1999 HONDA ODYSSEY lights

Heating and Cooling

On LX model
Proper use of the Heating and Cooling system can make the
interior dry and comfortable, and
keep the windows clear for best
visibility.
What Each Control Does Fan Control Dial

Turning this dial clockwise increases
the fan's speed, which increases air

flow.

Temperature Control Dial Turning this dial clockwise increasesthe temperature of the air flow.
Air Conditioning (A/C) Button This button turns the air condi- tioning ON and OFF. The indicatorabove the button lights when the
A/C is on. MODE BUTTONS


TEMPERATURE
CONTROL DIAL
Recirculation Button
This button controls the source of the air going into the system. When
the indicator above this button is lit,air from the vehicle's interior is sent
through the system again (Recircula-
tion mode). When the indicator is off, air is brought in from outside the
vehicle (Fresh Air mode). Rear Window Defogger Button
This button turns the rear window defogger on and off (see page 71).
Rear A/C Control Dial
With this dial, you can adjust the rear A/C unit heating, cooling, andair flow (see page 146).
Comfort and Convenience Features FAN CONTROL

DIAL

AIR CONDITIONING
BUTTON
RECIRCULATION BUTTON REAR WINDOW
DEFOGGER BUTTON REAR A/C
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Audio System

Audio System LightingYou can use the instrument panelbrightness control knob to adjust theillumination of the audio system (see
page 67 ). The audio system
illuminates when the parking lightsare on, even if the radio is turned off.
Operating the Cassette Player
Turn the audio system ON. Make sure the tape opening on the cassette
is facing to the right, then insert the
cassette most of the way into the slot.
The system will pull it in the rest of the way, and begin to play.
The tape direction indicator will light to show you which side of the cassette is playing. The indicates
the side you inserted facing upward
is now playing. If you want to play
the other side, press the PROG
button. Dolby B noise reduction turns on
when you insert a cassette. If the
tape was not recorded with Dolby B noise reduction, turn it off by pressing the button.
When the system reaches the end of the tape, it will automatically reversedirection and play the other side. If
you want to remove the cassette from the drive, press the EJECT
button.
Tape Search Functions With a cassette playing, you can usethe FF, REW, SKIP, or REPEAT
function to find a desired program.
FF/REW — Fast Forward and Re-
wind move the tape rapidly. To re-
wind the tape, push the REW button.
You will see REW in the display. To fast forward the tape, push the FF
button. You will see FF displayed.Press the PLAY button to take thesystem out of rewind or fast forward. If the system reaches the end of the
tape while in fast forward or rewind,
it automatically stops that function,
reverses direction, and begins to play.
SKIP — The Skip Function allows
you to find the beginning of a song or passage. To find the beginning of
the song or passage currently
playing, push the SKIP switch down.
You will see REW flashing in the display as the tape rewinds. To find
the beginning of the next song, push
the SKIP switch up. You will see FF
flashing in the display as the tape
fast forwards. When the system
finds the beginning of a song or passage, it goes back to PLAY mode.
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Audio System

Audio System Lighting You can use the instrument panel brightness control knob to adjust the
illumination of the audio system (see
page 67). The audio systemilluminates when the parking lights
are on, even if the radio is turned off.

Radio Frequencies

Your Honda's radio can receive the complete AM and FM bands.
Those bands cover these frequen-
cies:

AM band: 530 to 1,710 kilohertz
FM band:
87.7 to 107.9 megahertz
Radio stations on the AM band are
assigned frequencies at least ten
kilohertz apart (530, 540, 550). Stations on the FM band are
assigned frequencies at least 0.2

megahertz apart (87.9, 88.1, 88.3).
Stations must use these exact
frequencies. It is fairly common for stations to round-off the frequency in
their advertising, so your radio could display a frequency of 100.9 even
though the announcer may identify
the station as "FM101."
Radio Reception How well your Honda's radio
receives stations is dependent on
many factors, such as the distance
from the station's transmitter, nearby large objects, and atmos-
pheric conditions.
A radio station's signal gets weaker as you get farther away from its
transmitter. If you are listening to an
AM station, you will notice the sound volume becoming weaker, and the station drifting in and out. If you are
listening to an FM station, you will see the stereo indicator flickering off
and on as the signal weakens. Eventually, the stereo indicator will
go off and the sound will fade completely as you get out of range of
the station's signal.
Driving very near the transmitter ofa station that is broadcasting on a
frequency close to the frequency of
the station you are listening to can also affect your radio's reception.
You may temporarily hear both stations, or hear only the station you
are close to.

Comfort and Convenience Features
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Accessories and Modifications

Modifying your vehicle, or installing some non-Honda accessories, can
make your vehicle unsafe. Before
you make any modifications or add any accessories, be sure to read the
following information.

Accessories
Your dealer has Genuine Hondaaccessories that allow you to
personalize your vehicle. These accessories have been designed and
approved for your vehicle, and are
covered by warranty.
Non-Honda accessories are usually
designed for universal applications.
Although aftermarket accessories may fit on your vehicle, they may not
meet factory specifications, and
could adversely affect your vehicle's
handling and stability. (See "Modifications" on the page 190 for
additional information.) When properly installed, cellular
phones, alarms, two-way radios, and
low-powered audio systems should not interfere with your vehicle's
computer-controlled systems, such
as the SRS and anti-lock brake
system.

However, if electronic accessories
are improperly installed, or exceed
your vehicle's electrical system capacity, they can interfere with the operation of your vehicle, or even
cause the airbags to deploy.
Before installing any accessory: Make sure the accessory does not
obscure any lights, or interfere
with proper vehicle operation or performance.
Be sure electronic accessories donot overload electrical circuits (see page 305 ).
Have the installer contact your
Honda dealer for assistance before
installing any electronic accessory.
If possible, have your dealer inspect
the final installation.

Before Driving

Improper accessories or
modifications can affect your
vehicle's handling, stability and performance, and cause a

crash in which you can be hurt

or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
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Preparing to Drive

You should do the following checks and adjustments every day before
you drive your vehicle.
1. Make sure all windows, mirrors, and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove frost, snow, or ice.
2. Check that the hood and tailgate are fully closed.
3. Visually check the tires. If a tire looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure.
4. Check that any items you may be carrying with you inside are storedproperly or fastened downsecurely. 5. Check the adjustment of the seat
(see page 100).
6. Check the adjustment of the inside and outside mirrors (see
page 115).
7. Check the adjustment of the steering wheel (see page 72 ).
8. Make sure the doors and tailgate are securely closed and locked.
9. Fasten your seat belt. Check that your passengers have fastenedtheir seat belts (see page 15). 10.Turn the ignition switch ON (II).
Check the indicator lights in the
instrument panel.
11.Start the engine (see page 197). 12. Check the gauges and indicator lights in the instrument panel (seepage 57).

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Parking

Always use the parking brake when you park your vehicle. The indicator on the instrument panel shows that
the parking brake is not fully released; it does not indicate that the
parking brake is firmly set. Make sure the parking brake is set firmly
or your vehicle may roll if it is
parked on an incline.
Set the parking brake before you put
the transmission in Park. This keeps
the vehicle from moving and putting
pressure on the parking mechanism
in the transmission — making it easier to move the shift lever out of
Park when you want to drive away. If the vehicle is facing uphill, turn
the front wheels away from the curb.
If the vehicle is facing downhill, turn
the front wheels toward the curb.
Make sure the parking brake is fully
released before driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or damage
the rear brakes. Parking Tips
Make sure the windows are closed.
Turn off the lights.
Place any packages, valuables, etc.,
in the cargo area or take them
with you.
Lock the doors with the key or the
remote transmitter.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other flammable
materials. The three way catalytic
converter gets very hot, and could
cause these materials to catch on

fire.

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The Braking System

Your Honda is equipped with front disc brakes. The brakes on the rear
wheels are drum. A power assist helps reduce the effort needed on
the brake pedal. The ABS helps you retain steering control when braking
very hard.
Put your foot on the brake pedal only
when you intend to brake. Resting
your foot on the pedal keeps the brakes applied lightly, causing themto build up heat. Heat build-up can
reduce how well your brakes work. Italso keeps your brake lights on all
the time, confusing drivers behind

you.
Constant application of the brakes
when going down a long hill builds up heat and reduces their effective-
ness. Use the engine to assist the
brakes by downshifting to a lower gear and taking your foot off the
accelerator pedal.
Check your brakes after driving
through deep water. Apply the
brakes moderately to see if they feel normal. If not, apply them gently and
frequently until they do. Since a
longer distance is needed to stop
with wet brakes, be extra cautious and alert in your driving. Brake Wear Indicators
The front disc brakes on all vehicles have audible brake wear indicators.
When the brake pads need replacing,
you will hear a distinctive metallic "screeching" sound when you apply
the brakes. If you do not have the
brake pads replaced, they will begin screeching all the time.
Your brakes may sometimes squeal or squeak when you apply them
lightly. Do not confuse this with the
brake wear indicators. They make a
very audible "screeching."

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Driving in Bad Weather

Rain, fog, and snow conditions re-quire a different driving technique
because of reduced traction and
visibility. Keep your vehicle well- maintained and exercise greater
caution when you need to drive in
bad weather. The cruise control should not be used in these condi-

tions.
Driving Technique — Always drive
slower than you would in dry
weather. It takes your vehicle longer to react, even in conditions that mayseem just barely damp. Applysmooth, even pressure to all the
controls. Abrupt steering wheel
movements or sudden, hard appli-
cation of the brakes can cause loss of control in wet weather. Be extra
cautious for the first few miles (kilometers) of driving while you
adjust to the change in driving
conditions. This is especially true in snow. A person can forget some
snow-driving techniques during the
summer months. Practice is needed
to relearn those skills.
Exercise extra caution when driving
in rain after a long dry spell. After
months of dry weather, the first
rains bring oil to the surface of the
roadway, making it slippery. Visibility — Being able to see
clearly in all directions and being
visible to other drivers are important in all weather conditions. This ismore difficult in bad weather. To beseen more clearly during daylight
hours, turn on your headlights.
Inspect your windshield wipers and
washers frequently. Keep the wind- shield washer reservoir full of the
proper fluid. Have the windshield
wiper blades replaced if they start to streak the windshield or leave parts
unwiped. Use the defroster and air conditioning to keep the windows
from fogging up on the inside (see
pages 135 and 144 ).

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