stop start HONDA ODYSSEY 1996 Owners Manual

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

Heating and Cooling

To Cool with A/C
1. Turn on the A/C by pressing the button. The light in the button
should come on.
2. Make sure the temperature control lever is all the way to the

left.
3. Select and

4. Set the fan to the desired speed.

If the interior is very warm from

being parked in the sun, you can cool
it down more rapidly by setting up

the controls this way:

1. Start the engine.

2. Turn on the A/C by pressing the
button. Make sure the tempera-

ture control lever is all the way to

the left.

3. Set the fan to maximum speed.

4. Open the windows partially. Select
and
When the interior has cooled down
to a more comfortable temperature,
close the windows and set thecontrols as described for normal
cooling.
Air conditioning places an extra load
on the engine. Watch the engine
coolant temperature gauge (see page 38) when driving in stop-and-go
traffic or climbing a long, steep hill. If it moves near the red zone, turnoff the A/C until the gauge reads
normally.
Comfort and Convenience Features
MODE BUTTONS

RECIRCULATION
BUTTON
FRESH AIR BUTTON

AIR CONDITIONINGBUTTON

FAN CONTROL
LEVER
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Audio System

You can use any of three methods to find radio stations on the selectedband: TUNE, SEEK, or the Preset
buttons.
TUNE — Use the TUNE/SEEK buttons to tune the radio to a desired frequency. Press ( ) to change
to a higher frequency, and press ( ) to tune to a lower frequency.
The frequency numbers will start to change rapidly. Release the switch
when the display reaches the desired frequency. To change the frequency
in small increments, press and
release the appropriate TUNE/SEEK button. SEEK — The SEEK function
searches the band for a station with
a strong signal. To activate it, push
the TUNE/SEEK button until you
hear a beep, then release it.
Depending on which TUNE/SEEK
button you pushed, the system scans
upward or downward from the
current frequency. It stops when it
finds a station with a strong signal.
Preset — You can store the fre- quencies of your favorite radio
stations in the six preset buttons.
Each button will store one frequency
on the AM band, and two on the FM

band.
To store a frequency:
1. Select the desired band, AM or FM. FM1 and FM2 let you store
two frequencies with each Preset

button.

2. Use the TUNE or SEEK function to tune the radio to a desired

station.

3. Pick the Preset button you want for that station. Press the button
and hold it until you hear a beep.
4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 to store a total of six stations on AM and twelve

on FM.

Once a station's frequency is stored,
simply press and release the proper
preset button to tune to it.
The preset frequencies will be lost if your vehicle's battery goes dead or is
disconnected.

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Audio System

Operating the Radio

The ignition switch must be in
ACCESSORY (I) or ON (II). Turn the system on by pushing the PWR/
VOL knob.
Adjust the volume by turning the PWR/VOL knob.
The band and frequency that the radio was last tuned to is displayed.
To change bands, press the AM or FM1/FM2 button. On the FM band,ST will be displayed if the station is
broadcasting in stereo. Stereo reproduction on AM is not available.
You can use any of three methods to find radio stations on the selectedband: TUNE, SEEK, or the Preset
buttons.
TUNE — Use the TUNE/SEEK
switch to tune the radio to a desired
frequency. Push the switch up to
tune to a higher frequency, and push the switch down to tune to a lower
frequency. The frequency numbers
will start to change rapidly. Release the switch when the display reaches
the desired frequency. To change
the frequency in small increments,push and release the TUNE/SEEKswitch quickly. SEEK — The SEEK function
searches the band for a station with
a strong signal. To activate it, push
the TUNE/SEEK switch until you
hear a beep, then release it. Depending on which way you pushed
the switch, the system scans upwardor downward from the current
frequency. It stops when it finds a
station with a strong signal.
Preset — You can store the fre- quencies of your favorite radio
stations in the six preset buttons.
Each button will store one frequency
on the AM band, and two on the FM
band.

CONTINUED

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Automatic Transmission

Your Honda's transmission has fourforward speeds, and is electronicallycontrolled for smoother shifting. It
also has a "lock-up" torque converter
for better fuel economy. You may
feel what seems like another shift
when the converter locks. Shift Lever Positions
This display is on the instrument panel. It shows you the position ofthe shift lever.
The "D4" indicator comes on for a few seconds when you turn the
ignition ON (II). If it flashes whiledriving (in any shift position), it
indicates a possible problem in the
transmission. Avoid rapid acceler- ation and have the transmission
checked by an authorized Honda
dealer as soon as possible. The shift lever has seven positions.
It must be in Park or Neutral to starthe engine. When you are stopped in
D4, D3, 2,1, N or R, press firmly on
the brake pedal and keep your footoff the accelerator pedal.

Driving
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Automatic Transmission

Park (P) — This position mechani- cally locks the transmission. Use
Park whenever you are turning off or starting the engine. To shift out of
Park, you must press on the brake
pedal and have your foot off the accelerator pedal. Pull the shift lever
towards you, then move it out of Park.
If you have done all of the above andstill cannot move the lever out of
Park, see Shift Lock Release on page

123.

You must also pull the shift lever towards you to shift into Park. To
avoid transmission damage, come toa complete stop before shifting into
Park. The shift lever must be in Park
before you can remove the key from the ignition switch. Reverse (R) — To shift to Reverse
from Park, see the explanation under
Park. To shift to Reverse fromNeutral, come to a complete stop and
then shift. Pull the shift lever
towards you before shifting into
Reverse from Neutral.

Driving
CONTINUEDProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t Table of Contents

Automatic Transmission

Neutral (N) — Use Neutral if you
need to restart a stalled engine, or if
it is necessary to stop briefly with the engine idling. Shift to Park posi-
tion if you need to leave the car for
any reason. Press on the brake pedal
when you are moving the shift lever
from Neutral to another gear.
Drive (D4) — Use this position for
your normal driving. The transmis- sion automatically selects a suitable
gear for your speed and acceleration.
You may notice the transmission shifting up at higher speeds when
the engine is cold. This helps the engine warm up faster.
Drive (D3) — This position is similar
to D4, except only the first three
gears are selected. Use D3 when
towing a trailer in hilly terrain, or to provide engine braking when goingdown a steep hill. D3 can also keep
the transmission from cycling
between third and fourth gears in
stop-and-go driving.

For faster acceleration when in D3 or
D4, you can get the transmission to

automatically downshift by pushing

the accelerator pedal to the floor.
The transmission will shift down one or two gears, depending on your

speed.

Second (2) — To shift to Second,
pull the shift lever towards you, then shift to the lower gear. This position

locks the transmission in second

gear. It does not downshift to first
gear when you come to a stop.
Second gives you more power when
climbing, and increased engine

braking when going down steep hills.

Use second gear when starting out on a slippery surface or in deep snow.
It will help reduce wheelspin.
Whenever you move the shift lever to a lower gear, the transmissiondownshifts only if the engine's redline will not be exceeded in the
lower gear.
First (1) — To shift from Second toFirst, pull the shift lever towards you
then shift to the lower gear. With the lever in this position, the transmis-sion locks in First gear. By upshift-
ing and downshifting through 1,2,
D3 and D4, you can operate this
transmission much like a manual
transmission without a clutch pedal.
DrivingProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t Table of Contents

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
CONTINUEDProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t Table of Contents

Cooling System

RESERVE TANK
RESERVE

TANK CAP

HOLDER

4. Remove the reserve tank from its holder by pulling it straight up.
Drain the coolant, then put the tank back in its holder.
5. When the coolant stops draining, tighten the drain plug in the
bottom of the radiator. Apply non-hardening sealant to the drain bolt
threads and reinstall the bolt in
the engine block. Tighten it securely.
FILLER NECK

Fill up to here
6. Mix the recommended antifreeze with an equal amount of purified
or distilled water in a clean
container. The cooling system

capacity is:6.3 (1.66 US gal, 1.39 Imp gal)

7. Pour coolant into the radiator up
to the base of the filler neck. BLEEDER BOLT
8. Loosen the bleeder bolt on top of the engine. Tighten it again when
coolant comes out in a steady
stream with no bubbles.
9. Refill the radiator to the base of the filler neck. Put the cap on the
radiator, only tighten it to the first
stop. Start the engine and let it run
until it warms up (the radiator
cooling fan comes on at least
twice).
MaintenanceCONTINUED
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If Your Engine Overheats

4. If the temperature gauge stays at the red mark, turn off the engine.
5. Wait until you see no more signs of steam or spray, then open the

hood.

6. Look for any obvious coolant leaks, such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot, so use caution. If you find a leak, it
must be repaired before you continue driving (see Towing on
page 213 ).
7. If you don't find an obvious leak, check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank (see page150 ). If the level is below the
MIN mark, add coolant to half-way
between the MIN and MAX marks.
8. If there was no coolant in the reserve tank, you may also have toadd coolant to the radiator. Let the
engine cool down until the pointer reaches the middle of the tempera-
ture gauge, or lower, before check-
ing the radiator.
9. Using gloves or a large heavy cloth, turn the radiator capcounterclockwise, without pushing
down, to the first stop. This
releases any remaining pressure in
the cooling system. After the pressure releases, push down on
the cap and turn it until it comesoff. 10.Start the engine and set the
temperature control lever tomaximum. Add coolant to the
radiator up to the base of the filler
neck. If you do not have the
proper coolant mixture available,
you can add plain water. Remember to have the coolingsystem drained and refilled with
the proper mixture as soon as you
can.

11. Put the radiator cap back on tightly. Run the engine and watch
the temperature gauge. If it goesback to the red mark, the engine
needs repair. (See Towing on
page 213.)
12.If the temperature stays normal, check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. If it has gone down, add coolant to theMAX mark. Put the cap back on

tightly.

Taking Care of the Unexpected

Removing the radiator cap
while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out, seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t Table of Contents