battery HONDA ODYSSEY 1997 Owners Manual

Safety Labels

These labels are in the locations shown. They warn you of potential
hazards that could cause serious injury. Read these labels carefully
and don't remove them.
If a label comes off or becomes hard
to read, contact your Honda dealer
for a replacement.

Driver and Passenger Safety
RADIATOR CAP
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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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Audio System

You can use any of three methods to find radio stations on the selected
band: TUNE, SEEK, or the Preset

buttons.

TUNE — Use the TUNE/SEEK buttons to tune the radio to a desired frequency. Press ( ) to change
to a higher frequency, and press ( ) to tune to a lower frequency.
The frequency numbers will start to change rapidly. Release the switch
when the display reaches the desired
frequency. To change the frequency in small increments, press and
release the appropriate TUNE/SEEK button. SEEK — The SEEK function
searches the band for a station with
a strong signal. To activate it, push
the TUNE/SEEK button until you
hear a beep, then release it. Depending on which TUNE/SEEK
button you pushed, the system scans upward or downward from the
current frequency. It stops when it
finds a station with a strong signal.
Preset — You can store the fre-
quencies of your favorite radiostations in the six preset buttons.
Each button will store one frequency on the AM band, and two on the FM

band.
To store a frequency:
1. Select the desired band, AM or FM. FM1 and FM2 let you store
two frequencies with each Preset

button.

2. Use the TUNE or SEEK function to tune the radio to a desired
station.

3. Pick the Preset button you want for that station. Press the buttonand hold it until you hear a beep.
4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 to store a total of six stations on AM and twelve
on FM.
Once a station's frequency is stored,
simply press and release the proper
Preset button to tune to it.
The preset frequencies will be lost if your vehicle's battery goes dead, is
disconnected or the radio fuse is

removed.

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Audio System

AM/FM/Cassette Stereo Audio System
For U.S. EX model

Your Honda's audio system provides clear reception on both AM and FM
bands, while the preset buttons allow
you to easily select your favorite
stations.

The cassette system features Dolby B* noise reduction, automaticsensing of chromium-dioxide (CrO 2)
tape, and autoreverse for continuous
play.
The Anti-theft feature will disable the system if it is disconnected from
the car's battery. To get the system
working again, you must enter a code number (see page 106).
* Dolby noise reduction manufactured under
license from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corpo- ration. "DOLBY" and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories
Licensing Corporation.

Comfort and Convenience Features PWR/VOL KNOB
STEREO INDICATOR
AM BUTTON

TUNE/SEEK
SWITCH
FM1/FM2
BUTTON

PRESET

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Audio System

To store a frequency:
1. Select the desired band, AM or FM. FM1 and FM2 let you store
two frequencies with each Preset

button.

2. Use the TUNE or SEEK function to tune the radio to a desired
station.

3. Pick the Preset button you want for that station. Press the buttonand hold it until you hear a beep.
4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 to store a total of six stations on AM and twelve
on FM.

Once a station's frequency is stored,

simply press and release the proper

Preset button to tune to it.
The preset frequencies will be lost if

your vehicle's battery goes dead, is
disconnected or the radio fuse is

removed.

Comfort and Convenience Features AM BUTTON
TUNE/SEEK SWITCH
FM1/FM2

BUTTON
PRESET

BUTTONS
AUTO SELECT LIGHT
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Audio System

Theft Protection

On U.S. EX model

Your car's audio system will disable itself if it is disconnected from
electrical power for any reason. To
make it work again, the user must
enter a specific five-digit code in the
Preset buttons. Because there are
hundreds of number combinations
possible from five digits, making the system work without knowing the
exact code is nearly impossible.
You should have received a card that lists your audio system's codenumber and serial number. It is best
to store this card in a safe place at
home. In addition, you should write
the audio system's serial number in
this Owner's Manual. If you should
happen to lose the card, you must obtain the code number from your
Honda dealer. To do this, you will
need the system's serial number. If your car's battery is disconnected
or goes dead, the audio system will
disable itself. If this happens, you
will see "Code" in the frequency display the next time you turn on the
system. Use the Preset buttons to
enter the five-digit code. If it is
entered correctly, the radio will start

playing.

If you make a mistake entering the
code, do not start over or try to
correct your mistake. Complete the
five-digit sequence, then enter the correct code. You have three tries toenter the correct code. If you are
unsuccessful in three attempts, you
must then leave the system on for
one hour before trying again. You will have to store your favorite
stations in the Preset buttons after
the system begins working. Your
original settings were lost when
power was disconnected.
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Starting the Engine

1. Apply the parking brake.
2. In cold weather, turn off all electrical accessories to reduce
the drain on the battery.
3. Make sure the shift lever is in Park. Press on the brake pedal.
4. Without touching the accelerator pedal, turn the ignition key to theSTART (III) position. If the engine
does not start right away, do not
hold the key in START (III) for
more than 15 seconds at a time.
Pause for at least 10 seconds
before trying again.
5. If the engine does not start within 15 seconds, or starts but stalls
right away, repeat step 4 with the accelerator pedal pressed half-way
down. If the engine starts, release
pressure on the accelerator pedal so the engine does not race. 6. If the engine still does not start,
press the accelerator pedal all the
way down and hold it there while starting in order to clear flooding.
As before, keep the ignition key in the START (III) position for no
more than 15 seconds. Return tostep 5 if the engine does not start.
If it starts, lift your foot off the
accelerator pedal so the engine does not race.

Starting in Cold Weather at High
Altitude (Above 8,000 feet/ 2,400 meters)

An engine is harder to start in cold weather. The thinner air found athigh altitude above 8,000 feet (2,400
meters) adds to the problem.Use the following procedure:
1. Turn off all electrical accessories to reduce the drain on the battery. 2. Push the accelerator pedal half-
way to the floor and hold it there
while starting the engine. Do not hold the ignition key in START (III) for more than 15 seconds.
When the engine starts, release the accelerator pedal gradually as
the engine speeds up and smooths
out.
3. If the engine fails to start in step 2, push the accelerator pedal to the
floor and hold it there while you try to start the engine for no more
than 15 seconds. If the engine does not start, return to step 2.

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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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Maintenance Safety

Important Safety Precautions
Before you begin any maintenance,
make sure your car is parked on
level ground and that the parking
brake is on. Also, be sure the engine
is off. This will help to eliminate several potential hazards:

Carbon monoxide poisoning

from engine exhaust. Be sure there is adequate ventilation
whenever you operate the engine.
Burns from hot parts. Let the
engine and exhaust system cool
before touching any parts.
Injury from moving parts. Do

not run the engine unless in-
structed to do so. Read the instructions before you
begin, and make sure you have the tools and skills required.
To reduce the possibility of fire or explosion, be careful when working
around gasoline or batteries. Use a
nonflammable solvent, not gasoline,
to clean parts. Keep cigarettes, sparks, and flames away from the
battery and all fuel-related parts.
You should wear eye protection and protective clothing when working
near the battery or when usingcompressed air.

Maintenance
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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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