1996 HONDA ODYSSEY Owners Manual

Anti-lock Brake System

The Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) is standard equipment on all U.S.
models and the Canadian six-
passenger model. It is optional on the
Canadian seven-passenger model.

The ABS works by measuring how fast the wheels are turning during
braking and comparing their speeds.
If any wheel is rotating much slower
than the others (on the verge of locking up and skidding), the systemreduces hydraulic pressure to that
wheel's brake caliper. When that wheel's speed matches the other

wheels, the system applies normal
hydraulic pressure. This can take
place several times per second at
each wheel. You feel the ABS

working as rapid pulsations in the

brake pedal.
Each wheel has a wheel speed
sensor assembly. As the wheel
rotates, the sensor sends electrical pulses to the ABS control unit. The
pulse frequency varies with the
wheel speed.
The electrical output of the ABS control unit is connected to the
modulator/solenoid unit. During
braking, the ABS control unit monitors the pulse frequencies from
the four wheels. When the control unit detects a wheel locking up, itenergizes the appropriate solenoid in
the modulator/solenoid unit. There are six solenoids: two for each front
wheel, and two for the rear wheels.
The energized solenoid reduces hydraulic pressure to one side of amodulator valve. This, in turn,
reduces hydraulic pressure in the
brake line going to the affected
wheel. When that wheel speeds up because of the reduced braking effort, the control unit de-energizes the solenoid. This builds hydraulic
pressure on the modulator valve.
The pressure increases in the hydraulic line to the wheel.
For the system to react quickly, the
modulator/solenoid unit must have
brake fluid under high pressure.
This is supplied by a piston-type accumulator that is pressurized by
an electric pump. A pressure-sensingswitch on the accumulator controls
this pump.
The control unit also contains error detection circuitry. It monitors the
operation of the wheel sensors,solenoids, pump, and electronics. If
the control unit detects any faults, it shuts off power to the pump motor
and solenoids, disabling the ABS.
The indicator on the instrument panel comes on. The brakes then
work like a conventional system
without anti-lock capabilities.

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Tire Information

Tire Size Designation
A tire's sidewall is marked with a tire size designation. You will need this
information when selecting replace-ment tires for your car. The follow-
ing explains what the letters and
numbers in the tire size designation

mean.

(Example tire size designation)

P205/65R15 92S

P — Applicable vehicle type (tires
marked with the prefix "P" are intended for use on passenger cars;
however, not all tires have this
marking).

205 — Tire width in millimeters.

65 — Aspect ratio. The tire's section

height as a percentage of its width.

R — Tire construction code (Radial).

15 — Rim diameter in inches. 92 — Load Index, a numerical code
associated with the maximum load
the tire can carry.
S — Speed Rating Symbol. See thespeed rating chart in this section for
additional information.

Wheel Size Designation

Wheels are also marked with important information that you needif you ever have to replace one. The
following explains what the letters and numbers in the wheel size
designation mean.

(Example wheel size designation)

15
x
6
JJ

15 — Rim diameter in inches.
6 — Rim width in inches.
JJ — Rim contour designation.
Tire Speed Ratings
The chart below shows many of the different speed ratings currently
being used for passenger car tires.
The speed rating symbol is part of the tire size designation on thesidewall of the tire. This symbol
corresponds to that tire's designed
maximum safe operating speed.

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Tire Information
Tire Pressure Adjustment For
High Speed Driving
Honda strongly recommends that
you not drive faster than posted speed limits and conditions allow. If
you decide it is safe to drive at high speeds, be sure to adjust the cold tire
pressures as shown below. If you do
not adjust the tire pressure, exces-
sive heat can build up and cause
sudden tire failure.
Be sure to readjust the pressure for

normal driving speeds. You should

wait until the tires are cold before adjusting the tire pressure (see page
170).
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Cars)
The tires on your car meet all U.S. Federal Safety Requirements. All
tires are also graded for treadwear,traction, and temperature perform-
ance according to Department of
Transportation (DOT) standards. The following explains these
gradings.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a compara-
tive rating based on the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government

test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and one half (1-1/2) times as well on thegovernment course as a tire graded 100. The relative performance of
tires depends upon the actual condi- tions of their use, however, and maydepart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits,service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
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Tire Information

Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are A, B, and C, and they
represent the tire's ability to stop on
wet pavement as measured under controlled conditions on specified
government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may
have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade as- signed to this tire is based on brak-
ing (straight ahead) traction tests and does not include cornering (turning) traction. Temperature
The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, representing the
tire's resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlledconditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high
temperature can cause the material of the tire to degenerate and reduce
tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No.109. Grades B and A represent
higher levels of performance on the laboratory test wheel than theminimum required by law. Warning: The temperature grade for
this tire is established for a tire thatis properly inflated and not over-
loaded. Excessive speed, underinfla-
tion, or excessive loading either separately or in combination, can
cause heat build-up and possible tire
failure.

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Emission Controls
The burning of gasoline in your car's engine produces several byproducts.
Some of these are carbon monoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and
hydrocarbons (HC). Gasoline
evaporating from the tank also
produces hydrocarbons. Controlling
the production of NOx, CO, and HC
is important to the environment. Under certain conditions of sunlight
and climate, NOx and HC react to
form photochemical "smog." Carbon monoxide does not contribute to
smog creation, but it is a poisonous

gas.
The Clean Air Act
The United States Clean Air Act* sets standards for automobile
emissions. It also requires that
automobile manufacturers explain to
owners how their emission controls
work and what to do to maintain
them. This section summarizes how the emission controls work.Scheduled maintenance is on page 140.
* In Canada, Honda vehicles comply
with the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) for
Emissions valid at the time they are
manufactured. Crankcase Emission Control
System
Your car has a Positive Crankcase Ventilation System. This keeps
gasses that build up in the engine's crankcase from going into the

atmosphere. The Positive Crankcase

Ventilation valve routes them from the crankcase back to the intakemanifold. They are then drawn into
the engine and burned.
Evaporative Emission Control System
As gasoline evaporates in the fuel
tank, an evaporative emission control
canister filled with charcoal adsorbs
the vapor. It is stored in this canister
while the engine is off. After the
engine is started and warmed up, the

vapor is drawn into the engine and burned during driving.

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Emission Controls

Exhaust Emission Controls

The exhaust emission controls include four systems: PGM-FI,
Ignition Timing Control, ExhaustGas Recirculation and Three Way
Catalytic Converter. These foursystems work together to control the
engine's combustion and minimize
the amount of HC, CO, and NOx that comes out the tailpipe. The exhaust
emission control systems areseparate from the crankcase and
evaporative emission control

systems.

PGM-FI System
The PGM-FI System uses sequential multiport fuel injection.It has three subsystems: Air Intake,
Engine Control, and Fuel Control.
The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) uses various sensors to
determine how much air is going
into the engine. It then controls how much fuel to inject under all operat-
ing conditions. Ignition Timing Control System
This system constantly adjusts the ignition timing, reducing the amount
of HC, CO and NOx produced.
Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR)
System

The Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) system takes some of the
exhaust gas and routes it back into
the intake manifold. Adding exhaust gas to the air/fuel mixture reduces
the amount of NOx produced when
the fuel is burned.
Three Way Catalytic Converter
The three way catalytic converter is in the exhaust system. Throughchemical reactions, it converts HC, CO, and NOx in the engine's exhaust
to carbon dioxide (CO 2), dinitrogen

(N 2), and water vapor.
Replacement Parts

The emission control systems are designed and certified to work to-
gether in reducing emissions to levels that comply with the Clean Air
Act. To make sure the emissions remain low, you should use only new
genuine Honda replacement parts or
their equivalent for repairs. Usinglower quality parts may increase theemissions from your car.
The emissions control systems are covered by warranties separate from
the rest of your car. Read your
warranty manual for more informa-
tion.

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Three Way Catalytic Converter

The three way catalytic converter contains precious metals that serve
as catalysts, promoting chemical
reactions to convert the exhaust
gasses without affecting the metals.
The catalytic converter is referred to as a three-way catalyst, since it actson HC, CO, and NOx. A replacement
unit must be an original Honda part or its equivalent.
The three way catalytic converter must operate at a high temperature
for the chemical reactions to take place. It can set on fire any com-
bustible materials that come near it.
Park your car away from high grass,dry leaves, or other flammables. A defective three way catalytic
converter contributes to air pollution,and can impair your engine's per-
formance. Follow these guidelines to protect your car's three way catalyticconverter.
Always use unleaded gasoline.Even a small amount of leaded
gasoline can contaminate the
catalyst metals, making the three
way catalytic converter ineffective.
Keep the engine tuned-up.

Have your car diagnosed and

repaired if it is misfiring, back-

firing, stalling, or otherwise not
running properly.

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Warranty and Customer Relations

Warranty Coverages..................... 228Customer Relations
Information................................. 229
U.S. Zone Office Map.................... 230
Canada Zone Office Map.............. 231
Reporting Safety Defects
(U.S. Cars).................................. 232
Authorized Manuals...................... 233

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