1996 HONDA ODYSSEY emergency towing

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
NOTICEProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t Table of Contents

Index

DANGER, Explanation of................. ii

Dashboard........................................ 32 Dashboard Compartment............... 68
Daytime Running Lights................. 40Dead Battery, What to Do............ 200
Defects, Reporting Safety............. 232
Defogger, Rear Window................. 43 Defrosting the Windows................. 79
DEXRON® II Automatic Transmission Fluid.................... 155

Dimensions.................................... 218

Dimming the Headlights................ 40
Dipstick Automatic Transmission........... 155

Engine Oil................................... 146

Directional Signals.......................... 43

Disabled, Towing Your Car If..... 213
Disc Brake Wear Indicators......... 124
Disposal of Used Oil...................... 150Doors Locking and Unlocking............... 50
Power Door Locks....................... 50
DOT Tire Quality Grading........... 222
Drive Belts...................................... 169
Driving............................................ 117

Economy..................................... 114

In Bad Weather.......................... 126

In Foreign Countries................. 109

Economy, Fuel............................... 114

Emergencies on the Road............. 191
Battery, Jump Starting.............. 200
Changing a Flat Tire................. 193
Charging System Indicator...... 205
Checking the Fuses................... 209
Low Oil Pressure Indicator...... 204
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.... 206
Manually Closing Sunroof........ 207
Overheated Engine................... 202

Emergency Brake............................ 65
Emergency Flashers....................... 43

Emission Controls......................... 224

Engine
Belts............................................. 169

Coolant Temperature Gauge..... 38
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp................................ 34,
206

Oil Pressur e
Indicator......... 34, 204Oil, What Kind to Use............... 147
Overheating................................ 202
Specifications............................. 219
Ethanol in Gasoline ....................... 109
Evaporative Emission Controls.... 224
Exhaust Fumes................................ 29Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat Belts by......................................... 10
Exterior, Cleaning the................... 184

Fabric, Cleaning............................. 186
Fan, Interior...................................... 74

Features, Comfort and
Convenience............................... 73

Filling the Fuel Tank..................... 110
Filter
Air................................................ 158
Oil................................................ 148

First Gear Position......................... 122
Flashers, Hazard Warning.............. 43

Flat Tire, Changing a.................... 193

CONTINUEDProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Index

Fluids
Automatic Transmission........... 155

Brake........................................... 156

Power Steering........................... 157

Windshield Washer................... 154

FM Stereo Radio
Reception.................................... 97

Folding the Second Seats ............... 58

Folding the Third Seats.................. 60

Foreign Countries, Driving in...... 109

Four-way Flashers......................... 43

Front End, Towing by Emergency
Wrecker.................................... 213

Fuel.................................................. 108
Fill Door and Cap....................... 110

Gauge.......................................... 38

Octane Requirement................. 108

Oxygenated................................ 108

Tank, Filling the......................... 110

Fuses, Checking the...................... 209

Gas Mileage, Improving................ 114

Gasohol........................................... 108

Gasoline.......................................... 108
Gauge.......................................... 38

Octane Requirement................. 108

Tank, Filling the......................... 110

Gas Station Procedures................. 110

Gauges Engine Coolant Temperature .... 38

Fuel.............................................. 38

Gearshift Lever Positions............. 120 Glass Cleaning............................... 187
Glove Box......................................... 53
Halogen Headlight Bulbs.............. 177
Hazard Warning Flashers............. 43

Headlights....................................... 40
Aiming......................................... 175Daytime Running Lights............. 40
High Beam Indicator................... 36High Beams, Turning on............ 40
Low Beams, Turning on............. 40
Reminder Chime.......................... 40 Replacing Halogen Bulbs ......... 177

Turning on.................................. 40

Head Restraints............................... 56
Heating and Cooling........................ 74 High Altitude, Starting at............ 119
High-Low Beam Switch............... 40

Hood, Opening the ...................... 111

Horn............................................... 39

Hot Coolant, Warning about...... 151 Hydroplaning................................ 127
Identification Number, Vehicle.. 216
If Your Car Has to be Towed..... 213Ignition
Keys............................................. 49

Switch.......................................... 49

Timing Control System............. 225
Indicator Lights, Instrument

Panel............................................. 33

Infant Restraint............................... 22 Inflation, Proper Tire .................... 170
Inside Mirror................................... 64

Inspection, Tire.............................. 171

Instrument Panel............................. 33

Instrument Panel Brightness........ 41
Interior Cleaning............................ 186
Interior Lights................................. 70

Introduction...................................... iProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Index

Transmission
Checking Fluid Level................ 155
Fluid Selection............................ 155
Identification Number............... 216
Shifting the Automatic.............. 120

Treadwear...................................... 222

Trip Meter........................................ 37 Turn Signals..................................... 41
Tires Inspection................................... 171
Replacing.................................... 172Rotating....................................... 172
Snow............................................ 174

Specifications............................. 219

Tools, Tire Changing.................... 193 Torn Seat Belts................................ 11
Towing A Trailer...................................... 128
Emergency Wrecker................. 213

Underside, Cleaning...................... 188

Unexpected, Taking Care
of the........................................... 191

Uniform Tire Quality Grading..... 222
Unleaded Gasoline......................... 108

Upholstery Cleaning...................... 186

Used Oil, How to Dispose of........ 150
Warning Beepers Key in Ignition..............................
50

Seat Belts..................................... .
34

WARNING, Explanation of.............. ii Warning Labels, Location of.......... 30
Warranty Coverages*................... 228
Washer, Windshield Checking the Fluid Level......... 154
Operation...................................... 42

Washing.......................................... 184
Waxing and Polishing................... 184

Wheels
Adjusting the Steering............. 44
Alignment and Balance............ 171Compact Spare.......................... 192
Wrench...................................... 195
Windows Cleaning..................................... 187
Operating the Power................. 62
Rear, Defogger........................... 43
Windshield Cleaning...................................... 42
Defroster..................................... 79
Wipers, Windshield
Changing Blades....................... 165

Operation.................................... 42

Rear Windshield Wiper and
Washer................................... 43

Worn Tires.................................. 171

Wrecker, Emergency Towing.... 213
* : U. S. and Canada only

Vanity Mirror................................... 68

Vehicle Capacity Load .................. 116

Vehicle Dimensions....................... 218

Vehicle Identification Number..... 216

Vehicle Storage.............................. 182
Ventilation......................................... 76

VIN.................................................. 216
Vinyl Cleaning................................ 186

Viscosity, Oil................................... 148ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t