1999 HONDA ODYSSEY climate control

Air Conditioning Filter, Drive Belts
Air Conditioning Filter
The air conditioning filter removes pollen and dust that is brought in
from the outside through the heating and cooling system/climate control

system.

This filter should be replaced every 30,000 miles (48,000 km) under
normal conditions. It should be
replaced every 15,000 miles (24,000
km) if you drive primarily in urbanareas that have high concentrationsof soot in the air from industry and
diesel-powered vehicles. Replace it
more often if air flow from the
heating and cooling system/climate control system becomes less than
usual. Have the air conditioning filter
replaced by your Honda dealer.
Drive Belts

POWER STEERING BELT
Check the condition of the two drive
belts (power steering belt and alternator belt). Examine the edges
of each belt for cracks or fraying.
Check the tension of the power
steering belt by pushing on it with
your thumb midway between the pulleys.
The belt should have the following
"play" or deflection.
Power steering belt: 0.51 — 0.65 in (13.0 — 16.5 mm)

If you see signs of wear or looseness,
have your dealer adjust or replace
the belts.

Maintenance
ALTERNATOR BELTProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

If Your Engine Won't Start, Jump Starting
Your vehicle has the Immobilizer
System. You should use a
properly-coded master or valet key
to start the engine (see page 77).
A key that is not properly coded
will cause the immobilizer system indicator in the dash panel to blink
rapidly. Do you have fuel? Turn the
ignition switch to ON (II) for a
minute and watch the fuel gauge.
The low fuel level warning light may not be working, so you were
not reminded to fill the tank. There may be an electrical
problem, such as no power to the
fuel pump. Check all the fuses (see page 305).
If you find nothing wrong, you will
need a qualified technician to find
the problem. See Emergency
Towing on page 311. Jump Starting
If your vehicle's battery has run
down, you may be able to start the
engine by using a booster battery.
Although this seems like a simple procedure, you should take several

precautions.

You cannot start a Honda by pushing or pulling it. To jump start your vehicle, follow
these directions closely:
1. Open the hood and check the physical condition of the battery(see page 251). In very cold
weather, check the condition of the electrolyte. If it seems slushyor like ice, do not try jump starting
until it thaws.

If a battery sits in extreme cold, the
electrolyte inside can freeze.

Attempting to jump start with a frozen
battery can cause it to rupture.

2. Turn off all the electrical acces- sories: heater, A/C, climate
control, stereo system, lights, etc.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park and set the parking brake.

CONTINUED

Taking Care of the Unexpected

A battery can explode if you do
not follow the correct procedure,
seriously injuring anyone nearby.
Keep all sparks, open flames,
and smoking materials away
from the battery.
NOTICEProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

If Your Engine Overheats

The pointer of your vehicle's
temperature gauge should stay in

the midrange under most conditions.
It may go higher if you are driving up
a long steep hill on a very hot day. If
it climbs to the red mark, you should

determine the reason.

Driving with the temperature gauge
pointer at the red mark can cause serious damage to your engine.
Your vehicle can overheat for several

reasons, such as lack of coolant or a

mechanical problem. The only

indication may be the temperature
gauge climbing to or above the red
mark. Or you may see steam or
spray coming from under the hood.

In either case, you should take

immediate action.
1. Safely pull to the side of the road.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park and set the parking brake.
Turn off the heating and cooling/ climate control system and all
other accessories. Turn on the
hazard warning indicators.
2. If you see steam and/or spray coining from under the hood, turnoff the engine.
3. If you do not see steam or spray, leave the engine running and
watch the temperature gauge. If the high heat is due to overloading (climbing a long, steep hill on a
hot day with the A/C running, for example), the engine should start
to cool down almost immediately.
If it does, wait until the tempera-
ture gauge comes down to the mid-
point then continue driving.

CONTINUED

Taking Care of the Unexpected

NOTICE

Steam and spray from an

overheated engine can
seriously scald you.

Do not open the hood if steam

is coming out.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

If Your Engine Overheats

4. If the temperature gauge stays at
the red mark, turn off the engine.
5. Wait until you see no more signs of steam or spray, then open the

hood.

6. Look for any obvious coolant leaks, such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot, so use caution. If you find a leak, it
must be repaired before you
continue driving (see Emergency
Towing on page 311).
7. If you don't find an obvious leak, check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank (see page187). If the level is below the
MIN mark, add coolant to halfway
between the MIN and MAX marks.
8. If there was no coolant in the reserve tank, you may also have to
add coolant to the radiator. Let the
engine cool down until the pointer reaches the middle of the tempera-
ture gauge, or lower, before check-
ing the radiator.
9. Using gloves or a large heavy cloth, turn the radiator cap
counterclockwise, without pushing
down, to the first stop. This
releases any remaining pressure in
the cooling system. After the
pressure releases, push down on
the cap and turn it until it comes off. 10.Start the engine and set the
temperature control dial tomaximum (climate control to
FULL AUTO at 90°F/32°C). Add
coolant to the radiator up to the
base of the filler neck. If you do not have the proper coolant
mixture available, you can add
plain water. Remember to have
the cooling system drained and refilled with the proper mixture assoon as you can.
11.Put the radiator cap back on tightly. Run the engine and watch
the temperature gauge. If it goes
back to the red mark, the engineneeds repair. (See Emergency
Towing on page 311.)
12.If the temperature stays normal, check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. If it has
gone down, add coolant to the MAX mark. Put the cap back on

tightly.

Taking Care of the Unexpected
Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Charging System Indicator

This indicator should come on when the ignition switch is ON (II), and goout after the engine starts. If it
comes on brightly when the engine
is running, it indicates that the
charging system has stopped
charging the battery. Immediately turn off all electrical
accessories: radio, heater, A/C,
climate control, rear defogger, cruise
control, etc. Try not to use other electrically-operated controls such as
the power windows. Keep the engine running and take extra care not tostall it. Starting the engine will
discharge the battery rapidly. By eliminating as much of the
electrical load as possible, you can
drive several miles (kilometers)
before the battery is too discharged
to keep the engine running. Drive to a service station or garage where
you can get technical assistance.

Taking Care of the Unexpected

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Tire Information

DOT Tire Quality Grading
(U.S. Vehicles)

The tires on your vehicle meet all U.S. Federal Safety Requirements.
All tires are also graded for treadwear, traction, and temperature
performance according toDepartment of Transportation (DOT) standards. The following
explains these gradings.
Treadwear

The treadwear grade is a compara- tive rating based on the wear rate of
the tire when tested under controlledconditions on a specified government
test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and one half (1-1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100. The relative performance of
tires depends upon the actual condi-
tions of their use, however, and may depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits,service practices, and differences in
road characteristics and climate. Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are A, B, and C, and they
represent the tire's ability to stop on
wet pavement as measured under controlled conditions on specified
government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may
have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade as- signed to this tire is based on brak-
ing (straight ahead) traction tests and does not include cornering (turning) traction.

CONTINUED

Technical InformationProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Emissions Controls

The burning of gasoline in your
vehicle's engine produces several by- products. Some of these are carbonmonoxide (CO), oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and hydrocarbons (HC).
Gasoline evaporating from the tank
also produces hydrocarbons. Con-
trolling the production of NOx, CO, and HC is important to the environ-
ment. Under certain conditions of sunlight and climate, NOx and HC
react to form photochemical "smog." Carbon monoxide does not contri-
bute to smog creation, but it is a
poisonous gas. The Clean Air Act
The United States Clean Air Act*
sets standards for automobile
emissions. It also requires that
automobile manufacturers explain to
owners how their emissions controls
work and what to do to maintain them. This section summarizes how
the emissions controls work.Scheduled maintenance is on page 224.
* In Canada, Honda vehicles comply
with the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS) for
Emissions valid at the time they are
manufactured. Crankcase Emissions Control

System

Your vehicle has a Positive Crankcase Ventilation System. This
keeps gasses that build up in the engine's crankcase from going into
the atmosphere. The Positive Crank- case Ventilation valve routes them
from the crankcase back to the intake manifold. They are then
drawn into the engine and burned.
Evaporative Emissions Control

System

As gasoline evaporates in the fuel tank, an evaporative emissionscontrol canister filled with charcoal
adsorbs the vapor. It is stored in thiscanister while the engine is off. After
the engine is started and warmed up,
the vapor is drawn into the engine and burned during driving.

Technical InformationProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Index

Checklist, Before Driving............. 196
Childproof Door Locks................... 85
Child Safety...................................... 22
Cleaner Element, Air..................... 246

Cleaning
Aluminum Wheels..................... 279
Carpeting.................................... 280

Exterior....................................... 278

Fabric.......................................... 280

Interior........................................ 280

Seat Belts.................................... 280

Vinyl............................................280

Windows..................................... 281
Climate Control System................ 138
Clock, Setting the.......................... 117
Coat Hook....................................... 123
Code, Audio System...................... 180
CO in the Exhaust......................... 323
Coin Holder.................................... 122

Cold Weather, Starting in............. 197

Compact Spare............................... 286
Consumer Information*................ 328
Controls, Instruments and.............. 55

Coolant
Adding......................................... 237
Checking..................................... 187
Proper Solution.......................... 237

Replacing.................................... 239

Temperature Gauge.................... 63

Corrosion Protection..................... 282

Crankcase Emissions Control
System.........................................323

Cruise Control Operation............... 73
Customer Relations Office........... 328

DANGER, Explanation of................. ii

Dashboard.................................... 2, 56

Daytime Running Lights................. 67

Dead Battery, What to Do............ 297

Defects, Reporting Safety............. 332

Defogger, Rear Window................. 71

Defrosting the Windows.......135, 144

DEXRON ®
III Automatic

Transmission Fluid.................... 243

Dimensions..................................... 316

Dimming the Headlights................ 66

Dipstick
Automatic Transmission........... 243

Engine Oil................................... 186

Directional Signals........................... 68
Disabled, Towing Your

Vehicle If..................................... 311

Disc Brake Wear Indicators......... 204
Disposal of Used Oil...................... 236

Doors
Locking and Unlocking............... 79Lockout Prevention..................... 80
Manual Sliding Doors.................. 88
Monitor Light............................... 60
Power Door Locks....................... 79
Power Sliding Doors.................... 90
DOT Tire Quality Grading........... 319
Drive Belts...................................... 256
Driver and Passenger Safety............ 5
Driving............................................ 195 Economy..................................... 188
In Bad Weather.......................... 210
In Foreign Countries................. 322

Economy, Fuel............................... 188

Emergencies on the Road............. 285
Battery, Jump Starting.............. 297

CONTINUEDProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t