Honda CR-V Maintenance and Repair

muxa

Hello everyone.My wife and i just purchased a 2004 ex and we both love the car.however this car has this one annoyance that i cant figure out if its normal or a mechanical problem.When turning on the front windshield defroster the flow of air seems to get diveded between the windshield vents and the a/c vents.Which is annoying in cool weather because it chills the hands,and also because it weakens the force of the air flow to the windshield.Has anyone else experinced this in thier vehicle and if so is there a solution.

kyfdx

The outboard vents (near the windows) have a manual wheel to shut off the airflow.. If you make sure those are closed, that will help a lot.

varmint

Yep, Kyfdx is correct. It's true of many import cars. The center vents are controled with buttons on the dash, but the side vents have individual controls for each passenger.

edunnett

When turning on the front windshield defroster the flow of air seems to get diveded between the windshield vents and the a/c vents

I highly recommend perusing your owners manual. One of the MANY useful bits of information you will find in there is a description of how the climate control works - and the fact that the A/C kicks in automatically when you turn on the defrost, although the A/C indicator will not show.

Elissa

richk6

To surfactant

I had my drivers seat fixed twice. The first time I still could fell a slight shift forward when stopping. The second time, although when sitting in the back seat I could slightly move the back of the front seat with my hands, I no longer sensed any movement of the front seat when driving and stopping.

kyfdx

On my '02, the A/C light shows up when you hit defrost..

There is a way to turn off the A/C once you have turned on the defrost.. It involves holding in some buttons while turning on the car.. I forget how it is done, but I read about it on Edmunds, and I did it to mine.. Now, the A/C comes on when I turn on defrost, but I can turn the A/C off by pressing the lighted button, while still defrosting.. (is this making you dizzy?).

muxa

Thank you all for yor responses.Can anyone tell me at what millage does the MPG begin to get better.We have 1,100k miles on our car and im getting 16mpg on mostly highway driving.I have to hope that the gas milage will eventualy come close to the epa by Honda on this vehicle.

kyfdx

16 MPG on the highway?? Do you have the overdrive locked out? I have to say that is really low... Make sure the overdrive light on the dash is OFF.

muxa

I cant belive it either and unless my math is off its about 16mpg.I'm roughly getting 250miles to a gas tank and if im not mistaken these cars only have 15-1/2 gallon fuel tanks which means just about 16mpg.As far as the o/d light that is not lit on our cluster so i must assume that it is engaged.What kind of gas millage were you getting in the beggining and what are you getting now.Also would a higher actane improve this cars mpg.

autosaurus1

Milage - 16 mpg does seem low..try a few tank fills to get a better indication.. I have 16,000 miles on mine and it seems to settle anywhere between 21 and 23 consistently, mostly highway. I've hit a low of 20 and a high of 24.

good luck with yours

Defroster A/C light - I think on mine I can hit the a/c button and it turns off the a/c when it's on defrost..

kyfdx

Well..there is your answer...

I've never been able to get more than 13 gallons in mine, and that is with driving on dead E for 30-40 miles... That just isn't a reliable way to check your mileage..

First.. fill up your car and stop filling the first time the pump hits the auto-shutoff.. Reset your trip odometer to zero..

Then... drive until near empty (at least 30-40 miles after the light comes on... it comes on really early).

Then.. fill up again.. again stopping at first pump auto-shutoff.

Divide miles on your trip odometer by gallons pumped on refill... My guess is your trip odometer mileage will be 270-290 and your gallons pumped will be 11.5-12.5..

Then, come back and tell us all about it..

regards,
kyfdx

varmint

To deactivate automatic a/c feature on 2002 CR-V:

1) Turn vehicle off.
2) Turn fan knob off.
3) Turn temperature knob all the way to the left (blue area).
4) Turn vent knob to panel only setting (next to max a/c).
5) Hold down both air recirculation button and a/c button while starting car.
6) Continue holding for 7 seconds until air recirculation button stops flashing.

To reactivate automatic a/c feature on 2002 CR-V:

1) Turn vehicle off.
2) Turn fan knob off.
3) Turn temperature knob all the way to the left (blue area).
4) Turn vent knob all the way to the right (defrost position).
5) Hold down both air recirculation button and a/c button while starting car.
6) Continue holding for 7 seconds until air recirculation button stops flashing.
7) After the 7 seconds described in step 6, the recirculation button will start to flash. Continue to hold the button for another 7 seconds. After this, the a/c light will turn to green and it's finished!

Although this is available in the owner's manual, I may make it part of the FAQ. Thanks for reminding me about it.

kyfdx

Thanks varmint!!

One thing I might add.. after disabling the function, the A/C will still come on, each time you turn it to the defrost setting.. The difference will be: you can turn the A/C off by pushing the A/C button. Something you couldn't do before.

regards,
kyfdx

kathgip

Muxa,
Hi. My CRV EX has about 2800 miles on it and I get 23-24 mpg with mixed city/country roads. And I have gotten 28-29 mpg on the hwy. I am not very heavy on the gas, and my acceleration is not too fast. Altho, my husband thinks I am a more aggressive driver than he is. I try and keep it to 60 mph on our country roads. And my mileage has been the same since the car was new. I can not understand why your mileage is so low. What is your price for gas where you are? I am in OR. and our gas is $2.05 now.
Regards.........

richbrave

I know what you mean. I have a 2002 CRv-ex, with the Honda Security System.

My system came from the dealer in the "Manual" mode. I have messed with it several times and had been able to get it from "Auto" to "Valet", back to "Auto" and then to "Manual"

In July, while on a trip to Colorado, I placed the system in "Valet". When I returned, I placed it back into "Auto" was then tried to get it back into "Manual". It's not working.

What the manual says is this:
1) Turn the vehicle off.
2) Open the door to allow the self timer to activate.
3) Close the door.
4) within 3 seconds, (I think this is impossible), insert and remove the key 3 times. You should get a double 'honk' from the horn.

I believe there maybe a malfuction in the security module. I'm taking mine back to the dealer next week to have it replaced.

hkjcrv

My gas mileage during my mix of city/highway driving usually rests between 22 and 23 mpg. If I do a trip with all highway, it's between 25 and 27 mpg (you would probably get better if you went slower, but I have a lead foot and usually can't keep myself going slower than 75 mph). My latest tank, I only got 21 mpg and I almost cried. Just kidding, but I was disappointed. I guess I've been stuck in bad traffic lately, and the weather growing colder isn't going to help.

There is a really cool, helpful website that you can use to track your gas mileage. I've been using it since I bought my CRV in July. Visit www.gasbuddy.com and sign up (it's free). Once you are a member, you can use the "Fuel Logbook." You enter your make and model of your car, and it automatically knows how much fuel your tank can hold and bases its calculations on this.

You have to fill your tank every time in order to track your gas mileage accurately. Once you fill up, take note of how many gallons you purchased and what you paid for it (I guess you don't NEED to keep track of price, but I do that, too). Also take note of your current mileage. When you input the information into the Fuel Logbook on gasbuddy.com, it will automatically figure out your mpg for you. Also, at the end of every month, you can look at charts of your fuel mileage, money you spent, etc. The main spreadsheet is also interesting to look at because you can easily note the fluctuations in your mileage.

I highly suggest using this site, it is very helpful. Feel free to e-mail me if you want any more help with the site.

stevedebi

Varmint-
I thought this just turned off the light? The compressor still runs?

kyfdx

Not on mine.. compressor never kicks in without light being on.

varmint

The CR-V will automatically engage the A/C when you press the button for the defroster. This programming change does not alter that.

What it does is allow you to engage the defroster, then turn off the A/C. (You must press both buttons.) Before reprogramming it, you have no choice in the matter. The A/C remains on as long as you have the defroster on.

isellhondas

WHY anyone would want to do this? The system is designed to engage the A/C when the defoster is turned on! Even on the coldest day, this pulls the moisture out of the air that is causing the wondows to fog up in the first place!

Never, once, have I had a customer ask me about this.

Someone help me here because I don't understand?

varmint

"Someone help me here because I don't understand?"

1. In general, we are control freaks.

2. There's this myth about A/C robbing the engine of power.

3. We don't like what we don't understand. You yourself apparently don't like the discussion because you don't understand the motive.

Since when does this sort of thing have to make sense?

kyfdx

That is no myth... all you have to do is mash the pedal to the floor, then turn the air off and watch the acceleration take off..

I've heard about the compressor cycling off when extra acceleration is needed, but I've never had it happen in my CR-Vs...

That fix is a great thing.. the compressor still comes on automatically when you select defrost, yet you can still turn it off, if you want...

What could be wrong about that?

varmint

The A/C will cycle off when the car's ECU determines that more power is needed to meet the "demands of the pedal".

Trouble is, few drivers are willing to step on the gas that hard. They want max acceleration while only pushing the throttle halfway.

kyfdx

Hmmm.. I don't think that describes me.. ;-)

isellhondas

I seriously doubt if you could really tell much if any difference. It's not like the "old days" when we had huge A/C compressors that used five horsepower.

I think I understand now. I think it is indeed a "control" thing rather than a "problem" that requires a "fix".

Whatever floats your boat...

kyfdx

I doubt you understand.. and I can tell the difference..

If I want to disable the compressor, and can't.. then that is a problem.. not a "control" thing.

Otherwise, why would they make it possible to disable it?

 Just because you can't imagine wanting to do something, doesn't mean it isn't worthwhile..

regards,
kyfdx

varmint

I would like to flap my arms and fly like a birdie... but I can't. So I guess I have a problem.

As with many issues this one is a matter of reasonable expectations and the trade offs inherent in building cars. In this case, you can trade...

The effectiveness of the defroster (visibility and the need to use it more frequently).

and in return, you get...

1 or 2 horsepower without having to press the gas pedal another 1/2 inch closer to the floor.

If you are willing to make that trade, more power to you (literally). I suspect that the engineers bet that most people would not make the trade. So the default setting is biased toward the goal of the defroster.

kyfdx

To be clear... I don't have a problem with it.. because there is a solution.. I don't have to trade my car.. And, they have made that adjustment possible for a long time.. I first read about it on a Civic board, and I did it to my '98 CR-V.

It makes sense that the default setting is to have the compressor come on, whenever the defrost function is selected.. It also makes sense that you could push the A/C button and turn the compressor off.. What doesn't make sense is that you have to discover a rub your belly and pat your head at the same time solution to make it happen.

regards,
kyfdx

kyfdx

Look what Subaru owners do.. just to get their seatbelt chimes disabled (not that I want to be compared to one of those fanatics)...

fastsuby "Subaru Crew: 2005+ Subaru Legacy/Outback" Sep 29, 2004 10:38am

edunnett

...I am one of them. I have auto climate control in my '04 Forester and fight with it every day to get the A/C shut OFF. SHUT OFF GOD D***IT! I tend to be chilly when other aren't so the notion of it being 55 degrees outside, asking for 85 degrees inside while in "manual mode" (for what little that is worth in this car) and getting a full blast of unrequested A/C when I change the mode to defrost I will never understand. How can think that air conditioning is the answer to going from 55 to 85 degrees?! HOW?! It makes me cold. COLD. I don't care so much about the control. Ok, that's a lie, I do. But I care more than I can't always get heat when I ask for it. I know, I know, the A/C blows out the defrost vents and the heat out the floor and side, but you know what? I can feel the cold air. It makes my nose cold. And I'm not even getting into all the times it turns itself on with no input from me... SO I can empathize with you folks wanting your A/C compressor off. Maybe for different reasons. Just be glad you CAN shut it off.
This rant brought to you by...
elissa

t4him

My wife was driving the kids to school the other day in her 2002 CR-V LX when she heard a "backfire" sound and the car shut off. It cranked right up, but . . ., the A/C didn't work. I took it to our town mechanic. He said the compressor had a hole in it, like the compressor blew apart from the inside. The week prior, she had the EVAP Purge Valve replaced at the dealer ($190.00), now the SRS light stays on, the dealer says it's the seat belt lock ($150.00). At this rate I'm going to get nickled and dimed into the poor house . . . Any One else had similar problems, I'm particularly interested in the A/C Compressor issue since it is the most recent problem. Please Post Issues.

  Thanks,

      Tim in Florida

isellhondas

Like I said...whatever floats your boat.

And I wans't picking on anybody.

It just never fails to amaze me when something that is of absolutely no importance or concern to the vast majority of people is a "problem" for a few isolated people.

I think the reason Honda makes it difficult to do this is because of liability concerns. Someone has the A/C off, fogs up the windshield, and has an accident and it'll get blamed on Honda?

stevedebi

I take it you don't have the extended warranty?

norne

It never fails to amaze me why "isellhondas" is always dismissing any problems people report on edmunds as nothing more than just trival.

"It just never fails to amaze me when something that is of absolutely no importance or concern to the vast majority of people is a "problem" for a few isolated people."

oh really? Just how do you know its not a concern for vast majority of cr-v owners? I mean after all, you are only a salesperson at ONE honda dealer and you aren't exactly qualified to speak for all cr-v owners in this country.

norne

follow up question.

can you give me some feedback on the new tires you purchased couple months back.

fasterem

Can anybody tell me with out a doubt what years Transmission will fit in 1998 CRV, No guessing please its a lot of money.

isellhondas

I guess it's because I never realize these "problems" exist until I read about them here.

Actually, that information may help me someday if I ever have a customer with that concern since I now know how to change that setting if the customer asks.

It's just that I have sold a whole lot of CRV's since they came out in 1997 and I have never once heard of this concern.

Can't I scratch my head outloud sometimes?

edunnett

I have no idea. This is not a terribly technical forum for Hondas though. I recommend finding another forum (I am not allowed to name any here but you can email me if you want the URLs) that leans toward do it yourselfers and technical folks who can help you. Also have you tried calling your dealer? The parts or service departments might know.
Elissa

kyfdx

Boy...talk about bringing up a sore subject...

I decided on Bridgestone Turanza LS-T.

I already had a set of Turanza LS-H on my Legend, which I bought because of recommendations from Tire Rack. Great tires.. no complaints...

But, from the day I put the LS-Ts on the CR-V, I had high speed vibration problems.. to keep it short, it took a month of swapping out tires, etc. and nothing helped..Finally, my tire guy borrowed his niece's CR-V and swapped out with her rims/tires.. presto, vibration gone..

He stocks BFGoodrich Touring T/As.. An unremarkable tire that was original equipment on my '98 CR-V.. I got 50K out of that set, and bought another set from him (because I only needed three of them). I decided to just go ahead and put those on my '02, since I was familiar with them and they are adequate...

The result.. nothing special.. and .. I don't have any good recommendations either... A wholly unsatisfactory experience from top to bottom.... sorry

regards,
kyfdx

kyfdx

I can tell you without a doubt that '97 and '98 are identical in drivetrain in every way.. Not sure about the '99-'01, because they did get a horsepower bump... not sure if any transmission changes were made as well..

kyfdx

Any time you want.... it is that rattling sound it makes that bothers me though.. :-)

regards,
kyfdx

jmolinsky

Tim,

See message 1563 where I noted that my wife's compressor failed as well (I wouldn't say exploded, though).

Jason

only1harry

isellhondas is hanging around here? Dang! He used to come in to the Civic forums years ago always defending Honda like he works for the company and there 's never anything wrong with the way they build them or design them, etc., etc..

Oh well I guess I 'll have to put up with him again because my wife bought an '04 CRV EX 3-4 weeks ago (for $25 under invoice!). Coincidently she 's very PO'd that the salesperson lied to her and told her the '05 models are identical. The new ones have 16" alloy wheels, traction control, stability control and some other small stuff (head air bags I think? more SRS lights to worry about!). I don't particularly care because I was able to get her an '04 much cheaper in September, but she was disappointed when she saw an '05. Probably because the larger wheels & tires make it look better and brings the tires closer to the fenders. The CRV was always undertired I think and it just doesn't look right IMO. The 16's make it look a lot more symmetrical and appealing.
It's scary reading all the problems you guys have had with your CRV's. I thought the CRV would be like my last 3 Civics but I now realize the CRV is no Civic in reliability. My friend's alternator just went on his '02 CRV but that was under warranty. I didn't take the extended warranty either because the last 2 times I bought them for my Civics, I hardly ever used them. Maybe they 've improved some things on the '04's?
Coincidently, we can turn off the A/C on our CRV when we engage the defroster. We just push the A/C button and it goes out. I can't do that in my '01 Civic though.

kizhe

<< It's scary reading all the problems you guys have had with your CRV's... >>

Don't be scared... . The devil is not as dark as it is painted... .
I had NO problems so far with my CR-V 03 EX , 34.5K "tough" miles on odometer. IMHO CR-V is a very nice economical and reliable car. Just what I need.
I changed oil/filter 6 times, air filter 2 times,
rotated wheels 5 times. That's all.

varmint

If the only thing you read is a problems thread, you're going to see a lot of problems.

The bigger picture (represented in other threads, magazine surveys, etc.) shows the CR-V to be a reliable vehicle. It's currently one of the most reliable Hondas according to a few surveys. Not every specimen will be perfect, but the general trend is better than most other vehicles in the class.

anku

Hi,

  Does any body know how to figure out what's wrong with the windshield water pump ? In my CRV when I press the level from driver seat to clean the windshield, only wiper blade moves but no water comes out. Does anyone know how to fix this problem ? I have already checked under the hood, there is enough windshield liquid in the reservoir.

Thank in advance,
anku

varmint

That could be a lot of things.

Try running the washer jets while parked. Take a look under the hood and see if you have any drips under there. A hose might be kinked, or severed.

If that's not it, the fluid pump could be shot.

refereeguy

On my hunting trip last weekend I drove through a mud puddle on a logging road. Little did I know this puddle was much softer than most that I had driven though that day. I heard a loud thud when I bottomed out and then heard some rubbing. As I laid under my injured V 10 miles from nowhere I found that I had pushed the skid plate that protects the emmisions box (located in front of the drivers side rear wheel) into the half shaft which caused the clamp to break off the cv boot leaving grease leaking out and mud into the shaft. The skid plate was rubbing on the shaft as I drove so I had to push as hard as I could to bend it back into position but by then it was loose. I wired it up enough to make the 200 mile trip back home. Now it's into Bill the mechanic. I haven't gotten prices yet but I'm guessin' it will be a $200 trip through the mud hole. Off roading can be expensive.

Refereeguy

varmint

Bah, those are just battle scars. :-)

I have to say, when I read this, "As I laid under my injured V 10 miles from nowhere...", I thought you were talking about a V10 engine. Guess I'm slow to wake up today.

But I know what you mean about water hazards. You really need to walk through the water before taking the car. You never know what's hidden under the surface.

refereeguy

Varmint, it really is your fault.

I have seen your video and still pictures and that is exactly what was going through my mind when I saw this puny little puddle.

I figured the way you tortured your '99 I should have no problem getting through 7" of mud water.

Oh well, ya gotta pay if ya wanta play!

Refereeguy