1997 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. 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
NOTICEProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Index

DANGER, Explanation of................. ii
Dashboard........................................ 32
Dashboard Compartment............... 68
Daytime Running Lights................. 40
Dead Battery, What to Do............ 202
Defects, Reporting Safety............. 234
Defogger, Rear Window................. 43
Defrosting the Windows................. 79 DEXRON ®
III Automatic
Transmission Fluid.................... 157
Dimensions..................................... 220
Dimming the Headlights................ 40
Dipstick Automatic Transmission........... 157

Engine Oil................................... 112

Directional Signals........................... 41
Disabled, Towing Your Car If...... 215
Disc Brake Wear Indicators......... 125
Disposal of Used Oil...................... 151 Doors Locking and Unlocking............... 50
Power Door Locks....................... 50
DOT Tire Quality Grading........... 223
Drive Belts...................................... 170
Driving............................................ 117

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

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

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

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

Emergencies on the Road............. 193
Battery, Jump Starting.............. 202

Changing a Flat Tire................. 195
Charging System Indicator ...... 207
Checking the Fuses................... 211
Low Oil Pressure Indicator...... 206
Malfunction Indicator Lamp .... 208
Manually Closing Sunroof........ 209
Overheated Engine................... 204

Emergency Brake............................ 65

Emergency Flashers....................... 43
Emission Controls......................... 225
Engine

Belts............................................. 170

Coolant Temperature Gauge ..... 38
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp................................. 34, 208

Oil Pressure Indicator......... 34, 206 Oil, What Kind to Use............... 148

Overheating................................ 204

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

Ethanol in Gasoline ....................... 109

Evaporative Emission Controls.... 225

Exhaust Fumes................................ 29

Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
Belts by......................................... 10

Exterior, Cleaning the................... 186

Fabric, Cleaning............................. 188
Fan, Interior...................................... 74
Features, Comfort and Convenience................................. 73
Filling the Fuel Tank..................... 110
Filter
Air................................................ 160

Oil................................................ 150

First Gear Position......................... 122 Flashers, Hazard Warning.............. 43
Flat Tire, Changing a.................... 195
CONTINUEDProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Index

Fluids Automatic Transmission........... 157

Brake........................................... 158

Power Steering........................... 159
Windshield Washer................... 156
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...................................... 215

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

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

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

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

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

Fuses, Checking the...................... 211

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............................... 189

Glove Box......................................... 53
Halogen Headlight Bulbs.............. 179 Hazard Warning Flashers............... 43
Headlights......................................... 40 Aiming......................................... 177
Daytime Running Lights............. 40
High Beam Indicator................... 36
High Beams, Turning on............ 40Low Beams, Turning on............. 40
Reminder Chime.......................... 40
Replacing Halogen Bulbs ......... 179

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

Head Restraints...............................
56Heating and Cooling........................ 74
High Altitude, Starting at.............. 119
High-Low Beam Switch .................. 40
Hood, Opening the ........................ 111
Horn................................................... 39
Hot Coolant, Warning about........ 152
Hydroplaning.................................. 129

Identification Number, Vehicle.... 218

If Your Car Has to be Towed....... 215

Ignition
Keys............................................... 49
Switch............................................ 49
Timing Control System............. 226
Indicator Lights, Instrument
Panel..............................................33

Infant Restraint................................ 22

Inflation, Proper Tire .................... 171

Inside Mirror.................................... 64

Inspection, Tire.............................. 173
Instrument Panel............................. 33

Instrument Panel Brightness......... 41

Interior Cleaning............................ 188
Interior Lights.................................. 70ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Index

Tires Inspection................................... 173Replacing.................................... 174
Rotating....................................... 174
Snow............................................ 176
Specifications............................. 221
Transmission
Checking Fluid Level................ 157
Fluid Selection............................ 157
Identification Number............... 218
Shifting the Automatic.............. 120
Treadwear...................................... 223

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

Turn Signals..................................... 41
Tools, Tire Changing.................... 195

Torn Seat Belts ................................ 11

Towing

A Trailer...................................... 130
Emergency Wrecker................. 215

Underside, Cleaning...................... 190
Unexpected, Taking Care
of the........................................... 193

Uniform Tire Quality Grading..... 223
Unleaded Gasoline......................... 108

Upholstery Cleaning...................... 188
Used Oil, How to Dispose of........ 151

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

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

Vehicle Dimensions....................... 220

Vehicle Identification Number..... 218

Vehicle Storage.............................. 184

Ventilation......................................... 76
VIN.................................................. 218

Vinyl Cleaning................................ 188

Viscosity, Oil................................... 149 Operation...................................... 42
Washing.......................................... 186 Waxing and Polishing................... 187
Wheels Adjusting the Steering................ 44
Alignment and Balance............. 173
Compact Spare........................... 194
Wrench....................................... 197
Windows Cleaning...................................... 189
Operating the Power................... 62
Rear, Defogger............................ 44
Windshield Cleaning........................................ 42
Defroster...................................... 79
Wipers, Windshield Changing Blades........................ 166Operation...................................... 42
Rear Windshield Wiper and
Washer......................................43

Worn Tires..................................... 173
Wrecker, Emergency Towing...... 215
* : U. S. and Canada only
Warning Beepers
Key in Ignition.............................. 50

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

WARNING, Explanation of.............. ii

Warning Labels, Location of.......... 30

Warranty Coverages*................... 233
Washer, Windshield Checking the Fluid Level......... 156ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t