ESP HONDA ODYSSEY 1997 Owner's Manual

The Braking System, Driving in Bad Weather

If anything goes wrong, the ABS
indicator on the instrument panel
comes on (see page 35). This means
the anti-lock function of the braking
system has shut down. The brakes
still work like a conventional system
without anti-lock, providing normal stopping ability. You should have the
dealer inspect your vehicle as soon
as possible if this light stays on after
you start the engine, or comes on while driving. 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 controlshould 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 (kilometers) of driving while you
adjust to the change in driving
conditions. This is especially true in snow. A person can forget some
snow-driving techniques 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 the
trailer to move to the left, and right
to move the trailer right.
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Exterior Care

Washing
Frequent washing helps preserve
your car's beauty. Dirt and grit can scratch the paint, while tree sap and
bird droppings can permanently ruin the finish.
Wash your car in a shady area, not in direct sunlight. If the car is parked in
the sun, move it into the shade and
let the exterior cool down before you start.
Only use the solvents and cleaners
recommended in this Owner's

Manual.

Chemical solvents and strong cleaners
can damage the paint, metal, and
plastic on your car.
Rinse the car thoroughly with cool
water to remove loose dirt.
Fill a bucket with cool water. Mix
in a mild detergent, such as
dishwashing liquid or a product
made especially for car washing.
Wash the car, using the water and detergent solution and a soft-
bristle brush, sponge, or soft cloth. Start at the top and work your way
down. Rinse frequently.
Check the body for road tar, tree
sap, etc. Remove these stains with
tar remover or turpentine. Rinse it off immediately so it does not
harm the finish. Remember to re-
wax these areas, even if the rest of the car does not need waxing. When you have washed and rinsed
the whole exterior, dry it with a
chamois or soft towel. Letting itair-dry will cause dulling and water

spots.

As you dry the car, inspect it for chips and scratches that could allow
corrosion to start. Repair them with
touch-up paint (see page 187).

The radio antenna on your car does not
need to be removed when you use a "drive-through'' car wash. However, if
you remove the antenna, make sure to
reinstall it and tighten it securely using
an appropriate tool.

Appearance Care

NOTICE
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Corrosion Protection

Two factors normally contribute to causing corrosion in your car:
1. Moisture trapped in body cavities. Dirt and road salt that collects in
hollows on the underside of the car stays damp, promoting
corrosion in that area.
2. Removal of paint and protective coatings from the exterior and
underside of the car. Many corrosion-preventive measures
are built into your Honda. You can
help keep your car from corroding
by performing some simple periodic
maintenance:

Repair chips and scratches in the
paint as soon as you discover them.
Inspect and clean out the drain
holes in the bottom of the doors and body.
Check the floor coverings for
dampness. Carpeting and floor
mats may remain damp for a long
time, especially in winter. This dampness can eventually cause
the floor panels to corrode. Use a high-pressure spray to clean
the underside of your car. This is
especially important in areas that
use road salt in winter. It is also a
good idea in humid climates and areas subject to salt air. Be careful
of the ABS wheel sensors and
wiring at each wheel.
Have the corrosion-preventivecoatings on the underside of your
car inspected and repaired
periodically.

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Compact Spare Tire

Your car has a compact spare tire that takes up less space. Use thisspare tire as a temporary replace-
ment only. Get your regular tire
repaired or replaced and put back on
your car as soon as you can.
Check the inflation pressure of the
compact spare tire every time you
check the other tires. It should be

inflated to:
60 psi (420 kPa, 4.2 kgf/cm2) Follow these precautions whenever
you are using the compact spare tire:
Do not exceed 50 mph (80 km/h)
under any circumstances.
This tire gives a harsher ride and less traction on some road sur-
faces than the regular tire. Use
greater caution while driving on
this tire.
Do not mount snow chains on the
compact spare.
The wheel of the compact spare tire is designed especially to fit
your car. Do not use your spare tire on another car unless it is the same make and model. The compact spare tire has a shorter
tread life than a regular tire. Replaceit when you can see the tread wear
indicator bars. The replacement should be the same size and design
tire, mounted on the same wheel.
The compact spare tire is not designed to be mounted on a regular
wheel, and the compact wheel is not designed for mounting a regular tire.
Taking Care of the Unexpected INDICATOR
LOCATION
MARK
TREAD WEARINDICATOR
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Tire Information

Tire Size Designation

A tire's sidewall is marked with a tire size designation. You will need this
information when selecting replace-
ment tires for your car. The follow-
ing explains what the letters and
numbers in the tire size designation

mean.

(Example tire size designation)
P205/65R15 92S
P —
Applicable vehicle type (tires
marked with the prefix "P" are
intended for use on passenger cars;
however, not all tires have this
marking).

205 —
Tire width in millimeters.
65 —
Aspect ratio. The tire's section
height as a percentage of its width.
R —
Tire construction code (Radial).
15 —
Rim diameter in inches. 92
—
Load Index, a numerical code

associated with the maximum load

the tire can carry.

S —
Speed Rating Symbol. See the

speed rating chart in this section for

additional information.

Wheel Size Designation

Wheels are also marked with important information that you needif you ever have to replace one. The
following explains what the letters and numbers in the wheel size
designation mean.
(Example wheel size designation)

15
x
6
JJ
15 —
Rim diameter in inches.
6 —
Rim width in inches.
JJ —
Rim contour designation.
Tire Speed Ratings

The chart below shows many of the
different speed ratings currently

being used for passenger car tires.

The speed rating symbol is part of the tire size designation on the
sidewall of the tire. This symbol

corresponds to that tire's designed

maximum safe operating speed.

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Tire Information

Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest, are A, B, and C, and they
represent the tire's ability to stop on
wet pavement as measured under controlled conditions on specified
government test surfaces of asphalt and concrete. A tire marked C may
have poor traction performance.
Warning: The traction grade as- signed to this tire is based on brak-
ing (straight ahead) traction tests
and does not include cornering (turning) traction.
Temperature

The temperature grades are A (the highest), B, and C, representing the
tire's resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled conditions on a specified indoor
laboratory test wheel. Sustained high
temperature can cause the material of the tire to degenerate and reduce
tire life, and excessive temperature can lead to sudden tire failure. The
grade C corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger car
tires must meet under the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 109. Grades B and A represent
higher levels of performance on the
laboratory test wheel than the
minimum required by law.
Warning: The temperature grade for

this tire is established for a tire that
is properly inflated and not over-

loaded. Excessive speed, underinfla-
tion, or excessive loading either
separately or in combination, can

cause heat build-up and possible tire

failure.

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