1997 HONDA ODYSSEY tires

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. If due 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 farther
than 50 miles (80 km), and keep
the 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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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 the

speed 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 the
sidewall 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
171).

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 ofthe tire when tested under controlledconditions 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 the
government course as a tire graded 100. The relative performance of
tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.

CONTINUED

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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 controlled conditions 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 the
minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for

this tire is established for a tire that
is 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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Warranty Coverages

U.S. Owners
Your new Honda is covered by these

warranties:

New Car Limited Warranty — covers

your new car, except for the battery, emissions control systems and
accessories, against defects in

materials and workmanship.

Emissions Control Systems Defects
Warranty and Emissions

Performance Warranty — these two

warranties cover your car's emis- sions control systems. Time, mileage,
and coverage are conditional. Please
read the warranty manual for exact information.

Original Equipment Battery Limited
Warranty — this warranty gives up
to 100 percent credit toward a

replacement battery.
Seat Belt Limited Warranty — a seat

belt that fails to function properly is
covered for the useful life of the car.

Rust Perforation Limited Warranty
— all exterior body panels are
covered for rust-through from the
inside for the specified time period
with no mileage limit.

Accessory Limited Warranty —

Genuine Honda Accessories are
covered under this warranty. Time
and mileage limits depend on the
type of accessory and other factors. Please read your warranty manual
for details.

Replacement Parts Limited
Warranty — covers all Genuine
Honda replacement parts against defects in materials and workman-

ship.
Replacement Battery Limited

Warranty — provides prorated

coverage for a replacement battery

purchased from a Honda dealer.

Replacement Muffler Lifetime
Limited Warranty — provides

coverage for as long as the pur-
chaser of the muffler owns the car.
Restrictions and exclusions apply to
all these warranties. Please read the 1997 Honda Warranties booklet that
came with your car for precise
information on warranty coverages.
Your Honda's original tires are covered by their manufacturer. Tire
warranty information is in a separate
booklet.

Canadian Owners

Please refer to the 1997 Warranty
Manual that came with your car.

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Index

Accessories
Installation.................................. 115
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key Position)........................................ 50
Adding Automatic Transmission
Fluid........................................ 152
Brake Fluid................................. 158
Engine Coolant........................... 152
Engine Oil................................... 148 Power Steering Fluid................. 159
Windshield Washer Fluid......... 156
Additional Safety Information........ 18 Door Locks................................... 19
Driving with Pets......................... 19
Head Restraint Position.............. 18
Seat-back Position........................ 18
Storing Cargo Safely................... 19
Additives, Engine Oil..................... 150
Adjustments
Mirrors.......................................... 64

Head Restraints........................... 56

Seats.............................................. 54

Steering Wheel............................ 44
Airbag (SRS).................................... 12
Air Cleaner Element...................... 160
Air Conditioning............................... 74
Maintenance............................... 169
Usage............................................. 74
Air Outlets (Vents).......................... 76
Air Pressure, Tires........................ 171
Alcohol and Drugs........................... 28
Alcohol in Gasoline........................ 108
Antifreeze....................................... 152 Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) Indicator Light..................... 35, 127
Operation.................................... 126
Anti-theft Steering Column Lock .. 50
Appearance Care........................... 185

Ashtray.............................................. 69

Audio System................................... 83
Automatic Speed Control................ 46
Automatic Transmission............... 120 Capacity, Fluid........................... 218
Checking Fluid Level................ 157
Shifting........................................ 120

Shift Lever Positions................. 120

Shift Position Indicator............. 120

Shift Lock Release..................... 123
Battery
Charging SystemIndicator............................ 34, 207
Jump Starting............................. 202
Maintenance............................... 164
Specifications............................. 221
Before Driving............................... 107
Belts, Seat........................................... 5
Beverage Holder.............................. 66 Body Repair.................................... 191

Brakes
Anti-lock System (ABS)............ 126
Break-in, New Linings .............. 108

Fluid............................................ 158
Light, Burned-out...................... 181
Parking.......................................... 65
System Indicator.......................... 34
Wear Indicators......................... 125
Brakes, ABS Operation.................................... 126
System Indicator.................. 35, 127
Braking System.............................. 125
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Index

Outside Mirrors............................... 64
Overheating, Engine..................... 204
Owner Maintenance Checks........ 146
Panel Brightness Control............... 41
Park Gear Position......................... 121
Parking............................................ 124
Parking Brake.................................. 65
Parking Lights.................................. 40
Parking Over Things that Burn... 227
PGM-FI System.............................. 226
Polishing and Waxing................... 187

Power
Door Locks................................... 50

Mirrors.......................................... 64

Steering....................................... 159

Windows....................................... 62

Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts.......... 10

Proper Seat Belt Usage..................... 7

Radiator Overheating.................... 204

Radio/Cassette Sound System....... 83
Rear A/C Unit.................................. 82
Rear End Towing........................... 215
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement... 181
Rear View Mirror............................. 64
Rear Window Defogger.................. 44
Rear Window Wiper and Washer.. 43
Reclining the Seat Backs................ 55
Reclining the Second Seats............ 59
Reminder Lights.............................. 33
Remote Transmitter........................ 51
Removing the Second Seats........... 57
Replacement Information Air Cleaner Element.................. 160
Coolant........................................ 154
Engine Oil and Filter................. 150
Fuses........................................... 211Light Bulbs................................. 179
Schedule..................................... 140
Spark Plugs................................. 162
Timing Belt................................. 170
Tires............................................ 174
Wiper Blades.............................. 166
Replacing Seat Belts After a
Crash............................................. 11

Reserve Tank, Coolant.................. 113

Restraint, Child................................ 20
Reverse Gear Position................... 121

Rotation, Tire................................. 174

Safety Belts......................................... 5

Safety Defects, Reporting*.......... 234
Safety Labels, Location of.............. 30
Safety Messages................................ ii

Seat Belts............................................ 5

Advice for Pregnant Women...... 10
Cleaning...................................... 189

Frayed or Torn............................. 11
Maintenance................................. 11
Reminder Light and Beeper....... 34
Replacement................................. 11
System Components...................... 6
Tether Attachment Points.......... 26
Use During Pregnancy................ 10
Wearing a Lap/Shoulder Belt...... 7
Wearing the Lap Belt.................... 9

Seats.................................................. 54
Adjustments................................. 54

Driver's Seat Power
Height Adjustment.................. 55

Folding the Second Seats ........... 58ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Index

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

Head Restraints........................... 56

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

Reclining the Second Seat.......... 59

Removing the Second Seats....... 57

Third Seat Access........................ 56

Serial Number................................ 218

Service Intervals*.......................... 142

Service Manual.............................. 235

Service Station Procedures .......... 110

Setting the Clock............................. 66

Shifting the Automatic
Transmission.............................. 120

Shift Lever Position Indicator...... 120
Shift Lever Positions..................... 120
Side Marker Lights, Bulb
Replacement in.......................... 180

Signaling Turns................................ 41

Snow Tires...................................... 176

Solvent-type Cleaners.................... 186

Sound System................................... 83

Spare Tire
Inflating....................................... 194

Specifications............................. 221

Spark Plugs, Replacing................. 162 Specifications Charts..................... 220

Speed Control................................... 46

Speedometer.................................... 37

SRS Indicator.............................. 16, 34

START (Ignition Key Position)..... 50
Starting the Engine........................ 119 In Cold Weather at HighAltitude................................... 119
With a Dead Battery................. 202
Steam Coming from Engine......... 204

Steering Wheel
Adjustment................................... 44
Anti-theft Column Lock.............. 49
Stereo Sound System...................... 83
Storing Your Car............................ 184

Sunroof.............................................. 63
Closing Manually....................... 209
Operation...................................... 63
Supplemental Restraint System Service Precautions..................... 17
Servicing....................................... 16
SRS Indicator.......................... 16, 34
System Components.................... 12
Synthetic Oil................................... 149 Tailgate............................................. 52
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in....... 181
Taking Care of the Unexpected .. 193
Tape Player................................. 87, 99
Technical Descriptions Emission Control Systems........ 225
Three Way Catalytic Converter................................ 227
Tire Information........................ 222
Temperature Gauge........................ 38
Tether Attachment Points.............. 26 Three Way Catalytic Converter... 227

Time, Setting the............................. 66

Timing Belt..................................... 170
Tire Chains..................................... 176
Tire, How to Change a Flat.......... 195
Tires................................................ 171 Air Pressure............................... 171
Checking Wear.......................... 173
Compact Spare........................... 194
DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 223
Inflation....................................... 171
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