1996 HONDA ODYSSEY engine

Malfunction Indicator Lamp

MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP

This indicator comes on for a few seconds when you turn the ignition
switch ON (II). If it comes on at any
other time, it indicates that one of
the engine's emissions control systems may have a problem. Even
though you may feel no difference in
your car's performance, it can reduce your fuel economy and cause
your car to put out excessive emissions. Continued operation may
cause serious engine damage. If this indicator light comes on, have
your car checked by the dealer as
soon as possible. Drive moderately
until the dealer has inspected the
problem. Avoid full-throttle accelera- tion and driving at high speed.
If you keep driving with the malfunc-
tion indicator lamp/check engine light
on, you can damage your car's
emission controls and engine. Those
repairs may not be covered by your
car's warranties.

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Fuses

All the electrical circuits in your car have fuses to protect them from a
short circuit or overload. These
fuses are located in two or three fuse
boxes.
INTERIOR
KNOB
The interior fuse box is underneath the dashboard on the driver's side.
To open it, turn the knob as shown. UNDER-HOOD
TAB
The under-hood fuse box is located in the engine compartment on the
passenger's side. To open, push the tab as shown.
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Fuses

ABS FUSE BOX
Cars equipped with ABS have a third
fuse box for the ABS. It is in the engine compartment on the right
side.
Checking and Replacing Fuses

If something electrical in your car
stops working, the first thing youshould check for is a blown fuse.
Determine from the chart on pages 211 and 212 , or the diagram on the
fuse box lid, which fuse or fuses control that component. Check those
fuses first, but check all the fuses
before deciding that is not the cause. Replace any blown fuses and check
the component's operation.
1. Turn the ignition switch to LOCK (0). Make sure the headlights and
all other accessories are off.
2. Remove the cover from the fuse box. 3. Check each of the large fuses in
the under-hood fuse box by
looking through the top at the wire
inside. Removing these fusesrequires a Phillips-head screw-driver.

CONTINUED

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Towing

If your car needs to be towed, call a
professional towing service or, if you
belong to one, an organization that
provides roadside assistance. Never tow your car behind another car with
just a rope or chain. It is very
dangerous.

Emergency Towing

There are three popular methods of towing a car:

Flat-bed Equipment — The operator

loads your car on the back of a truck.
This is the best way of trans- porting your Honda.

Wheel Lift Equipment — The tow

truck uses two pivoting arms that go
under the tires (front or rear) and lift them off the ground. The other two
tires remain on the ground.
Sling-type Equipment — The tow

truck uses metal cables with hooks on the ends. These hooks go around
parts of the frame or suspension and
the cables lift that end of the car off
the ground. Your car's suspension and body can be seriously damaged
if this method of towing is attempted.
If your Honda cannot be transported by flat-bed, it should be towed with
the front wheels off the ground. Ifdue to damage, your car must be
towed with the front wheels on the ground, do the following:
Release the parking brake.Start the engine.
Shift to D4, then to N.
Turn off the engine.
Improper towing preparation will
damage the transmission. Follow the
above procedure exactly. If you cannot
shift the transmission or start the engine, your car must be transported

on a flat-bed.

It is best to tow the car no fartherthan 80 km (50 miles), and keepthe speed below 35 mph (55

km/h).

Trying to lift or tow your car by the

bumpers will cause serious damage.
The bumpers are not designed to

support the car's weight.

Taking Care of the Unexpected

NOTICE
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Identification Numbers
Your car has several identifying numbers located in various places.
The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is the 17-digit number your
Honda dealer uses to register your car for warranty purposes. It is also
necessary for licensing and insuring
your car. The easiest place to find the VIN is on a plate fastened to the
top of the dashboard. You can see it
by looking through the windshield on the driver's side. It is also on theCertification label attached to the
driver's doorjamb, and is stamped on
the engine compartment bulkhead.
The VIN is also provided in bar code on the Certification label.
VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

CERTIFICATION LABEL

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Identification Numbers
The Engine Number is stamped into the engine block. It is on the front.
The Transmission Number is on a label on top of the transmission.

Technical Information

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION NUMBER

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Specifications

* 1 : For front A/C only
* 2 : For front and rear A/C *
1 : Including the coolant in the reserve tank and that remaining in the
engine.

Reserve tank capacity:
0.6 (0.16 US gal, 0.13 Imp gal)
* 2 : Excluding the oil remaining in the engine.

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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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