belt HONDA ODYSSEY 1997 Owner's Manual

Child Safety

Securing a Child Seat with a Lap/
Shoulder Belt
The lap/shoulder belt retractors in the passenger seating positions have
a built-in locking mechanism in-
tended to secure a child seat. When
you are placing a child seat in one of these outside seating positions, do
the following: 1. Place the child seat in the desired
seating position. Route the lap/
shoulder belt through the seat
according to the seat manufac-
turer's instructions.
2. Insert the latch plate into the buckle. Make sure it is fully

latched.

3. Slowly pull the shoulder portion of the belt out of the retractor until it
stops.

4. Allow the belt to slowly feed back into the retractor. You should heara clicking noise that indicates the
locking mechanism has engaged.
5. After the belt has retracted fully, pull up on the shoulder portion to
remove any slack.
6. Push and pull on the child seat to
verify that it is held firmly in place.If not, unlatch the seat belt, allow
it to retract fully, and repeat these
steps.

To unlatch the seat belt, push the red PRESS button on the buckle.Guide the belt across to the door
pillar. If the belt doesn't retract easily, pull it out and check for twistsor kinks.
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Child Safety

Using Child Restraints with
Tethers
Your Honda has several attachment points that allow a tether-style childseat to be installed.

Tethers do not replace the use of seat

belts. Even if a tether is used, a child
seat must always be secured
properly with the vehicle's seat belts.

U.S. Models

Two tether attachment points are located on the tailgate sill that allowa tether-style child seat to be
installed on the third seat. Use the
dimensions in the illustration to
locate the attachment point you want to use. Cut a 7/8 inch (22 mm)diameter hole.
Install the tether hardware that came
with the child seat.
Tighten the bolt to: 16 lbf.ft (2.2 kgf.m, 22 N.m)
If you are not sure how to install the
hardware, have it installed by your authorized Honda dealer.
If you need an anchor plate and
mounting hardware, contact your
Honda dealer.
Canadian Models
Your Honda has attachment points for a tether-style child seat to be
installed on the second or third seat
as shown.
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Indicator Lights

The instrument panel has many indicators to give you important
information about your car.
Lamp Check

These indicator lights come on when
you turn the ignition switch ON (II),
allowing you to see that they are

working:
SRS Indicator
Malfunction Indicator Lamp
Charging System Indicator
Low Oil Pressure Indicator

Anti-lock Brake System Indicator

Seat Belt Reminder Light

D4 Lamp
Door and Brake Lamp Monitor
If an indicator does not light during
this test, it cannot alert you if that system develops a problem. Have the
dealer check your car for burned-out
bulbs or other problems.
* The U.S. instrument panel is shown. Differences for the Canadian model
are noted in the text.

Instruments and Controls

LOW FUEL INDICATOR
MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP DOOR AND BRAKELAMP MONITOR
HIGH BEAM INDICATOR PARKING BRAKE AND
BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR*
CRUISE CONTROLINDICATOR
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM
INDICATOR LOW OIL PRESSURE
INDICATOR
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR* CHARGING
SYSTEM
INDICATOR
SEAT BELT

REMINDER

LIGHTProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Indicator Lights

Seat Belt Reminder Light
This indicator lights when you turn the ignition ON (II). It is a reminderto you and your passengers to
protect yourselves by fastening theseat belts. A beeper also sounds if
you have not fastened your seat belt.
If you do not fasten your seat belt,
the beeper will stop after a few seconds but the light stays on until
you do. Both the light and the beeper stay off if you fasten your seat belt
before turning on the ignition.
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp

See page 208.
Low Oil Pressure
Indicator
The engine can be severely damaged if this light flashes or stays on when

the engine is running. For complete

information, see page 206 .

Charging System
Indicator
If this light comes on when the engine is running, the battery is not

being charged. For complete
information, see page 207 .
Supplemental Restraint
System Indicator
This indicator lights when you turn the ignition ON (II). If it comes on atany other time, it indicates a problem
in the supplemental restraint system.
For complete information, see page 16 . Parking Brake
and Brake

System

Indicator
This light has two functions:
1. It lights as a reminder that you have not released the parking
brake. Driving with the parking
brake applied can damage the
brakes and tires, and cause the
Anti-lock brake system to turn off (see page 126).
2. If it remains lit after you release the parking brake, or comes on
while driving, it can indicate that the brake fluid level is low. This is
normally due to worn brake pads.Have your dealer check the
braking system for worn pads or
fluid leaks.
Instruments and Controls
U.S.

Canada
SRS

BRAKE
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Keys and Locks
Glove Box
Open the glove box by pulling the
bottom of the handle. Close it with a
firm push. Lock or unlock the glove
box with the master key.

Instruments and Controls

An open glove box can cause
serious injury to your passenger in a crash, even if the
passenger is wearing the seat

belt.

Always keep the glove box
closed while driving.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Seats

Adjust the seat-back before you start driving. The seat-backs should be in
an upright position for you and your
passengers to get the most protec-
tion from the seat belts.
To change the seat-back angle of the front seats, or the second-row seatsin the six passenger model, pull up
on the lever on the outside of the
seat bottom. To adjust the seat-back
angle of the second seat in the seven- passenger model, pull up on the lever
on the side of the seat-back.
Move the seat-back to the desired
position and release the lever. Let
the seat-back latch in the new

position.
Driver's Seat Power Height
Adjustment

U.S. EX model only

The height of your driver's seat is power adjustable. Pull up on theswitch to raise the seat. Push it down
to lower the seat.

Instruments and Controls

Reclining the seat-back can
decrease the protection you get
from your seat belt in a crash.

You can slide under the seat
belt and be seriously injured.
Adjust the seat-back to an upright position and sit well
back in the seat.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Loading Cargo

The maximum load you can carry in your Honda is 1,150 Ibs (535 kg). It
includes the total weight of all
passengers and their belongings, any
accessories, and the tongue weight
of a trailer. This 1,150 Ibs (535 kg)
figure is shown as the Vehicle Capacity Weight on the tire infor-
mation label attached to the driver's doorjamb.
To figure out how much cargo you
can cany: Figure the total "occupant weight"
you will be transporting. To do this, multiply the number of people (driver and all passengers) by 150
Ibs (70 kg). Subtract this number from the
Vehicle Capacity Weight (1,150 lbs/535 kg). If you are towing a trailer, subtract
the tongue weight. See Towing a
Trailer on page 130 .
This final number is the total weight of cargo you can load in or on the car.
With seven occupants (driver and six passengers), the maximum recom-
mended weight for cargo is 100 Ibs
(45 kg).

Where you store this cargo, and how
well you secure it, are just as important as how much it weighs.
Make sure you load cargo so it will
not shift while driving. Items stored
in the cargo area behind the third
seat should be stored as far forward
as possible. You could store addi-
tional items on the floor behind the
front seats. Make sure they cannot roll under the front seat and
interfere with the pedals.
For greater cargo capacity, the thirdseat can be folded into the floor and
the second row seats can either be removed or folded up (depending onmodel). Passengers should never sit
in the open cargo area while the car
is moving. They should sit in one of
the seats and wear their seat belts.
If you must carry large objects that
prevent you from closing the tailgate,
be aware that exhaust gas can enter the interior. See Carbon Monoxide
Hazard on page 29 .
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Preparing to Drive

You should do the following checks and adjustments every day before
you drive your car.
1. Make sure all windows, mirrors, and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove frost, snow,or ice.
2. Check that the hood and tailgate are fully closed.
3. Visually check the tires. If a tire looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure.
4. Check that any items you may be carrying with you inside are stored
properly or fastened down securely. 5. Check the adjustment of the seat
(see page 54).
6. Check the adjustment of the inside and outside mirrors (see
page 64).
7. Check the adjustment of the steering wheel (see page 44).
8. Make sure the doors are securely
closed and locked.

9. Fasten your seat belt. Check that your passengers have fastenedtheir seat belts (see page 7). 10.Turn the ignition ON (II). Check
the indicator lights in the instru-
ment panel.
11. Start the engine (see page 119).
12. Check the gauges and indicator lights in the instrument panel (seepage 33).

DrivingProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Maintenance

This section explains why it is important to keep your car well
maintained and to follow basic
maintenance safety precautions.
This section also includes Maintenance Schedules for normaldriving and severe driving conditions,
a Maintenance Record, and instruc-
tions for simple maintenance tasks
you may want to take care of
yourself.
If you have the skills and tools to per-
form more complex maintenance
tasks on your Honda, you may want to purchase the Service Manual. See
page 235 for information on how toobtain a copy, or see your Honda

dealer.
Maintenance Safety....................... 138

Important Safety Precautions.. 139

Maintenance Schedule.................. 140

Maintenance Record..................... 144

Owner Maintenance Checks........ 146

Fluid Locations............................... 147

Engine Oil....................................... 148
Adding Oil................................... 148Recommended Oil..................... 148
Synthetic Oil............................... 149

Additives..................................... 150

Changing the Oil and Filter...... 150

Cooling System.............................. 152

Adding Engine Coolant............. 152Replacing Engine Coolant........ 154

Windshield Washers..................... 156

Automatic Transmission Fluid..... 157
Brake Fluid..................................... 158

Brake System............................. 158

Anti-lock Brake System............ 159

Power Steering............................... 159

Air Cleaner Element...................... 160
Spark Plugs..................................... 162
Replacement............................... 162

Specifications............................. 163

Battery............................................ 164
Windshield Wipers........................ 166
Air Conditioning System............... 169
Drive Belts...................................... 170
Timing Belt..................................... 170
Tires................................................ 171 Inflation....................................... 171
Inspection................................... 173
Maintenance............................... 173
Tire Rotation.............................. 174 Replacing Tires and Wheels .... 174
Wheels and Tires....................... 175
Winter Driving........................... 175 Snow Tires.............................. 176
Tire Chains............................. 176
Lights.............................................. 177
Headlight Aiming...................... 177
Replacing Bulbs......................... 179
Storing Your Car............................ 184
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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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