1998 HONDA ODYSSEY emergency towing

Towing

If your vehicle needs to be towed,
call a professional towing service or,
if you belong to one, an organization
that provides roadside assistance.
Never tow your vehicle behind
another vehicle with just a rope or chain. It is very dangerous.
Emergency Towing
There are three popular methods of towing a vehicle:
Flat-bed Equipment — The operator
loads your vehicle 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 vehicle off the ground. Your vehicle's sus-
pension 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 vehicle 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 vehicle must be trans-

ported on a flat-bed.

It is best to tow the vehicle no far-
ther than 50 miles (80 km), and
keep the speed below 35 mph (55

km/h).

Trying to lift or tow your vehicle by the
bumpers will cause serious damage. The bumpers are not designed to
support the vehicle's weight.
Taking Care of the Unexpected
NOTICE
NOTICEProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Index

Coolant
Adding......................................... 177

Checking..................................... 132

Proper Solution.......................... 177

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

Corrosion Protection..................... 218

Crankcase Emission Control
System......................................... 255

Cruise Control Operation............... 64

Customer Relations Office........... 251

DANGER, Explanation of................. ii
Dashboard........................................ 50 Dashboard Compartment............... 88
Daytime Running Lights................. 58
Dead Battery, What to Do............ 230 Defects, Reporting Safety............. 264
Defogger, Rear Window................. 61
Defrosting the Windows................. 99
DEXRON ®
III Automatic
Transmission Fluid.................... 182
Dimensions..................................... 248
Dimming the Headlights................ 58 Dipstick
Automatic Transmission........... 182
Engine Oil................................... 131
Directional Signals........................... 59

Disabled, Towing Your Car If...... 244

Disc Brake Wear Indicators......... 147
Disposal of Used Oil...................... 176
Doors Locking and Unlocking............... 70
Power Door Locks....................... 70
DOT Tire Quality Grading........... 251
Driver and Passenger Safety............ 3
Drive Belts...................................... 195
Driving............................................ 139 Economy..................................... 133
In Bad Weather.......................... 148
In Foreign Countries................. 254

Economy, Fuel............................... 133

Emergencies on the Road............. 221
Battery, Jump Starting.............. 230

Brake System Indicator............ 237

Changing a Flat Tire................. 223

Chargilng System Indicator ...... 235 Checking the Fuses................... 240
Low Oil Pressure Indicator...... 234
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.... 236
Manually Closing Sunroof........ 238
Overheated Engine................... 232
Emergency Brake............................ 85
Emergency Flashers....................... 61
Emission Controls......................... 255
Engine Belts............................................. 195
Coolant Temperature Gauge ..... 56
Malfunction IndicatorLamp................................. 32, 236
Oil Pressure Indicator......... 32, 234
Oil, What Kind to Use............... 173 Overheating................................ 232
Specifications............................. 249
Ethanolin Gasoline....................... 254 Evaporative Emission Controls.... 255
Exhaust Fumes................................ 47
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat Belts by......................................... 17
Exterior, Cleaning the................... 214

CONTINUEDProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Index

Fabric, Cleaning............................. 216

Fan, Interior...................................... 94

Features, Comfort and Convenience................................. 93
Filling the Fuel Tank..................... 129
Filter
Air................................................ 185

Oil................................................ 175

First Gear Position......................... 144
Flashers, Hazard Warning.............. 61
Flat Tire, Changing a.................... 223

Fluids
Automatic Transmission........... 182
Brake........................................... 183
Power Steering........................... 184
Windshield Washer................... 181
FM Stereo Radio Reception.................................... 117
Folding the Second Seats ............... 78
Folding the Third Seats.................. 80
Foreign Countries, Driving in...... 254
Four-way Flashers........................... 61
Front End, Towing by Emergency
Wrecker...................................... 244
Fuel.................................................. 128

Fill Door and Cap....................... 129
Gauge............................................ 56

Octane Requirement................. 128

Oxygenated................................ 128

Tank, Filling the......................... 129

Fuses, Checking the...................... 240

Gas Mileage, Improving................ 133

Gasohol........................................... 128
Gasoline.......................................... 128

Gauge............................................ 56

Octane Requirement................. 128

Tank, Filling the......................... 129

Gas Station Procedures................. 129

Gauges
Engine Coolant Temperature .... 56

Fuel................................................ 56

Gearshift Lever Positions............. 142
Glass Cleaning............................... 217
Glove Box......................................... 73 Halogen Headlight Bulbs.............. 206
Hazard Warning Flashers............... 61
Headlights......................................... 58
Aiming......................................... 202Daytime Running Lights............. 58
High Beam Indicator................... 54
High Beams, Turning on............ 58
Low Beams, Turning on............. 58
Reminder Chime.......................... 58
Replacing Halogen Bulbs ......... 206

Turning on.................................... 58

Head Restraints............................... 76 Heating and Cooling........................ 94
High Altitude, Starting at.............. 141 High-Low Beam Switch .................. 58
Hood, Opening the ........................ 130 Horn................................................... 57
Hot Coolant, Warning about........ 177 Hydroplaning.................................. 151

Identification Number, Vehicle.... 246

If Your Car Has to be Towed....... 244ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Index

Storing Your Car............................ 211
Sunroof.............................................. 83 Closing Manually....................... 238
Operation...................................... 83
Supplemental Restraint System Servicing....................................... 46
SRS Indicator.......................... 45, 52
System Components.................... 44

Synthetic Oil................................... 174

Tailgate............................................. 72
Taillights, Changing Bulbs in....... 208
Taking Care of the Unexpected.. 221
Tape Player............................ 107, 119
Technical Descriptions Drivin
g in Foreign Countries... 254
Emission Control Systems........ 255
Oxygenated Fuels...................... 253
Three Way Catalytic Converter................................ 257
Tire Information........................ 250
Temperature Gauge........................ 56
Tether Attachment Points.............. 38
Three Way Catalytic Converter... 257 Time, Setting the............................. 86
Timing Belt..................................... 195
Tire Chains..................................... 201 Tire, How to Change a Flat.......... 223
Tires................................................ 196 Air Pressure............................... 196Checking Wear.......................... 198
Compact Spare........................... 222
DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 251 Inflation....................................... 196
Inspection................................... 198
Replacing.................................... 199
Rotating....................................... 199 Snow............................................ 201
Specifications............................. 249
Transmission Checking Fluid Level................ 182
Fluid Selection............................ 182
Identification Number............... 246
Shifting the Automatic.............. 142
Treadwear...................................... 251

Trip Meter........................................ 55

Turn Signals..................................... 59

Tools, Tire Changing.................... 223

Towing
ATrailer......................................152
Emergency Wrecker................. 244

Vanity Mirror................................... 88

Vehicle Capacity Load .................. 137

Vehicle Dimensions....................... 248

Vehicle Identification Number..... 246

Vehicle Storage.............................. 211

Ventilation......................................... 96

VIN..................................................246

Vinyl Cleaning................................ 216

Viscosity, Oil................................... 174
Underside, Cleaning...................... 218

Unexpected, Taking Care

of the........................................... 221

Uniform Tire Quality Grading..... 251

Unleaded Gasoline......................... 128
Upholstery Cleaning...................... 216

Used Oil, How to Dispose of........ 156ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Index

Warning Beepers Key in Ignition.............................. 70

Seat Belts...................................... 52

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

Warning Labels, Location of.......... 48

Warranty Coverages*................... 263
Washer, Windshield Checking the Fluid Level......... 181
Operation...................................... 60
Washing.......................................... 214
Waxing and Polishing................... 215

Wheels
Adjusting the Steering................ 62
Alignment and Balance............. 198Compact Spare........................... 222
Wrench....................................... 225
Windows Cleaning...................................... 217Operating the Power................... 82
Rear, Defogger............................ 62
Windshield Cleaning........................................ 60
Defroster...................................... 99 Wipers, Windshield
Changing Blades........................ 191
Operation...................................... 60
Rear Windshield Wiper and Washer...................................... 61
Worn Tires..................................... 198
Wrecker, Emergency Towing...... 244
* : U.S. and Canada onlyProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t