The valve are closed! This ICE is designed with special friction reducing materials and this car coasts as well in drive as in neutral? You are wasting your time playing around with coasting in neutral. Could be hard on the CVT when shifting back to drive. Also you are using gas when idling but not when coasting! H

 

This is an old issue. For what its worth, despite the "official" rule I have 4 wheel down towed my 03 in neutral for many miles with no problems. The manual says that in an emergency you can ) at a low speed for not a lot of miles (shift from drive into neutral. I found the trans service manual on line that showed it is basically isolated by clutches in neutral. I needs to be run for a while in drive before towing.

 

Does your 03 have a standard or CVT? It is OK to tow 4 down with a std. but I am not sure about hch with a CVT! I use a dolly for my CVT HCH. H

 

Its a CVT. We have towed it for many miles 4 down. The Trans fluid shows no darkening and the trans is fine. I am convinced Honda just doesn't want the expense of "certifying" it for towing. Again, in the manual they talk about emergency towing. I have the Service Manual on my computer. Its an 11 meg ziped folder. Shows the clutch isolation in neutral.

 

Well that is good to know. When you think about it ,it makes sense! I will continue to use the dolly as it gives me extra braking. Thanks ,H