2005 HONDA ODYSSEY towing

2005 Odyssey Online Reference Owner's Manual
Use these links (and links throughout this manual) to navigate through this reference.
For a printed owner's manual, click on authorized manuals or go to www.helminc.com.
Contents
Owner's Identification Form
Introduction ........................................................................\
............................................................................. i
A Few Words About Safety ........................................................................\
.................................................. ii
Your Vehicle at a Glance........................................................................\
.......................................................4
Driver and Passenger Safety ........................................................................\
...............................................7
Proper use and care of your vehicle's seat belts, and Supplemental Restraint System.
Instruments and Controls........................................................................\
.................................................. .59
Instrument panel indica tor and gauge, and how to use dashboard and steering column controls.
Features............................................................................\
..........................................................................\
...187
How to
operate the climate control system, the audio system, and other convenience features.
Before Driving ........................................................................\
...................................................... ...............277
What gasoline to use, how to break-in your new vehicle, and how to load luggage and other cargo.
Driving........................................................................\
...................................................... .............................291
The proper way to start the engine, shift the transmission, and park, plus towing a trailer.
Maintenance........................................................................\
...................................................... ...................313
T he Maintenance Schedule shows you when you need to take your vehicle to the dealer.
Taking Care of the Unexpected........................................................................\
.......................................355
This section covers several problems motorists sometimes experienc e, and how to handle them.
Technical Information........................................................................\
...................................................... .383
ID numbers, dimensions, capaciti
es, and technical information.
Warranty and Customer Relations (U.S. and Canada)......................................................................397
A summary of the warranties covering y our new Honda, and how to con tact us.
Authorized Manuals (U.S. only)........................................................................\
.......................................401
How to order manuals and other technical literature.
Index ........................................................................\
......................................................................................... I
Service Information Summary
A summary of information you need when you pull up to the fuel pump.

This indicator normally comes on f or
a f ew seconds when you turn the
ignition switch to ON (II).
If it comes on while driving, it means
that one or more of your vehicle’s
tires are extremely low on pressure.
You will also see a ‘‘LOW TIRE
PRESSURE’’ message on the multi-
inf ormation display. The multi-
inf ormation display will show you
which tire has lost the pressure and
how much pressure it has lost (see
page ).
If this happens, pull to the side of the
road when it is saf e, check which tire
has lost pressure on the multi-
inf ormation display, and determine
the cause. If it is because of a flat tire,
have the flat tire repaired as soon as
possible. If two or more tires are
underinf lated, call a prof essional
towing service (see page ). Formore inf ormation, see page .
Your vehicle has Michelin PAX tires.
Repair or replacement of PAX tires
must be done by a Honda dealer or
an authorized Michelin PAX system
dealer. For more inf ormation, see
page .
This indicator reminds you that the
exterior lights are on. It comes on
when the light switch is in either the
or position. If you turn the
ignition switch to ACCESSORY (I)
or LOCK (0) without turning of f the
light switch, this indicator will
remain on. A reminder chime will
also sound when you open the driver’s
door.
On the Touring model, this indicator
also comes on when the light switch
is in AUTO and the lights turn on
automatically.
303 303
356
381
On U.S. Touring model only On EX and Touring models
Instrument Panel Indicators
Low Tire Pressure
IndicatorLights On Indicator
66

·µ
The resulting f igure equals the
available amount of cargo and
luggage load capacity.
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 maximum load f or your vehicle
is:
Subtract the combined weight of
the driver and passengers f rom
the maximum load.
For example, If your vehicle is the
Touring model, and if there will be
f ive 150 lbs (70 kg) occupants in
your vehicle, the amount of available
cargo and luggage load capacity is
458 lbs (198 kg).
5 150 lbs (70 kg) = 750 lbs
(350 kg)
1,208 lbs (548 kg) 750 lbs (350 kg)
= 458 lbs (198 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
[458 lbs (198 kg) in this example].
This f igure includes, cargo,
accessories, and the tongue weight if
you are towing a trailer.
To determine the correct cargo and
luggage load limit:
Determine the combined weight
of the driver and passengers that
will be riding in your vehicle. Locate the statement, ‘‘the
combined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed 1,208
lbs (548 kg)’’ on your vehicle’s
placard (on the driver’s doorjamb)
if your vehicle is the Touring
model, f or example.
1.
2. 3.
4.
5.
6.
LX model: 1,349 lbs (612 kg)
EX model: 1,388 lbs (630 kg)
EX with Leather: 1,322 lbs (600 kg)
Touring model: 1,208 lbs (548 kg)
Carrying Cargo
Bef ore Driving
287
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 vehicle stability assist
system, the tire pressure monitoring
system, and f acts you need if you are
planning to tow a trailer.........................
Preparing to Drive .292
.......................
Starting the Engine .293
..............
Automatic Transmission . 294
..................................
Parking Tips .298
.............................
Braking System .299
...............
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) . 300
Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) ........................................
System .301
Tire Pressure Monitoring System ......................................
(TPMS) .303
...........................
Towing a Trailer .306
Driving
Driving
291

µµ µ
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.
To use D , press the
D button when the shif t lever is in
the ‘‘D’’ position. This position is simi-
lartoD,exceptonlythefirstthree
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. This position locks the
transmission in First gear. By upshif t-
ing and downshif ting through 1, 2,
and D, you can operate this
transmission much like a manual
transmission without a clutch pedal.3
3
3 3
Automatic Transmission
Engine Speed L imiter
Drive (D )
Second (2) First (1)3
296

Your vehicle has been designed to
primarily carry passengers and their
cargo. You can also use it to tow a
trailer if you caref ully observe the
load limits, use the proper equipment,
and f ollow the guidelines in this
section.The
maximum allowable weight of the
trailer and everything in or on it
depends on several f actors. See
page f or the driving limits f or
your towing situation. Towing a
load that is too heavy can seriously
af f ect your vehicle’s handling and
perf ormance. It can also damage
the engine and drivetrain. The weight that
the tongue of a f ully-loaded trailer
puts on the hitch should be
approximately 10 percent of the
total trailer weight. Too much
tongue load reduces f ront-tire
traction and steering control. Too
little tongue load can make the
trailer unstable and cause it to
sway.
307
Towing a Trailer
Load Limits
T otal T railer Weight: T ongue L oad:
306
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.

Î
Î Î
ÎÎ
Î
Î
Î
Î Maximum Total Trailer Weight
Including driver. Based on 150 lbs (70 kg) per occupant. Number of
Occupants 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
See page for information about fluid coolers. Equipped with transmission cooler
and power steering fluid cooler 3,500 lbs (1,580 kg)
3,350 lbs (1,520 kg)
3,200 lbs (1,450 kg)
3,050 lbs (1,380 kg)
2,900 lbs (1,310 kg)
2,750 lbs (1,250 kg)
2,600 lbs (1,180 kg) 1,550 lbs (700 kg) 650 lbs (290 kg)
1:
2:
3:
4: LX and EX models
Touring model 309
The maximum allowable weight of
the vehicle, all occupants, all cargo,
and the tongue load is 5,952 lbs
(2,700 kg).
The maximum allowable weight of
the f ully loaded vehicle and trailer
is 8,410 lbs (3,815 kg) (see page
).
To achieve a proper tongue load,
start by loading 60 percent of the
load toward the front of the trailer
and 40 percent toward the rear, then
re-adjust the load as needed. The maximum allowable weight of
the vehicle, all occupants, all cargo,
and the tongue load must not
exceed 2,833 lbs (1,285 kg) on the
f ront axle, and 3,197 lbs (1,450 kg)
on the rear axle.
3861
3 2
34
Towing a Trailer
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR):
Gross Combined Weight Rating
(GCWR): Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GA WR):
Driving
307

The best way to conf irm that vehicle
and trailer weights are within limits
is to have them checked at a public
scale.
Using a suitable scale or a special
tongue load gauge, check the tongue
load the f irst time you set up a
towing combination (a f ully-loaded
vehicle and trailer), then recheck the
tongue load whenever the conditions
change.If the total trailer weight is more
than 1,850 lbs (840 kg), you must
also use a weight distributing hitch.
This device transf ers weight f rom
the vehicle’s rear wheels to the f ront
wheels, and to the trailer’s wheels.
Caref ully f ollow the hitch maker’s
instructions f or proper installation
and adjustment.
Always use saf ety chains when you
tow a trailer. Make sure the chains
are secured to the trailer and hitch,
and that they cross under the tongue
and can catch the trailer if it
becomes unhitched. Leave enough
slack to allow the trailer to turn
corners easily, but do not let the
chains drag on the ground.
Towing generally requires a variety
of supplemental equipment,
depending on the size of your trailer,
how much load you are towing, and
where you tow. To ensure the best
quality, we recommend that you
purchase Honda equipment
whenever possible.
Discuss your needs with your trailer
sales or rental agency, and f ollow the
guidelines in this section. Also make
sure that all equipment is properly
installed and meets f ederal, state,
province, and local regulations.
Any hitch used on your vehicle must
be properly bolted to the underbody,
using the six threaded holes
provided. A hitch and the required
f luid coolers designed especially f or
your Odyssey can be obtained f rom
your Honda dealer.
Towing a Trailer
Checking L oads
T owing Equipment and
A ccessoriesWeight Distributing Hitch
Saf et y Chains
Hitches
308