1998 Honda CR-V Owner's Manual - Page 158

Automatic Transmission Second (2) - To shift to Second, pull the shift lever towards you, then shift to the lower gear. This position locks the transmission in second gear. It does not downshift to first gear when you come to a stop. Second gives you more power when climbing, and increased engine braking when going down steep hills. Use second gear when starting out on a slippery surface or in deep snow. It will help reduce wheelspin. First (1) - To shift from Second to First, pull the shift lever towards you, then shift to the lower gear. With the lever in this position, the transmission locks in First gear. By upshifting and downshifting through 1,2, D3 and D4, you can operate this transmission much like a manual transmission without a clutch pedal. Maximum Allowable Speeds The speeds in this table are the maximum allowable speeds in each position. If you exceed these speeds, the engine speed will enter into the tachometer's red zone. If this occurs, you will feel the engine cut in and out. This is caused by a limiter in the engine's computer controls. The engine will run normally when you reduce the RPM below the red zone. Before downshifting, make sure the vehicle will not exceed the maximum allowable speed in the chart in the lower gear to avoid engine damage. Driving