1997 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 to
remind 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 an
emergency 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 has
an additional locking mechanism
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

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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 aresafer when they are properly
restrained in a 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 for securing a child seat with a lap/shoulder belt 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 be dislodged 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
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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 for securing a childseat with a lap/shoulder belt 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 be dislodged or struck with enough
force to cause very serious injury to
the infant. Restraining a Child Who Weighs
Between 20 and 40 Ibs
(9 and 18 kg)

Toddler seats are designed for
children who weigh between 20 and

40 Ibs (9 and 18 kg). We recommend that you place your
child's toddler seat in the secondseat 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 for securing a childseat with a lap/shoulder belt on page
25.

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Child Safety

Using Child Restraints with
Tethers
Your Honda has several attachment points that allow a tether-style childseat to be installed.

Tethers do not replace the use of seat

belts. Even if a tether is used, a child
seat must always be secured
properly with the vehicle's seat belts.

U.S. Models

Two tether attachment points are located on the tailgate sill that allowa tether-style child seat to be
installed on the third seat. Use the
dimensions in the illustration to
locate the attachment point you want to use. Cut a 7/8 inch (22 mm)diameter hole.
Install the tether hardware that came
with the child seat.
Tighten the bolt to: 16 lbf.ft (2.2 kgf.m, 22 N.m)
If you are not sure how to install the
hardware, have it installed by your authorized Honda dealer.
If you need an anchor plate and
mounting hardware, contact your
Honda dealer.
Canadian Models
Your Honda has attachment points for a tether-style child seat to be
installed on the second or third seat
as shown.
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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 use a tether-style child seat in the second seat, the third seat must be
stored in the floor recess (see page 60). You will find a U-shaped slit in
the carpeting at each attachment
point. Select the attachment point
you want to use, and pull up the carpeting at the slit. Attach the
tether strap to the mounting hook and make sure it is secure.

Important Safety Information

Keep the third seat in the floor while
using a tether-style child seat in the second seat. If you attempt to return
the third seat to the upright position,
you may damage the vehicle or
tether, even though the damage may not be obvious. If this happens, the
child seat may not be properly restrained in a crash.

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 the bolt to:
16 lbf.ft (2.2 kgf.m , 22 N.m)
If you are not sure how to install the

hardware, have it installed by your
authorized Honda dealer.

The anchor plate and mounting hardware for a top tether are
supplied 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 properlysecured so it cannot be thrown
around the car during a crash.

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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
Maintenance Required Indicator.................................... 38
Controls Near the Steering
Wheel........................................ 39

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

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

Rear Window Defogger.............. 44
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....................

51

Childproof 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-PassengerModel.................................... 58
Reclining the 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

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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. On U.S. models

In intermittent,you can vary how
often the wipers sweep the
windshield by turning the INT TIME

ring.
To operate the wipers in mist mode,
push the control lever down. The
wipers run at high speed until you release the lever. This gives you a
quick way to clear the windshield.

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Keys and Locks

LOCK TAB
Each door also has a lock tab on the
top. When you push down the lock
tab on the driver's door, all the doors
and the tailgate lock. Pulling up the
lock tab on the driver's door unlocks only that door. The lock tab on each
passenger's door locks and unlocks only that door. To lock any passenger's door when
getting out of the car, push the lock
tab in and close the door. To lock the driver's door, pull the outside door
handle and push the lock tab in or
push the master switch down. Release the handle, then close the
door.

All doors and the tailgate can be locked from the outside by using the
key in either front door. To unlockonly the driver's door from the
outside, turn the key and release it.
If you turn the key and hold it, all
doors and the tailgate will unlock. All
four doors and the tailgate will unlock when you unlock the
passenger's door with the key. Remote Transmitter

U.S. EX model

You can lock and unlock your vehicle with the remote transmitter. When
you push the LOCK button, all doors and the tailgate lock.
When you push the UNLOCK button once, only the driver's door unlocks.
The remaining doors and the tailgate unlock when you push the button asecond time.
Instruments and Controls
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