2002 HONDA ODYSSEY Owners Manual

230

Bef ore you begin driving your Honda,
youshouldknowwhatgasolineto
use, and how to check the levels of
important f luids. You also need to
know how to properly store luggage
or packages. The inf ormation in this
section will help you. If you plan to
add any accessories to your vehicle,
please read the inf ormation in this
section f irst..............................
Break-in Period .232
.........................................
Gasoline .232
.........
Service Station Procedures . 233
................
Filling the Fuel Tank . 233
....................
Opening the Hood .234
...............................
Oil Check .236
.........
Engine Coolant Check . 237
...............................
Fuel Economy .238
.....................
Vehicle Condition .238
...........................
Driving Habits .238
...
Accessories and Modif ications . 239
.............................
Carrying Cargo .241
Bef ore Driving
Bef ore Driving231

Help assure your vehicle’s f uture
reliability and perf ormance by paying
extra attention to how you drive
during the f irst 600 miles (1,000 km).
During this period:Avoid full-throttle starts and rapid
acceleration.
Avoidhardbraking.Newbrakes
need to be broken-in by moderate
use f or the f irst 200 miles (300
km). Your Honda is designed to operate
on unleaded gasoline with a pump
octane number of 86 or higher. Use
of a lower octane gasoline can cause
a persistent, heavy metallic rapping
noise in the engine that can lead to
mechanical damage.
Youshouldfollowthesesamere-
commendations with an overhauled
or exchanged engine, or when the
brakes are replaced.
We also recommend that you should
not tow a trailer during the f irst 500
miles (800 km).
We recommend gasolines containing
detergent additives that help prevent
f uel system and engine deposits.
Using gasoline containing lead will
damage your vehicle’s emissions
controls. This contributes to air
pollution.
Do not change the oil until the
recommended time or mileage
intervalshowninthemaintenance
schedule.
Break-in Period, Gasoline
Bef ore Driving
Break-in Period
Gasoline
232

Because the f uel f ill cap is on the
driver’s side of the vehicle, park
with that side closest to the
service station pumps.
Open the f uel f ill door by pulling
onthehandletotheleftof the
driver’s seat.
In Canada, some gasolines contain
an octane-enhancing additive called
MMT. If you use such gasolines,
your emission control system
perf ormance may deteriorate and
the Malf unction Indicator Lamp on
your instrument panel may turn on.
If this happens, contact your
authorized Honda dealer f or service.
Bef ore ref ueling, make sure the rear
sliding door on the driver’s side is
closed. 1.
2.
CONT INUED
Bef ore Driving
Filling the Fuel Tank
Gasoline, Service Station Procedures
233
P Pu
ul
lll
F
FUUE EL
L F
FIILLL L C
CAA P
P
Gasoline is highly flammable
and explosive. You can be
burned or seriously injured
when handling fuel.
Stop the engine and keep
heat, sparks, and flame away.
Handle fuel only outdoors.
Wipe up spills immediately.

Remove the f uel f ill cap slowly.
You may hear a hissing sound as
pressure inside the tank escapes.
Place the cap in the holder on the
fuel fill door.
Stop f illing the tank af ter the f uel
nozzle automatically clicks of f . Do
not try to ‘‘top off’’ the tank, leave
some room f or the f uel to expand
with temperature changes.Shift to Park or Neutral and set
the parking brake. Pull the hood
release handle located under the
lower lef t corner of the dashboard.
The hood will pop up slightly.
Screw the f uel f ill cap back on,
tighten it until it clicks several
times. If you do not properly
tighten the cap, the Malfunction
Indicator Lamp may come on (see
page ).
Push the f uel f ill door closed until
it latches.
Your vehicle has an on-board
ref ueling vapor recovery system to
help keep f uel vapors f rom going
into the atmosphere. If the fuel
pump keeps clicking of f even though
the tank is not full, there may be a
problem with this system. Consult
your dealer. 1.
3.
4.
5.
6.
356
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving
Opening the Hood
234
H H
O
OO ODD R
REEL
LEE A
A S
SEE H
HA
AN
ND DL
LEE

CONT INUED
Pull the support rod out of its clip
and insert the end into the hole on
the driver’s side of the hood.
If you can open the hood without
lifting the hood latch handle, or the
hood latch handle moves stif f ly or
does not spring back as bef ore, the
mechanism should be cleaned and
lubricated (see page ).
Standing in f ront of the vehicle,
put your f ingers under the f ront
edge of the hood. The hood latch
handle is above the ‘‘H’’ logo. Pull
up on this handle until it releases
the hood. Lif t the hood. 3.
2. 300
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving235
S SU
UP PP
PO
OR RTT R
ROOD D
L
LA A T
TC
CH H

Wipe the dipstick with a clean
cloth or paper towel.
Check the engine oil level every time
you f ill the vehicle with f uel. Wait a
f ew minutes af ter turning the engine
of f bef ore you check the oil.
Remove the dipstick (orange
handle).
To close the hood, lif t it up slightly to
remove the support rod f rom the
hole. Put the support rod back into
its holding clip. Lower the hood to
about a f oot (30 cm) above the
fender,thenletitdrop.
Afterclosingthehood,makesureit
is securely latched.
2.
1.
Service Station Procedures
Bef ore Driving
Oil Check
236
D D I
IPP S
ST TI
ICCK K

Refer toon page f or inf ormation
on checking other items in your
Honda. Look at the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. Make sure it is
between the MAX and MIN lines. If
it is below the MIN line, see on page f or
inf ormation on adding the proper
coolant.
If it is near or below the lower mark,
see
on page .
Insert it all the way back in its tube. Remove the dipstick again and
check the level. It should be
between the upper and lower
marks.
4.
3.
285289
283
Bef ore Driving
Service Station Procedures
Owner Maintenance
Checks A dding
Engine Coolant
A dding Oil
Engine Coolant Check
237
U UP PP
PE
ER
R M
M A
AR
RKK
L
LO OW WE ER
R M
M A
AR
RKK M
M
A
AX
X
M
MI
INN R
RE
ES
SE ER
RV V E
E T
TA
A N
NK K