1996 HONDA ODYSSEY ECO mode

The Seat Belt System and How It Works

Seat Belt System Components

Your Honda has seat belts in all seating positions. All the seat belts in
the six-passenger model are lap/ shoulder belts. In the seven-
passenger model, the center position of the bench-type second seat has a
lap belt.
Your seat belt system also includes a light on the instrument panel toremind you to fasten your seat belt,and to make sure your passengers
fasten theirs. This light comes on
when you turn on the ignition if you
have not fastened your seat belt. A beeper also sounds for severalseconds (see page 34 ).
The following pages cover more about the seat belt components and
how they work.
Lap/Shoulder Belt

This style of seat belt has a single belt that goes over your shoulder,across your chest, and across your

hips.

Each lap/shoulder belt has anemergency locking retractor. In
normal driving, the retractor lets you
move freely in your seat while it
keeps some tension on the belt. During a collision or sudden stop,
the retractor automatically locks the
belt to help restrain your body. The lap/shoulder belt retractor in
each passenger seating position hasan additional locking mechanism
that is intended to secure a child seat (see page 25 ). If the shoulder part of
the belt is pulled all the way out, this mechanism will engage. The belt will
retract, but it will not allow the
passenger to move freely. If the belt
feels too tight, unlatch it, let it retract
fully, then pull it out as far as needed.
Driver and Passenger Safety
SHOULDER

PORTION
UPPER SEAT
BELT ANCHOR
To retractor

LAP

PORTION

LATCH

PLATE

BUCKLEProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t Table of Contents

Child Safety

Children depend on adults to protect
them. To help make sure we do, every state and Canadian province
has laws requiring infants and young children to be properly restrained
whenever they ride in a car. Where Should Children Sit?
According to accident statistics,
children of all sizes and ages are
safer when they are properly
restrained in the rear seat rather
than the front seat.
We recommend that you place your child's infant or toddler seat in thesecond seat and secure it with the
vehicle's lap/shoulder belt or lap belt (seven-passenger model). If you use
the lap/shoulder belt, be sure to
follow the instructions on page 25 .
We strongly recommend that you do not put an infant seat in the front
passenger's seat. If the airbag
inflates, it can hit the infant seat with
great force. The infant seat can bedislodged or struck with enough
force to cause very serious injury to
the infant.
Driver and Passenger Safety
An infant or child who is not
properly restrained can be killed
or seriously injured in a crash.
Be sure any child too small for
seat belts is properly secured in a child restraint.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t Table of Contents

Child Safety

We recommend that you place your child's infant seat in the second seat
and secure it with the vehicle's lap/shoulder belt or lap belt (seven-
passenger model). If you use the
lap/shoulder belt, be sure to follow
the instructions on page 25.
We strongly recommend that you do not put an infant seat in the frontpassenger's seat. If the airbag
inflates, it can hit the infant seat with
great force. The infant seat can be dislodged or struck with enough
force to cause very serious injury to the infant. Restraining a Child Who Weighs
Between 9 and 18 kg (20 and 40 Ibs)

Toddler seats are designed for children who weigh between 9 and
18 kg (20 and 40 Ibs). We recommend that you place your
child's toddler seat in the second seat and secure it with the vehicle's
lap/shoulder belt or lap belt (seven- passenger model). If you use the
lap/shoulder belt, be sure to follow the instructions on page 25 .

CONTINUED

Driver and Passenger SafetyProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t Table of Contents

Child Safety

Using Child Restraints with
Tethers

U.S. Models

35 mm (1.4 in)

Your Honda has two attachment points on the tailgate sill that allow
for a tether-style child seat to beinstalled in the third row seat. Use
the dimensions in the above illustra-
tion to locate the attachment point
you want to use. Cut a 22 mm (7/8 inch) diameter hole. Install the tether hardware that came
with the child seat.
Tighten to:
22 N.m (2.2 kgf.m , 16 lbf.ft)

If you are not sure how to install the
bracket, have it installed by your Honda dealer.
If you need an anchor plate and mounting hardware, you can obtain
them by writing to:
American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Consumer Affairs1919 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance, CA 90501-2746
Canadian Models

Your Honda has attachment points for a tether-style child seat to beinstalled on the second or third seat
as shown.

Driver and Passenger Safety
265 mm

(10.5
in)ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t Table of Contents

Child Safety

Second Seat Installation:

There are three attachment points available for the seven-passenger
model, and two attachment points
available for the six-passenger model.
To install a child seat in the second seat, fold the third seat into the floor
recess (see page 60 ). You will find a U-shaped slit in the carpeting at each
attachment point. Select the attach-
ment point you want to use, and pull
up the carpeting at the slit.
Third Seat Installation:

There are two attachment points on the tailgate sill. Select the attach-
ment point you want use, and
remove the plug with a small flat-
tipped screwdriver or a fingernail file.
Install the tether hardware that came
with the child seat.
Tighten to:
22 N.m (2.2 kgf.m , 16 lbf.ft)

If you are not sure how to install the
bracket, have it installed by your Honda dealer.

Canadian Cars

The anchor plate and mounting hardware for a top tether aresupplied with the car. When install-
ing, make sure the toothed washer is
on the bottom of the bolt.
TOOTHED WASHER

The supplied anchor plate is designed only for mounting a child
restraint. Do not use it for any other
purpose.
Storing a Child Seat
When you are not using an infant seat or other child restraint, either
remove it or make sure it is properly secured so it cannot be thrown
around the car during a crash.
Driver and Passenger SafetyProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t Table of Contents

Instruments and Controls

This section gives information about the controls and displays thatcontribute to the daily operation of
your Honda. All the essential controls are within easy reach.
Control Locations............................ 32
Indicator Lights................................ 33
Gauges.............................................. 37
Speedometer................................ 37

Trip Meter.................................... 37
Odometer......................................
37

Temperature Gauge................... .
38

Fuel Gauge.................................. 38

Maintenanc
e Required

Indicator...................................

38

Controls Nea r
the Steering

Wheel........................................ 39

Headlights.................................... 40
Daytime Running Lights............. 40
Instrument Panel Brightness..... 41
Turn Signals................................. 41
Windshield Wipers...................... 42
Windshield Washers................... 42 Rear Window Wiper and Washer...................................... 43

Hazard Warning........................... 43

Rear Window Defogger.............. 43
Steering Wheel Adjustment....... 44
Steering Wheel Controls................ 46 Cruise Control.............................. 46
Keys and Locks................................ 49
Keys............................................... 49
Ignition Switch............................. 49
Power Door Locks....................... 50
Remote Transmitter.................... 51Childproof Door Locks............... 52
Tailgate......................................... 52
Glove Box..................................... 53

Seats.................................................. 54
Passenger Seating....................... 54

Seat Adjustments......................... 54
Driver's Seat Power Height Adjustment............................... 55
Head Restraints........................... 56 Third Seat Access........................ 56
Removing the Second Seats in the Six-Passenger Model.... 57
Folding the Second Seats in the Seven-Passenger
Model....................................

58

Reclining th e
Second Seat.......... 59

Folding the Third Seat
in All Models............................ 60

Power Windows............................... 62

Sunroof.............................................. 63

Mirrors.............................................. 64
Adjusting the Power Mirrors..... 64

Parking Brake..................................

65

Digital Clock.................................... .
66
Beverage Holder.............................. 66
Dashboard Compartment............... 68 Center Pocket.................................. 68
Vanity Mirror................................... 68 Cigarette Lighter............................. 69
Ashtrays............................................ 69 Interior Lights.................................. 70

Ceiling Lights............................... 70

Spotlights...................................... 70
Tailgate Light............................... 71 Courtesy Lights........................... 71

Instruments and ControlsProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Controls Near the Steering Wheel

Headlights

The rotating switch on the left lever controls the lights. Turning this switch to the first position
turns on the parking lights, taillights, instrument panel lights, side-marker
lights, and rear license plate lights.
Turning the switch to the second position turns on the
headlights. If you leave the lights on with the
ignition switch in ACCESSORY (I)
or LOCK (0), you will hear a
reminder chime when you open the
driver's door.
To change between low beams and high beams, pull back on the turnsignal lever until you hear a click,
then let go. The blue high beam indicator will light (see page 36). To flash the high beams, pull back
and hold the turn signal lever.
Release the lever and the high
beams will go off.
The high beams will stay on for as long as you hold the lever, no matter
what position the headlight switch is
in.

Daytime Running Lights (Canadian Models)
With the headlight switch off, the high beam headlights come on with
reduced brightness when you turn
the ignition switch to ON (II) and release the parking brake. They
remain on until you turn the ignition
off, even if you set the parking brake
The headlights revert to normal operation when you turn them on
with the switch.
Instruments and ControlsProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t Table of Contents

Controls Near the Steering Wheel

Windshield Wipers

The right lever controls the wind-
shield wipers and washers. The
rotary switch at the end of the lever

has three positions:
INT: intermittent
: low speed
: high speed
In intermittent, the wipers operate
every few seconds. In low speed and
high speed, the wipers run continu- ously. To operate the wipers in mist mode,
push the control lever down. The
wipers run at high speed until yourelease the lever. This gives you a quick way to clear the windshield. Windshield Washers
To clean the windshield, pull back ofthe wiper control lever. The washersspray until you release the lever. The
wipers run at low speed while you're pulling the lever, then complete onemore sweep of the windshield after
you release it.

Instruments and ControlsProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t Table of Contents