1996 HONDA ODYSSEY Owners Manual

Tires
InflationKeeping the tires properly inflatedprovides the best combination of
handling, tread life and riding
comfort. Under-inflated tires wear
unevenly, adversely affect handling
and fuel economy, and are more
likely to fail from being overheated. Overinflated tires can make your car
ride more harshly, are more prone to damage from road hazards, and wear
unevenly.
We recommend that you visually check your tires every day and use a
gauge to measure the air pressure at least once a month. If you think a tire
might be low, check it immediately. Remember to check the spare tire at
the same time you check all the other tires.
Check the pressure in the tires when
they are cold. This means the car has been parked for at least three
hours. If you have to drive the car
before checking the tire pressure,

the tires can still be considered
"cold" if you drive less than 1.6 km
(1 mile).

If you check the pressure when the

tires are hot (the car has been driven

several miles), you will see readings

30 to 40 kPa (0.3 to 0.4 kg/cm2,4 to
6 psi) higher than the cold reading.

This is normal. Do not let air out to
match the specified cold pressure.

The tire will be underinflated.

Recommended Tire Pressures for

Normal Driving

The following chart shows the recommended cold tire pressures for
most normal driving conditions and
speeds. Tire pressures for high
speed driving are shown on page 222. The compact spare tire pressure is:
420 kPa (4.2 kgf/cm2 , 60 psi)
The pressures are also given on the tire information label on the driver's
doorjamb.

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Tires
You should get your own tire pressure gauge and use it whenever
you check your tire pressures. This
will make it easier for you to tell if a pressure loss is due to a tire problem and not due to a variation between

gauges.

Tubeless tires have some ability to self-seal if they are punctured.
However, because leakage is often
very slow, you should look closely
for punctures if a tire starts losing

pressure.

Inspection
Every time you check inflation, you should also examine the tires fordamage, foreign objects, and wear. You should look for: Bumps or bulges in the tread or
side of the tire. Replace the tire if
you find either of these conditions. Cuts, splits, or cracks in the side
of the tire. Replace the tire if you
can see fabric or tread.
Excessive tread wear. Your car's tires have wear indicators
molded into the tread. When thetread wears down to that point, you
will see a 12.7 mm (1/2 inch) wide
band running across the tread. This shows there is less than 1.6 mm (1/16 inch) of tread left on the tire.
A tire that is this worn gives very little traction on wet roads. Youshould replace the tire if you can see
the tread wear indicator in three or
more places around the tire.
Maintenance
In addition to proper inflation,
correct wheel alignment helps to
decrease tire wear. If you find a tireis worn unevenly, have your dealercheck the wheel alignment.
CONTINUED
Maintenance

INDICATOR

LOCATION

MARKS

TREAD WEAR
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Tires

The tires were properly balanced by the factory. They may need to be
rebalanced at some time before theyare worn out. Have your dealer
check the tires if you feel a consis-
tent vibration while driving. A tire should always be rebalanced if it is
removed from the wheel for repair.
Make sure the installer balances the
wheels when you have new tires installed. This increases riding
comfort and tire life. Your car's
original tires were dynamic or "spin"
balanced at the factory. For best
results, have the installer perform a dynamic balance.

(U.S.
EX)

Improper wheel weights can damage
your car's aluminum wheels. Use only
genuine Honda wheel weights forbalancing.
Tire Rotation
To help increase tire life and distribute wear more evenly, you
should have the tires rotated every12,000 km (7,500 miles). Move the
tires to the positions shown in the chart each time they are rotated. When shopping for replacement
tires, you may find that some tiresare "directional." This means they
are designed to rotate only in one
direction. If you use directional tires,
they should be rotated only front-to-
back.
Replacing Tires and Wheels
The tires that came with your car were selected to match the perform- ance capabilities of the car while
providing the best combination of
handling, ride comfort, and long life.
You should replace them with radial tires of the same size, load range,speed rating, and maximum cold tire
pressure rating (as shown on the
tire's sidewall). Mixing radial and bias-ply tires on your car can reduceits braking ability, traction, andsteering accuracy.

Maintenance
(For Directional

Tires and Wheels)

(For Non-directional

Tires and Wheels)
Front
Front

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Tires
It is best to replace all four tires at
the same time. If that is not possible or necessary, then replace the two
front tires or the two rear tires as a pair. Replacing just one tire can
seriously affect your car's handling.
The ABS works by comparing the speed of the wheels. When replacing
tires, use the same size originallysupplied with the car. Tire size and
construction can affect wheel speed
and may cause the system to work in-
consistently. If you ever need to replace a wheel,
make sure the wheel's specificationsmatch those of the original wheel
that came on your car. Replacement
wheels are available at your Honda
dealer.

Wheels and Tires
Wheel:

15x6JJ

Tire:

P205/65R15 92S

See Tire Information on page 221 for
additional information about tire and
wheel size designations. See page 222 for information about DOT Tire
Quality Grading.
Winter Driving

Tires that are marked "M + S" or
"All Season" on the sidewall have an
all-weather tread design. They

should be suitable for most winter
driving conditions. Tires without

these markings are designed for
optimum traction in dry conditions.

They may not provide adequate
performance in winter driving.
For the best performance in snowy

or icy conditions, you should install
snow tires or tire chains. They may

be required by local laws under
certain conditions.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

Installing improper tires on your
car can affect handling and
stability. This can cause a crash in which you can be seriously
hurt or killed.
Always use the size and type of
tires recommended in thisowner's manual.
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Tires

Snow Tires

If you mount snow tires on your
Honda, make sure they are radial
tires of the same size and load range as the original tires. Mount snow
tires on all four wheels to balance
your car's handling in all weather conditions. Keep in mind the traction
provided by snow tires on dry roads
may not be as high as your car's
original equipment tires. You should
drive cautiously even when the roads
are clear. Check with the tire dealer
for maximum speed recommenda-
tions.
Tire Chains

Mount snow chains on your car
when warranted by driving condi-
tions or required by local laws. Make sure the chains are the correct size
for your tires. Install them only on
the front tires. If metal chains are used, they must be SAE class "S".Cable type traction devices can also

be used.
When installing chains, follow the
manufacturer's instructions and
mount them as tightly as you can.
Drive slowly with chains installed. If
you hear the chains contacting the body or chassis, stop and tighten
them. If they still make contact, slowdown until it stops. Remove the
chains as soon as you begin driving

on cleared roads.

Chains of the wrong size or that are
improperly installed can damage your
car's brake lines, suspension, body, and
wheels. Stop driving if you hear the chains hitting any part of the car.

Maintenance
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Lights

Check the operation of your car's
exterior lights at least once a month.
A burned out bulb can create an unsafe condition by reducing your car's visibility and the ability to
signal your intentions to other
drivers.
Check the following: Headlights (low and high beam)

Parking lights

Taillights
Brake lights
High-mount brake light
Turn signals
Back-up lights
Hazard light function
License plate light
Side marker lights
Daytime running lights

(Canadian cars)

If you find any bulbs are burned out,
replace them as soon as possible. Refer to the chart on page 219 todetermine what type of replacement
bulb is needed. Headlight Aiming
The headlights were properly aimed when your car was new. You should check their aim if you regularly carryheavy items in the cargo area or pulla trailer. Each headlight assembly
has horizontal and vertical adjust- ment indicators. These are set to
their "0" positions after the head-
lights are aimed at the factory.
To check these settings:
1. Make sure the fuel tank is full. Park the car on level ground.
2. The driver or someone who weighs the same should be sittingin the driver's seat for all checks and adjustments.
Load your car with the items you normally carry. HORIZONTAL ANGLE GAUGE
If you usually pull a trailer, load it as
you would normally and attach it to
the car. Push down on the front and rear bumpers several times to makesure the car is sitting normally.

3. Open the hood.

4. Check the horizontal angle gauge.
The line on the adjustment screwindicator should line up with the"0" mark on the gauge.

Maintenance
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Lights

VERTICAL ANGLE GAUGE
5. Check the vertical angle gauge. The bubble should be centeredunderneath the longest scribemark on the gauge. HORIZONTAL ADJUSTMENT
6. If either indicator is not aligned with its "0" mark as described, anadjustment can be made using aPhillips-head screwdriver to
realign it with the "0" mark. Please refer to the illustrations. VERTICAL ADJUSTMENT
7. If you cannot get an indicator to align, have your Honda dealer
inspect the car for body damage
suspension problems.
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Lights

Replacing a Headlight Bulb

Your car has halogen headlight bulbs, one on each side. When
replacing a bulb, handle it by its steel
base and protect the glass fromcontact with your skin or hard
objects. If you touch the glass, clean
it with denatured alcohol and a clean
cloth.

Halogen headlight bulbs get very hot when lit. Oil, perspiration, or a scratchon the glass can cause the bulb to

overheat and shatter.
1. Open the hood.

If you need to change a bulb on

the passenger's side, remove the

air intake cover (see page 158).

2. Remove the electrical connector
from the bulb by squeezing the
connector on both sides to unlock

the tab. Pull the connector straight
off.

3. Remove the rubber weather seal
by pulling on the tab.
4. Unclip the end of the hold-down
wire from its slot. Pivot it out ofthe way and remove the bulb.
5. Insert the new bulb into the hole, making sure the tabs are in theirslots. Pivot the hold-down wire
back in place and clip the end into the slot.
6. Install the rubber seal over the back of the headlight assembly.Make sure it is right side up; it is

marked "TOP".

7. Push the electrical connector onto the tabs of the new bulb. Makesure it locks in place.
Turn on the headlights to test the new bulb.
8. (Passenger's side) Reinstall the air intake cover.
Maintenance

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