2012 HONDA ODYSSEY rating

142
uuOperating the Switches Around the Steering WheeluTurn Signals
Controls
Turn Signals
The turn signals can be used when the ignition
switch is in ON
(w
.
Light Switches
Rotating the light switch turns the lights on
and off, regardless of the position of the
ignition switch.■
High beams
Push the lever forward until you hear a click.
■
Low beams
When in high beams, pull the lever back to
return to low beams.
■
Flashing the high beams
Pull the lever back, and release it.
Right Turn
Left Turn
■
Manual Operation
1Light Switches
If you remove the key from the ignition switch while
the lights are on, a chime sounds when the driver’s
door is opened.
When the lights are on, the lights on indicator in the
instrument panel will be on.
2Lights On Indicator P. 79
Repeatedly turning the headlights on and off reduces
the life of the HID headlight bulbs. If you sense that
the level of the headlights is abnormal, have the
vehicle inspected by a dealer.
Do not leave the lights on when the engine is off
because it will cause the battery to discharge.
Models with high voltage discharge tube bulb
High Beams
Flashing the high beamsLow Beams
Turns on side marker, tail, and
rear license plate lights
Turns on headlights, parking, side
marker, tail, and rear license plate
lights

143
uuOperating the Switches Around the Steering WheeluLight Switches
Controls
Automatic lighting control can be used when
the ignition switch is in ON
(w
.
When you turn the light switch to
#Y
, the
headlights and other exterior lights will switch
on and off automatically depending on the
ambient brightness.
uYou can change the AUTO light
sensitivity setting.
2Customized Features P. 101
The headlights, all other exterior lights, and the instrument panel lights turn off
within 15 seconds after you remove the key and close the driver's door.
uYou can change the headlight auto off timer setting.
2Customized Features P. 101
If you turn the ignition switch to LOCK
(0
with the headlight switch on, but do not
open the door, the lights turn off after 10 minutes (3 minutes, if the switch is in the
#Y
position).
The lights turn on again when you unlock or open the driver's door. If you unlock
the door, but do not open it within 15 seconds, the lights go off. If you open the
driver's door, you will hear a lights on reminder chime.
■
Automatic Lighting Control
*
1Automatic Lighting Control
We recommend that you turn on the lights manually
when driving at night, in a dense fog, or in dark areas
such as long tunnels or parking facilities.
The light sensor is in the location shown below.
Do not cover this light sensor with anything;
otherwise, the automatic lighting system may not
work properly.
Adjust the AUTO light sensitivity as follows:
Setting
The exterior lights come on
when the ambient light is at
MAXHIGHMIDLOWMIN
Light Sensor
Bright
Dark
■
Automatic Lighting Off Feature
* Not available on all models

144
uuOperating the Switches Around the Steering WheeluFog Lights
*
Controls
Fog Lights
*
When the low beam headlights are on, turn
the fog light switch on to use the fog lights.
Daytime Running LightsThe high beam headlights come on slightly dimmer than normal when the following
conditions have been met:
•The ignition switch is in ON
(w
.
•The headlight switch is off.
•The parking brake is released.
The lights remain on even if you set the parking brake. Turning off the ignition
switch will turn off the daytime running lights.
The high beam headlights return to the original brightness once the headlight
switch is turned on.
1Fog Lights
When the fog lights are on, the indicator in the
instrument panel will be on.
2Fog Light Indicator
* P. 80
Fog Light Switch
* Not available on all models

145
uuOperating the Switches Around the Steering WheeluWipers and Washers
Continued
Controls
Wipers and Washers
The windshield wipers and washers can be
used when the ignition switch is in ON
(w
.
■
MIST
The wipers run at high speed until you release
the lever.
■
Wiper switch (OFF, INT, LO, HI)
Change the wiper switch setting according to
the amount of rain.
■
Adjusting the delay
Turn the adjustment ring to adjust the wiper
delay.
■
Washer
Sprays while you pull the lever toward you.
When you release the lever, the wipers make
two or three more sweeps before stopping.
1Wipers and Washers
NOTICEDo not use the wipers when the windshield is dry.
The windshield will get scratched, or the rubber
blades will get damaged.NOTICEIn cold weather, the blades may freeze to the
windshield, becoming stuck.
Operating the wipers in this condition may damage
the wipers. Use the defroster to warm the
windshield, then turn the wipers on.
If the vehicle speeds up while the wipers are
operating intermittently, the length of the wipe
interval shortens. When the vehicle starts moving, the
wipers make a single sweep.
When the vehicle speeds up, the wiper operation’s
shortest delay setting ( ) and the LO setting become
the same.
Turn the washers off if no washer fluid comes out.
The pump may get damaged.
Intermittent Time
Adjustment Ring
MIST INT: Low speed with
intermittent OFF LO: Low speed wipe HI: High speed wipe
Pull to
use
washer.
Long delay
Short delay

uuOperating the Switches Around the Steering WheeluWipers and Washers
146Controls
The rear wiper and washer can be used when
the ignition switch is in ON
(w
.
■
Wiper switch (OFF, ON)
The wiper operates intermittently after
completing a few sweeps.
■
Washer ( )
Sprays while you rotate the switch to this
position.
Hold it to activate the wiper and to spray the
washer. Once released, it stops operating
after a few more sweeps.
■
Operating in reverse
When you shift the transmission to
(R
with the front wiper activated, the rear wiper
operates automatically as follows even if its switch is off.
■
Rear Wiper/Washer
1Opening/Closing the Power Sliding Doors
If the wiper stops operating due to any obstacle such
as the build-up of snow, park the vehicle in a safe
place:
Rotate the wiper switch to OFF, and turn the ignition
switch to ACCESSORY
(q
or LOCK
(0
, then remove
the obstacle.
The wiper motor is equipped with a breaker that may
stop motor operation temporarily to prevent an
overload. Wiper operation will return to normal
within a few minutes, once the circuit has returned to
normal.
ON: Intermittent Washer OFF
Front Wiper Position
Rear Wiper Operation
INT (Intermittent) Intermittent
LO (Low speed wipe)
HI (High speed wipe)
Continuous

147
uuOperating the Switches Around the Steering WheeluBrightness Control
Controls
Brightness Control
When the ignition switch is in ON
(w
, you can
use the brightness control knob to adjust
instrument panel brightness.
Brighten: Turn the knob to the right.
Dim: Turn the knob to the left.
You will hear a beeper when the brightness
reaches minimum or maximum. The
information display
*/multi-information
display
* will return to its original state several
seconds after you adjust the brightness.
■
Brightness level indicator
The brightness level is shown on the
information display
*/multi-information
display
* while you are adjusting it.
1Brightness Control
Instrument panel brightness varies, depending on
whether the exterior lights are on or off. The
instrument panel dims to reduce glare when they are
on.
Pressing the (SEL/RESET) knob or the /
(information) button
* switches the display.
If you turn the knob to the right until the brightness
display is up to max, the beeper sounds. This cancels
the reduced instrument panel brightness when the
exterior lights are on.
Control Knob
On multi-information display
On information display* Not available on all models

148
uuOperating the Switches Around the Steering WheeluRear Defogger/Heated Door Mirror
* Button
Controls
Rear Defogger/Heated Door Mirror
* Button
Press the rear defogger and heated door
mirror button to defog the rear window and
mirrors when the ignition switch is in ON
(w
.
The rear defogger and heated door mirrors*
automatically switch off after 20 minutes.
The rear defogger and heated door mirrors
automatically switch off after 10-30 minutes
depending on the outside temperature.
However, if the outside temperature is 32°F
(0°C) or below, they do not automatically
switch off.
1Rear Defogger/Heated Door Mirror Button
NOTICEWhen cleaning the inside of the rear window, be
careful not to damage the heating wires.
It is critical to wipe the window from side to side
along the defogger heating wires.
This system consumes a lot of power, so turn it off
when the window has been defogged.
Also, do not use the system for a long period when
the engine is idling. This may weaken the battery,
making it difficult to start the engine.
If the outside temperature is below 41°F (5°C), the
heated mirror function will come on automatically for
10 minutes when you turn the ignition switch to ON (w
.
Models with heating and cooling systemModels with climate control system
* Not available on all models

149
uuOperating the Switches Around the Steering WheeluDriving Position Memory System
*
Continued
Controls
Driving Position Memory System
*
You can store two driver’s seat and outside mirrors position with the driving position
memory system.
When you unlock and open the driver’s door with a remote transmitter, the seat and
outside mirrors adjust automatically to one of the two preset positions.
The multi-information display shows you which remote transmitter you used to
unlock the vehicle when you enter.
•Driver 1 transmitter is linked to memory button 1.
•Driver 2 transmitter is linked to memory button 2.
1Driving Position Memory System
Using the multi-information display, you can disable
the automatic seat adjustment function.
2Customized Features P. 101
Driver 1
Driver 2
* Not available on all models