1996 HONDA ODYSSEY Owners Manual

Interior Care

Carpeting

Vacuum the carpeting frequently to remove dirt. Ground-in dirt will make
the carpet wear out faster.
Periodically shampoo the carpet to
keep it looking new. Use one of the
foam-type carpet cleaners on the market. Follow the instructions thatcome with the cleaner, applying it
with a sponge or soft brush. Keep the carpeting as dry as possible by
not adding water to the foam.
Fabric

Vacuum dirt and dust out of the material frequently. For general
cleaning, use a solution of mild soap
and lukewarm water, letting it air dry.
To clean off stubborn spots, use a commercially-available fabric cleaner.
Test it on a hidden area of the fabric first, to make sure it does not bleachor stain the fabric. Follow the
instructions that come with the
cleaner.
Vinyl

Remove dirt and dust with a vacuum
cleaner. Wipe the vinyl with a soft
cloth dampened in a solution of mildsoap and water. Use the same
solution with a soft-bristle brush on
more difficult spots. You can also use
commercially-available spray or
foam-type vinyl cleaners.
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Interior Care
Seat Belts
If your seat belts get dirty, you can
use a soft brush with a mixture ofmild soap and warm water to clean

them. Do not use bleach, dye, or
cleaning solvents. They can weaken
the belt material. Let the belts air- dry before you use the car. Dirt build-up in the metal loops of
the seat belt anchors can cause the
belts to retract slowly. Wipe the inside of the loops with a clean clothdampened in isopropyl alcohol or a
mixture of mild soap and warm

water.

Windows Clean the windows, inside and out,
with a commercially-available glass cleaner. You can also use a mixture
of one part white vinegar to ten parts
water. This will remove the haze that builds up on the inside of the
windows. Use a soft cloth or paper towels to clean all glass and clear
plastic surfaces.
The rear window defogger wires are
bonded to the inside of the glass. Wiping vigorously up-and-down can
dislodge and break the defogger wires. When cleaning the rear window, use
gentle pressure and wipe side-to-side.

Air Fresheners If you want to use an air freshener/deodorizer in the interior of your car,
it is best to use a solid type. Some
liquid air fresheners contain chemi- cals that may cause parts of the
interior trim and fabric to crack or discolor.
If you use a liquid air freshener,
make sure you fasten it securely so itdoes not spill as you drive.

Appearance Care

NOTICE
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Corrosion Protection

Two factors normally contribute to causing corrosion in your car:
1. Moisture trapped in body cavities. Dirt and road salt that collects in
hollows on the underside of the car stays damp, promoting
corrosion in that area.
2. Removal of paint and protective coatings from the exterior and
underside of the car. Many corrosion-preventive measures
are built into your Honda. You can
help keep your car from corroding
by performing some simple periodic

maintenance:
Repair chips and scratches in the
paint as soon as you discover them.
Inspect and clean out the drain
holes in the bottom of the doors and body. Check the floor coverings for
dampness. Carpeting and floor
mats may remain damp for a long
time, especially in winter. This dampness can eventually cause
the floor panels to corrode. Use a high-pressure spray to clean
the underside of your car. This is especially important in areas that
use road salt in winter. It is also a
good idea in humid climates and areas subject to salt air. Carsequipped with ABS have a sensor
and wiring at each wheel. Be
careful not to damage them. Have the corrosion-preventive
coatings on the underside of your
car inspected and repaired periodically.

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Body Repairs

Body repairs can affect your car's resistance to corrosion. If your carneeds repairs after a collision, pay
close attention to the parts used in
the repair and the quality of the
work.
Make sure the repair facility uses
genuine Honda replacement body parts. Some companies makesheetmetal pieces that seem to
duplicate the original Honda body
parts, but are actually inferior in fit,
finish, and corrosion resistance. Once installed, they do not give the
same high-quality appearance.
When reporting your collision to the
insurance company, tell them you
want genuine Honda parts used in the repair. Although most insurers
recognize the quality of originalparts, some may try to specify that
the repairs be done with other available parts. You should investi-
gate this before any repairs are
begun.

Take your car to your authorized Honda dealer for inspection after the
repairs are completed. He can make sure that quality materials were used,
and that corrosion-preventive coatings were applied to all repairedand replaced parts.

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Taking Care of the Unexpected

This section covers the more- common problems that motorists
experience with their cars. It gives
you information about how to safely evaluate the problem and what to do
to correct it. If the problem has stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again. If not, you will also find instructionson getting your car towed. Compact Spare Tire....................... 192
Changing a Flat Tire..................... 193
If Your Engine Won't Start........... 199
Nothing Happens....................... 199
The Starter Operates Normally................................. 200
Jump Starting................................. 200
If Your Engine Overheats............. 202
Low Oil Pressure........................... 204
Charging System Indication......... 205
Malfunction Indicator Lamp........ 206
Closing the Sunroof....................... 207
Fuses............................................... 208
Checking and Replacing........... 209

Towing............................................ 213

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Compact Spare Tire

Your car has a compact spare tire that takes up less space. Use this spare tire as a temporary replace-
ment only. Get your regular tire
repaired or replaced and put back on
your car as soon as you can.
Check the inflation pressure of the
compact spare tire every time you
check the other tires. It should be
inflated to:420 kPa (4.2 kgf/cm2 , 60 psi)

Follow these precautions whenever

you are using the compact spare tire:
Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)

under any circumstances.
This tire gives a harsher ride and
less traction on some road sur-

faces than the regular tire. Use

greater caution while driving on
this tire.
Do not mount snow chains on the

compact spare.
The wheel of the compact spare
tire is designed especially to fit
your car. Do not use your spare tire on another car unless it is the
same make and model.
INDICATOR
LOCATION
MARK
TREAD WEARINDICATOR
BAR

The compact spare tire has a shorter tread life than a regular tire. Replaceit when you can see the tread wear
indicator bars. The replacement
should be the same size and design
tire, mounted on the same wheel.
The compact spare tire is not designed to be mounted on a regular
wheel, and the compact wheel is not designed for mounting a regular tire
Taking Care of the Unexpected
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Changing a Flat Tire
If you have a flat tire while driving, stop in a safe place to change it.
Stopping in traffic or on the shoulder of a busy road is dangerous. Drive
slowly along the shoulder until you
get to an exit or an area to stop that
is far away from the traffic lanes. TOOL KIT

JACK

1. Park the car on firm, level ground away from traffic. Turn on the
hazard warning lights and turn the
ignition to LOCK (0).
2. Put the transmission in Park. Set the parking brake. Have your
passengers get out of the vehicle. LID
TRAY
3. Open the tailgate. Fold down the third seat's seat-back (see page60).

4. The tool kit and jack are stored
under the third seat armrest on
the driver's side. Remove thearmrest pad by pulling it straight

up.

CONTINUED

Taking Care of the Unexpected

SPARE TIRE
The car can easily roll off the
jack, seriously injuring anyone
underneath.

Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and never get under the car when it
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Changing a Flat Tire

5. Remove the tools from the tray. Remove the tray by pulling itstraight up.
6. Loosen the jack from its holder by turning the end counterclockwise.Remove the jack from the
compartment. 7. Unzip the spare tire cover.
STORAGE BIN
8. Unscrew the wing bolt. Remove the storage bin and spare tire.
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