1996 HONDA ODYSSEY Owners Manual

Service Station Procedures

4. Remove it again and check the level. It should be between the
upper and lower marks.
If it is near or below the lower mark,
see Adding Oil on page 146 .
Engine Coolant Check

Look at the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Make sure it is
between the MAX and MIN lines. If it is below the MIN line, see Adding
Engine Coolant on page 151 for
information on adding the proper

coolant.
Refer to Periodic Checks on page
144 for information on checking
other items in your Honda.

Before Driving

UPPER MARK
LOWER MARK
RESERVE TANK

MAX

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Fuel Economy

The condition of your car and your driving habits are the two most
important things that affect the fuel
mileage you get.

Vehicle Condition

Always maintain your car according to the maintenance schedule. This
will keep it in top operating condition.
An important part of that mainte- nance is the Periodic Checks (see
page 144). For example, an under- inflated tire causes more "rolling
resistance," which uses fuel. It also
wears out faster, so check the tire pressure at least monthly. In winter,the build-up of snow on your car'sunderside adds weight and rolling
resistance. Frequent cleaning helps
your fuel mileage and reduces the chance of corrosion. Driving Habits
You can improve fuel economy by
driving moderately. Rapid acceler-
ation, abrupt cornering, and hard
braking use more fuel.
Always drive in the highest gear that
allows the engine to run and acceler-
ate smoothly.
Depending on traffic conditions, try
to maintain a constant speed. Every
time you slow down and speed up, your car uses extra fuel. Use thecruise control, when appropriate, to
increase fuel economy. A cold engine uses more fuel than a
warm engine. It is not necessary to"warm-up" a cold engine by letting it
idle for a long time. You can drive away in about a minute, no matter
how cold it is outside. The engine
will warm up faster, and you get better fuel economy. To cut down on
the number of "cold starts," try to combine several short trips into one.
The air conditioning puts an extra load on the engine which makes it use more fuel. Turn off the A/C to
cut down on air conditioning use.
Use the flow-through ventilation
when the outside air temperature is
moderate.

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Accessories

Your Honda dealer has many Genuine Honda Accessories that
allow you to personalize your car.
These have all been approved for
ar
e
covered by warranty.

Some non-Honda accessories you
can buy in the "aftermarket" are designed for universal applications.
Although they may fit your Honda, they may not be within factoryspecifications. For example, after-
market wheels may not meet Honda'sspecifications for width and offset.
They could cause suspension problems that would not be covered
by your warranty. Improperly- designed accessories can adversely
affect your car's handling andstability. Your car has several computer-
controlled systems, including theSRS system, the engine's fuel
injection, and the Anti-lock brake
rerence Sarrarred
Electronic communications equip-
ment, such as cellular telephones and two-way radios are regulated by
the FCC (DOC in Canada) andshould not interfere with your car's
systems. Improper installation, or
using electrical equipment not in-
tended for mobile use may interfere
with your car's operation. If you want to install a cellular telephone, other
mobile communications equipmentor even add-on stereo amplifiers,
please discuss it first with your Honda dealer. In many cases, improper installation
is the real cause of problems with aftermarket accessories. Have these
accessories installed by qualified
technicians.who are familiar with Honda dealer inspect the final
installation.

Before Driving
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Loading Cargo

The maximum load you can carry in your Honda is 535 kg (1,150 Ibs). It includes the total weight of all
passengers and their belongings, anyaccessories, and the tongue weight
figure is shown as the Vehicle Capacity Weight on the tire infor-
mation label attached to the driver's doorjamb. To figure out how much cargo you
can carry:
Figure the total "occupant weight"
you will be transporting. To. do this. (driver and all passengers) by 70

kg
(150 Ibs).
Subtract this number from the
Vehicle Capacity Weight (535 kg/ 1,150 Ibs).
If you are towing a trailer, subtract
the tongue weight. See Towing a
Trailer on page 128.
This final number is the total weight of cargo you can load in or on the car.
With seven occupants (driver and six passengers), the maximum recom-
mended weight for cargo is 45 kg (100 Ibs).
Where you store this cargo, and how
well you secure it, are just as important as how much it weighs.Make sure you load cargo so it will not shift while driving. Items stored
in the cargo area behind the third
seat should be placed as far forward
as possible. You could store addi-
tional items on the floor behind the
roll under the front seat and
interfere with the pedals.
For greater cargo capacity, the third seat can be folded into the floor and
the second row seats can either be
removed or folded up (depending on
model). Passengers should never sit in the open cargo area while the car
is moving. They should sit in one of
the seats and wear their seat belts.
If you must carry large objects that
prevent you from closing the tailgate
be aware that exhaust gas can enter
the interior. See Carbon Monoxide
Hazard on page 29 .

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Driving

This section gives you tips on starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the automatic transmission. It also
includes important information on
your car's braking system and facts
you need if you are planning to tow a trailer.
Preparing to Drive......................... 118
Starting the Engine........................ 119
Starting in Cold Weather at High Altitude ..................... 119
Automatic Transmission............... 120 Shift Lever Positions................. 120
Maximum Speeds...................... 123
Shift Lock Release..................... 123
The Braking System...................... 124 Brake Wear Indicators.............. 124Brake System Design................ 124
Anti-lock Brakes........................ 125
Driving in Bad Weather................ 126
Towing a Trailer............................ 128

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Preparing to Drive
You should do the following checks
and adjustments every day before

you drive your car.

1. Make sure all windows, mirrors, and outside
lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove frost, snow,
or ice.
2. Check that the hood and tailgate are fully closed.
3. Visually check the tires. If a tire looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure.
4. Check that any items you may be carrying with you inside are stored
properly or fastened down
securely. 5. Check the adjustment of the seat
(see page 54).
6. Check the adjustment of the inside and outside mirrors (see
page 64).
7. Check the adjustment of the steering wheel (see page 44).
8. Make sure the doors are securely closed and locked.
9. Fasten your seat belt. Check that your passengers have fastened
their seat belts (see page 7 ). 10.Turn the ignition ON (II). Check
the indicator lights in the instru-
ment panel.
11. Start the engine (see page 119 ).
12. Check the gauges and indicator lights in the instrument panel (see
page 33 ).

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Starting the Engine

1. Apply the parking brake.
2. In cold weather, turn off all electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery.
3. Make sure the shift lever is in Park. Press on the brake pedal.
4. Without touching the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition key to the
START (III) position. If the engine
does not start right away, do not
hold the key in START (III) for
more than 15 seconds at a time.
Pause for at least 10 seconds
before trying again.
5. If the engine does not start within 15 seconds, or starts but stalls
right away, repeat step 4 with the
accelerator pedal pressed half-way
down. If the engine starts, release
pressure on the accelerator pedal
so the engine does not race.
6. If the engine still does not start,

press the accelerator pedal all the

way down and hold it there while

starting in order to clear flooding.
As before, keep the ignition key in

the START (III) position for no

more than 15 seconds. Return to

step 5 if the engine does not start.

If it starts, lift your foot off the

accelerator pedal so the engine

does not race.

Starting in Cold Weather at High
Altitude (Above 2,400 meters/ 8,000 feet)

An engine is harder to start in cold weather. The thinner air found at
high altitude above 2,400 meters (8,000 feet) adds to the problem.
Use the following procedure:
1. Turn off all electrical accessories to reduce the drain on the battery. 2. Push the accelerator pedal half-
way to the floor and hold it there
while starting the engine. Do not
hold the ignition key in START
(III) for more than 15 seconds.
When the engine starts, release
the accelerator pedal gradually as
the engine speeds up and smooths
out.
3. If the engine fails to start in step 2, push the accelerator pedal to the
floor and hold it there while you
try to start the engine for no more
than 15 seconds. If the engine
does not start, return to step 2.

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Automatic Transmission

Your Honda's transmission has fourforward speeds, and is electronicallycontrolled for smoother shifting. It
also has a "lock-up" torque converter
for better fuel economy. You may
feel what seems like another shift
when the converter locks. Shift Lever Positions
This display is on the instrument panel. It shows you the position ofthe shift lever.
The "D4" indicator comes on for a few seconds when you turn the
ignition ON (II). If it flashes whiledriving (in any shift position), it
indicates a possible problem in the
transmission. Avoid rapid acceler- ation and have the transmission
checked by an authorized Honda
dealer as soon as possible. The shift lever has seven positions.
It must be in Park or Neutral to starthe engine. When you are stopped in
D4, D3, 2,1, N or R, press firmly on
the brake pedal and keep your footoff the accelerator pedal.

Driving
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