2011 HONDA ODYSSEY Owners Manual

Youshoulddothefollowingchecks
and adjustments bef ore you drive
your vehicle.Make sure all windows, mirrors,
and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove f rost, snow,
or ice.
Check that the hood is f ully closed.
Check that any items you may be
carrying are stored properly or
f astened down securely. Check the steering wheel
adjustment (see page ).
Make sure the doors and the
tailgate are securely closed and
locked.Fasten your seat belt. Check that
your passengers have f astened
their seat belts (see page ).
When you start the engine, check
the gauges and indicators in the
instrument panel, and the
messages on the inf ormation
display or multi-inf ormation
display (depending on models)
(seepages,,,and
).
Visually check the tires. If a tire
looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure. Check the seat adjustment (see
pages and ).
Check the adjustment of the
inside and outside mirrors (see
pages and ).
3. 2.
1.
4. 5.
6.
7.
8. 9.
10. 15
176
175
198
197
63 64 77
90
143Preparing to Drive558
10/07/17 10:49:39 31TK8600_563
2011 Odyssey

µ
Apply the parking brake.
In cold weather, turn of f all
electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery.
Make sure the shif t lever is in
Park. Press on the brake pedal.
Your vehicle’s starter system has an
auto control mode. When you turn
the ignition switch to the START
(III) position, this f eature keeps the
engine’s starter motor running until
the engine starts. Follow these
instructions to start the engine:
Without touching the accelerator
pedal, turn the ignition switch to
the START (III) position, then
release the ignition switch. You do
not need to hold the ignition
switch in the START (III) position
to start the engine. The starter
motor runs until the engine starts
or a maximum of 10 25 seconds
depending on engine coolant
temperature.
If the engine does not start, wait at
least 10 seconds bef ore trying
again.
1.
2.
3. 4.
Starting the Engine
Driving
559
Immobilizer System
The engine is harder to start in cold
weather. Also, the thinner air f ound at
altitudes above 8,000 f eet (2,400
meters) adds to this problem. T he immobilizer system protects your
vehicle f rom thef t. If an improperly
coded key (or other device) is used, the
engine’s f uel system is disabled. See
on page .145
10/07/17 10:49:46 31TK8600_564
2011 Odyssey

If this message is on, the ignition
switchhastobeheldintheSTART
(III) position manually until the
engine starts. The ignition switch
canbeheldinthatpositionupto15
seconds.
Even though you may be able to
start the engine manually without
the auto control mode of the starting
system, have your vehicle inspected
by a dealer.
If there is a problem with the starter
system, you will see a ‘‘CHECK
STARTER SYSTEM’’ message on
the multi-information display when
the ignition switch is turned to the
ON (II) position. You will also see
this message when the auto control
mode of the starter system has a
problem.
On Touring modelsStarting the EngineCheck Starter System Message560
10/07/17 10:49:51 31TK8600_565
2011 Odyssey

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 the ON (II)
position. If it f lashes while driving (in
any shif t position), it indicates a
possible problem in the transmission.
When the ‘‘D’’ indicator warns of a
possible problem with the
transmission, you will see a ‘‘CHECK
TRANSMISSION’’ message on the
multi-inf ormation display (see page
).
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
have the transmission checked by
your dealer as soon as possible.
92
On Touring models
Shif t L ever Position Indicators
Automatic Transmission
Driving
561
On Touring models
10/07/17 10:49:58 31TK8600_566
2011 Odyssey

To shif t f rom Park to any position,
pressfirmlyonthebrakepedal,and
pressthereleasebuttononthefront
of the shift lever, then move the
lever. You cannot shift out of Park
when the ignition switch is in the
LOCK (0) or ACCESSORY (I)
position.
To shift from:PtoR
RtoP
NtoR DtoL
LtoD
DtoN
NtoD RtoN
D3 to D
DtoD3 To shift from:
PtoR
RtoP
NtoR DtoL
LtoD
DtoN
NtoD RtoN
D4 to D
DtoD4
Do this:
Press the brake pedal, and
press the release button.
Press the release button.
Move the lever.
Press the D3 button. Do this:
Press the brake pedal, and
press the release button.
Press the release button.
Move the lever.
Press the D4 button.Except Touring models On Touring models
Automatic TransmissionShif ting562
SHIFT LEVER
RELEASE BUTTON
(Depending
on models)
10/07/17 10:50:05 31TK8600_567
2011 Odyssey

µµ
µµ
µ
CONT INUED
If you have done all of the above and
still cannot move the lever out of
Park, seeon
page .
To avoid transmission damage, come
to a complete stop bef ore shif ting
into Park. You must also press the
release button to shift into Park. The
shif t lever must be in Park bef ore
you can remove the key f rom the
ignition switch. 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.
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. Press the release
buttononthefrontof theshiftlever
to move it. Press the brake
pedal and the release button on the
frontoftheshiftlevertoshiftfrom
Park to reverse. To shif t f rom
reverse to neutral, come to a
completestop,andthenshift.Press
the release button bef ore shif ting
into reverse f rom neutral. To use D3, press the
D3buttonwhentheshiftleverisin
the ‘‘D’’ position. This position is simi-
lartoD,exceptonlythefirstthree
gears are selected instead of all f ive.
Use D3 when towing a trailer in hilly
terrain, or to provide engine braking
when going down a steep hill. D3 can
also keep the transmission f rom
cycling between third and f ourth
gears in stop-and-go driving.
565
Except Touring models
Automatic Transmission
Shif t L ock Release Neutral (N) Drive (D)
Park (P) Reverse (R)
Drive (D3)
Driving
563
10/07/17 10:50:12 31TK8600_568
2011 Odyssey

µµ
To use D4, press the
D4 button when the shif t lever is in
the ‘‘D’’ position. This position is
similar to D, except only the f irst
f our gears are selected instead of all
six. Use D4 when towing a trailer in
hilly terrain, or to provide engine
braking when going down a steep hill.
D4 can also keep the transmission
f rom cycling between f ourth and
f if th gears in stop-and-go driving. To shif t to Low, press
the release button on the front of the
shif t lever. Use Low to make better
use of engine power when climbing,
and f or maximum engine braking
when going down steep hills. 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.
On Touring modelsAutomatic TransmissionDrive (D4)
Low (L)
Engine Speed Limiter564
10/07/17 10:50:16 31TK8600_569
2011 Odyssey

This allows you to move the shif t
lever out of Park if the normal
method of pushing on the brake
pedal and pressing the release
button does not work.Remove the key from the ignition
switch. Set the parking brake.
Putaclothonthenotchof the
shif t lock release slot cover to
prevent scratches. Using a small
f lat-tip screwdriver or a metal
f ingernail f ile, caref ully pry on the
notch of the cover to remove it. Insert the key in the shift lock
release slot.
Push down on the key while you
pressthereleasebuttononthe
shif t lever and move the shif t lever
out of Park to neutral.
If you need to use the shif t lock
release, it means your vehicle is
developing a problem. Have it
checked by your dealer.Remove the key from the shift
lock release slot, then reinstall the
cover. Make sure the notch on the
cover is on the right side. Insert
the key into the ignition switch,
press the brake pedal, and restart
the engine.
5. 6.
4.
1.
2.
3.
Automatic Transmission
Shif t L ock Release
Driving
565
COVER RELEASE BUTTON
SHIFT LOCK RELEASE SLOT
10/07/17 10:50:26 31TK8600_570
2011 Odyssey