HONDA ODYSSEY 1997 Owners Manual

Spark Plugs

The spark plugs in your car need to be replaced every 2 years or 30,000

miles (48,000 km), whichever comes

first.
Replacement
SPARK PLUG CAP
1. Clean up any dirt and oil around the spark plug caps.
2. Remove the spark plug cap by pulling it straight out.
3. Remove the spark plug with a five-eighths inch (16 mm) spark
plug socket. 4. Put the new spark plug into the
socket; then screw it into the hole.
Screw it in by hand so you do not
crossthread it.

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Spark Plugs

5. Torque the spark plug. (If you do not have a torque wrench, tighten
the spark plug two-thirds of a turn
after it contacts the cylinder head.)
Tightening torque:
13 lbf.ft (1.8 kgf.m, 18 N.m)

Tighten the spark plugs carefully. A
spark plug that is too loose can
overheat and damage the engine. Overtightening can cause damage to
the threads in the cylinder head.

6. Install the spark plug cap.
7. Repeat this procedure for the
other three spark plugs.
Maintenance
Specifications:
NGK:

Nippondenso:
ZFR5F-11

KJ16CR-L11

Spark Plug Gap:
0,043in (1.1mm

NOTICE
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Battery

Check the condition of your car's
battery monthly. You should check
the color of the test indicator window, and for corrosion on the terminals. TEST INDICATOR WINDOW
Check the battery condition by
looking at the test indicator window on the battery.
The label on the battery explains the test indicator's colors. Check the battery terminals for
corrosion (a white or yellowish
powder). To remove it, cover the
terminals with a solution of baking soda and water. It will bubble up and
turn brown. When this stops, wash it off with plain water. Dry off the
battery with a cloth or paper towel. Coat the terminals with grease to
help prevent future corrosion.
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Battery
If the terminals are severely cor-
roded, clean them with baking soda and water. Then use a wrench to
loosen and remove the cables from
the terminals. Always disconnect the negative ( — ) cable first and recon-
nect it last. Clean the battery termi-
nals with a terminal cleaning tool or
wire brush. Reconnect and tighten the cables, then coat the terminals
with grease. If you need to connect the battery to
a charger, disconnect both cables to
prevent damage to the car's electri-
cal system.
On the U.S. EX model

If your car's battery is disconnected or goes dead, the audio system will
disable itself. The next time you turn
on the radio you will see "Code" in
the frequency display. Use the Preset buttons to enter the five-digit
code (see page 106).

Charging the battery with the cables
connected can seriously damage your
car's electronic controls. Detach the
battery cables before connecting the battery to a charger.
Maintenance

The battery gives off explosive
hydrogen gas during normal
operation.
A spark or flame can cause the battery to explode with enough
force to kill or seriously hurt you.
Wear protective clothing and a
face shield, or have a skilled mechanic do the battery

maintenance.
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Windshield Wipers

Check the condition of the wind-
shield wiper blades at least every six
months. Look for signs of cracking
in the rubber, or areas that are
getting hard. Replace the blades if
you find these signs, or they leave streaks and unwiped areas when

used.

To replace the front wiper blades: 1. Raise the wiper arm off the windshield. 2. Disconnect the blade assembly
from the wiper arm by pushing in
the lock tab. Hold it in while you
push the blade assembly toward
the base of the arm. 3. Remove the blade from its holder
by grasping the tabbed end of theblade. Pull firmly until the tabs
come out of the holder.

Maintenance
WIPER ARMS
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Windshield Wipers

4. Examine the new wiper blades. If they have no plastic or metal rein-
forcement along the back edge,
remove the metal reinforcementstrips from the old wiper blade and
install them in the slots along the
edge of the new blade. 5. Slide the new wiper blade into the
holder until the tabs lock.
6. Slide the wiper blade assembly onto the wiper arm. Make sure it
locks in place.
7. Lower the wiper arm down against the windshield.
To replace the rear wiper blade:1. Raise the wiper arm off the windshield.
2. Pull the lock tab up and slide the blade assembly off the wiper arm.
3. Pull one end of the blade out and down to remove it from the slot.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

BLADE

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Windshield Wipers

4. Slide the blade out of the holder.
5. Slide the new blade into the holder.
Make sure it is engaged in the slot
along its full length. 6. Insert both ends of the blade into
the holder slots. Make sure they
are secure.
7. Slide the wiper blade assembly onto the wiper arm. Make sure it
locks in place.
8. Lower the wiper arm.

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Air Conditioning System

Your car's air conditioning is a sealed system. Any major maintenance,
such as recharging, should be done
by a qualified technician. You can do a couple of things to make sure the
air conditioning works efficiently.
Periodically check the engine's
radiator and air conditioning
condenser for leaves, insects, and dirt stuck to the front surface. These
block the air flow and reduce cooling efficiency. Use a light spray from a
hose or a soft brush to remove them.

The condenser and radiator fins bend
easily. Only use a low-pressure spray
or soft-bristle brush to clean them.
Run the air conditioning at least once
a week during the cold weather
months. Run it for at least ten
minutes while you are driving at a
steady speed with the engine at
normal operating temperature. This circulates the lubricating oil con-
tained in the refrigerant. If the air conditioning does not get as
cold as before, have your dealer
check the system. Recharge the
system with Refrigerant HFC-134a (R-134a). (See Specifications on page 220.)

Whenever you have the air conditioning
system serviced, make sure the service
facility uses a refrigerant recycling
system. This system captures the refrigerant for reuse. Releasing
refrigerant into the atmosphere can
damage the environment.

Maintenance

AIR CONDITIONING
CONDENSER

NOTICE
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Drive Belts, Timing Belt

Drive Belts
Check the condition of the two drive
belts. Examine the edges of each
belt for cracks or fraying. Check the tension of each belt by
pushing on it with your thumb
midway between the pulleys.
The belts should have the following "play" or deflection.
Alternator belt:

0.31 — 0.41 in(8.0 — 10.5 mm)

Power steering belt:

0.51 — 0.63 in(13.0 — 16.0 mm)

If you see signs of wear or looseness,
have your dealer adjust or replace
the belts.
Timing Belt

The timing belt and balancer belt should normally be replaced at the
intervals shown in the maintenance
schedule.

Replace these belts at 60,000 miles (U.S.) or 100,000 km (Canada) if you
regularly drive your car in one or more of these conditions:
In very high temperatures(over 110°F, 43° C).
In very low temperatures
(under — 20°F, — 29°C).

Maintenance POWER STEERING BELT
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Tires

To safely operate your car, your tires must be the proper type and size, in
good condition with adequate tread, and correctly inflated. The following
pages give more detailed information on how and when to check air
pressure, how to inspect your tires
for damage and wear, and what to do
when your tires need to be replaced. Inflation
Keeping the tires properly inflated
provides the best combination of
handling, tread life and riding
comfort. Underinflated tires wear
unevenly, adversely affect handling
and fuel economy, and are more
likely to fail from being overheated. Overinflated tires can make your car
ride more harshly, are more prone to damage from road hazards, and wear

unevenly.

We recommend that you visually check your tires every day. If you
think a tire might be low, check it immediately with a tire gauge. Use a gauge to measure the air
pressure at least once a month. Even
tires that are in good condition may
lose one to two psi per month. Remember to check the spare tire at
the same time you check all the other tires.
Check the pressure in the tires when
they are cold. This means the car
has been parked for at least three
hours. If you have to drive the car
before checking the tire pressure,
the tires can still be considered "cold" if you drive less than 1 mile (1.6 km).
CONTINUED
Maintenance

Using tires that are excessively

worn or improperly inflated can
cause a crash in which you can be seriously hurt or killed.
Follow all instructions in this

owner's manual regarding tire
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