mileage HONDA ODYSSEY 1996 Owners Manual

Gasoline

The following are the EPA-approved percentages of oxygenates:
ETHANOL (ethyl or grain alcohol)
You may use gasoline containing up to 10% ethanol by volume. Gasoline containing ethanol may be marketed
under the name "Gasohol."
MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl

Ether)

You may use gasoline containing up to 15% MTBE by volume. METHANOL (methyl or wood

alcohol)

You may use gasoline containing up to 5% methanol by volume as long asit also contains cosolvents andcorrosion inhibitors to protect the
fuel system. Gasoline containing more than 5% methanol by volume
may cause starting and/or perform-ance problems. It may also damage
metal, rubber and plastic parts of
your fuel system.
If you notice any undesirableoperating symptoms, try another
service station or switch to another
brand of gasoline.
Fuel system damage or performance
problems resulting from the use of an oxygenated fuel containing morethan the percentages of oxygenates
given above are not covered under
warranty.
Driving in Foreign Countries

If you are planning to take your
Honda outside the U.S. or Canada,
contact the tourist bureaus in the areas you will be traveling in to find
out about the availability of unleaded
gasoline with the proper octane
rating.

If unleaded gasoline is not available,
be aware that using leaded gasoline in your Honda will affect perfor-
mance and fuel mileage, and damage its emissions controls. It will nolonger comply with U.S. andCanadian emissions regulations, and
will be illegal to operate in North
America. To bring your car back into compliance will require the replace-
ment of several components, such as
the oxygen sensor and the three way catalytic converter. These replace-
ments are not covered under
warranty.
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Fuel Economy

The condition of your car and your driving habits are the two most
important things that affect the fuel
mileage you get.

Vehicle Condition

Always maintain your car according to the maintenance schedule. This
will keep it in top operating condition.
An important part of that mainte- nance is the Periodic Checks (see
page 144). For example, an under- inflated tire causes more "rolling
resistance," which uses fuel. It also
wears out faster, so check the tire pressure at least monthly. In winter,the build-up of snow on your car'sunderside adds weight and rolling
resistance. Frequent cleaning helps
your fuel mileage and reduces the chance of corrosion. Driving Habits
You can improve fuel economy by
driving moderately. Rapid acceler-
ation, abrupt cornering, and hard
braking use more fuel.
Always drive in the highest gear that
allows the engine to run and acceler-
ate smoothly.
Depending on traffic conditions, try
to maintain a constant speed. Every
time you slow down and speed up, your car uses extra fuel. Use thecruise control, when appropriate, to
increase fuel economy. A cold engine uses more fuel than a
warm engine. It is not necessary to"warm-up" a cold engine by letting it
idle for a long time. You can drive away in about a minute, no matter
how cold it is outside. The engine
will warm up faster, and you get better fuel economy. To cut down on
the number of "cold starts," try to combine several short trips into one.
The air conditioning puts an extra load on the engine which makes it use more fuel. Turn off the A/C to
cut down on air conditioning use.
Use the flow-through ventilation
when the outside air temperature is
moderate.

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Maintenance Schedule
The Maintenance Schedule specifies how often you should have your car serviced and what things need
attention. It is essential that you have
your car serviced as scheduled to retain its high level of safety,dependability, and emission control
performance.
The services and time or distance
intervals shown in the maintenanceschedule assume you will use your
car as normal transportation. You

should:

Avoid exceeding your car's loadlimit. This puts excess stress on
the engine, brakes, and many other parts of your car. The load
limit is shown on the label on the driver's doorjamb.
Operate your car on reasonable
roads within the legal speed limit.
Drive your car regularly over adistance of several kilometers
(miles).

Always use unleaded gasoline with the proper octane rating (see page
108). Which Schedule to Follow:
Service your car according to the
time and mileage periods on one of the Maintenance Schedules on page 140 and 141 . Select the schedule for
"Severe Conditions" if most of your driving is done under one or more of
the conditions listed on that page. Otherwise, follow the schedule for
"Normal Conditions."

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Maintenance Schedule

Your authorized Honda dealer knows your car best and can providecompetent, efficient service.
However, service at a dealer is not
mandatory to keep your warranties
in effect. Maintenance may be doneby any qualified service facility or
person who is skilled in this type ofautomotive service. Keep all thereceipts as proof of completion, and
have the person who does the workfill out the Maintenance Record.Check your warranty booklet formore information. We recommend the use of Genuine
Honda parts and fluids whenever you
have maintenance done. These are manufactured to the same high-quality standards as the originalcomponents, so you can be confidentof their perfomance and durability.
U.S. Cars: Maintenance, replacement or
repair of emission control devices
and systems may be done by anyautomotive repair establishment or individual using parts that are
"certified" to EPA standards. According to state and federal
regulations, failure to perform
maintenance on the items marked
with an asterisk (*) will not void youremissions warranties. However,
Honda recommends that all mainte-nance services be performed at the
recommended time or mileage
period to ensure long-term reliability.

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Storing Your Car

If you need to park your car for an
extended period (more than 1
month), there are several things you should do to prepare it for storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to
get your car back on the road. It is
best to store your car indoors if at all

possible.
Fill the fuel tank.
Change the engine oil and filter
(see page 148). Wash and dry the exterior

completely.
Clean the interior. Make sure the
carpeting, floor mats, etc. are
completely dry.
Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in Park. Block the rear wheels.
If the car is to be stored for a
longer period, it should be supported on jackstands so the
tires are off the ground.
Leave one window open slightly (if
the car is being stored indoors).
Disconnect the battery.Support the front and rear wiper
blade arms with a folded towel or
rag so they do not touch the
windshield. Apply a silicone spray lubricant to
all door and tailgate seals. Also,
apply wax to the painted surfaces
that mate with the door and
tailgate seals. Cover the car with a "breathable"
car cover, one made from a porous

material such as cotton.

Nonporous materials, such as

plastic sheeting, trap moisture
which can damage the paint. If possible, run the engine for a
while periodically (preferably once
a month).

If you store your car for 12 months or longer, have your Honda dealer
perform the inspections called for in
the 24 months/48,000 km (30,000 miles) maintenance schedule (Normal Conditions) as soon as you
take it out of storage (see page 140 )
The replacements called for in the maintenance schedule are not
needed unless the car has actually
reached that time or mileage.
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Warranty Coverages

U.S. Owners
Your new Honda is covered by these
warranties:

New Car Limited Warranty — covers

your new car, except for the battery, emissions control systems and
accessories, against defects in
materials and workmanship.

Emissions Control Systems Defects Warranty and Emissions
Performance Warranty — these two

warranties cover your car's emis- sions control systems. Time, mileage,
and coverage are conditional. Please
read the warranty manual for exact
information.

Original Equipment Battery Limited

Warranty — this warranty gives up
to 100% credit toward a replacement
battery.
Seat Belt Limited Warranty — a seat

belt that fails to function properly is covered for the useful life of the car.
Rust Perforation Limited Warranty — all exterior body panels are
covered for rust-through from the
inside for the specified time period
with no mileage limit.
Accessory Limited Warranty — Genuine Honda Accessories are
covered under this warranty. Time
and mileage limits depend on the
type of accessory and other factors. Please read your warranty manual
for details.

Replacement Parts Limited
Warranty — covers all Genuine

Honda replacement parts against
defects in materials and workman-

ship.
Replacement Battery Limited

Warranty — provides prorated
coverage for a replacement battery
purchased from a Honda dealer.
Replacement Muffler Lifetime
Limited Warranty — provides
coverage for as long as the pur-
chaser of the muffler owns the car.
Restrictions and exclusions apply toall these warranties. Please read the 1996 Honda Warranties booklet that
came with your car for precise
information on warranty coverages.
Your Honda's original tires are covered by their manufacturer. Tire
warranty information is in a separate booklet.

Canadian Owners

Please refer to the 1996 Warranty and Maintenance Guide that came
with your car.
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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

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Index

Fluids
Automatic Transmission........... 155

Brake........................................... 156

Power Steering........................... 157

Windshield Washer................... 154

FM Stereo Radio
Reception.................................... 97

Folding the Second Seats ............... 58

Folding the Third Seats.................. 60

Foreign Countries, Driving in...... 109

Four-way Flashers......................... 43

Front End, Towing by Emergency
Wrecker.................................... 213

Fuel.................................................. 108
Fill Door and Cap....................... 110

Gauge.......................................... 38

Octane Requirement................. 108

Oxygenated................................ 108

Tank, Filling the......................... 110

Fuses, Checking the...................... 209

Gas Mileage, Improving................ 114

Gasohol........................................... 108

Gasoline.......................................... 108
Gauge.......................................... 38

Octane Requirement................. 108

Tank, Filling the......................... 110

Gas Station Procedures................. 110

Gauges Engine Coolant Temperature .... 38

Fuel.............................................. 38

Gearshift Lever Positions............. 120 Glass Cleaning............................... 187
Glove Box......................................... 53
Halogen Headlight Bulbs.............. 177
Hazard Warning Flashers............. 43

Headlights....................................... 40
Aiming......................................... 175Daytime Running Lights............. 40
High Beam Indicator................... 36High Beams, Turning on............ 40
Low Beams, Turning on............. 40
Reminder Chime.......................... 40 Replacing Halogen Bulbs ......... 177

Turning on.................................. 40

Head Restraints............................... 56
Heating and Cooling........................ 74 High Altitude, Starting at............ 119
High-Low Beam Switch............... 40

Hood, Opening the ...................... 111

Horn............................................... 39

Hot Coolant, Warning about...... 151 Hydroplaning................................ 127
Identification Number, Vehicle.. 216
If Your Car Has to be Towed..... 213Ignition
Keys............................................. 49

Switch.......................................... 49

Timing Control System............. 225
Indicator Lights, Instrument

Panel............................................. 33

Infant Restraint............................... 22 Inflation, Proper Tire .................... 170
Inside Mirror................................... 64

Inspection, Tire.............................. 171

Instrument Panel............................. 33

Instrument Panel Brightness........ 41
Interior Cleaning............................ 186
Interior Lights................................. 70

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