light HONDA ODYSSEY 1996 User Guide
Page 39 of 240
Gauges
Temperature Gauge This shows the temperature of the engine's coolant. During normal
operation, the pointer should rise
from the bottom white mark to about
the middle of the gauge. In severe driving conditions, such as very hot
weather or a long period of uphill driving, the pointer may rise to the
upper white mark. If it reaches the
red "H" (Hot) mark, pull safely to
the side of the road. Turn to page 202 for instructions and precautions
on checking the engine's cooling
system.
Fuel Gauge
This shows how much fuel you have. It is most accurate when the car is on
level ground. It may show slightly
more or less than the actual amount
when you are driving on curvy or hilly roads. The gauge stays at the same fuel
level reading after you turn off theignition. When you add fuel, thegauge slowly changes to the new
reading after you turn the ignition
back ON (II).
Maintenance Required Indicator
This indicator reminds you that it is nearing 12,000 km (7,500 miles)since the last scheduled maintenance.
Refer to the Maintenance Schedules
for Normal and Severe driving conditions on page 140 . When the distance driven since the
last scheduled maintenance nears 12,000 km (7,500 miles), the
indicator will turn yellow. If you
exceed 12,000 km (7,500 miles), the indicator will turn red.
Your dealer will reset the indicator when he performs the scheduledmaintenance. If someone else
performs the maintenance, reset the indicator by inserting your key in theslot beside the indicator.
Instruments and Controls SLOT
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Controls Near the Steering Wheel
The two levers on the steering column contain controls for driving
features you use most often. The left lever controls the turn signals,
headlights, and high beams. The right lever controls the windshield
wipers.
The rear window defogger switch and hazard warning switch are on
the dashboard under the center air
vent.
The controls near the left air vent are for the sunroof, cruise control
and instrument panel brightness.
The lever on the underside of the steering column allows you to tilt the
steering wheel.
Instruments and Controls
HAZARD WARNING LIGHT
SHIFT LEVER
REAR WINDOW
DEFOGGER
HORN
BUTTONS
SUNROOF
SWITCH
CRUISE
CONTROL
INSTRUMENT
BRIGHTNESS
HEADLIGHTS/
TURN SIGNALS
TILT
ADJUSTMENT
WINDSHIELD
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Page 41 of 240
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Headlights
The rotating switch on the left lever controls the lights. Turning this switch to the first position
turns on the parking lights, taillights, instrument panel lights, side-marker
lights, and rear license plate lights.
Turning the switch to the second position turns on the
headlights. If you leave the lights on with the
ignition switch in ACCESSORY (I)
or LOCK (0), you will hear a
reminder chime when you open the
driver's door.
To change between low beams and high beams, pull back on the turnsignal lever until you hear a click,
then let go. The blue high beam indicator will light (see page 36). To flash the high beams, pull back
and hold the turn signal lever.
Release the lever and the high
beams will go off.
The high beams will stay on for as long as you hold the lever, no matter
what position the headlight switch is
in.
Daytime Running Lights (Canadian Models)
With the headlight switch off, the high beam headlights come on with
reduced brightness when you turn
the ignition switch to ON (II) and release the parking brake. They
remain on until you turn the ignition
off, even if you set the parking brake
The headlights revert to normal operation when you turn them on
with the switch.
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Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Instrument Panel Brightness
The knob on the dashboard to the left of the steering column controlsthe brightness of the instrument panel lights. Push the knob to get it
to pop out. Turn the knob to adjust the brightness. Turn Signals
Signal a turn or lane change with this
lever. Push down on the lever tosignal a left turn, and up to signal aright turn. If you push it up or down
all the way, the turn signal continues
to blink even when you release the
lever. It shuts off automatically as
you complete the turn. To signal a lane change, push lightly
on the turn signal lever in the proper
direction and hold it. The lever will
return to the center position as soon as you release it.
Instruments and Controls
TURN SIGNAL LEVERProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t Table of Contents
Page 44 of 240
Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Rear Window Wiper and Washer
The rear window wiper switch is located next to the windshield wiper
switch.
To activate the rear windshield wiper, turn the switch "ON". If you wish to
use the wiper and washer, turn and
hold the switch one position up from "ON". To use the washer only, turn
and hold the switch one position
down from "OFF". Hazard Warning
Push the red button to the left of the
clock to turn on the hazard warning
lights (four-way flashers). This causes all four outside turn signals
and both indicators in the instrument
panel to flash. Use the hazard
warning lights if you need to park in a dangerous area near heavy traffic,or if your car is disabled. Rear Window Defogger
The rear window defogger will clear
fog, frost, and thin ice from the
window. Push the defogger button to turn it on and off. The light in the
button lights to show the defogger ison. If you do not turn it off, the
defogger will shut itself off after
about 25 minutes. It also shuts off
when you turn off the ignition. You have to turn it on again when you
restart the car.
Instruments and Controls
CONTINUED
ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t Table of Contents
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Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Instruments and Controls
3. Move the steering wheel up or
down to the desired position.
Position the wheel so you can see
all the instrument panel gauges
and warning lights. Push the lever
up to lock the steering wheel in
that position.
4. Make sure you have securely locked the steering wheel in place
by trying to move it up and down.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t Table of Contents
Page 47 of 240
Steering Wheel Controls
Cruise ControlCruise control allows you to maintain
a set speed above 25 mph (40 km/h)
without keeping your foot on the accelerator pedal. It is for cruising onstraight, open highways. It is not
recommended for conditions such as city driving, winding roads, slippery
roads, heavy rain, or bad weather.
You should have full control of the car under those conditions.
Using the Cruise Control
1. Push in the Cruise Control Master Switch to the left of the steering
column. The indicator in the
switch will light.
2. Accelerate to the desired cruising speed above 25 mph (40 km/h).
Instruments and Controls
Improper use of the cruise
control can lead to a crash.
Use the cruise control only
when traveling on open highways in good weather.
CRUISE CONTROL MASTER SWITCHProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t Table of Contents
Page 48 of 240
Steering Wheel Controls
3. Press and hold the SET/decel button on the steering wheel until
the CRUISE CONTROL light on
the instrument panel comes on.
This shows the system is now
activated.
The set speed may vary slightly,particularly on hills.
Changing the Set Speed
You can increase the set cruising speed in either of two ways:
Press and hold the RESUME/accel button. The car will acceler-
ate slowly. When you reach the
desired cruising speed, release the
button. Push on the accelerator pedal. Ac-
celerate to the desired cruising
speed and press the SET/decel
button. You can decrease the set cruising
speed in either of two ways:
Press and hold the SET/decel
button. The car will decelerate.
Release the button when you
reach the desired speed. Tap the brake pedal lightly with
your foot. The CRUISE CONTROL light on the instru-
ment panel will go out. When the
car slows to the desired speed, press the SET/decel button. The
car will then maintain the desired
speed.
CONTINUED
Instruments and Controls
RESUME/
accel
SET/decelProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t Table of Contents
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Steering Wheel Controls
Even with the cruise control turnedon, you can still use the accelerator
pedal to speed up for passing. After
completing the pass, take your foot
off the accelerator pedal. The car
will return to the set cruising speed.
Resting your foot on the brake or clutch pedal will cause the cruise
control to cancel.
Cancelling the Cruise Control
Any of these actions cause the cruise
control to cancel.
Tap the brake pedal.
Press the SET/decel and RE-
SUME/accel buttons at the same
time.
Press the Cruise Control Master
Switch.
When you tap the brake pedal, or press the SET and RESUME buttonsat the same time, the CRUISECONTROL light on the instrument
panel will go out and the car will
begin to slow down. You can use the accelerator pedal in the normal way. If you use the brake pedal to cancel
cruise control, the system retains the
previously-set cruising speed. To
return to that speed, accelerate to
above 25 mph (40 km/h) and press
the RESUME/accel button until theCRUISE CONTROL light comes on.
The car will accelerate to the same cruising speed as before.
If you cancel cruise control by
pressing the SET and RESUME
buttons at the same time, the
previously-set cruising speed is erased. To use the cruise control,
accelerate to the desired cruisingspeed and press the SET/decel
button.
Pressing the Cruise Control Master
Switch turns the system completely off and erases the previous cruisingspeed from memory. To use the
system again, refer to Using the
Cruise Control.
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Keys and Locks
LOCK (0) — You can insert or
remove the key only in this position.
When you turn the key from LOCK to ACCESSORY, you may have to
turn the steering wheel to release the anti-theft lock. To switch from
ACCESSORY to LOCK, you must push the key in slightly as you turn it.
The shift lever must also be in Park. The anti-theft lock will lock the steering column when you remove
the key.
ACCESSORY (I) — In this position, you can operate the audio systemand cigarette lighter.
ON (II) — This is the normal key
position when driving. All features and accessories on the car are usable.
Several of the lights on the instru-
ment panel come on as a test when
you turn the ignition switch from
ACCESSORY to ON (see page 35 ). START (III) — Use this position
only to start the engine. The switch
returns to ON when you let go of the
key.
You will hear a reminder beeper if
you open the driver's door with the key in the LOCK or ACCESSORYposition. Remove the key to turn itoff. Power Door Locks
Each front door has a master door
lock switch. Either switch locks andunlocks all doors. Push the switchdown to lock all doors, and up to
unlock them. The lock tab on the
tailgate also locks and unlocks when
you use the master door lock switch.
Instruments and Controls MASTER DOOR LOCK SWITCHProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t Table of Contents