbags
that automatically turn the
passenger’s front airbag off (see
page ), a back seat is the safest

32

place for a small child.

If it is necessary to put a forward­facing child seat in the f ront, move
the vehicle seat as far to the rear as
possible, and be sure the child seat is
firmly secured to the vehicle and the
child is properly strapped in the seat.

Placing a forward-facing child
seat in the front seat can result
in serious injury or death if the
front airbag inflates.

Ifyoumustplaceaforward­facing child seat in front, move
the vehicle seat as far back as
possible, and properly restrain
the child.

Selecting a Child Seat

When buying a child seat, you need
to choose either a conventional child
seat, or one designed for use with
the lower anchors and tethers for
children (LATCH) system.

Conventional child seats must be
secured to a vehicle with a seat belt,
whereas LATCH-compatible seats
are secured by attaching the seat to
hardware built into each rear seating
position in the back seat.

Since LATCH-compatible child seats
are easier to install and reduce the
possibility of improper installation,
we recommend selecting this style.

In seating positions and vehicles not
equipped with LATCH, a LATCH­compatible child seat can be installed
using a seat belt.

Whatever type of seat you choose, to
provide proper protection, a child
seat should meet three
requirements:

The child seat should meet U.S. or

1.

Canadian Motor Vehicle Saf ety
Standard 213.

Look f or FMVSS

213 or CMVSS 213 on the box.

The child seat should be of the

2.

proper type and size to fit the child.

Rear-facing for infants, forward­facing for small children.

CONTINUED

41

Driver and Passenger Safety

Selecting a Child Seat, Installing a Child Seat

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

The child seat should f it the

3.
vehicle seating position (or
positions) where it will be used.

Before purchasing a conventional
child seat, or using a previously
purchased one, we recommend that
you test the seat in the specific
vehicle seating position or positions
where the seat will be used.

Installing a Child Seat

After selecting a proper child seat
and a good place to install the seat,
there are three main steps in
installing the seat:

Properly secure the child seat to

1.
the vehicle.

All child seats must be
secured to the vehicle with the lap
part of a lap/shoulder belt or with
the LATCH (lower anchors and
tethers for children) system. A
child whose seat is not properly
secured to the vehicle can be
endangered in a crash.

Make sure the child seat is firmly

2.
secured.

After installing a child
seat, push and pull the seat
forward and from side-to-side to
verify that it is secure.

A child seat secured with a seat belt
should be installed as firmly as
possible. However, it does not need
to be ‘‘rock solid.’’ Some side-to-side

movement can be expected and
should not reduce the child seat’s
effectiveness.

If the child seat is not secure, try
installing it in a different seating
position, or use a different style of
child seat that can be firmly secured.

Secure the child in the child seat.

3.

Make sure the child is properly
strappedinthechildseat
according to the child seat maker’s
instructions. A child who is not
properly secured in a child seat
can be seriously injured in a crash.

The f ollowing pages provide
guidelines on how to properly install
a child seat. A f orward-facing child
seat is used in all examples, but the
instructions are the same for rear­facing child seats.

42

Installing a Child Seat

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Installing a Child Seat with
LATCH

Your vehicle is equipped with
LATCH (lower anchors and tethers
for children) at the rear seats to
secure a child seat in any seating
position: one in each outer seating
position, or one in the center.

Thefiveloweranchorsarelocated
between the seat-back and seat
bottom, and are to be used only with
a child seat designed for use with
LATCH.

The location of each lower anchor is
indicated by a small button above the
anchor point.

BUTTON

LOWER ANCHORS FOR OUTER LATCH

LOWER ANCHORS FOR
CENTER LATCH

When you install a child seat in the
rear center seating position, use the
center lower anchors as shown in the
illustration. To install a child seat in
either outer seating position, use the
outer lower anchors. You can install
up to two child seats at a time using
the outer lower anchors.

Do not attach two child seat
connectors to a single lower anchor
at a time.

Using the Outer LATCH

OUTER LOWER ANCHORS

To install a LATCH-compatible child
seat in either of the rear outer seats:

Store the seat belt buckle or

1.
tongue in the storage pockets.

Make sure there are no objects

2.
near the anchors that could
prevent a secure connection
between the child seat and the
anchors.

CONTINUED

43

Driver and Passenger Safety

Installing a Child Seat

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Flexible typeRigid type

3.

Place the child seat on the vehicle
seat, then attach the seat to the
lower anchors according to the
child seat maker’s instructions.

Some LATCH-compatible seats have
a rigid-type connector as shown
above.

44

Other LATCH-compatible seats have
a flexible-type connector as shown
above.

4.

Whatever type you have, follow
the child seat maker’s instructions
for adjusting or tightening the fit.

5.

Remove the head restraint (see
page ). Make sure the removed

98

head restraint is secured in the
cargo area.

Reinstall the head restraint when the
child seat is removed.

If equipped

6.
Remove the dual deck cargo shelf
(see page ).

114

Installing a Child Seat

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Route the tether strap over the

7.
seat-back, then attach the tether
strap hook to the anchor, making

Using the Center LATCH

TETHER ANCHOR

TETHER ANCHOR

sure the tether strap is not twisted.

TETHER
ANCHOR

8.

Tighten the strap according to the
seat maker’s instructions.

9.

Push and pull the child seat
forward and from side-to-side to
verify that it is secure. Push and pull the child seat

10.

TETHER STRAP HOOK

CENTER LOWER ANCHORS

COVER

To install a LATCH-compatible child
seat in the rear center seating
position, use the center lower
anchorsasshownabove.

1.

Follow step 1 through 5 as
described previously to secure the
child seat.

2.

Pull down the cover to access the
tether anchor.

TETHER STRAP HOOK

3.

Route the tether strap over the
seat-back, then attach the tether
strap hook to the tether anchor in
the ceiling, making sure the strap
is not twisted. Tighten the strap
according to the seat maker’s
instructions.

4.
forward and from side-to-side to
verify that it is secure.Reinstall the dual deck cargo shelf.

Driver and Passenger Safety

45

Installing a Child Seat

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Installing a Child Seat with a Lap/
Shoulder Belt

When not using the LATCH system,
all child seats must be secured to the
vehicle with the lap part of a lap/
shoulder belt.

In addition, the lap/shoulder belts in
all seating positions except the
driver’s have a lockable retractor
that must be activated to secure a
child seat.

If you intend to install a child seat in
the center seating position of the
rear seat, make sure the detachable
seat belt anchor is securely latched
(see page ).

107

46

With the child seat in the desired
seating position, route the belt
through the child seat according
to the seat maker’s instructions,
then insert the latch plate into the
buckle.

To activate the lockable retractor,

2.1.
slowly pull the shoulder part of the
belt all the way out until it stops,
then let the belt feed back into the
retractor.

After the belt has retracted, tug on

3.
it. If the belt is locked, you will not
be able to pull it out. If you can pull
thebeltout,itisnotlocked,and
you will need to repeat these steps.

Installing a Child Seat

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

To deactivate the lockable retractor
and remove a child seat, unlatch the
buckle, unroute the seat belt, and let
the belt fully retract.

Driver and Passenger Safety

4. 5.

After confirming that the belt is
locked, grab the shoulder part of
the belt near the buckle, and pull
up to remove any slack from the
lap part of the belt. Remember, if
the lap part of the belt is not tight,
the child seat will not be secure.

To remove slack, it may help to
putweightonthechildseat,or
push on the back of the seat while
pulling up on the belt.

Push and pull the child seat
forward and from side-to-side to
verify that it is secure enough to
stay upright during normal driving
maneuvers. If the child seat is not
secure, unlatch the belt, allow it to
retract fully, then repeat these
steps.

47

Installing a Child Seat

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Installing a Child Seat with a
Tether

A child seat with a tether can be
installed in any seating position in
the back seat.

Each rear outside seating position
has an anchorage point on the seat­back, and the center seating position
has an anchorage point in the ceiling
near the tailgate.

Since a tether can provide additional
security to the lap/shoulder belt
installation, we recommend using a
tether whenever one is required or
available.

48

Using an Outer Anchor

ANCHOR

On vehicles with the dual deck

1. 3.
cargoshelf,removeit(seepage

).

114

After properly securing the child

2. 4.
seat (see page ), remove the

46

head restraint, then route the
tether strap over the seat-back.
Make sure to store the removed
head restraint in the cargo area
and to reinstall it when the child
seat is removed.

ANCHOR

TETHER STRAP HOOK

Attach the tether strap hook to the
anchor, making sure the tether
strap is not twisted.

Tighten the strap according to the
seat maker’s instructions.

Reinstall the dual deck cargo shelf.

5.

Using the Center Anchor

2008 CR- V

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Main Menu

Installing a Child Seat

ANCHOR

COVER

1.

Remove the rear center head
restraint, and store it in the cargo
area.

2.

After properly securing the child
seat (see page ), open the
anchor cover.

ANCHOR

TETHER STRAP HOOK

3.

Route the tether strap over the
seat-back, then attach the tether
strap hook to the anchor, making
sure the tether strap is not twisted.

4.46

Tighten the strap according to the
seat maker’s instructions.

Driver and Passenger Safety

49

Protecting Larger Children

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

When a child reaches the
recommended weight or height limit
for a forward-facing child seat, the
child should sit in a back seat on a
booster seat and wear a lap/shoulder
belt.

The f ollowing pages give
instructions on how to check proper
seat belt fit, what kind of booster
seat to use if one is needed, and
important precautions for a child
who must sit in front.

50

Allowing a child age 12 or under
to sit in front can result in injury
or death if the passenger’s front
airbag inflates.

If a child must ride in front,
move the vehicle seat as far
back as possible, use a booster
seat if needed, have the child
sit up properly and wear the
seat belt properly.

Checking Seat Belt Fit

To determine if a lap/shoulder belt
properly fits a child, have the child
put on the seat belt, then ask
yourself:

Does the child sit all the way back

1.
against the seat?

Do the child’s knees bend

2.
comfortably over the edge of the
seat?

Protecting Larger Children

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Does the shoulder belt cross

3.

Using a Booster Seat

between the child’s neck and arm?

Is the lap part of the belt as low as

4.
possible, touching the child’s
thighs?

Will the child be able to stay

5.
seated like this f or the whole trip?

If you answer yes to all these
questions, the child is ready to wear
the lap/shoulder belt correctly. If
you answer no to any question, the
child needs to ride on a booster seat. A child who has outgrown a forward-

facing child seat should ride in a
back seat and use a booster seat
until the lap/shoulder belt f its them
properly without the booster.

Some states and Canadian provinces
also require children to use a booster
seat until they reach a given age or
weight (e.g., 6 years or 60 lbs). Be
sure to check current laws in the
states or provinces where you intend
to drive.

Booster seats can be high-back or
low-back. Whichever style you select,
make sure the booster seat meets
federal safety standards (see page

) and that you follow the booster

41

seat maker’s instructions.

If a child who uses a booster seat
must ride in f ront, move the vehicle
seat as far back as possible and be
sure the child is wearing the seat
belt properly.

CONTINUED

51

Driver and Passenger Safety

Protecting Larger Children

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

A child may continue using a booster
seat until the tops of their ears are
even with the top of the vehicle’s or
booster’s seat-back. A child of this
height should be tall enough to use
the lap/shoulder belt without a
booster seat.

When Can a Larger Child Sit in
Front

The National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport
Canada recommend that all children
aged 12 and under be properly
restrained in a back seat.

If the passenger’s front airbag
inflates in a moderate to severe
frontal collision, the airbag can cause
serious injuries to a child who is
unrestrained, improperly restrained,
sitting too close to the airbag, or out
of position.

52

A side airbag also poses risks. If any
part of a larger child’s body is in the
path of a deploying side airbag, the
child could receive possibly serious
injuries.

Of course, children vary widely. And
while age may be one indicator of
when a child can safely ride in f ront,
there are other important factors you
should consider.

Physical Size

Physically, a child must be large
enough for the lap/shoulder belt to
properly fit (see pages and ). If
the seat belt does not fit properly,
with or without the child sitting on a
booster seat, the child should not sit
in front.

Maturity

To safely ride in front, a child must
be able to f ollow the rules, including
sitting properly, and wearing the seat
belt properly throughout a ride.

14 50

If you decide that a child can safely
ride up front, be sure to:

Carefully read the owner’s manual,
and make sure you understand all
seat belt instructions and all safety
information.

Move the vehicle seat to the rear­most position.

Have the child sit up straight, back
against the seat, and feet on or
near the floor.

Check that the child’s seat belt is
properly and securely positioned.

Supervise the child. Even a mature
child sometimes needs to be
reminded to fasten the seat belt or
sit properly.

Protecting Larger Children

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Additional Safety Precautions

Do not let a child wear a seat belt
across the neck.

This could result
in serious neck injuries during a
crash.

Do not let a child put the shoulder
part of a seat belt behind the back
or under the arm.

This could
cause very serious injuries during
a crash. It also increases the
chance that the child will slide
under the belt in a crash and be
injured.

Two children should never use the
same seat belt.

If they do, they
could be very seriously injured in a
crash.

Do not put any accessories on a
seat belt.

Devices intended to
improve a child’s comfort or
reposition the shoulder part of a
seat belt can make the belt less
effective and increase the chance
of serious injury in a crash.

Driver and Passenger Safety

53

Carbon Monoxide Hazard

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Your vehicle’s exhaust contains
carbon monoxide gas. Carbon
monoxide should not enter the
vehicle in normal driving if you
maintain your vehicle properly and
follow the information on this page.

Have the exhaust system inspected
for leaks whenever:

The vehicle is raised for an oil
change.

You notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust.

The vehicle was in an accident
that may have damaged the
underside.

54

Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.
Breathing it can cause
unconsciousness and even kill
you.

Avoid any enclosed areas or
activities that expose you to
carbon monoxide.

High levels of carbon monoxide can
collect rapidly in enclosed areas,
such as a garage. Do not run the
engine with the garage door closed.
Even with the door open, run the
engine only long enough to move the
vehicle out of the garage.

With the tailgate open, airflow can
pull exhaust gas into your vehicle’s
interior and create a hazardous
condition. If you must drive with the
tailgate open, open all the windows
and set the heating and cooling
system as shown below.

If you must sit in your parked vehicle
with the engine running, even in an
unconfined area, adjust the heating
and cooling system as follows:

Select the fresh air mode.

1.
Select the mode.

2.
Turn the fan on high speed.

3.
Set the temperature control to a

4.
comfortable setting.

Safety Labels

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

These labels are in the locations
shown. They warn you of potential
hazards that could cause serious
injury or death. Read these labels
carefully.

If a label comes off or becomes hard
to read (except for the U.S.
dashboard label which may be
removed by the owner), contact your
dealer for a replacement.

DASHBOARD

U.S. models only

SUN VISOR

U.S. models

Canadian models

SUN VISOR

U.S. models only

RADIATOR CAP

Driver and Passenger Safety

CONTINUED

55

Safety Labels

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

HOOD

U.S. models

Canadian models

56

DUAL DECK CARGO SHELF

U.S. models

Canadian models

＊

＊Symbols on labels

attached to your vehicle are to
remind you to read this owner’s
manual for proper and safe
operation of your vehicle.

DOORJAMBS

Canadian modelsU.S. models

Instruments and Controls

2008 CR- V

Main Menu

This section gives inf ormation about
the controls and displays that
contribute to the daily operation of
your vehicle. All the essential
controls are within easy reach.

...........................Control Locations . 58

............................Instrument Panel . 59

.............................................Gauges . 66

...................................Trip Meter . 67

.................Current Fuel Mileage . 68

................Average Fuel Mileage . 68

...........................................Range . 68

.....................................Odometer . 69

..................................Fuel Gauge . 69

...................Temperature Gauge . 69

Outside Temperature

..................................Indicator . 69

..................Maintenance Minder . 71

Controls Near the Steering

...........................................Wheel . 72

.................Hazard Warning Button . 76

.................Rear Window Def ogger . 77

.................................Parking Brake . 78

...............................Keys and Locks . 79

........................Immobilizer System . 80

................................Ignition Switch . 81

..........Instrument Panel Indicators . 60

..........Check Fuel Cap Message . 71

.Windshield Wipers and Washers . 73

.........Turn Signals and Headlights . 74

........Instrument Panel Brightness . 76

..........Steering Wheel Adjustment . 78

......................................Door Locks . 82

......................Power Door Locks . 82

.Auto Door Locking/Unlocking . 83

..............Childproof Door Locks . 88

.......................Remote Transmitter . 89

............................................Tailgate . 92

.................................................Seats . 94

..................................Seat Heaters . 108

............................Power Windows . 109

.......................................Moonroof . 110

...........................................Mirrors . 111

.........Interior Convenience Items . 113

............Dual Deck Cargo Shelf . 114

.....................Beverage Holders . 116

.............................Center Table . 117

......................Lower Glove Box . 117

......................Upper Glove Box . 118

............................Vanity Mirror . 118

...................................Sun Visor . 119

....................Sunglasses Holder . 119

................Conversation Mirror . 120

........Accessory Power Sockets . 120

.............Console Compartment . 121

..................................Coat Hook . 122

.......................Seat Under Tray . 122

...............................Interior Lights . 122

57

Instruments and Controls

Control Locations

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

MIRROR CONTROLS

POWER DOOR LOCK

(P.112)

MASTER SWITCH
(P.82)

POWER WINDOW
SWITCHES
(P.109)

FUEL FILL DOOR
RELEASE HANDLE
(P.227)

HOOD RELEASE
HANDLE
(P.229)

PARKING BRAKE PEDAL
(P.78)

EX-L without navigation system is shown

＊ If equipped:

58

INSTRUMENT PANEL
INDICATORS
GAUGES

(P.59)

(P.66)

ACCESSORY POWER SOCKETS

MOONROOF SWITCH
(P.110)

(P.120)

＊

PASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF INDICATOR
(P.32)

HAZARD WARNING
BUTTON

AUDIO SYSTEM
(P.139)
CLOCK
(P.219)

(P.76)

AUTOMATIC
TRANSMISSION
(P.247)

HEATING/COOLING
CONTROLS
(P.126)
CLIMATE CONTROL
SYSTEM
(P.131)

SEAT HEATER
SWITCHES
(P.108)

＊

＊

＊

Instrument Panel

2008 CR- V

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Main Menu

MAINTENANCE MINDER INDICATOR
(P.65)
CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR
(P.62)
VSA ACTIVATION INDICATOR
(P.62)
LIGHTS ON INDICATOR
(P.64)

MALFUNCTION
INDICATOR LAMP
(P.325)

HIGH BEAM
INDICATOR
(P.63)

LOW FUEL
INDICATOR
(P.63)

LOW OIL
PRESSURE
INDICATOR
(P.60, 324)

CHARGING
SYSTEM
INDICATOR
(P.60, 324)

PARKING BRAKE
AND BRAKE
SYSTEM
INDICATOR
(P.60, 326)

＊ The U.S. instrument panel is shown. Dif ferences for the Canadian models are noted in the text.:

CRUISE MAIN INDICATOR

SECURITY
SYSTEM

＊

INDICATOR
(P.65, 220)

DOOR AND
TAILGATE
OPEN
MONITOR
(P.63)

(P.62)

IMMOBILIZER
SYSTEM
INDICATOR
(P.61)

TPMS
INDICATOR
(P.64)

DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS
INDICATOR

ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM
INDICATOR

VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST
(VSA) SYSTEM INDICATOR
(P.62)

(P.63)

(P.61)

SEAT BELT
REMINDER
INDICATOR
(P.60)

SUPPLEMENTAL
RESTRAINT
SYSTEM
INDICATOR
(P.61)

SIDE AIRBAG
OFF INDICATOR
(P.61)

LOW TIRE
PRESSURE
INDICATOR
(P.64)

Instruments and Controls

＊

59

Instrument Panel Indicators

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

The instrument panel has many
indicators that give you important
information about your vehicle.

Malfunction Indicator
Lamp

See page .

The engine can be severely damaged
if this indicator flashes or stays on
when the engine is running. For
more information, see page .

If this indicator comes on when the
engine is running, the battery is not
being charged. For more information,
see page .

325

Low Oil Pressure
Indicator

324

Charging System
Indicator

324

60

U.S. Canada

This indicator has two functions:

Itcomesonwhenyouturnthe

1.
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 fully released.
Driving with the parking brake not
fully released can damage the
brakes and tires.

If it stays on after you have fully

2.
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 information, see

326

page .

Parking Brake and
Brake System
Indicator

Seat Belt Reminder
Indicator

This indicator comes on when you
turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position. It reminds you and your
passengers to fasten your seat belts.
A beeper also sounds if you have not
fastened your seat belt.

If you turn the ignition switch to the
ON (II) position before fastening
your seat belt, the beeper sounds,
and the indicator flashes. If you do
notfastenyourseatbeltbeforethe
beeper stops, the indicator stops
flashing but remains on.

If your front passenger does not
fasten their seat belt, the indicator
comes on about 6 seconds after the
ignition switch is turned to the ON
(II) position.

Instrument Panel Indicators

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If either of you do not fasten your
seat belt while driving, the beeper
will sound and the indicator will flash
again at regular intervals. For more
information, see page .

18

Supplemental Restraint
System Indicator

This indicator comes on briefly 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 front
airbags. This indicator will also alert
you to a potential problem with your
side airbags, passenger’s side airbag
cutoff system, side curtain airbags,
automatic seat belt tensioners,
driver’s seat position sensor, or the
front passenger’s weight sensors.
For more inf ormation, see page .

31 80

CanadaU.S.

Side Airbag Off
Indicator

This indicator comes on briefly 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
information, see page .

31

Immobilizer System
Indicator

This indicator comes on briefly when
you turn the ignition switch to the
ON (II) position. It will then go off if
you have inserted a properly-coded
ignition key. If it is not a properly­coded key, the indicator will blink,
and the engine’s fuel system will be
disabled (see page ).

Anti-lock Brake System
(ABS) Indicator

This indicator normally comes on for
a few 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 anti­lock. For more information, see page

.

254

61

Instruments and Controls

Instrument Panel Indicators

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Vehicle Stability Assist
(VSA) System Indicator

This indicator normally comes on for
a few seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position, and when the ignition
switch is turned to the START (III)
position.

Ifitcomesonandstaysonatany
other time, or if it does not come on
when you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position, there is a
problem with the VSA system. Take
your vehicle to a dealer to have it
checked. Without VSA, your vehicle
still has normal driving ability, but
will not have VSA traction and
stability enhancement. See page

for more information on the

256

VSA system.

62

VSA Activation Indicator Cruise Control Indicator

This indicator has three functions:

Itcomesonasareminderthatyou

1.
have turned off the vehicle
stability assist (VSA) system.

It flashes when VSA is active (see

2.
page ).

256

It comes on along with the VSA

3.
system indicator if there is a
problem with the VSA system.

This indicator normally comes on for
a few seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position, and when the ignition
switch is turned to the START (III)
position. See page for more
information on the VSA system.

256

This indicator comes on when you
set the cruise control. See page

for information on operating the

222

cruise control.

Cruise Main Indicator

This indicator comes on when you
turn on the cruise control system by
pressing the CRUISE button (see
page ).

222

Instrument Panel Indicators

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Main Menu

Turn Signal and
Hazard Warning
Indicators

The lef t or right turn signal indicator
blinks when you signal a lane change
or turn. If an indicator does not blink
or blinks rapidly, it usually means
one of the turn signal bulbs is
burned out (see page ). Replace
the bulb as soon as possible, since
other drivers cannot see that you are
signaling.

When you press the hazard warning
button, both turn signal indicators
and all turn signals on the outside of
the vehicle flash.

293

High Beam Indicator Low Fuel Indicator

This indicator comes on with the
high beam headlights. For more
information, see page .

This indicator also comes on with
reduced brightness when the
daytime running lights (DRL) are on
(see page ).

If this indicator comes on when you
turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position and release the parking
brake, it means there is a problem
withtheDRL.Theremayalsobea
problem with the high beam
headlights. Have your vehicle
checked by your dealer.

75

Daytime Running Lights
Indicator Door and Tailgate Open Monitor

75

This indicator comes on as a
reminder that you must refuel soon.

When the indicator comes on, there
is about 2.3 US gal (8.6
remaining in the tank bef ore the
reading reaches E. There is a small
reserve of f uel remaining in the tank
when the reading does reach E.

The appropriate indicator comes on
in this display if the tailgate or any
door is not closed tightly.

)offuel

63

Instruments and Controls

Instrument Panel Indicators

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Low Tire Pressure
Indicator

This indicator normally comes on for
a few seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position.
If it comes on while driving, it
indicates that one or more of your
vehicle’s tires are significantly low
on pressure.

If this happens, pull to the side of the
road when it is safe, check which tire
has lost the pressure, and determine
the cause. If it is because of a flat tire,
replace the flat tire with the compact
spare (see page ), and have the
flat tire repaired as soon as possible.
If two or more tires are underinflated,
call a professional towing service
(see page ). For more
information, see page .

332

258

64

Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS) Indicator

This indicator normally comes on for
a few seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position.

If this indicator comes on and stays
on at any other time, or if it does not
come on when you turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position, there
is a problem with the TPMS. With
this indicator on, the low tire
pressure indicator will not come on
when a tire loses pressure. Take the
vehicle to your dealer to have the
system checked.312

Lights On Indicator

This indicator reminds you that the
exterior lights are on. It comes on
when the light switch is in either the

or position. If you turn the
ignition switch to the ACCESSORY
(I) or LOCK (0) position without
turning off the light switch, this
indicator will stay on. A reminder
chime will also sound when you open
the driver’s door.

Instrument Panel Indicators

2008 CR- V

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Main Menu

Washer Level Indicator

Indicator

This indicator comes on for a few
seconds when you turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position. It
remindsyouthatitistimetotake
your vehicle in for scheduled
maintenance. The maintenance main
items and sub items will be displayed
in the information display. See page

273

for more information on the

maintenance minder.

WASHER LEVEL INDICATOR

This indicator goes of f when your
dealer resets it after completing the
required maintenance service. This indicator comes on when the

washer fluid level is low. Add washer
fluid when you see this indicator
(see page ).

286

Security System IndicatorMaintenance Minder

SECURITY SYSTEM INDICATOR

If equippedCanadian models only

This indicator comes on when the
security system is set. See page

for more information on the

220

security system.

Instruments and Controls

65

Gauges

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Main Menu

INFORMATION DISPLAY

OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE INDICATOR

CURRENT FUEL MILEAGE

SPEEDOMETER

U.S. model is shown.

66

TACHOMETER

ODOMETER/AVERAGE FUEL MILEAGE/
CHECK FUEL CAP MESSAGE

TRIP METER

TEMPERATURE GAUGEFUEL GAUGE

SELECT/RESET KNOB

The inf ormation display consists of

2008 CR- V

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Main Menu

threesegments.Theuppersegment
displays current fuel mileage, the
second segment displays the
odometer, average fuel mileage,
range (estimated distance), engine
oil life, and the lower segment
displays the trip meter, and
maintenance item code(s).

To switch the display, press and
release the select/reset knob
repeatedly. When you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position the last selection is
displayed.

Gauges

Trip Meter

This meter shows the number of
miles (U.S.) or kilometers (Canada)
driven since you last reset it.

There are two trip meters: Trip A
and Trip B. Switch between these
displays by pressing the select/reset
knob repeatedly.

Each trip meter works independently,
so you can keep track of two
different distances.

When you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position, the last
selection is displayed.

To reset a trip meter, display it, and
then press and hold the select/reset
knob until the number resets to ‘‘0.0’’.

Instruments and Controls

67

Gauges

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Main Menu

Current Fuel Mileage Average Fuel Mileage Range (Estimated Distance)

Current Fuel Mileage

U.S. model is shown

This display shows the current, or
instant fuel mileage you are getting.

It shows the number of mpg (U.S.)
or l/100 km (Canada).

When either of the trip meters (trip
A or B) is displayed, your vehicle’s
average fuel mileage since you last
resetthattripmetercanbeshown
on the information display (mpg on
U.S. models and l/100 km on
Canadian models). This number is
updated once per 10 seconds. To see
the average fuel mileage, press and
release the select/reset knob
repeatedly.

When you reset a trip meter, the
average fuel mileage for that trip
meter also resets.

This display shows the estimated
distance you can travel on the fuel
remaining in the tank.

This distance is estimated f rom the
fuel economy you have achieved
over the last few miles (kilometers),
so it will vary with changes in speed,
traffic condition, etc.

68

The odometer shows the total

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Main Menu

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.

Fuel Gauge

This shows how much fuel you have.
It may show slightly more or less
than the actual amount.

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.

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 for

322

instructions and precautions on
checking the engine’s cooling
system.

Gauges

Outside Temperature IndicatorTemperature GaugeOdometer

Instruments and Controls

OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE INDICATOR

If equipped

This indicator displays the outside
temperature in Fahrenheit (U.S.
models) or Centigrade (Canadian
models).

CONTINUED

69

Gauges

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Main Menu

The temperature sensor is in the
front bumper. Therefore, the
temperature reading can be affected
by heat reflection from the road
surface, engine heat, and the
exhaust f rom surrounding traffic.
This can cause an incorrect
temperature reading when your
speed is under 19 mph (30 km/h).

The sensor delays the display update
until it reaches the correct outside
temperature. This may take several
minutes.

If the outside temperature is
incorrectly displayed, you can adjust
it up to 5°F in U.S. models ( 3°C
in Canadian models) warmer or
cooler.

NOTE: The temperature must be
stabilized before doing this
procedure.

±±

70

To adjust the outside temperature
display, press and hold the select/
reset knob for 10 seconds. The
display changes as shown above.
Select the outside temperature
indicator by turning the select/reset
knob. The display begins to blink.
Pushthesameknobtoenterthis
setting, then turn it to adjust the
temperature. The following
sequence will appear for each: 0, 1, 2,
3, 4, 5, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0 (U.S.)

−−−−−

or 0, 1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 1, 0 (Canada).

−−−

When it reaches the desired value,
push the select/reset knob to enter
the setting. You should see the new
outside temperature displayed.

In certain weather conditions,
temperature readings near freezing
(32°F, 0°C) could mean that ice is
forming on the road surface.

If your fuel fill cap is loose or

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Main Menu

missing, a ‘‘CHECK FUEL CAP’’
message appears on the information
display after you start the engine.
For more inf ormation, see page .

228

Maintenance MinderCheck Fuel Cap Message

The inf ormation display in the
instrument panel shows you the
engine oil life and maintenance
service items when the ignition
switch is in the ON (II) position. This
information helps to keep you aware
of the periodic maintenance your
vehicle needs f or continued trouble­free driving. Refer to page for
more information.

273

Gauges

Instruments and Controls

71

Controls Near the Steering Wheel

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

HEADLIGHTS/TURN SIGNALS INSTRUMENT PANEL

BRIGHTNESS(P.74)

(P.76)

VEHICLE STABILITY
ASSIST (VSA)
SYSTEM ON/OFF
SWITCH
(P.257)

MIRROR CONTROL

REMOTE AUDIO CONTROLS

(P.112)

＊

2

(P.216)

STEERING WHEEL
ADJUSTMENTS
(P.78)

＊

VOICE CONTROLS

1:

＊

To use the horn, press the center pad of the steering wheel.

2:

＊

If equipped.

3:

＊

Refer to the navigation system manual.

3

PARKING BRAKE PEDAL (P.78)

72

WINDSHIELD WIPERS/

HORN

WASHERS

＊

1

(P.73)

ACCESSORY POWER SOCKET

(P.120)

PASSENGER AIRBAG
OFF INDICATOR
(P.32)

HAZARD WARNING
BUTTON
(P.76)

SHIFT LEVER
(P.247)

REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER
BUTTON (P.77)
HEATED MIRROR BUTTON
(P.112)

CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON
(P.222)

＊

2

Windshield Wipers and Washers

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Main Menu

Windshield Wiper Windshield Washers

Push the right lever up or down to
select a position.

wiper control lever toward you, and
hold it. The washers spray until you

The wipers run at high

−

MIST

speed until you release the lever.

release the lever. The wipers run at
low speed, then complete one more
sweep after you release the lever.

The wipers are not activated.

−

OFF

The wipers operate every

−

INT

few seconds. At low speed and high
speed, the wipers run continuously.

ADJUSTMENT RING

On all models except LX

The length of the wiper interval is

1.

MIST

2.

OFF

3.

INT Intermittent

−

4.

LO Low speed

−

5.

HI High speed

−

6.

Windshield washers

varied automatically according to the
vehicle’s speed.
Vary the delay by turning the
adjustment ring. If you turn it to the
shortest delay ( position), the
wipers change to low speed
operation when the vehicle speed
exceeds 12 mph (20km/h).

−

The wipers run at low speed.

LO

−

The wipers run at high speed.

HI

Pull the

−

Instruments and Controls

73

Windshield Wipers and Washers, Turn Signal and Headlights

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

1.

OFF
When you turn the wiper switch to
the ‘‘OFF’’ position, the wiper will
return to its parked position.

2.

Rotate the switch clockwise to
turn the rear window wiper ON.
The wiper operates every 7
seconds after completing two
sweeps.

3.

Hold past ON to activate the rear
window wiper a few times and to
spray the rear window washer.

74

4.

Rotate the switch
counterclockwise also to spray the
window washer and turn the wiper
on.

When you shift the transmission to
the reverse position with the front
windshield wiper activated, the rear
wiper operates automatically even if
the rear wiper switch is off.

Therearwindowwasherusesthe
same fluid reservoir as the wind­shield washer.

Turn Signal and HeadlightsRear Window Wiper and Washer

1.

Turn Signal

2.

OFF

3.

Parking and interior lights

4.

Headlights on

5.

High Beams

6.

Flashhighbeams

−

2008 CR- V

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Main Menu

Turn Signal

lever to signal a left turn and up to
signal a right turn. To signal a lane
change, push lightly on the lever,
and hold it. The lever will return to
center when you release it or
complete a turn.

Headlights

the ‘‘ ’’ position turns on the
parking lights, taillights, instrument
panel lights, side-marker lights, and
rear license plate light.

Turning the switch to the ‘‘ ’’
position turns on the headlights. If
you leave the lights on with the key
removed from the ignition switch,
you will hear a reminder chime when
you open the driver’s door.

Push down on the

Turning the switch to

−

When the light switch is in either of
these positions, the lights on
indicator comes on as a reminder.

This indicator stays on if you leave
the lights on and turn the ignition
switch to the ACCESSORY (I) or
LOCK (0) position.

−

High Beams

forward and the high beam indicator
will come on (see page ). Pull it
back to return to low beams.

To flash the high beams, pull the
lever back lightly, then release it.
The high beams will stay on as long
as you hold the lever back.

Push the lever

63

Turn Signals and Headlights

Daytime Running Lights

With the headlight switch in the off
or position, the high beam
headlights and the high beam
indicator come on with reduced
brightness when you turn the
ignition switch to the ON (II)
position and release the parking
brake. They remain on until you turn
the ignition switch off, even if you
set the parking brake.
The headlights revert to normal
operation when you turn them on
with the switch.

Instruments and Controls

75

Instrument Panel Brightness, Hazard Warning Button

2008 CR- V

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Main Menu

INSTRUMENT PANEL BRIGHTNESS
CONTROL KNOB

Hazard Warning ButtonInstrument Panel Brightness

HAZARD WARNING BUTTON

You can change the instrument panel
brightness only when the light
switch is on.
Turntheknobonthelowerpartof
the instrument panel to adjust the
brightness.
You will hear a beep when maximum
or minimum brightness is reached.

76

To reduce glare at night, the
instrument panel illumination dims
when you turn the light switch to

or . Turning the select/
reset knob fully to the right until you
hear a beep will cancel the reduced
brightness.

Push the button between the center
vents to turn on the hazard warning
lights (four-way flashers). This
causes all four outside turn signals
and both indicators in the instrument
panel to flash. Use the hazard
warning lights if you need to park in
a dangerous area near heavy traffic,
or if your vehicle is disabled.

Manual A/C type is shown.

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The rear window defogger will clear
fog, frost, and thin ice from the
window. Push the defogger button to
turn it on and off. The indicator in
the button comes on to show the
defogger is on. It also shuts off when
you turn off the ignition switch. You
have to turn the defogger on again
when you restart the vehicle.

On vehicles with automatic air
conditioning system

The defogger will shut itself off
withinabout10to30minutes
according to the outside temperature.

Make sure the rear window is clear
and you have good visibility before
starting to drive.

Thedefoggerwiresontheinsideof
the rear window can be accidentally
damaged. When cleaning the glass,
always wipe side-to-side.

If equipped

Pushing this button also turns the
mirror heaters on or off. For more
information, see page .

112

Rear Window Defogger

Instruments and Controls

77

Parking Brake, Steering Wheel Adjustment

2008 CR- V

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Main Menu

Parking Brake Steering Wheel Adjustment

Make any steering wheel adjustment

Driving the vehicle with the parking
brake applied can damage the rear
brakes and axles. A beeper will sound
if the vehicle is driven with the parking
brake on.

before you start driving.

Adjusting the steering wheel
position while driving may
cause you to lose control of the
vehicle and be seriously injured
inacrash.

PARKING BRAKE PEDAL

To apply the parking brake, push the
pedal down with your foot. To
release it, push on the pedal again.
The parking brake indicator on the
instrument panel should go out when
the parking brake is fully released
(see page ).

60

78

Adjust the steering wheel only
when the vehicle is stopped.

1.

Push the lever under the steering
column all the way down.

2.

Move the steering wheel up or
down, and in or out, so it points
toward your chest, not toward
your face. Make sure you can see
the instrument panel gauges and
indicators.

Steering Wheel Adjustment, Keys and Locks

2008 CR- V

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Main Menu

LEVER

Push the lever up to lock the

3.
steering wheel in position.

Make sure you have securely

4.
locked the steering wheel in place
by trying to move it up, down, in,
and out.

Keys and Locks

KEY
NUMBER
TAG

MASTER KEY
WITH REMOTE
TRANSMITTER

VALET
KEY
(Gray)

The master key fits all the locks on
your vehicle. The valet key works
only in the ignition and the driver’s
door lock. You can keep the glove
boxlockedwhenyouleaveyour
vehicle and the valet key at a parking
facility.

Youshouldhavereceivedakey
number tag with your keys. You will
need this key number if you ever
have to get a lost key replaced. Use
only Honda-approved key blanks.

These keys contain electronic
circuits that are activated by the
immobilizer system. They will not
work to start the engine if the
circuits are damaged.

Protect the keys from direct
sunlight, high temperature, and
high humidity.

Donotdropthekeysorsetheavy
objects on them.

Keep the keys away from liquids.
If they get wet, dry them
immediately with a soft cloth.

The valet key does not contain a
battery. Do not try to take it apart.

Instruments and Controls

79

Immobilizer System

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The Immobilizer System protects
your vehicle from theft. If an
improperly-coded key (or other
device) is used, the engine’s fuel
system is disabled.

When you turn the ignition switch to
the ON (II) position, the immobilizer
system indicator should come on
briefly, then go off. If the indicator
starts to blink, it means the system
does not recognize the coding of the
key. Turn the ignition switch to the
LOCK (0) position, remove the key,
reinsert it, and turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position again.

The system may not recognize your
key’s coding if another immobilizer
key or other metal object (i.e. key
fob) is near the ignition switch when
you insert the key.

80

If the system repeatedly does not
recognize the coding of your key,
contact your dealer.

Do not attempt to alter this system
or add other devices to it. Electrical
problems could result that may make
your vehicle undrivable.

If you have lost your key and cannot
start your engine, contact your
dealer.

Always take the ignition key with you
whenever you leave the vehicle alone.

As required by the FCC:
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) This device
may not cause harmf ul interference, and
(2) this device must accept any
interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired
operation.

Changes or modifications not expressly
approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user’s
authority to operate the equipment.

This device complies with Industry
Canada Standard RSS-210.
Operation is subject to the following two
conditions: (1) this device may not cause
interference, and (2) this device must
accept any interference that may cause
undesired operation of the device.

Ignition Switch

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Main Menu

The ignition switch has four
positions: LOCK (0), ACCESSORY
(I), ON (II), and START (III).

LOCK (0)

remove the key only in this position.
To turn the key, the shift lever must
be in Park, and you must push the
key in slightly.

You can insert or

−

If the front wheels are turned, the
anti-theft lock may make it difficult
to turn the key. Firmly turn the
steering wheel to the left or right as
you turn the key.

ACCESSORY (I)

operate the audio system and the
accessory power sockets in this
position.

ON (II)

position when driving. Several of the
indicators on the instrument panel
come on as a test when you turn the
ignition switch from the
ACCESSORY (I) to the ON (II)
position.

START (III)

only to start the engine. The switch
returns to the ON (II) position when
you let go of the key.

−

This is the normal key

−

You can

−

Use this position

You will hear a reminder beeper if
you leave the key in the LOCK (0) or
the ACCESSORY (I) position and
open the driver’s door. Remove the
key to turn off the beeper.

TheshiftlevermustbeinPark
before you can remove the key from
the ignition switch.

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Instruments and Controls

Door Locks

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Power Door Locks

Lock

Unlock

MASTER DOOR LOCK SWITCH

To lock all doors and the tailgate,
push the top of the master door lock
switch on either front door, pull the
locktabrearwardonthedriver’s
door, or use the key on the outside
lock on the driver’s door.

Pushing the bottom of the either
master door lock switch will unlock
all doors and the tailgate. Pushing
forwardthelocktabonthedriver’s
doors unlocks only that door.

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Lock

Unlock

RED INDICATOR

The lock tab on any passenger’s door
locks and unlocks that door.

When the door is unlocked, you can
seetheredindicatoronthelocktab
above the inner door handle.

All doors and the tailgate can be
locked from the outside by using the
key in the driver’s door lock. To
unlock only the driver’s door, insert
the key, turn the key, and release it.
The remaining doors and the tailgate
unlock when you turn the key a
second time within a few seconds.

To lock any passenger’s door when
getting out of the vehicle, pull the
lock tab rearward and close the door.
To lock the driver’s door, remove the
key from the ignition switch, pull the
locktabrearwardorpushthetopof
the master switch, then close the
door.

Door Locks

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Lockout Prevention

With any door and the tailgate open
and the key in the ignition, locking
with master door lock switches is
disabled. The lock tab on the driver’s
door is not disabled if the driver’s
door is closed. Pulling the driver’s
lock tab rearward will lock all doors
and the tailgate. If you try to lock an
open driver’s door by pulling the lock
tab rearward, the lock tab on the
driver’s door pops out and unlocks
the driver’s door.

Auto Door Locking/Unlocking Auto Door Locking

Your vehicle has customizable
settings f or the doors and tailgate to
automatically lock and unlock. There
are default settings for each of these
features. You can turn off or change
the settings for these features as
described on the f ollowing pages.

When you customize the setting,
make sure your vehicle is parked
safely, the engine is off, and apply
the parking brake. Make all settings
before you start driving.

The auto door locking f eature has
three possible settings:

The auto door locking is
deactivated all the time.

The doors and the tailgate lock
whenever you move the shift lever
out of the Park (P) position.

The doors and the tailgate lock
when the vehicle speed reaches
9mph(15km/h).
This is the factory setting.

Instruments and Controls

83

Door Locks

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

modes:

1.

Make sure the shift lever is in the
Park (P) position.

Turn the ignition switch to the ON

2.
(II) position, and open the driver’s
door.

84

Pushandholdthefrontofthe

3.
master door lock switch on the
driver’s door until you hear a click
(after about 5 seconds).

Release the switch, and within 5

4.
seconds, turn the ignition switch
to the LOCK (0) position.

To program the Park Lock mode:To turn of f the Auto Door Lock

Locks all doors and tailgate when the
shift lever is moved out of the Park (P)
position.

Make sure the shift lever is in the

1.
Park (P) position.

Turn the ignition switch to the ON

2.
(II) position, and make sure to
close the driver’s door.

Door Locks

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Pushandholdthefrontofthe

3.
master door lock switch on the
driver’s door. You will hear a click.
Keep holding the switch until you
hear another click (after about 5
seconds).

Release the switch, and within 5

4.
seconds, turn the ignition switch
to the LOCK (0) position.

To program the Drive Lock mode:

Locks all doors and tailgate when the
vehicle’s speed reaches about 9 mph
(15 km/h).

Make sure the shift lever is in the

1.
Park (P) position.

Turn the ignition switch to the ON

2.
(II) position, and make sure to
close the driver’s door.

Push and hold the brake pedal,

3.
and move the shift lever out of the
Park (P) position.

Pushandholdthefrontofthe

4.
master door lock switch on the
driver’s door. You will hear a click.
Keep holding the switch until you
hear another click (after about 5
seconds).

Release the switch and, within 5

5.
seconds, turn the ignition switch
to the ACCESSORY (I) position.
Move the shift lever to the Park
(P) position.

Turn the ignition switch to the

6.
LOCK (0) position.

Instruments and Controls

85

Door Locks

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Auto Door Unlocking

The auto door unlocking f eature has
five possible settings:

The auto door unlocking is
deactivated all the time.

The driver’s door unlocks when
you move the shift lever to the
Park (P) position.
This is the default setting.

All doors and tailgate unlock when
you move the shift lever to the
Park (P) position.

The driver’s door unlocks
whenever you turn the ignition
switch to the ACCESSORY (I)
position.

All doors and tailgate unlock
whenever you turn the ignition
switch to the ACCESSORY (I)
position.

86

To turn off the Auto Door Unlock
modes:

Make sure the shift lever is in the

1.
Park (P) position.

2.

Turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position, and open the driver’s
door.

3.

Pushandholdtherearof the
master door lock switch on the
driver’s door. You will hear a click,
and after about 5 seconds, you will
hear another click.

4.

Release the switch, and within 5
seconds, turn the ignition switch
to the LOCK (0) position.

Door Locks

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

To program the Park Unlock mode:

Unlocks the driver’s door or all doors
and tailgate when the shift lever is
moved to Park (P) position.

1.
Park (P) position.

2.

Turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position, and make sure to
close the driver’s door.

3.

Pushandholdtherearof the
master door lock switch on the
driver’s door. You will hear a click.
Continue to hold down the switch:

Until you hear another click
(after about 5 seconds) to
activate

feature,

driver’s door unlock

Or, until you hear two more
clicks (after about 10 seconds)
to activate

unlock feature

4.

Release the switch, and within 5

all doors and tailgate

.

seconds, turn the ignition switch
to the LOCK (0) position.Make sure the shift lever is in the

To program the Ignition Switch
Unlock mode:

Unlocks the driver’s door or all doors
and tailgate when the ignition switch is
moved out of the ON (II) position.

1.

Make sure the shift lever is in the
Park (P) position.

2.

Turn the ignition switch to the ON
(II) position, and make sure to
close the driver’s door.

CONTINUED

Instruments and Controls

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Door Locks

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Push and hold the brake pedal,

3.
then move the shift lever out of
the Park (P) position.

4.

Pushandholdtherearof the
master door lock switch on the
driver’s door. You will hear a click.
Continue to hold down the switch:

5.

Release the switch and, within 5
seconds, turn the ignition switch
to the ACCESSORY (I) position.
Move the shift lever to the Park
(P) position.

Turn the ignition switch to the

6.
LOCK (0) position.

Childproof Door Locks

LEVER

Unlock

Until you hear another click
(after about 5 seconds) to
activate

feature,

Or, until you hear two more
clicks (after about 10 seconds)
to activate

unlock feature

88

driver’s door unlock

all doors and tailgate

.

Lock

The childproof door locks are
designed to prevent children seated
in the rear from accidentally opening
the rear doors. Each rear door has a
lock lever near the edge. With the
lever in the LOCK position (lever is
down), the door cannot be opened
fromtheinsideregardlessofthe
position of the lock tab. To open the
door, push the lock tab forward and
use the outside door handle.

Remote Transmitter

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

LED

UNLOCK
BUTTON

PANIC
BUTTON

LOCK

Press this button once to

−

LOCK
BUTTON

lock all doors and the tailgate. Some
exterior lights will f lash once. When
you push LOCK twice within 5
seconds, you will hear a beep to
verify that the doors and the tailgate
arelockedandthesecuritysystem
(if equipped) has set. You cannot
lockthedoorsandthetailgateifany
door or the tailgate is not fully closed
or the key is in the ignition switch.

UNLOCK

−

to unlock the driver’s door. Push it
twice to unlock the remaining doors
and the tailgate. Some exterior lights
will flash twice each time you press
the button.

The ceiling light and the spot light (if
equipped) comes on when you press
the UNLOCK button if the lights are
in the door activated position. If you
do not open any door or the tailgate
within 30 seconds, the light fades out.
If you relock the doors and the
tailgate with the remote transmitter
before 30 seconds have elapsed, the
light(s) will go off immediately.

If you do not open any door or the
tailgate within 30 seconds, they will
automatically relock, and the
security system (if equipped) will
reset.

PANIC

−Press this button once

Pressthisbuttonfor
about 2 seconds to attract attention:
the horn will sound, and the exterior
lights will flash f or about 30 seconds.
To cancel panic mode, press any
other button on the remote
transmitter, or turn the ignition
switch to the ON (II) position.

CONTINUED

89

Instruments and Controls

Remote Transmitter

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Remote Transmitter Care

Avoid dropping or throwing the
transmitter.

Protect the transmitter from
extreme temperature.

Do not immerse the transmitter in
any liquid.

If you lose a transmitter, the
replacement needs to be
reprogrammed by your dealer.

90

Replacing the Transmitter
Battery

If it takes several pushes on the
button to lock or unlock the doors
and the tailgate, replace the battery
as soon as possible.
Battery type: CR1616

SCREW

To replace the battery:

Remove the screw at the base of

1.

the transmitter with a small
Phillips-head screwdriver.

Remote Transmitter

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

BATTERY

TAB

Separate the transmitter by prying

2.
its middle seam with your
fingernail.

Inside the transmitter, separate

3.
the inner cover from the keypad
by releasing the two tabs on the
cover.

Remove the old battery, and insert

4.
a new battery into the back of the
cover with the side facing down.

＋

An improperly disposed of battery
can hurt the environment.
Always confirm local regulations
for battery disposal.

Install the parts in reverse order.

5.

As required by the FCC:
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) This device
may not cause harmf ul interference, and
(2) this device must accept any
interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired
operation.

Changes or modifications not expressly
approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user’s
authority to operate the equipment.

This device complies with Industry
Canada Standard RSS-210.
Operation is subject to the following two
conditions: (1) this device may not cause
interference, and (2) this device must
accept any interference that may cause
undesired operation of the device.

91

Instruments and Controls

Tailgate

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

The tailgate will lock when you lock
the driver’s door with the key, the
remote transmitter, the master door
lock switch, or the lock tab on the
driver’s door.

To unlock the tailgate, turn the key
clockwise twice, push the rear of the
master door lock switch, or push the
UNLOCK twice on the remote
transmitter.

RELEASE

HANDLE

92

To open the tailgate, push the
release, and lift up. To close the
tailgate, use the tailgate handle to
lower it, then press down on the
back edge.

Keep the tailgate closed at all times
while driving to avoid damaging the
tailgate and to prevent exhaust gas
from getting into the interior. See

Carbon Monoxide Hazard

.

54

on page

Unlocking the Tailgate

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Tailgate

RELEASE LEVER

Instruments and Controls

If the power door lock system cannot
unlock the tailgate, unlock it
manually.

Placeaclothonthetopsideofthe
cover, then use a small flat-tip
screwdriver to remove the cover on
the back of the tailgate.

Push the release lever to the lower
right as shown.

If you need to unlock the tailgate
manually, it means there is a
problem with the tailgate. Have the
vehicle checked by your dealer.

93

Seats

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

EX-L model only

Driver’s Seat Power Adjustments

−See pages for important safety

17 18

information and warnings about how to
properly position the seats and seat­backs.

The controls for the power
adjustable driver’s seat are on the
outside edge of the seat bottom. You
can adjust the seat with the ignition
switch in any position. Make all seat
adjustments before you start driving.

The front passenger’s seat can be
adjusted manually (see the next
page).

94

Moves the seat forward
and backward.

Moves the f ront of the
seat up or down.

Raises or lowers the seat.

Moves the whole seat up
and forward, or down
and backward. The front
of the seat also tilts up or
down at the same time.

Adjusts the seat-back
angle forward or
backward.

Increases or decreases
the lumbar support.

Seats

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

Seat Adjustments

−See pages for important safety

11 13

information and warnings about how to
properly position the seats and seat­backs.

Make all seat adjustments before
you start driving.

FRONT SEAT

To adjust the front or rear seat
forward or backward, pull up on the
bar under the seat cushion’s f ront
edge. Move the seat to the desired
position, and release the bar. Try to

movetheseattomakesureitis
locked in position.

To change the seat-back angle of the
front seat, pull up the lever on the
outside of the seat bottom.

Once a seat is adjusted correctly,
rock it back and forth to make sure it
is locked in position.

Instruments and Controls

REAR SEAT

The angle of each rear seat-back can
be adjusted separately. To change
the seat-back angle of the rear seat­back, pull up on the release lever on
the top of the seat-back. Move the
seat-back to the desired position,
then release the lever. Make sure
the seat-back latches in the new
position.

CONTINUED

95

Seats

2008 CR- V

Table Of Contents

Main Menu

When using the center seating
position, adjust the left and right side
of the rear seats to the same position.

Make sure all rear shoulder belts are
positioned in front of the rear seat­backs after you adjust the rear seats.

96

Driver’s Seat Height Adjustment Armrests

FRONT

The height of your driver’s seat is
adjustable. To raise the seat,
repeatedly pull up the lever on the
outside of the seat cushion. To lower
the seat, push the lever down
repeatedly.

Each front seat has an armrest on
thesideoftheseat-back.Touseit,
pivotitdown.