steering wheel HONDA ODYSSEY 1996 User Guide

Controls Near the Steering Wheel

Make sure the rear window is clear
and you have good visibility before
starting to drive.
The defogger wires on the inside of the rear window can be accidentally damaged. When cleaning the glass,
always wipe side to side. Steering Wheel Adjustment
You can adjust the steering wheel height to suit your preference. Do
this before you begin driving.
1. Adjust the seat so you are acomfortable distance from the

pedals.

2. The lever to tilt the steering wheel is under the steering column to
the left. Push this lever all the was

down.

Instruments and Controls
Adjusting the steering wheel
position while driving may
cause you to lose control of the
car and be seriously injured in a
crash.
Adjust the steering wheel only
when the car is stopped.ProCarManuals.coms t Table of Contents Main Menu

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

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

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

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

Preparing to Drive
You should do the following checks
and adjustments every day before

you drive your car.

1. Make sure all windows, mirrors, and outside
lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove frost, snow,
or ice.
2. Check that the hood and tailgate are fully closed.
3. Visually check the tires. If a tire looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure.
4. Check that any items you may be carrying with you inside are stored
properly or fastened down
securely. 5. Check the adjustment of the seat
(see page 54).
6. Check the adjustment of the inside and outside mirrors (see
page 64).
7. Check the adjustment of the steering wheel (see page 44).
8. Make sure the doors are securely closed and locked.
9. Fasten your seat belt. Check that your passengers have fastened
their seat belts (see page 7 ). 10.Turn the ignition ON (II). Check
the indicator lights in the instru-
ment panel.
11. Start the engine (see page 119 ).
12. Check the gauges and indicator lights in the instrument panel (see
page 33 ).

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The Braking System

If this happens, you will immediately notice that the brake pedal goes
down much farther and you need to
press on it much harder. A much
longer distance will be needed to stop the car.
Slow the car by downshifting to a
lower gear and removing your foot from the accelerator pedal. Pull to
the side of the road as soon as it issafe. Because of the longer stopping
distance needed, brake system
failure is very hazardous. It is best to have your car towed, but if you mustdrive the car in this condition, be
extremely cautious. Have your carrepaired as soon as possible.

Anti-lock Brakes
All U.S. models and the Canadian six- passenger model have an Anti-lock
Brake System (ABS) as standard
equipment. It is optional on the
Canadian seven-passenger model.
ABS helps you maintain steering control during braking. It does this
by helping you to prevent the wheels
from locking up and skidding.
The ABS is always "On". It requires no special effort or driving technique.
You will feel a pulsation in the brake pedal when the ABS activates.
Activation varies with the amount of traction your tires have. On dry
pavement, you will need to press on
the brake pedal very hard before you
feel the pedal pulsation that means the ABS has activated. However, you
may feel the ABS activate immedi- ately if you are trying to stop onsnow or ice. Under all conditions, the
ABS is helping to prevent the wheels from locking so you can retain steering control. You should con-
tinue to press on the brake pedal
with the same force.
You may feel a slight movement of
the brake pedal just after you start
the engine. This is the ABS working. ABS INDICATOR*
U.S. indicator shown
The ABS is self-checking. If anything goes wrong, the ABS indicator on
the instrument panel comes on (seepage 35). This means the Anti-lock
function of the braking system has shut down. The brakes still work like
a conventional system, providing
normal stopping ability. You should
have the dealer inspect your car as soon as possible.

Driving
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The Braking System, Driving in Bad Weather

A car with ABS may require a longer distance to stop on loose or uneven
surfaces than an equivalent car with-
out Anti-lock. The ABS cannot make
up for road conditions or bad judg-
ment. It is still your responsibility to
drive at reasonable speeds for
weather and traffic conditions, and
to leave a margin of safety.
For a technical description of the
ABS hardware, refer to page 220 . Driving in Bad Weather
Rain, fog, and snow conditions re-
quire a different driving technique
because of reduced traction and
visibility. Keep your car well- maintained and exercise greater
caution when you need to drive in
bad weather. The cruise control should not be used in these condi-
tions. Driving Technique — Always drive
slower than you would in dry
weather. It takes your car longer to react, even in conditions that may seem just barely damp. Apply
smooth, even pressure to all the
controls. Abrupt steering wheel
movements or sudden, hard appli-
cation of the brakes can cause loss of control in wet weather. Be extra
cautious for the first few miles ofdriving while you adjust to the
change in driving conditions. This is
especially true in snow. A person car
forget some snow-driving technique during the summer months. Practice
is needed to relearn those skills.
Exercise extra caution when driving in rain after a long dry spell. After
months of dry weather, the first
rains bring oil to the surface of the
roadway, making it slippery.

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Towing a Trailer

If you have to stop while going uphill,
do not hold the car in place by
pressing on the accelerator. This can cause the automatic transmission to
overheat. Use the parking brake or
footbrake.
When parking your car and trailer, especially on a hill, be sure to follow
all the normal precautions. Turn
your front wheels into the curb, set the parking brake firmly, and put the
transmission in Park. In addition, place wheel chocks at each of the
trailer's tires. Backing up with a trailer is difficult
and takes practice. Drive slowly,
make small movements with the steering wheel, and have someone
stand outside to guide you. Grip the
steering wheel on the bottom (rather
than the usual position near the top). Move your hand to the left to get thetrailer to move to the left, and right
to move the trailer right.
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