tow HONDA ODYSSEY 1997 Owner's Guide

Towing

If your car needs to be towed, call a
professional towing service or, if you
belong to one, an organization that
provides roadside assistance. Never
tow your car behind another car with
just a rope or chain. It is very
dangerous.

Emergency Towing
There are three popular methods of towing a car:
Flat-bed Equipment — The operator
loads your car on the back of a truck.
This is the best way of trans- porting your Honda.
Wheel Lift Equipment — The tow
truck uses two pivoting arms that go
under the tires (front or rear) and lift
them off the ground. The other two
tires remain on the ground.
Sling-type Equipment — The tow

truck uses metal cables with hooks on the ends. These hooks go around
parts of the frame or suspension and
the cables lift that end of the car off
the ground. Your car's suspension and body can be seriously damaged
if this method of towing is attempted.
If your Honda cannot be transported
by flat-bed, it should be towed with
the front wheels off the ground. If due to damage, your car must be
towed with the front wheels on the
ground, do the following:
Release the parking brake.
Start the engine.
Shift to D4, then to N.
Turn off the engine.
Improper towing preparation will
damage the transmission. Follow the
above procedure exactly. If you cannot
shift the transmission or start the
engine, your car must be transported

on a flat-bed.

It is best to tow the car no farther
than 50 miles (80 km), and keep
the speed below 35 mph (55

km/h).

Trying to lift or tow your car by the
bumpers will cause serious damage. The bumpers are not designed to
support the car's weight.
Taking Care of the Unexpected

NOTICE
NOTICEProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

U.S. Zone Office Map

The addresses and telephone numbers are subject to change. If you cannot reach your Zone office, ask your Honda dealer for the current information. Western Zone

P.O. Box 2260

700 Van Ness Avenue
Torrance, California
90509-2260
(310) 781-4565
Northwestern Zone

P.O. Box 20186

12439 N.E. Airport Way
Portland, Oregon 97220

(503) 256-0943

(also includes Alaska and
Hawaii)
South Central Zone
4529 Royal Lane

Irving, Texas 75063
(214) 929-5481
Central Zone101 South Stanfield Road
Troy, Ohio 45373
(513) 332-6250

Northeastern Zone

P.O.
Box
337

Eastgate Industrial Park 115 Gaither Drive
Moorestown, New Jersey 08057

(609) 235-5533

Includes: NYC Metro area and
Fairfield County, CT area
Mid-Atlantic Zone

902 Wind River Ln., Suite 200
Gaithersburg, Maryland 20878 (301) 990-2020
Southeastern Zone1500 Morrison Parkway
Alpharetta, Georgia 30201
(770) 442-2045

North Central Zone
601 Campus Drive, Suite A-9
Arlington Heights, Illinois 60004
(847) 870-5600

New England Zone
555 Old County Road
Windsor Locks, Connecticut 06096 (203) 623-3310
See Zone 5 for:NYC Metro area and
Fairfield County, CT area
West Central Zone1600 South Abilene Street, Suite D
Aurora, Colorado 80012
(303) 696-3935

Puerto Rico and U.S. V.I.
Bella International

P.O. Box 190816

San Juan, PR 00919-0816
(809) 250-8070

Warranty and Customer RelationsProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Warranty Coverages

U.S. Owners
Your new Honda is covered by these

warranties:

New Car Limited Warranty — covers

your new car, except for the battery, emissions control systems and
accessories, against defects in

materials and workmanship.

Emissions Control Systems Defects
Warranty and Emissions

Performance Warranty — these two

warranties cover your car's emis- sions control systems. Time, mileage,
and coverage are conditional. Please
read the warranty manual for exact information.

Original Equipment Battery Limited
Warranty — this warranty gives up
to 100 percent credit toward a

replacement battery.
Seat Belt Limited Warranty — a seat

belt that fails to function properly is
covered for the useful life of the car.

Rust Perforation Limited Warranty
— all exterior body panels are
covered for rust-through from the
inside for the specified time period
with no mileage limit.

Accessory Limited Warranty —

Genuine Honda Accessories are
covered under this warranty. Time
and mileage limits depend on the
type of accessory and other factors. Please read your warranty manual
for details.

Replacement Parts Limited
Warranty — covers all Genuine
Honda replacement parts against defects in materials and workman-

ship.
Replacement Battery Limited

Warranty — provides prorated

coverage for a replacement battery

purchased from a Honda dealer.

Replacement Muffler Lifetime
Limited Warranty — provides

coverage for as long as the pur-
chaser of the muffler owns the car.
Restrictions and exclusions apply to
all these warranties. Please read the 1997 Honda Warranties booklet that
came with your car for precise
information on warranty coverages.
Your Honda's original tires are covered by their manufacturer. Tire
warranty information is in a separate
booklet.

Canadian Owners

Please refer to the 1997 Warranty
Manual that came with your car.

Warranty and Customer RelationsProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Index

DANGER, Explanation of................. ii
Dashboard........................................ 32
Dashboard Compartment............... 68
Daytime Running Lights................. 40
Dead Battery, What to Do............ 202
Defects, Reporting Safety............. 234
Defogger, Rear Window................. 43
Defrosting the Windows................. 79 DEXRON ®
III Automatic
Transmission Fluid.................... 157
Dimensions..................................... 220
Dimming the Headlights................ 40
Dipstick Automatic Transmission........... 157

Engine Oil................................... 112

Directional Signals........................... 41
Disabled, Towing Your Car If...... 215
Disc Brake Wear Indicators......... 125
Disposal of Used Oil...................... 151 Doors Locking and Unlocking............... 50
Power Door Locks....................... 50
DOT Tire Quality Grading........... 223
Drive Belts...................................... 170
Driving............................................ 117

Economy..................................... 114

In Bad Weather.......................... 126

In Foreign Countries................. 109

Economy, Fuel............................... 114

Emergencies on the Road............. 193
Battery, Jump Starting.............. 202

Changing a Flat Tire................. 195
Charging System Indicator ...... 207
Checking the Fuses................... 211
Low Oil Pressure Indicator...... 206
Malfunction Indicator Lamp .... 208
Manually Closing Sunroof........ 209
Overheated Engine................... 204

Emergency Brake............................ 65

Emergency Flashers....................... 43
Emission Controls......................... 225
Engine

Belts............................................. 170

Coolant Temperature Gauge ..... 38
Malfunction Indicator
Lamp................................. 34, 208

Oil Pressure Indicator......... 34, 206 Oil, What Kind to Use............... 148

Overheating................................ 204

Specifications............................. 221

Ethanol in Gasoline ....................... 109

Evaporative Emission Controls.... 225

Exhaust Fumes................................ 29

Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat
Belts by......................................... 10

Exterior, Cleaning the................... 186

Fabric, Cleaning............................. 188
Fan, Interior...................................... 74
Features, Comfort and Convenience................................. 73
Filling the Fuel Tank..................... 110
Filter
Air................................................ 160

Oil................................................ 150

First Gear Position......................... 122 Flashers, Hazard Warning.............. 43
Flat Tire, Changing a.................... 195
CONTINUEDProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Index

Fluids Automatic Transmission........... 157

Brake........................................... 158

Power Steering........................... 159
Windshield Washer................... 156
FM Stereo Radio
Reception...................................... 97

Folding the Second Seats ............... 58
Folding the Third Seats.................. 60
Foreign Countries, Driving in...... 109

Four-way Flashers........................... 43

Front End, Towing by Emergency Wrecker...................................... 215

Fuel.................................................. 108
Fill Door and Cap....................... 110

Gauge............................................ 38

Octane Requirement................. 108

Oxygenated................................ 108

Tank, Filling the......................... 110

Fuses, Checking the...................... 211

Gas Mileage, Improving................ 114

Gasohol........................................... 108
Gasoline.......................................... 108

Gauge............................................ 38

Octane Requirement................. 108
Tank, Filling the......................... 110
Gas Station Procedures................. 110
Gauges Engine Coolant Temperature .... 38

Fuel................................................ 38

Gearshift Lever Positions............. 120

Glass Cleaning............................... 189

Glove Box......................................... 53
Halogen Headlight Bulbs.............. 179 Hazard Warning Flashers............... 43
Headlights......................................... 40 Aiming......................................... 177
Daytime Running Lights............. 40
High Beam Indicator................... 36
High Beams, Turning on............ 40Low Beams, Turning on............. 40
Reminder Chime.......................... 40
Replacing Halogen Bulbs ......... 179

Turning on....................................
40

Head Restraints...............................
56Heating and Cooling........................ 74
High Altitude, Starting at.............. 119
High-Low Beam Switch .................. 40
Hood, Opening the ........................ 111
Horn................................................... 39
Hot Coolant, Warning about........ 152
Hydroplaning.................................. 129

Identification Number, Vehicle.... 218

If Your Car Has to be Towed....... 215

Ignition
Keys............................................... 49
Switch............................................ 49
Timing Control System............. 226
Indicator Lights, Instrument
Panel..............................................33

Infant Restraint................................ 22

Inflation, Proper Tire .................... 171

Inside Mirror.................................... 64

Inspection, Tire.............................. 173
Instrument Panel............................. 33

Instrument Panel Brightness......... 41

Interior Cleaning............................ 188
Interior Lights.................................. 70ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Index

Outside Mirrors............................... 64
Overheating, Engine..................... 204
Owner Maintenance Checks........ 146
Panel Brightness Control............... 41
Park Gear Position......................... 121
Parking............................................ 124
Parking Brake.................................. 65
Parking Lights.................................. 40
Parking Over Things that Burn... 227
PGM-FI System.............................. 226
Polishing and Waxing................... 187

Power
Door Locks................................... 50

Mirrors.......................................... 64

Steering....................................... 159

Windows....................................... 62

Pregnancy, Using Seat Belts.......... 10

Proper Seat Belt Usage..................... 7

Radiator Overheating.................... 204

Radio/Cassette Sound System....... 83
Rear A/C Unit.................................. 82
Rear End Towing........................... 215
Rear Lights, Bulb Replacement... 181
Rear View Mirror............................. 64
Rear Window Defogger.................. 44
Rear Window Wiper and Washer.. 43
Reclining the Seat Backs................ 55
Reclining the Second Seats............ 59
Reminder Lights.............................. 33
Remote Transmitter........................ 51
Removing the Second Seats........... 57
Replacement Information Air Cleaner Element.................. 160
Coolant........................................ 154
Engine Oil and Filter................. 150
Fuses........................................... 211Light Bulbs................................. 179
Schedule..................................... 140
Spark Plugs................................. 162
Timing Belt................................. 170
Tires............................................ 174
Wiper Blades.............................. 166
Replacing Seat Belts After a
Crash............................................. 11

Reserve Tank, Coolant.................. 113

Restraint, Child................................ 20
Reverse Gear Position................... 121

Rotation, Tire................................. 174

Safety Belts......................................... 5

Safety Defects, Reporting*.......... 234
Safety Labels, Location of.............. 30
Safety Messages................................ ii

Seat Belts............................................ 5

Advice for Pregnant Women...... 10
Cleaning...................................... 189

Frayed or Torn............................. 11
Maintenance................................. 11
Reminder Light and Beeper....... 34
Replacement................................. 11
System Components...................... 6
Tether Attachment Points.......... 26
Use During Pregnancy................ 10
Wearing a Lap/Shoulder Belt...... 7
Wearing the Lap Belt.................... 9

Seats.................................................. 54
Adjustments................................. 54

Driver's Seat Power
Height Adjustment.................. 55

Folding the Second Seats ........... 58ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Index

Tires Inspection................................... 173Replacing.................................... 174
Rotating....................................... 174
Snow............................................ 176
Specifications............................. 221
Transmission
Checking Fluid Level................ 157
Fluid Selection............................ 157
Identification Number............... 218
Shifting the Automatic.............. 120
Treadwear...................................... 223

Trip Meter........................................ 37

Turn Signals..................................... 41
Tools, Tire Changing.................... 195

Torn Seat Belts ................................ 11

Towing

A Trailer...................................... 130
Emergency Wrecker................. 215

Underside, Cleaning...................... 190
Unexpected, Taking Care
of the........................................... 193

Uniform Tire Quality Grading..... 223
Unleaded Gasoline......................... 108

Upholstery Cleaning...................... 188
Used Oil, How to Dispose of........ 151

Vanity Mirror................................... 68

Vehicle Capacity Load .................. 116

Vehicle Dimensions....................... 220

Vehicle Identification Number..... 218

Vehicle Storage.............................. 184

Ventilation......................................... 76
VIN.................................................. 218

Vinyl Cleaning................................ 188

Viscosity, Oil................................... 149 Operation...................................... 42
Washing.......................................... 186 Waxing and Polishing................... 187
Wheels Adjusting the Steering................ 44
Alignment and Balance............. 173
Compact Spare........................... 194
Wrench....................................... 197
Windows Cleaning...................................... 189
Operating the Power................... 62
Rear, Defogger............................ 44
Windshield Cleaning........................................ 42
Defroster...................................... 79
Wipers, Windshield Changing Blades........................ 166Operation...................................... 42
Rear Windshield Wiper and
Washer......................................43

Worn Tires..................................... 173
Wrecker, Emergency Towing...... 215
* : U. S. and Canada only
Warning Beepers
Key in Ignition.............................. 50

Seat Belts...................................... 34

WARNING, Explanation of.............. ii

Warning Labels, Location of.......... 30

Warranty Coverages*................... 233
Washer, Windshield Checking the Fluid Level......... 156ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t