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
Protecting Adults
6.Adjust the Steering Wheel
Adjust the steering wheel, if needed, so that the wheel points toward your
chest, not toward your face.
Pointing the steering wheel toward
your face decreases the protective capability of the driver's airbag.
See page 63 for how to adjust the
steering wheel.
7.Maintain a Proper Sitting
Position
After all occupants have adjusted their seats and put on seat belts, it is
very important that they continue to sit upright, with their bodies well
back in their seats and both feet on
the floor, until the vehicle is parked and the engine is off.
Sitting improperly can increase the
chance of injury during a crash. For
example, if an occupant slouches,
lies down, turns sideways, sits
forward, leans forward, or puts one or both feet up, their chance of
injury during a crash is greatly
increased.
In addition, if an occupant is out of
position in the front seat, they can be seriously or fatally injured by
striking interior parts of the vehicle,
or by being struck by an inflating
airbag.
Remember, to get the best
protection from your vehicle's
airbags and other safety features,
you must sit properly and wear your seat belt properly.
Driver and Passenger Safety Sitting improperly or out of
position can result in serious
injury or death in a crash.
Always sit upright, well back in
the seat, with your feet on the
floor.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Additional Information About Your SRS
After inflating, the airbags immediately deflate, so they won't
interfere with the driver's visibility, or the ability to steer or operate
other controls.
The total time for inflation and deflation is approximately one-tenth
of a second, so fast that most occupants are not aware that the
airbags deployed until they see them
lying in their laps. After a crash, you may see what
looks like smoke. This is actually
powder from the airbag's surface.
Although the powder is not harmful, people with respiratory problemsmay experience some temporary
discomfort. If this occurs, get out of
the car as soon as it is safe to do so.
U.S. Owners
For additional information on how
your airbags work, see the booklet
titled SRS: What You Need to Know
About Airbags that came with your
owner's manual.
How Your SRS Indicator Light
Works The purpose of the SRSindicator light is to alert
you to a potential problem with your Supplemental Restraint System.
When you turn the ignition ON (II), this indicator will light up briefly
then go out. This tells you that thesystem is working properly.
However, if the light comes on at any
other time, you should have your system checked by your dealer. For
example:
If the SRS indicator light does not
come on after you turn the ignition
ON (II). If the light stays on after the
engine starts.
CONTINUED
Driver and Passenger Safety
SRSProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Carbon Monoxide Hazard
Your vehicle's exhaust contains carbon monoxide gas. You should
have no problem with carbon monoxide entering the vehicle in
normal driving if you maintain your
vehicle properly.
Have the exhaust system inspected
for leaks whenever: The vehicle is raised for an oil
change.
You notice a change in the sound
of the exhaust. The vehicle was in an accident
that may have damaged the under-
side.
High levels of carbon monoxide can
collect rapidly in enclosed areas,
such as a garage. Do not run the
engine with the garage door closed.
Even with the door open, run the
engine only long enough to move the
vehicle out of the garage. With the tailgate open, air flow can
pull exhaust gas into your vehicle's
interior and create a hazardouscondition. If you must drive with the
tailgate open, open all the windows and set the heating and coolingsystem as shown below.
If you must sit in your parked vehicle,
even in an unconfined area, with the engine running, adjust the heating
and cooling system as follows:
1. Select the Fresh Air mode. 2. Select the mode.
3. Turn the fan on high speed.
4. Set the temperature control to a
comfortable setting.
Driver and Passenger Safety
Carbon monoxide gas is toxic.
Breathing it can cause
unconsciousness and even kill
you.
Avoid any enclosed areas or
activities that expose you to
carbon monoxide.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
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
ProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
Indicator Lights
U.S.
Anti-lock Brake System
(ABS) Indicator
This light normally comes on when you turn the ignition switch ON (II) and goes off after the engine starts.
If it comes on at any other time,
there is a problem in the ABS. If this
happens, take the vehicle to your dealer to have it checked. With the
light on, your vehicle still has normal
braking ability but no anti-lock. Turn Signal and
Hazard Warning
Indicators
The left or right turn signal light blinks when you signal a lane changeor turn. If the light does not blink or
blinks rapidly, it usually means one of the turn signal bulbs is burned out (see page 207). Replace the bulb as
soon as possible, since other drivers
cannot see that you are signalling.
When you turn on the Hazard
Warning switch, both turn signal lights blink. All turn signals on theoutside of the vehicle should flash. Door and Brake Lamp Monitor
The appropriate light comes on in this display if the tailgate or any dooris not closed tightly. If a brake lightdoes not work, the BRAKE LAMP
indicator comes on when you push
the brake pedal with the ignition switch ON (II).
A burned out brake light is a hazard when drivers behind you cannot tell
you are braking. Have your brakelights repaired right away.
All the lights in the monitor display come on for a few seconds when you
turn the ignition switch ON (II).
Instruments and Controls
BRAKE LAMP
INDICATOR
ABS
CanadaProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t
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
ProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents 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