2000 HONDA ODYSSEY brake

Taking Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
This section covers the more-
common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you information about how to safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again. If not, you will also find instructionson getting your vehicle towed. Compact Spare Tire....................... 292
Changing a Flat Tire..................... 293
If Your Engine Won't Start........... 302 Nothing Happens or the Starter Motor OperatesVery Slowly......................... 302
The Starter Operates Normally................................ . 303
Jump Starting................................. 303
If Your Engine Overheats............. 305
Low Oil Pressure Indicator.......... 307Charging System Indicator........... 308
Malfunction Indicator Lamp ........ 309
Brake System Indicator................ 310
Fuses............................................... 311 Checking and Replacing........... 312
Emergency Towing....................... 317
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Changing a Fla t Tir e
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. Driveslowly along the shoulder until you
get to an exit or an area to stop that
is far away from the traffic lanes.
1. Park the vehicle on firm, level andnon-slippery ground away from
traffic. Put the transmission in Park. Apply the parking brake. 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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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
jack.
TOOL S JAC
K VINYL BA GSPAR E TIR E

Changing a Fla t Tir e
On LX model
Do not attempt to forcibly pry the
wheel cover off with a screwdriver or other tool. The wheel cover cannot
be removed without first removing
the wheel nuts. 16. Before mounting the spare tire,
wipe any dirt off the mounting
surface of the wheel and hub with
a clean cloth. Wipe the hub
carefully, it may be hot from
driving.
17. Put on the spare tire. Put the wheel nuts back on finger-tight,
then tighten them in a crisscross
pattern with the wheel wrenchuntil the wheel is firmly against
the hub. Do not try to tighten
them fully.
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BRAKE HU B
WHEE L
COVE R

If You r Engin e Won' t Start , Jum p Startin g
The Starte r Operate s Normall y
In this case, the starter motor's speed 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 startingprocedure? Refer to Startin g th e
Engin e on page 203 .
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 311).
If you find nothing wrong, you will
need a qualified technician to find
the problem. See Emergenc y
Towin g on page 317. Jum
p Startin g
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 257). 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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Takin g Car e o f th e Unexpecte d
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.
NOTIC E

If You r Engin e Overheat s
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 allother accessories. Turn on the
hazard warning indicators.
2. If you see steam and/or spray coming 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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NOTICE
Steam and spray from an
overheated engine can
seriously scald you.
Do not open the hood if steam
is coming out.

Brake Syste m Indicato r
The Brake System Indicator comes
on when you turn the ignition ON (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 250). 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. Youshould have it towed, and repaired as
soon as possible. (See Emergenc y
Towing on page 317.)
If you must drive the vehicle a short distance 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 dealerimmediately.
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BRAK
E SYSTE M INDICATOR *
*U.S . indicato r show n

Emergenc
y Towin g

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 towing equipment:
Flat-bed Equipment — The operator
loads your vehicle on the back of a truck. Thi s i s th e bes t wa y t o trans -
por t you r 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. Thi s i s
a n acceptabl e wa y t o to w you r
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 vehicleoff the ground. Your vehicle's sus-
pension and body can be seriously damaged. Thi s metho d o f towin g
i s 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 D4, 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 be 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 the speed below 35 mph (55 km/h).

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NOTIC
E

Index
Accessories and Modifications.... 195
Accessories................................. 195
Additional Safety Precaution.... 196
Modifications............................. 196
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key Position)........................................ 79
Accessory Power Sockets............. 124
Adding Automatic Transmission
Fluid........................................ 249
Brake Fluid................................. 250
Engine Coolant........................... 243
Engine Oil.................................. 239
Power Steering Fluid................. 251
Windshield Washer Fluid......... 248
Additional Information About
Your Seat Belts........................ 45
Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 45
Seat Belt Maintenance................ 47
Seat Belt System Components... 45
Additional Information About
Your SRS ................................
48
Additional Safet
y Precautions.... 52
How the Automatic Seat Belt
Tensioners Work..................... 50
How the SRS Indicator
Works........................................ 50
How Your Airbags Work............ 48
SRS Components......................... 48
Additives, Engine Oil..................... 24 1
Adjustments Head Restraints......................... 104
Mirrors........................................ 115
Seats............................................ 100
Steering Wheel............................ 72
Airbag (SRS)............................... 9, 4 9
Air Cleaner Element...................... 252
Air Conditioning Filter.................. 262
Air Conditioning System....... 130, 138
Maintenance............................... 261
Rear A/C Control...................... 152
Usage................................. 130, 138
Air Outlets (Vents)............... 132, 138
Air Pressure, Tires........................ 263
Alcohol in Gasoline........................ 326
Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning........ 285
Antifreeze....................................... 243
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
Indicator Light..................... 59 , 212Operation.................................... 211
Anti-theft, Audio System............... 186
Anti-theft Steering Column Lock.. 78
Appearance Care........................... 283
Armrests........................................ . 103
Audio Controls, Remote................ 185
Audio System........................ 155, 167
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners.... 50
Automatic Lighting Off Feature.... 67
Automatic Speed Control................ 73
Automatic Transmission............... 204
Capacity, Fluid........................... 322
Checking Fluid Level................ 249
Shifting........................................ 205
Shift Lever Position Indicator.. 204
Shift Lever Positions................. 205
Shift Lock Release..................... 208CONTINUED