1999 HONDA ODYSSEY towing

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

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

Low Oil Pressure Indicator

This indicator should light when the ignition switch is ON (II), and go out
after the engine starts. It should
never come on when the engine is
running. If it starts flashing, it indicates that the oil pressure
dropped very low for a moment, then
recovered. If the indicator stays on
with the engine running, it shows that the engine has lost oil pressure
and serious engine damage is
possible. In either case, you should
take immediate action.
Running the engine with low oil
pressure can cause serious mechanical damage almost immediately. Turn offthe engine as soon as you can safely get
the vehicle stopped.

1. Safely pull off the road and shut off the engine. Turn on the hazard
warning indicators.
2. Let the vehicle sit for a minute. Open the hood and check the oil
level (see page 186). Although oil
level and oil pressure are not directly connected, an engine that
is very low on oil can lose pressureduring cornering and other driving

maneuvers.

3. If necessary, add oil to bring the level back to the full mark on thedipstick (see page 233). 4. Start the engine and watch the oil
pressure indicator. If the lightdoes not go out within ten seconds,
turn off the engine. There is a mechanical problem that needs to
be repaired before you can continue driving. (See Emergency
Towing on page 311.)

Taking Care of the Unexpected

LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR

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Brake System Indicator

BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR*

The Brake System Indicator light comes on when you turn the ignitionON (II). If the parking brake is not
set, it goes off after you start the
engine. If the parking brake is set, it
goes off when you fully release the
parking brake with the engine
running.
If it comes on at any other time, it
indicates a problem with the vehicle's
brake system. In most cases, the
problem is a low fluid level in the
brake fluid reservoir. Press lightly on
the brake pedal to see if it feels
normal. If it does, check the brake
fluid level the next time you stop at a service station (see page 244 ). If the
fluid level is low, take the vehicle to
your dealer and have the brake system inspected for leaks or worn
brake pads.
However, if the brake pedal does not
feel normal, you should take immediate action. Because of the
brake system's dual-circuit design, a
problem in one part of the system
will still give you braking at two
wheels. You will feel the brake pedal go down much farther before the
vehicle begins to slow down, and you
will have to press harder on the pedal. The distance needed to stop
will be much longer. Slow down by shifting to a lower
gear, and pull to the side of the road
when it is safe. Because of the
longer distance needed to stop, it is
hazardous to drive the vehicle. You should have it towed, and repaired assoon as possible. (See Emergency
Towing on page 311 .)
If you must drive the vehicle a shortdistance in this condition, drive
slowly and cautiously.
If the ABS indicator and the TCS
indicator (on EX model) come on
with this indicator, have the vehicle inspected by your dealer
immediately.
Taking Care of the Unexpected

*U.S. indicator shownProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Emergency 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.
There are three popular types of professional equipment.
Flat-bed Equipment — The operator
loads your vehicle on the back of a
truck. This is the best way to trans-
port 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. This is an acceptable way to tow your
Honda.
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. This method of towing
is unacceptable.
If your Honda cannot be transported
by flat-bed, it should be towed by
wheel-lift equipment 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 D 4, 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 he trans-

ported with the front wheels off the
ground.

With the front wheels on the ground, it is best to tow the vehicle no farther
than 50 miles (80 km), and keep thespeed below 35 mph (55 km/h).

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Taking Care of the Unexpected

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Emergency Towing

If you decide to tow your vehicle
with all four wheels on the groud, make sure you use a properly-designed and attached tow bar.
Prepare the vehicle for towing as
described above, and leave the
ignition switch in Accessory (I) so
the steering wheel does not lock. Make sure the radio and any items
plugged into the accessory powersocket are turned off so they do not
run down the battery.
The steering system can be damaged if
the steering wheel is locked. Leave the
ignition switch in Accessory (I), and
make sure the steering wheel turns
freely before you begin towing.
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
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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

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Index

Emergencies on the Road Brake System Indicator............ 304
Changing a Flat Tire................. 287
Charging System Indicator...... 302
Checking the Fuses................... 305
Low Oil Pressure Indicator...... 301
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.... 303 Overheated Engine................... 299
Emergency Brake.......................... 116
Emergency Flashers....................... 70
Emergency Towing....................... 311
Emissions Controls........................ 323

Engine
Coolant Temperature Gauge ..... 63
Drive Belts.................................. 256
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp............................... 58, 303

Oil Pressure Indicator........58, 301
Oil, What Kind to Use...............
233

Overheating................................
299

Specifications.............................
317

Ethanol i n
Gasoline .......................

321

Evaporative Emission
s
Controls..

323

Exhaust Fumes...............................
.
53
Exhaust Gas Recirculation System......................................... 324 Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat

Belts by......................................... 20

Exterior, Cleaning the................... 278

Fabric, Cleaning............................. 280
Fan, Interior...........................130, 142 Features, Comfort and Convenience............................... 129
Filling the Fuel Tank..................... 183
Filters
Air................................................246

Air Conditioning........................ 256
Oil................................................ 235

First Gear Position......................... 201
Flashers, Hazard Warning.............. 70
Flat Tire, Changing a.................... 287

Fluids
Automatic Transmission...........

243

Brake...........................................244
Powe r
Steering........................... 245
Windshield Washer................... 242
FM Stereo Radio Reception............................150, 162
Folding the Third Seat..................110
Foreign Countries, Driving in...... 322

Four-way Flashers........................... 70

Front End, Towing by Emergency
Wrecker...................................... 311

Fuel..................................................182
Fill Door and Cap....................... 183
Gauge............................................ 63

Octane Requirement................. 182

Oxygenated................................ 321

Reserve Indicator......................... 61

Tank, Filling the......................... 183

Fuses, Checking the...................... 306

Gas Mileage, Improving................ 188

Gasohol........................................... 321

Gasoline.......................................... 182
Fuel Reserve Indicator................ 61

Gauge............................................ 63

Octane Requirement................. 182

Tank, Filling the......................... 183

Gas Station Procedures................. 183

Gauges
Engine Coolant Temperature .... 63

Fuel................................................63ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t