1998 HONDA ODYSSEY battery

Indicator Lights

Seat Belt Reminder Light
This indicator lights when you turn the ignition switch ON (II). It is a
reminder to you and your passengers
to protect yourselves by fastening
the seat belts. A beeper also sounds
if you have not fastened your seat

belt.

If you do not fasten your seat belt,
the beeper will stop after a fewseconds but the light stays on until
you do. Both the light and the beeper stay off if you fasten your seat belt
before turning on the ignition.
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp

See page 236.
Low Oil Pressure
Indicator

The engine can be severely damaged
if this light flashes or stays on when

the engine is running. For complete
information, see page 234 .

Charging System
Indicator
If this light comes on when the engine is running, the battery is not
being charged. For complete information, see page 235 .
Supplemental Restraint
System Indicator
This indicator lights when you turn the ignition switch ON (II). If itcomes on at any other time, it
indicates a problem in the supplemental restraint system. For
complete information, see page 45 . Parking Brake
and Brake

System

Indicator
This light has two functions:
1. It lights as a reminder that you have not released the parking
brake. Driving with the parking
brake applied can damage the
brakes and tires.
2. If it remains lit after you release the parking brake, or comes on
while driving, it can indicate a problem in the brake system. Forcomplete information, see page 237.

Instruments and Controls
SRS

BRAKE
U.S.

Canada
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Indicator Lights, Gauges

"Daytime Running
Lights" Indicator

Canadian models only

This indicator lights when you turn the ignition switch to ON (II) with
the headlight switch off and the
parking brake set. It should go off if
you turn on the headlights or release
the parking brake. If it comes on at any other time, it means there is a
problem with the DRL. There may also be a problem with the high
beam headlights.
Cruise Control Indicator
This lights when you set the cruise control. See page 64 for informationon operating the cruise control. High Beam Indicator
This light comes on with the high beam headlights. See page 40 for
information on the headlightcontrols.
On Canadian models, this indicator
comes on with reduced brightness
when the Daytime Running Lights (DRL) are on (see page 58).
Immobilizer SystemIndicator
This indicator comes on for a few seconds when you turn the ignition
switch ON (II). It will then go off if
you have inserted a properly-coded ignition key. If it is not a properly-
coded key, the indicator will blink
and the engine will not start (see
page 68).
This indicator also blinks several times when you turn the ignitionswitch from ON (II) to ACCESSORY (I) or LOCK (0).
Tachometer The tachometer shows the enginespeed in revolutions per minute (rpm). To protect the engine from
damage, never drive with the
tachometer needle in the red zone.

Trip Meter

This meter shows the number of miles (U.S.) or kilometers (Canada)
driven since you last reset it.
There are two trip meters, Trip A and Trip B. Each trip meter works
independently, so you can keep trackof two different distances.
To reset a trip meter, display it and then press the Reset button for morethan two seconds. Both trip meters
will reset if the vehicle's battery goes dead or is disconnected.
Instruments and Controls
DRL

CRUISE
CONTROL
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Audio System

You can use any of three methods to find radio stations on the selected
band: TUNE, SEEK, or the Preset
buttons.
TUNE — Use the TUNE/SEEK buttons to tune the radio to a desired frequency. Press ( ) to change
to a higher frequency, and press
( ) to tune to a lower frequency.
The frequency numbers will start to change rapidly. Release the switch
when the display reaches the desired
frequency. To change the frequency in small increments, press and
release the appropriate TUNE/
SEEK button. SEEK — The SEEK function
searches the band for a station with
a strong signal. To activate it, push
the TUNE/SEEK button until you
hear a beep, then release it. Depending on which TUNE/SEEK
button you pushed, the system scans
upward or downward from the current frequency. It stops when it
finds a station with a strong signal.
Preset — You can store the fre-
quencies of your favorite radiostations in the six preset buttons.
Each button will store one frequency on the AM band, and two on the FM

band.
To store a frequency:
1. Select the desired band, AM or FM. FM1 and FM2 let you store
two frequencies with each Preset
button.
2. Use the TUNE or SEEK function to tune the radio to a desired
station.
3. Pick the Preset button you want for that station. Press the buttonand hold it until you hear a beep.
4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 to store a total of six stations on AM and twelve
on FM.
Once a station's frequency is stored,
simply press and release the proper
Preset button to tune to it.
The preset frequencies will be lost if your vehicle's battery goes dead, is disconnected, or the radio fuse is

removed.

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Audio System

AM/FM/Cassette Stereo Audio
System

For U.S. EX model

Your Honda's audio system provides clear reception on both AM and FM
bands, while the preset buttons allow
you to easily select your favorite
stations.

The cassette system features Dolby B* noise reduction, automatic
sensing of chromium-dioxide (CrO 2)
tape, and autoreverse for continuous

play.

The Anti-theft feature will disable the system if it is disconnected from
the vehicle's battery. To get the system working again, you must
enter a code number (see page 106).
* Dolby noise reduction manufactured under
license from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corpo-
ration. "DOLBY" and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories
Licensing Corporation.

Comfort and Convenience Features PWR/VOL KNOB
AM BUTTON
STEREO INDICATOR

TUNE/SEEK SWITCH
FM1/FM2
BUTTON

PRESET

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Audio System

To store a frequency:
1. Select the desired band, AM or FM. FM1 and FM2 let you store
two frequencies with each Preset

button.

2. Use the TUNE or SEEK function to tune the radio to a desired
station.

3. Pick the Preset button you want for that station. Press the buttonand hold it until you hear a beep.
4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 to store a total of six stations on AM and twelve
on FM.

Once a station's frequency is stored,

simply press and release the proper

Preset button to tune to it.
The preset frequencies will be lost if
your vehicle's battery goes dead, is

disconnected, or the radio fuse is

removed.
AM BUTTON


A. SEL BUTTON

PRESET

BUTTONS
AUTO SELECT LIGHT

Comfort and Convenience Features
TUNE/SEEK

SWITCH FM1/FM2
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Audio System

Theft Protection
On U.S. EX model

Your vehicle's audio system will disable itself if it is disconnected
from electrical power for any reason.
To make it work again, the user must enter a specific five-digit code
in the Preset buttons. Because thereare hundreds of number
combinations possible from five digits, making the system work
without knowing the exact code is nearly impossible.
You should have received a card that lists your audio system's code
number and serial number. It is best
to store this card in a safe place at
home. In addition, you should write
the audio system's serial number in
this Owner's Manual. If you should
happen to lose the card, you must obtain the code number from your
Honda dealer. To do this, you will
need the system's serial number. If your vehicle's battery is discon-
nected or goes dead, the audio
system will disable itself. If this
happens, you will see "Code" in the
frequency display the next time you
turn on the system. Use the Preset
buttons to enter the five-digit code. If it is entered correctly, the radio willstart playing.
If you make a mistake entering the
code, do not start over or try to
correct your mistake. Complete the
five-digit sequence, then enter the correct code. You have three tries toenter the correct code. If you are
unsuccessful in three attempts, you
must then leave the system on for
one hour before trying again. You will have to store your favorite
stations in the Preset buttons after
the system begins working. Your original settings were lost when
power was disconnected.
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Starting the Engine

1. Apply the parking brake.
2. In cold weather, turn off all electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery.
3. Make sure the shift lever is in Park. Press on the brake pedal.
4. Without touching the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition key to theSTART (III) position. If the enginedoes not start right away, do not
hold the key in START (III) for
more than 15 seconds at a time.
Pause for at least 10 seconds
before trying again.
5. If the engine does not start within 15 seconds, or starts but stalls
right away, repeat step 4 with the accelerator pedal pressed half-way
down. If the engine starts, release
pressure on the accelerator pedal so the engine does not race. 6. If the engine still does not start,
press the accelerator pedal all the
way down and hold it there while starting in order to clear flooding.
As before, keep the ignition key in the START (III) position for no
more than 15 seconds. Return tostep 5 if the engine does not start.
If it starts, lift your foot off the
accelerator pedal so the engine
does not race.

Starting in Cold Weather at High
Altitude (Above 8,000 feet/ 2,400 meters)

An engine is harder to start in cold weather. The thinner air found at
high altitude above 8,000 feet (2,400meters) adds to the problem.
Use the following procedure:
1. Turn off all electrical accessories to reduce the drain on the battery. 2. Push the accelerator pedal half-
way to the floor and hold it there
while starting the engine. Do nothold the ignition key in START (III) for more than 15 seconds.
When the engine starts, release the accelerator pedal gradually as
the engine speeds up and smooths out.
3. If the engine fails to start in step 2, push the accelerator pedal to the
floor and hold it there while you
try to start the engine for no more
than 15 seconds. If the enginedoes not start, return to step 2.
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Maintenance

This section explains why it is important to keep your vehicle well
maintained and to follow basic
maintenance safety precautions.
This section also includes Maintenance Schedules for normaldriving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions for simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of

yourself.

If you have the skills and tools to per-
form more complex maintenance tasks on your Honda, you may want
to purchase the Service Manual. See
page 235 for information on how to obtain a copy, or see your Honda

dealer.
Maintenance Safety....................... 160
Important Safety Precautions.. 161
Maintenance Schedule.................. 162
Required Maintenance Record.... 169 Owner Maintenance Checks........ 171
Fluid Locations............................... 172

Engine Oil....................................... 173 Adding Oil................................... 173Recommended Oil..................... 173
Synthetic Oil............................... 174

Additives..................................... 175
Changing the Oil and Filter...... 175

Cooling System.............................. 177
Adding Engine Coolant............. 177Replacing Engine Coolant........ 179
Windshield Washers..................... 181
Automatic Transmission Fluid..... 182
Brake Fluid..................................... 183
Brake System............................. 183

Power Steering............................... 184
Air Cleaner Element...................... 185 Spark Plugs..................................... 187
Replacement............................... 187
Specifications............................. 188
Battery............................................ 189
Wiper Blades.................................. 191 Air Conditioning System............... 194
Drive Belts...................................... 195
Timing Belt..................................... 195
Tires................................................ 196 Inflation....................................... 196
Inspection................................... 198
Maintenance............................... 198
Tire Rotation.............................. 199
Replacing Tires and Wheels .... 199
Wheels and Tires....................... 200
Winter Driving........................... 200
Snow Tires.............................. 201
Tire Chains............................. 201
Lights.............................................. 202 Headlight Aiming...................... 204
Replacing Bulbs......................... 206
Storing Your Vehicle..................... 211
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