HONDA ODYSSEY 1997 Owners Manual

Tires

If you check the pressure when the
tires are hot (the car has been driven several miles), you will see readings
4 to 6 psi (0.3 to 0.4 kgf/cm2, 30 to 40
kPa) higher than the cold reading.
This is normal. Do not let air out to match the specified cold pressure.
The tire will be underinflated.
You should get your own tire pressure gauge and use it whenever
you check your tire pressures. This
will make it easier for you to tell if a pressure loss is due to a tire problemand not due to a variation between

gauges.
Recommended Tire Pressures for
Normal Driving

The following chart shows the recommended cold tire pressures formost normal driving conditions and
speeds. Tire pressures for high
speed driving are shown on page
223.

The compact spare tire pressure is: 60 psi (420 kPa , 4.2 kgf/cm2) These pressures are also given on
the tire information label on thedriver's doorjamb.
Tubeless tires have some ability to self-seal if they are punctured.
However, because leakage is often
very slow, you should look closely for punctures if a tire starts losing

pressure.

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Tires

Inspection
Every time you check inflation, you should also examine the tires for
damage, foreign objects, and wear.
You should look for:
Bumps or bulges in the tread or
side of the tire. Replace the tire if
you find either of these conditions.
Cuts, splits, or cracks in the side
of the tire. Replace the tire if you
can see fabric or cord.
Excessive tread wear.
INDICATOR LOCATION MARKS

Your car's tires have wear indicators molded into the tread. When the
tread wears down to that point, you
will see a 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) wide band running across the tread. This shows there is less than 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) of tread left on the tire. A
tire that is this worn gives very little
traction on wet roads. You should replace the tire if you can see the
tread wear indicator in three or more
places around the tire. Maintenance
In addition to proper inflation,
correct wheel alignment helps to
decrease tire wear. If you find a tire
is worn unevenly, have your dealer
check the wheel alignment.
The tires were properly balanced by the factory. They may need to be
rebalanced at some time before theyare worn out. Have your dealer
check the tires if you feel a consis-
tent vibration while driving. A tire should always be rebalanced if it is
removed from the wheel for repair.
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Maintenance

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Tires

Make sure the installer balances the
wheels when you have new tires installed. This increases ridingcomfort and tire life. Your car's
original tires were dynamic or "spin"
balanced at the factory. For best results, have the installer perform adynamic balance.

(U.S.
EX)

Improper wheel weights can damage
your car's aluminum wheels. Use only Genuine Honda wheel weights for
balancing.
Tire Rotation
To help increase tire life and
distribute wear more evenly, you
should have the tires rotated every
7,500 miles (12,000 km). Move the
tires to the positions shown in the chart each time they are rotated. When shopping for replacement
tires, you may find that some tires are "directional." This means they
are designed to rotate only in one
direction. If you use directional tires,
they should be rotated only front-to- back.
Replacing Tires and Wheels
The tires that came with your car were selected to match the perform- ance capabilities of the car while
providing the best combination of
handling, ride comfort, and long life.
You should replace them with radial tires of the same size, load range,speed rating, and maximum cold tire
pressure rating (as shown on the
tire's sidewall). Mixing radial and
bias-ply tires on your car can reduce its braking ability, traction, andsteering accuracy.

Maintenance

NOTICE

Front


Front

(For Non-directional
Tires and Wheels)
(For Directional

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Tires
It is best to replace all four tires at
the same time. If that is not possible
or necessary, then replace the two
front tires or the two rear tires as a
pair. Replacing just one tire can seriously affect your car's handling.
The ABS works by comparing the speed of the wheels. When replacing
tires, use the same size originally supplied with the car. Tire size and
construction can affect wheel speed
and may cause the system to work in-
consistently. If you ever need to replace a wheel,
make sure the wheel's specifications
match those of the original wheel
that came on your car. Replacement
wheels are available at your Honda
dealer.

Wheels and Tires Wheel: 15 x 6 JJ

Tire:

P205/65R15 92S
See Tire Information on page 222 for
additional information about tire and
wheel size designations. See page 223 for information about DOT Tire
Quality Grading.
Winter Driving

Tires that are marked "M + S" or "All Season" on the sidewall have an
all-weather tread design. They
should be suitable for most winterdriving conditions. Tires without
these markings are designed for optimum traction in dry conditions.
They may not provide adequate performance in winter driving.
For the best performance in snowyor icy conditions, you should install
snow tires or tire chains. They may
be required by local laws under certain conditions.

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Maintenance

Installing improper tires on your
car can affect handling and
stability. This can cause a crash in which you can be seriously
hurt or killed.
Always use the size and type of
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Tires

Snow Tires
If you mount snow tires on your
Honda, make sure they are radial
tires of the same size and load range
as the original tires. Mount snow
tires on all four wheels to balance
your car's handling in all weather conditions. Keep in mind the traction
provided by snow tires on dry roads
may not be as high as your car's original equipment tires. You should
drive cautiously even when the roads
are clear. Check with the tire dealer
for maximum speed recommenda- tions. Tire Chains
Mount snow chains on your car
when warranted by driving condi- tions or required by local laws. Makesure the chains are the correct size
for your tires. Install them only on the front tires. If metal chains are
used, they must be SAE class "S".Cable type traction devices can also
be used.
When installing chains, follow the manufacturer's instructions and
mount them as tightly as you can.
Drive slowly with chains installed. If
you hear the chains contacting the
body or chassis, stop and tighten
them. If they still make contact, slow down until it stops. Remove the
chains as soon as you begin driving
on cleared roads.
Chains of the wrong size or that are

improperly installed can damage your

car's brake lines, suspension, body, and
wheels. Stop driving if you hear the

chains hitting any part of the car.

Maintenance
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Lights

Check the operation of your car's
exterior lights at least once a month.
A burned out bulb can create an unsafe condition by reducing your
car's visibility and the ability tosignal your intentions to other

drivers.

Check the following:
Headlights (low and high beam)
Parking lights
Taillights Brake lightsHigh-mount brake light
Turn signals
Back-up lights
Hazard light function
License plate light
Side marker lights
Daytime running lights (Canadian models)
If you find any bulbs are burned out,
replace them as soon as possible. Refer to the chart on page 221 to
determine what type of replacement
bulb is needed.
Headlight Aiming

The headlights were properly aimed when your car was new. You should check their aim if you regularly carry
heavy items in the cargo area or pull a trailer. Each headlight assembly

has horizontal and vertical adjust-
ment indicators. These are set to
their "0" positions after the head-
lights are aimed at the factory.
To check these settings: 1. Make sure the fuel tank is full. Park the car on level ground.
2. The driver or someone who weighs the same should be sittingin the driver's seat for all checks

and adjustments.
Load your car with the items you

normally carry.
HORIZONTAL ANGLE GAUGE
If you usually pull a trailer, load it as
you would normally and attach it to the car. Push down on the front and

rear bumpers several times to make
sure the car is sitting normally.

3. Open the hood.

4. Check the horizontal angle gauge.
The line on the adjustment screwindicator should line up with the

"0" mark on the gauge.

Maintenance
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Lights

VERTICAL ANGLE GAUGE
5. Check the vertical angle gauge. The bubble should be centeredunderneath the longest scribe mark on the gauge. HORIZONTAL ADJUSTMENT
6. If either indicator is not aligned with its "0" mark as described, an
adjustment can be made using a Phillips-head screwdriver to
realign it with the "0" mark. Please
refer to the illustrations. VERTICAL ADJUSTMENT
7. If you cannot get an indicator to align, have your Honda dealerinspect the car for body damage orsuspension problems.
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Lights

Replacing a Headlight Bulb

Your car has halogen headlight bulbs, one on each side. When
replacing a bulb, handle it by its steel
base and protect the glass fromcontact with your skin or hard
objects. If you touch the glass, clean
it with denatured alcohol and a clean

cloth.

Halogen headlight bulbs get very hot
when lit. Oil, perspiration, or a scratch

on the glass can cause the bulb to

overheat and shatter.
1. Open the hood.

If you need to change a bulb on

the passenger's side, remove the
air intake cover (see page 160).

2. Remove the electrical connector from the bulb by squeezing the
connector on both sides to unlock

the tab. Pull the connector straight
off.

3. Remove the rubber weather seal
by pulling on the tab.
4. Unclip the end of the hold-down
wire from its slot. Pivot it out of
the way and remove the bulb.
5. Insert the new bulb into the hole, making sure the tabs are in theirslots. Pivot the hold-down wire
back in place and clip the end into the slot.
6. Install the rubber seal over the back of the headlight assembly.Make sure it is right side up; it is

marked "TOP".

7. Push the electrical connector onto the tabs of the new bulb. Makesure it locks in place.
Turn on the headlights to test the new bulb.
8. (Passenger's side) Reinstall the air intake cover.

Maintenance

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Lights

Replacing the Front Side Marker/
Turn Signal and Parking Light Bulb
1. Use a Phillips-head screwdriver to remove the screw from the top of
the fender.
2. Move the side marker light assembly forward until it slides out
of the body. 3. Turn the socket one-quarter turn
counterclockwise to remove it
from the lens.
4. Remove the bulb by pushing it in slightly and turning it counter-

clockwise.
5. Install the new bulb in the socket.
Turn it clockwise to lock it in place.
6. Insert the socket back into the lens. Turn it clockwise to lock it in
place.

7. Put the side marker assembly back into the body. Align the four
tabs and push on the front edgeuntil it snaps into place.
Install the mounting screw and
tighten it securely.
Maintenance
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Lights

Replacing Rear Bulbs

1. Open the tailgate. Swing the taillight cover open and remove it.
To replace a bulb on the right side, remove the spare tire (see page
196).

2. Determine which of the three bulbs is burned out: tail/stoplight,
back-up light or turn signal.
3. Remove the socket by turning it
one-quarter turn counterclockwise.
4. Remove the burned out bulb from the socket by pulling it straight outof its socket.
5. Install the new bulb in the socket. 6. Reinstall the socket into the light

assembly.

7. Test the lights to make sure the new bulb is working.
8. Reinstall the taillight assembly
cover.

9. (Right side) Reinstall the spare tire.

Maintenance

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