1999 HONDA ODYSSEY manual transmission

Fluid Locations

ENGINE OIL DIPSTICK
(Orange loop)
WASHER FLUID (Blue cap)
COOLANT
RESERVOIR
POWER STEERING
FLUID (Red cap) BRAKE FLUID
(Gray cap)
RADIATOR CAP ENGINE OIL FILL CAP
AUTOMATIC

TRANSMISSION

FLUID DIPSTICK
(Yellow loop)

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Engine Oil

Additives Your Honda does not need any oil
additives. Purchasing additives for

the engine or transmission will not
increase your vehicle's performance
or longevity. It only increases the
cost of operating your vehicle. Changing the Oil and Filter
Always change the oil and filter according to the time and distance (miles/kilometers) recommenda-
tions in the maintenance schedule.
The oil and filter collect contami- nants that can damage your engine if
they are not removed regularly.
Changing the oil and filter requiresspecial tools and access from
underneath the vehicle. The vehicle should be raised on a service station-
type hydraulic lift for this service. Unless you have the knowledge and
proper equipment, you should have
this maintenance done by a skilled
mechanic.
1. Run the engine until it reaches normal operating temperature,
then shut it off. WASHER
2. Open the hood and remove the engine oil fill cap. Remove the oildrain bolt and washer from the
bottom of the engine. Drain the oil into an appropriate container.

CONTINUED

Maintenance
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Automatic Transmission Fluid

Check the fluid level with the engine
at normal operating temperature.
1. Park the vehicle on level ground. Shut off the engine.
2. Remove the dipstick (yellow loop) from the transmission and wipe it
with a clean cloth. 3. Insert the dipstick all the way into
the transmission.
4. Remove the dipstick and check the fluid level. It should be
between the upper and lower marks.
5. If the level is below the lower mark, add fluid to bring it to the
upper mark. Remove the fill plug
to add fluid. Always use Honda Premium Formula Automatic
Transmission Fluid (ATF). If it is not available, you may use a
DEXRON
®
III automatic

transmission flui d
as a temporary
replacement. However, continued
use can affect shift quality. Have
the transmission drained and
refilled with Honda ATF as soon as it is convenient.
6. Insert the dipstick all the way back into the transmission.
The transmission should be drained and refilled with new fluid according
to the time and distance recommen- dations in the maintenance schedule.
If you are not sure how to add fluid,
contact your Honda dealer.

Maintenance

DIPSTICK
DIPSTICK

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Storing Your Vehicle

If you need to park your vehicle for an extended period (more than one
month), there are several things you should do to prepare it for storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to
get your vehicle back on the road. If
possible, store your vehicle indoors.
Fill the fuel tank.Change the engine oil and filter (see page 235).
Wash and dry the exterior
completely.

Clean the interior. Make sure the
carpeting, floor mats, etc. are
completely dry.
Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in Park. Block the rear wheels.
If the vehicle is to be stored for a
longer period, it should be supported on jackstands so the
tires are off the ground.
Leave one window open slightly (if
the vehicle is being stored indoors).
Disconnect the battery.
Support the front and rear wiper
blade arms with a folded towel or
rag so they do not touch the
windshield.
To minimize sticking, apply a silicone spray lubricant to all door
and tailgate seals. Also, apply a
vehicle body wax to the painted surfaces that mate with the door
and tailgate seals. Cover the vehicle with a
"breathable" cover, one made
from a porous material such as cotton. Nonporous materials, such
as plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint.
If possible, run the engine for a
while periodically (preferably once a month).
If you store your vehicle for 12
months or longer, have your Honda dealer perform the inspections called
for in the 24 months/30,000 miles (48,000 km) maintenance schedule(Normal Conditions) as soon as you
take it out of storage (see page 224).
The replacements called for in the maintenance schedule are not
needed unless the vehicle hasactually reached that time or mileage.

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Changing a Flat Tire
If you have a flat tire while driving, stop in a safe place to change it.
Stopping in traffic or on the shoulder
of a busy road is dangerous. Drive slowly along the shoulder until you
get to an exit or an area to stop that
is far away from the traffic lanes. JACK

VINYL BAG
TOOLS

1. Park the vehicle on firm, level and non-slippery ground away from
traffic. Put the transmission in
Park. Apply the parking brake. SPARE TIRE
2. Turn on the hazard warning lights and turn the ignition switch to
LOCK (0). Have all the
passengers get out of the vehicle
while you change the tire.

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Taking Care of the Unexpected

The vehicle can easily roll off

the jack, seriously injuring
anyone underneath.
Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and never get under the vehicle
when it is supported only by the

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If Your Engine Won't Start

Diagnosing why your engine won't
start falls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
key to START (III): You hear nothing, or almost
nothing. The engine's starter
motor does not operate at all, oroperates very slowly. You can hear the starter motor
operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
faster than normal, but the engine does not start up and run.
Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
When you turn the ignition switch to START (III), you do not hear the
normal noise of the engine trying tostart. You may hear a clicking sound
or series of clicks, or nothing at all. Check these things: Check the transmission interlock.
The transmission must be in Park or Neutral or the starter will not

operate.
Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
Turn on the headlights and check
their brightness. If the headlightsare very dim or don't light at all,
the battery is discharged. See

Jump Starting on page 297.
Turn the ignition switch to START
(III). If the headlights do not dim,
check the condition of the fuses. If
the fuses are OK, there is proba-
bly something wrong with the electrical circuit for the ignitionswitch or starter motor. You will
need a qualified technician to determine the problem. (See

Emergency Towing on page 311.)
If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start the
engine, either the battery is dis-
charged or the connections are
corroded. Check the condition of
the battery and terminal connec-
tions (see page 251). You can then try jump starting the vehicle
from a booster battery (see page 297).
The Starter Operates Normally In this case, the starter motor'sspeed sounds normal, or even faster
than normal, when you turn the
ignition switch to START (III), but
the engine does not run. Are you using the proper starting
procedure? Refer to Starting the
Engine on page 197.

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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.

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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.
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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.

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Taking Care of the Unexpected

NOTICE

Steam and spray from an

overheated engine can
seriously scald you.

Do not open the hood if steam

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