2004 HONDA ODYSSEY tow

·µ
The maximum load f or your vehicle
is 1,158 lbs (525 kg). This f igure
includes the total weight of all
occupants, cargo, accessories, and
the tongue weight if you are towing a
trailer.
To determine the correct cargo and
luggage load limit:
Locate the statement, ‘‘the
combined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed 1,158
lbs (525 kg)’’ on your vehicle’s
placard (on the driver’s doorjamb).
Determine the combined weight
of the driver and passengers that
will be riding in your vehicle.
(Seven is the seating capacity of
your vehicle.) Subtract the combined weight of
the driver and passengers f rom
1,158 lbs (525 kg).
The resulting f igure equals the
available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity.
For example, if there will be f ive 150
lbs (70 kg) occupants in your vehicle,
the amount of available cargo and
luggage load capacity is 408 lbs (175
kg).
5 150 lbs (70 kg) = 750 lbs (350
kg)
1,158 lbs (525 kg) 750 lbs (350 kg)
= 408 lbs (175 kg) Determine the combined weight
of accessories, luggage, and cargo
beingloadedinthevehicle.The
weight may not saf ely exceed the
available cargo and luggage load
capacity calculated in step 4 [408
lbs(175kg)inthisexample]. If your vehicle will be towing a
trailer, the load f rom your trailer
will be transf erred to your vehicle.
Consult this manual to determine
how this reduces the available
cargo and luggage load capacity of
your vehicle.
The total weight must not exceed
theGrossVehicleWeightRating
(GVWR). The load f or the f ront and
rear axles also must not exceed the
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)
(see page ).
1.
2. 3.
4.
5.6.
195
Carrying Cargo
Bef ore Driving177
Overloading or improper
loading can affect handling and
stability and cause a crash in
which you can be hurt or killed.
Follow all load limits and other
loading guidelines in this
manual.

This section gives you tips on
starting the engine under various
conditions, and how to operate the
automatic transmission. It also
includes important inf ormation on
parking your vehicle, the braking
system, the Traction Control System,
and f acts you need if you are
planning to tow a trailer.........................
Preparing to Drive .182
.......................
Starting the Engine .183
..............
Automatic Transmission . 184
..................................
Parking Tips .188
.............................
Braking System .189
...............
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) . 190
..
Traction Control System (TCS) . 192
...........................
Towing a Trailer .194
Driving
Driving181

These indicators on the instrument
panel show which position the shif t
lever is in.
The ‘‘D’’ indicator comes on f or a
f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to ON (II). If it
f lashes while driving (in any shif t
position), it indicates a possible
problem in the transmission.If the malf unction indicator lamp
comes on along with the ‘‘D’’
indicator, there is a problem in the
automatic transmission control
system. Avoid rapid acceleration and
havethetransmissioncheckedbya
Honda dealer as soon as possible.
To shif t f rom any position, press
f irmly on the brake pedal and pull
the lever towards you. You cannot
shif t out of Park when the ignitionswitch is in the LOCK (0) or
ACCESSORY (I) position.
To shift from:
PtoR
RtoP
NtoR
Dto2 2to1
1to2
2toD
DtoD DtoN
DtoD NtoDRtoN Do this:
Press the brake pedal and
pull the shift lever towards
you.
Pull the shift lever towards
you.
Move the lever.
3
3
3
3
Automatic Transmission
Driving
Shif t L ever Position Indicators
Shif ting
184
SHIFT LEVER

µµµ
µ µ
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This position mechani-
cally locks the transmission. Use
Park whenever you are turning of f or
starting the engine. To shif t out of
Park, you must press on the brake
pedal and have your f oot of f the
accelerator pedal. Pull the shif t lever
towards you, then move it out of
Park.
If you have done all of the above and
still cannot move the lever out of
Park, see Shif t Lock Release on page .
You must also pull the shif t lever
towards you to shift into Park. To
avoid transmission damage, come to
a complete stop bef ore shif ting into
Park. The shif t lever must be in Park
bef ore you can remove the key f rom
the ignition switch. Press the brake
pedal and pull the shif t lever towards
you to shift from Park to Reverse. To
shif t f rom Reverse to Natural, come
to a complete stop and then shift.
Use Neutral if you
need to restart a stalled engine, or if
it is necessary to stop brief ly with
the engine idling. Shif t to the Park
position if you need to leave your
vehicle for any reason. Press on the
brake pedal when you are moving
the shift lever from Neutral to
another gear.
Use this position f or
normal driving. The transmission
automatically selects a suitable gear
f or your speed and acceleration. You
may notice the transmission shif ting
up at higher speeds when the engine
is cold. This helps the engine warm
up f aster. This position is similar
to D, except only the first three
gears are selected instead of all f ive.
Use D when towing a trailer in hilly
terrain, or to provide engine braking
when going down a steep hill. D can
also keep the transmission f rom
cycling between third and f ourth
gears in stop-and-go driving.
This position locks
the transmission in second gear. It
does not downshif t to f irst gear
when you come to a stop.
Use Second gear: For more power when climbing.
To increase engine braking when
going down steep hills.
For starting out on a slippery
surf ace or in deep snow.
When driving downhill with a
trailer.
186
3
3
CONT INUED
Automatic Transmission
Driving
Park (P) Reverse (R)
Neutral (N)
Drive (D) Drive (D )
Second (2)3
185

µTo shif t f rom Second to
First, pull the shift lever towards you,
then shift to the lower gear. With the
lever in this position, the
transmission locks in First gear. By
upshif ting and downshif ting through
1, 2, D , and D, you can operate the
transmission much like a manual
transmission without a clutch pedal. If you exceed the maximum speed
f or the gear you are in, the engine
speed will enter into the tachometer’s
red zone. If this occurs, you may f eel
the engine cut in and out. This is
caused by a limiter in the engine’s
computer controls. The engine will
run normally when you reduce the
RPM below the red zone.This allows you to move the shif t
lever out of Park if the normal
method of pushing on the brake
pedal and pulling the shif t lever does
not work.
Set the Parking brake.
Remove the key from the ignition
switch.
1.
2.
3
Automatic Transmission
Driving
First (1)
Engine Speed Limiter Shift Lock Release
186

Place a cloth on the edge of the
Shif t Lock Release slot cover.
Using a small f lat-tipped
screwdriver or a metal f ingernail
f ile, caref ully pry on the edge of
the cover to remove it.Remove the key from the Shift
Lock Release slot, then install the
cover. Press the brake pedal, and
restart the engine.
If you need to use the Shif t Lock
Release, it means your vehicle is
developing a problem. Have it
checked by a Honda dealer.
Insert the key in the Shift Lock
Release slot.
Push down on the key while you
pull the shif t lever towards you
and move it out of Park to Neutral.
5. 6.
4.
3.
Automatic Transmission
Driving187
SHIFT LOCK RELEASE SLOT COVER

Always use the parking brake when
you park your vehicle. Make sure
the parking brake is set f irmly or
your vehicle may roll if it is parked
on an incline.
Set the parking brake bef ore you put
the transmission in Park. This keeps
the vehicle from moving and putting
pressure on the parking mechanism
in the transmission.Make sure the windows are closed.
Turn of f the lights.
Place any packages, valuables, etc.
in the cargo area, or take them
with you.
Lock the doors and the tailgate.
Never park over dry leaves, tall
grass, or other f lammable
materials. The hot three way
catalytic converter could cause
these materials to catch on fire.If the vehicle is f acing uphill, turn
the f ront wheels away f rom the
curb.
If the vehicle is f acing downhill,
turn the front wheels toward the
curb.
Make sure the parking brake is
f ully released bef ore driving away.
Driving with the parking brake
partially set can overheat or
damage the rear brakes.
Driving
Parking T ips
Parking T ips
188

To saf ely tow a trailer, you should
observe the load limits, use the
proper equipment, and f ollow the
guidelines in this section.The
maximum weight you can tow
depends on several f actors. See
page f or limits f or your towing
situation. Towing a load that is too
heavy can seriously affect your
vehicle’s handling and
perf ormance. The weight that
the tongue of a f ully-loaded trailer
puts on the hitch should be
approximately 10 percent of the
trailer weight. Too little tongue
load can make the trailer unstable
and cause it to sway. Too much
tongue load reduces f ront-tire
traction and steering control.
195
Towing a Trailer
Driving
Load Limits
T otal T railer Weight: T ongue L oad:
194
Exceeding any load limit or
improperly loading your vehicle
and trailer can cause a crash in
which you can be seriously hurt
or killed.
Check the loading of your
vehicle and trailer carefully
beforestartingtodrive.