1996 HONDA ODYSSEY sensor

Supplemental Restraint System

Your car is equipped with a Supple- mental Restraint System (SRS) to
help protect the head and chest ofthe driver and front seat passenger during a severe frontal collision.

This system does not replace your seat
belts. It supplements, or adds to, the
protection offered by seat belts and other occupant protection features. SRS Components
Your supplemental restraint system includes: One airbag in the steering wheel
for the driver and another in the dashboard for the passenger.
Sensors that can detect a severe frontal collision.
A sophisticated electronic systemthat continually monitors thesensors, control unit, airbag
activators, and all related wiringwhen the ignition is ON (II).
An indicator light on the instru- ment panel to alert you to a possi-
ble problem with the system.
Emergency backup power in case
your car's electrical system is disconnected in a crash. What Happens In a Crash
If you ever have a severe frontal
collision, the sensors will detect rapid deceleration and signal the
control unit to instantly inflate the

airbags.

During a crash, your seat belts will
help to restrain your lower body andtorso. The airbags will provide a
cushion to absorb crash energy and
help keep the head and chest of thedriver and front passenger from
striking the interior of the car.
After inflating, the airbags will immediately deflate. The entire
process, from detection to deflation, takes a fraction of a second. This
process occurs so quickly that youmay not hear the loud noise created
by the airbag inflators, or realize
what has happened.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Not wearing seat belts
increases the chance of serious
injury or death in a crash, evenif you have airbags.

Be sure you and your
passengers always wear seat
belts and wear them properly.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t Table of Contents

Gasoline

The following are the EPA-approved percentages of oxygenates:
ETHANOL (ethyl or grain alcohol)
You may use gasoline containing up to 10% ethanol by volume. Gasoline containing ethanol may be marketed
under the name "Gasohol."
MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl

Ether)

You may use gasoline containing up to 15% MTBE by volume. METHANOL (methyl or wood

alcohol)

You may use gasoline containing up to 5% methanol by volume as long asit also contains cosolvents andcorrosion inhibitors to protect the
fuel system. Gasoline containing more than 5% methanol by volume
may cause starting and/or perform-ance problems. It may also damage
metal, rubber and plastic parts of
your fuel system.
If you notice any undesirableoperating symptoms, try another
service station or switch to another
brand of gasoline.
Fuel system damage or performance
problems resulting from the use of an oxygenated fuel containing morethan the percentages of oxygenates
given above are not covered under
warranty.
Driving in Foreign Countries

If you are planning to take your
Honda outside the U.S. or Canada,
contact the tourist bureaus in the areas you will be traveling in to find
out about the availability of unleaded
gasoline with the proper octane
rating.

If unleaded gasoline is not available,
be aware that using leaded gasoline in your Honda will affect perfor-
mance and fuel mileage, and damage its emissions controls. It will nolonger comply with U.S. andCanadian emissions regulations, and
will be illegal to operate in North
America. To bring your car back into compliance will require the replace-
ment of several components, such as
the oxygen sensor and the three way catalytic converter. These replace-
ments are not covered under
warranty.
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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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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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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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