1998 HONDA ODYSSEY maintenance

1998 Odyssey Online Reference Owner's Manual
Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through\
this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.h\
elminc.com.

Contents

Owner's Identification Form
Introduction ........................................................................\
............................................................... i
A Few Words About Safety........................................................................\
....................................... ii
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
.................................... 3
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restr\
aint System.
Instruments and Control s........................................................................\
........................................ 49
Instrument panel indicator and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering colu\
mn controls.
Comfort and Convenience Features ........................................................................\
...................... 93
How to operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other c\
onvenience features.
Before Driving........................................................................\
..........................................................127
What gasoline to use, how to break -in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving ........................................................................\
......................................................................139
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, pl\
us towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
.............................................................159
The Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take you r vehicle to the dealer.
Appearance Car e........................................................................\
..................................................... .213
Tips on cleaning and protecting your vehicle. Things to look for if your\
vehicle ever needs body repairs.
Taking Care of the Unexpecte d........................................................................\
..............................221
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experience, an d how to handle them.
Technical Informatio n........................................................................\
.............................................245
ID numbers, dimensions, capacities, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)................................................................259
A summary of the warranties covering your new Acura, and how to contact \
us.
Authorized Manu als (U.S. only)........................................................................\
..............................265
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index........................................................................\
.............................................................................. I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.

ProCarManuals.com

Introduction
Congratulations ! Your selection of a 1998 Honda Odyssey was a wise
investment. It will give you years of driving pleasure.
One of the best ways to enhance the enjoyment of your new Honda is to
read this manual. In it, you will learn how to operate its driving controls and convenience items. Afterwards, keep this owner's manual in your vehicle so
you can refer to it at any time.
Several warranties protect your new Honda. Read the warranty booklet
thoroughly so you understand the coverages and are aware of your rights and responsibilities.
Maintaining your vehicle according to the schedules given in this manual
helps to keep your driving trouble-free while it preserves your investment.
When your vehicle needs maintenance, keep in mind that your Honda dealer's staff is specially trained in servicing the many systems unique to
your Honda. Your Honda dealer is dedicated to your satisfaction and will be pleased to answer any questions and concerns. As you read this manual, you will
find information that is preceded by
symbol. This
information is intended to help you
avoid damage to your Honda, other
property, or the environment.
a
NOTICEProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Driver and Passenger Safety

This section gives you important information about how to protect

yourself and your passengers. It
shows you how to use seat belts

properly. It explains your Supple-

mental Restraint System. And it tells

you how to properly restrain infants
and children in your vehicle.

Important Safety Precautions .......... 4

Your Vehicle's Safety Features........ 5
Seat Belts........................................ 6
Airbags............................................ 7

Seats & Seat-Backs........................ 8
Head Restraints............................. 8
Door Locks..................................... 9
Pre-Drive Safety Checklist........... 9
Protecting Adults............................. 10 1. Close and Lock the Doors...... 10
2. Adjust the Front Seats............ 10
3. Adjust the Seat-Backs............. 11
4. Adjust the Head Restraints.... 12
5. Fasten and Position the Seat
Belts...................................... 13

6. Adjust the Steering Wheel..... 16

7. Maintain a Proper Sitting
Position................................. 16
Advice for Pregnant Women...... 17
Additional Safety Precautions.... 17
Protecting Children......................... 19
All Children Must Be Restrained................................ 19
Children Should Sit in the Back
Seat............................................ 20

The Passenger's Airbag Poses Serious Risks to Children....... 20
If You Must Drive with Several Children.................................... 21 If a Child Requires Close

Attention................................... 22

Additional Safety Precautions.... 22
General Guidelines for Using
Child Seats................................ 23

Protecting Infants........................ 27
Protecting Small Children.......... 31
Protecting Larger Children........ 35 Using Child Seats with Tethers...................................... 38
Additional Information About Your Seat Belts.................................. 41
Seat Belt System Components... 41
Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 41
Lap Belt......................................... 42
Seat Belt Maintenance................ 42
Additional Information About Your

SRS........................................... 44

SRS Components......................... 44

How Your Airbags Work............ 44
How Your SRS Indicator Light

Works........................................ 45

SRS Service................................... 46

Additional Safety Precautions.... 46

Carbon Monoxide Hazard.............. 47

Safety Labels.................................... 48

Driver and Passenger SafetyProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Important Safety Precautions

You'll find many safety recommendations throughout thissection, and throughout this manual.
Following are a few
recommendations we consider most
important.
Always Wear Your Seat Belt A seat belt is your best protection in all types of collisions. Airbags
supplement seat belts, but airbags
are designed to inflate only in a
severe frontal collision. So even with
airbags, make sure you and your
passengers always wear your seat
belts, and wear them properly. (See
page 13.)
Restrain All Children
Children are safest when they are
properly restrained in a back seat, not the front seat. A child who is too
small for a seat belt must be properly
restrained in a child safety seat. (See
page 19.) Be Aware of Airbag Hazards
While airbags save lives, they can cause serious or fatal injuries tooccupants who sit too close to them,
or are not properly restrained.
Infants, young children, and short
adults are at the greatest risk. Be
sure to follow all instructions and
warnings in this manual. (See page 5.)

Don't Drink and Drive

Alcohol and driving don't mix. Even one drink can reduce your ability to
respond to changing conditions and
your reaction time gets worse with every additional drink. So don't drink
and drive, and don't let your friends drink and drive, either. Control Your Speed
Excessive speed is a major factor in
crash injuries and deaths. Generally,
the higher the speed the greater the
risk, but serious accidents can also occur at lower speeds. Never drive
faster than is safe for current conditions, regardless of the
maximum speed posted.
Keep Your Vehicle in Safe
Condition
Having a tire blowout or a
mechanical failure can be extremely
hazardous. To reduce the possibility of such problems, check your tire
pressures and condition frequently, and perform all regularly scheduled
maintenance. (See page 164.)
Driver and Passenger SafetyProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Additional Information About Your Seat Belts

To deactivate the locking mechanism, unlatch the buckle and
let the seat belt fully retract. To
refasten the belt, pull it out only as
far as needed.
See page 13 for instructions on how
to wear the lap/shoulder belt
properly.
Lap Belt
Seven-passenger model only

The lap belt has one manually- adjusted belt that fits across the hips.

To fasten the belt, insert the latch
plate into the buckle markedCENTER, then tug on the belt to
make sure the buckle is latched.
To unlock the belt, push the red PRESS button on the buckle.
See page 14 for how to lengthen the lap belt, and how to properly position
the belt. Seat Belt Maintenance
For safety, you should check the
condition of your seat belts regularly.
Pull each belt out fully and look for
frays, cuts, burns, and wear. Check
that the latches work smoothly and
that the lap/shoulder belts retract easily. Any belt not in good condition
or not working properly will not
provide good protection and should
be replaced as soon as possible.
Honda provides a lifetime warranty
on seat belts. Honda will repair or
replace any seat belt component that
fails to function properly during normal use.

Please see your Honda WarrantyInformation booklet for details.
Driver and Passenger SafetyProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Additional Information About Your SRS
If the light comes on or flashes on
and off while you drive.
If you see any of these indications,
your airbags may not deploy when
you need them. See your Honda dealer as soon as possible. SRS Service
Your Supplemental Restraint System is virtually maintenance-free, and
there are no parts you can safely service. However, you must have
your vehicle serviced if:
Your airbags ever inflate. The

airbags and the control unit must
be replaced. Do not try to remove or replace the airbags yourself.
This must be done by a Honda dealer or a knowledgeable body

shop.
The SRS indicator light alerts you

to a problem. Take your vehicle to
an authorized Honda dealer as
soon as possible. If you ignore this
indication, the airbags might not
inflate when you need them. Additional Safety Precautions Do not attempt to deactivate your
airbags. Together, airbags and
seat belts provide the best
protection in a severe frontal collision. Do not tamper with SRS
components or wiring for any
reason. Tampering could cause
the airbags to deploy, possibly causing very serious injury.
See page 115 for further information
and precautions relating to your SRS.

Driver and Passenger Safety

Ignoring the SRS indicator light
can result in serious injury or
death if the airbags do not inflate when needed.
Have your vehicle checked by a
dealer as soon as possible if
the SRS light alerts you to a potential problem.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

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............................ 50

Indicator Lights................................ 51

Gauges.............................................. 54
Tachometer.................................. 54

Trip Meter.................................... 54
Speedometer................................ 55

Odometer...................................... 55

Temperature Gauge.................... 55
Fuel Gauge................................... 55

Maintenance Required
Indicator.................................... 56

Controls Near the Steering

Wheel........................................ 57

Headlights.................................... 58
Daytime Running Lights............. 58
Instrument Panel Brightness..... 59
Turn Signals................................. 59

Windshield Wipers...................... 60

Windshield Washers................... 61

Rear Window Wiper and
Washer...................................... 61

Hazard Warning........................... 61

Rear Window Defogger.............. 62

Steering Wheel Adjustment....... 62

Steering Wheel Controls ................ 64
Cruise Control.............................. 64

Keys and Locks................................ 67
Keys............................................... 67

Immobilizer System..................... 68

Ignition Switch............................. 69

Power Door Locks....................... 70
Remote Transmitter.................... 71

Childproof Door Locks............... 72

Tailgate......................................... 72

Glove Box..................................... 73

Seats.................................................. 74
Passenger Seating....................... 74

Seat Adjustments......................... 74

Driver's Seat Power Height
Adjustment............................... 75

Armrests....................................... 76
Head Restraints........................... 76
Third Seat Access........................ 77

Removing the Second Seats
in the Six-Passenger Model.... 78

Folding the Second Seats
in the Seven-Passenger

Model.................................... 78

Reclining the Second Seat.......... 79
Folding the Third Seat
in All Models............................ 80

Power Windows............................... 82

Sunroof.............................................. 83

Mirrors.............................................. 84
Adjusting the Power Mirrors..... 84

Parking Brake.................................. 85

Digital Clock..................................... 86 Beverage Holder.............................. 86
Dashboard Compartment............... 88
Center Pocket.................................. 88
Vanity Mirror................................... 88
Cigarette Lighter............................. 89
Ashtrays............................................ 89 Interior Lights.................................. 90
Ceiling Lights............................... 90

Spotlights...................................... 90

Tailgate Light............................... 91 Courtesy Lights........................... 91

Instruments and ControlsProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Gauges

TACHOMETER

Speedometer
U.S. Models

This shows your speed in miles per
hour (mph). The smaller inner
numbers are the speed in kilometers

per hour (km/h).

Canadian Models
This shows your speed in kilometers per hour (km/h). The smaller inner
numbers are the speed in miles per
hour (mph). Odometer
The odometer shows the total dis- tance your vehicle has been driven.
It measures miles in U.S. models and
kilometers in Canadian models. It is illegal under federal law (in the
U.S.) and provincial regulations (inCanada) to disconnect, reset, or alter
the odometer with the intent to change the number of miles or
kilometers indicated. Temperature Gauge
This shows the temperature of the engine's coolant. During normal
operation, the pointer should rise
from the bottom white mark to about the middle white mark. In severedriving conditions, such as very hot
weather or a long period of uphill driving, the pointer may rise to the
upper white mark. If it reaches the
red (Hot) mark, pull safely to the side of the road. Turn to page 204 for
instructions and precautions on
checking the engine's cooling
system.

Fuel Gauge
This shows how much fuel you have. It is most accurate when the vehicle
is on level ground. It may show slightly more or less than the actual
amount when you are driving on
curvy or hilly roads.

CONTINUED

Instruments and Controls

SPEEDOMETER

TRIP METER MAINTENANCE
REQUIRED
INDICATOR

ODOMETER
SELECT AND RESET BUTTON

FUEL

GAUGE
TEMPERATURE

GAUGEProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t