service HONDA ODYSSEY 1996 Owner's Manual

Charging System Indication

This indicator should come on when the ignition is ON (II), and go out
after the engine starts. If it comes on
brightly when the engine is running,it indicates that the charging system
has stopped charging the battery. Immediately turn off all electrical
accessories: radio, heater, A/C, rear defogger, cruise control, etc. Try not
to use other electrically-operated
controls such as the power windows. Keep the engine running and takeextra care not to stall it. Starting the
engine will discharge the battery
rapidly. By eliminating as much of the
electrical load as possible, you can
drive several miles before the
battery is too discharged to keep the engine running. Drive to a servicestation or garage where you can get
technical assistance.

Taking Care of the Unexpected

CHARGING SYSTEM INDICATORProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t Table of Contents

Towing

If your car needs to be towed, call a
professional towing service or, if you
belong to one, an organization that
provides roadside assistance. Never tow your car behind another car with
just a rope or chain. It is very
dangerous.

Emergency Towing

There are three popular methods of towing a car:

Flat-bed Equipment — The operator

loads your car on the back of a truck.
This is the best way of trans- porting your Honda.

Wheel Lift Equipment — The tow

truck uses two pivoting arms that go
under the tires (front or rear) and lift them off the ground. The other two
tires remain on the ground.
Sling-type Equipment — The tow

truck uses metal cables with hooks on the ends. These hooks go around
parts of the frame or suspension and
the cables lift that end of the car off
the ground. Your car's suspension and body can be seriously damaged
if this method of towing is attempted.
If your Honda cannot be transported by flat-bed, it should be towed with
the front wheels off the ground. Ifdue to damage, your car must be
towed with the front wheels on the ground, do the following:
Release the parking brake.Start the engine.
Shift to D4, then to N.
Turn off the engine.
Improper towing preparation will
damage the transmission. Follow the
above procedure exactly. If you cannot
shift the transmission or start the engine, your car must be transported

on a flat-bed.

It is best to tow the car no fartherthan 80 km (50 miles), and keepthe speed below 35 mph (55

km/h).

Trying to lift or tow your car by the

bumpers will cause serious damage.
The bumpers are not designed to

support the car's weight.

Taking Care of the Unexpected

NOTICE
NOTICEProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t Table of Contents

Tire Information
Tire Pressure Adjustment For
High Speed Driving
Honda strongly recommends that
you not drive faster than posted speed limits and conditions allow. If
you decide it is safe to drive at high speeds, be sure to adjust the cold tire
pressures as shown below. If you do
not adjust the tire pressure, exces-
sive heat can build up and cause
sudden tire failure.
Be sure to readjust the pressure for

normal driving speeds. You should

wait until the tires are cold before adjusting the tire pressure (see page
170).
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Cars)
The tires on your car meet all U.S. Federal Safety Requirements. All
tires are also graded for treadwear,traction, and temperature perform-
ance according to Department of
Transportation (DOT) standards. The following explains these
gradings.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a compara-
tive rating based on the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified government

test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one and one half (1-1/2) times as well on thegovernment course as a tire graded 100. The relative performance of
tires depends upon the actual condi- tions of their use, however, and maydepart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits,service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.
Technical InformationProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t Table of Contents

Customer Relations Information
Honda dealership personnel are
trained professionals. They should be able to answer all your questions.
If you encounter a problem that your dealership does not solve to yoursatisfaction, please discuss it with
the dealership's management. The
Service Manager or General
Manager can help. Almost all
problems are solved in this way. If you are dissatisfied with the
decision made by the dealership's
management, contact your Honda Customer Relations Zone Office.
Refer to the U.S. and Canadian Zone Office maps on the following pages. When you call or write, please give
us this information:
Vehicle Identification Number(see page 216)
Name and address of the dealer
who services your car Date of purchase
Mileage on your car
Your name, address, and tele- phone number
A detailed description of the problem
Name of the dealer who sold the

car to you

Warranty and Customer RelationsProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t Table of Contents

Authorized Manuals

P.O.BOX 07280 DETROIT MICHIGAN 48207 1-800-782-4356 Service Manual:
This manual covers maintenance and recommended procedures for repair to engine and chassis components.It is written for the Journeyman mechanic, but is simple
enough for most mechanically-inclined owners to under-

stand.

Electrical Troubleshooting Manual:
This manual complements the Service Manual by providing in-depth troubleshooting information for each
electrical circuit in your car.
Body Repair Manual:
This manual describes the procedures involved in the replacement of damaged body parts.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t Table of Contents

Index
Seats
Reclining the Second Seat.......... 59

Removing the Second Seats....... 57

Third Seat Access...................... 56

Serial Number................................ 216

Service Intervals*.......................... 140

Service Manual.............................. 233

Service Station Procedures.......... 110
Setting the Clock............................. 66

Shifting the Automatic
Transmission.............................. 120

Shift Lever Position Indicator...... 120
Side Marker Lights, Bulb
Replacement in.......................... 178

Signaling Turns................................ 41
Snow Tires...................................... 174

Solvent-type Cleaners.................... 184
Sound System................................... 83

Spare Tire
Inflating....................................... 192

Specifications............................. 219

Spark Plugs, Replacing................. 160
Specifications Charts..................... 218

Speed Control...................................
46

Speedometer.................................... 3 7

SR
S Indicator............................. 16,

34

START (Ignitio
n
Key Position)..... 50
Starting the Engine........................ 119 In Cold Weather at HighAltitude................................... 119
With a Dead Battery................. 200
Steam Coming from Engine......... 202

Steering Wheel
Adjustment................................... 44
Anti-theft Column Lock.............. 49
Stereo Sound System...................... 83 Storing Your Car............................ 182

Sunroof............................................. 63
Closing Manually....................... 207
Operation......................................

63

Supplemental Restrain t
System
Service Precautions..................... 17
Servicing....................................... 16
SRS Indicator.......................... 16, 34
System

Components................... .
12

Synthetic Oil................................... 148
Tailgate........................................... 52

Taillights, Changing Bulbs in....... 179
Taking Care of the Unexpected.. 191 Tape Player................................ 87, 99
Technical Descriptions Anti-lock Brake System............ 220Emission Control Systems........ 224
Three Way Catalytic

Converter................................ 226

Tire Information........................

221

Temperature Gauge....................... .
38
Tether Attachment Points.............. 26 Three Way Catalytic Converter... 226
Time, Setting the...........................

66

Tire Chains.................................... .
174
Tire, How to Change a Flat.......... 193
Tires................................................ 169 Air Pressure............................... 170
Checking Wear.......................... 171
Compact Spare........................... 192
DOT Tire Quality Grading....... 222
Inflation....................................... 170
CONTINUED
ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t