towing HONDA ODYSSEY 1998 User Guide

Maintenance Schedule (Severe Conditions)

Follow the Severe Conditions
Maintenance Schedule if youdrive your vehicle MAINLY
under one or more of the
following conditions:
Driving less than 5 miles (8
km) per trip or, in freezing temperatures, driving less
than 10 miles (16 km) per trip. Driving in extremely hot
[over 90°F (32° C)] conditions. Extensive idling or long
periods of stop-and-go driving.
Trailer towing, driving with a roof top carrier, or driving in
mountainous conditions. Driving on muddy, dusty, or
de-iced roads.

For Canadian Owners

Follow the Maintenance

Schedule for Severe Conditions.

* 1: Refer to page 195 for replacement

information under special driving

conditions.

MaintenanceProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Maintenance Schedule for Severe Conditions (listed by distance/time)

Use this schedule if your vehicle is MAINLY driven in any of the following Severe Conditions, or normally driven in Canada; otherwise use the Normal
Schedule. Service at the indicated distance or time, whichever comes first. Do the items in A, B, C as required for each distance/time.

Severe Conditions:

Driving less than 5 mi (8 km) per trip or, in freezing temperatures, driving less than 10 mi (16 km) per trip.
Driving in extremely hot (over 90°F/32°C) conditions.
Extensive idling or long periods of stop-and-go driving.
Trailer towing, driving with a roof top carrier, or driving in mountainous conditions. Driving on muddy, dusty, or de-iced roads.

CONTINUED

Maintenance

page 199ProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Taking Care of the Unexpected
This section covers the more- common problems that motorists
experience with their vehicles. It
gives you information about how to safely evaluate the problem and what
to do to correct it. If the problem has stranded you on the side of the road,
you may be able to get going again. If not, you will also find instructionson getting your vehicle towed. Compact Spare Tire....................... 222
Changing a Flat Tire..................... 223
If Your Engine Won't Start........... 229 Nothing Happens or theStarter Motor OperatesVery Slowly......................... 229
The Starter Operates Normally................................. 230
Jump Starting................................. 230 If Your Engine Overheats............. 232
Low Oil Pressure Indicator .......... 234Charging System Indicator........... 235
Malfunction Indicator Lamp ........ 236
Brake System Indicator................ 237 Closing the Sunroof....................... 238
Fuses............................................... 239 Checking and Replacing........... 240

Towing............................................ 244

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If Your Engine Won't Start

Diagnosing why your engine won't start falls into two areas, depending
on what you hear when you turn the
key to START (III):
You hear nothing, or almostnothing. The engine's starter
motor does not operate at all, or
operates very slowly.
You can hear the starter motor operating normally, or the starter
motor sounds like it is spinning
faster than normal, but the engine does not start up and run.
Nothing Happens or the Starter
Motor Operates Very Slowly
When you turn the ignition switch to START (III), you do not hear the
normal noise of the engine trying tostart. You may hear a clicking sound
or series of clicks, or nothing at all.
Check these things: Your vehicle has the Immobilizer
System. You should use a
properly-coded master or valet key
to start the engine (see page 67).
A key that is not properly coded will cause the immobilizer systemindicator in the dash panel to blink
rapidly.
Check the transmission interlock.
The transmission must be in Park or Neutral or the starter will not
operate.

Turn the ignition switch to ON (II).
Turn on the headlights and check their brightness. If the headlightsare very dim or don't light at all,
the battery is discharged. See

Jump Starting on page 230.
Turn the ignition switch to START
(III). If the headlights do not dim,
check the condition of the fuses. If
the fuses are OK, there is proba-
bly something wrong with the electrical circuit for the ignitionswitch or starter motor. You will
need a qualified technician to determine the problem. (See
Towing on page 244.)
If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start theengine, either the battery is dis-
charged or the connections are
corroded. Check the condition of
the battery and terminal connec-
tions (see page 189). You can
then try jump starting the vehicle
from a booster battery (see page
231).
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If Your Engine Won't Start, Jump Starting
The Starter
Operates Normally
In this case, the starter motor's
speed sounds normal, or even faster
than normal, when you turn the
ignition switch to START (III), but
the engine does not run. Are you using the proper startingprocedure? Refer to Starting the
Engine on page 141.
Do you have fuel? Turn the
ignition switch to ON (II) for a
minute and watch the fuel gauge.
The low fuel level warning light may not be working, so you were
not reminded to fill the tank.
There may be an electrical problem, such as no power to the
fuel pump. Check all the fuses (see page 242).
If you find nothing wrong, you will
need a qualified technician to find
the problem. See Towing on page

244.
Jump Starting
If your vehicle's battery has rundown, you may be able to start the
engine by using a booster battery.
Although this seems like a simple procedure, you should take several

precautions.

You cannot start a Honda by pushing or pulling it. To jump start your vehicle, follow
these directions closely:
1. Open the hood and check the physical condition of the battery(see page 189 ). In very cold
weather, check the condition of the electrolyte. If it seems slushyor like ice, do not try jump starting
until it thaws.

If a battery sits in extreme cold, the electrolyte inside can freeze.
Attempting to jump start with a frozen battery can cause it to rupture.

2. Turn off all the electrical acces- sories: heater, A/C, stereo system,
lights, etc.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park and set the parking brake.

Taking Care of the Unexpected
A battery can explode if you do
not follow the correct procedure,
seriously injuring anyone nearby.
Keep all sparks, open flames,
and smoking materials away
from the battery.
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If Your Engine Overheats
4. If the temperature gauge stays at the red mark, turn off the engine.
5. Wait until you see no more signs of steam or spray, then open the

hood.

6. Look for any obvious coolant leaks, such as a split radiator hose.
Everything is still extremely hot,
so use caution. If you find a leak, it
must be repaired before you
continue driving (see Towing on
page 244).
7. If you don't find an obvious leak, check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank (see page 132). If the level is below the
MIN mark, add coolant to halfway
between the MIN and MAX marks.
8. If there was no coolant in the reserve tank, you may also have to
add coolant to the radiator. Let the
engine cool down until the pointer reaches the middle of the tempera-
ture gauge, or lower, before check- ing the radiator.
9. Using gloves or a large heavy cloth, turn the radiator cap
counterclockwise, without pushingdown, to the first stop. This
releases any remaining pressure in
the cooling system. After the
pressure releases, push down on
the cap and turn it until it comes
off.
10.Start the engine and set the
temperature control lever tomaximum. Add coolant to the
radiator up to the base of the filler
neck. If you do not have the
proper coolant mixture available,
you can add plain water. Remember to have the cooling
system drained and refilled with
the proper mixture as soon as you
can.

11. Put the radiator cap back on tightly. Run the engine and watch
the temperature gauge. If it goes
back to the red mark, the engine
needs repair. (See Towing on
page 244.)
12.If the temperature stays normal, check the coolant level in the
radiator reserve tank. If it has
gone down, add coolant to the MAX mark. Put the cap back on

tightly.
Taking Care of the Unexpected

Removing the radiator cap

while the engine is hot can
cause the coolant to spray out,
seriously scalding you.
Always let the engine and radiator cool down before
removing the radiator cap.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Low Oil Pressure Indicator

This indicator should light when the ignition switch is ON (II), and go outafter the engine starts. It should
never come on when the engine is
running. If it starts flashing, it
indicates that the oil pressure dropped very low for a moment, then
recovered. If the indicator stays on
with the engine running, it shows that the engine has lost oil pressure
and serious engine damage is
possible. In either case, you should
take immediate action.
Running the engine with low oil
pressure can cause serious mechanical damage almost immediately. Turn offthe engine as soon as you can safely get
the vehicle stopped.

1. Safely pull off the road and shut off the engine. Turn on the hazard
warning indicators.
2. Let the vehicle sit for a minute. Open the hood and check the oil
level (see page 131). Although oil
level and oil pressure are not directly connected, an engine that
is very low on oil can lose pressure during cornering and other driving

maneuvers.

3. If necessary, add oil to bring the level back to the full mark on thedipstick (see page 132). 4. Start the engine and watch the oil
pressure indicator. If the lightdoes not go out within ten seconds,
turn off the engine. There is a
mechanical problem that needs to
be repaired before you can continue driving. (See Towing on
page 244.)
Taking Care of the Unexpected

LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR

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Towing

If your vehicle needs to be towed,
call a professional towing service or,
if you belong to one, an organization
that provides roadside assistance.
Never tow your vehicle behind
another vehicle with just a rope or chain. It is very dangerous.
Emergency Towing
There are three popular methods of towing a vehicle:
Flat-bed Equipment — The operator
loads your vehicle 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 vehicle off the ground. Your vehicle's sus-
pension 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 vehicle 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 vehicle must be trans-

ported on a flat-bed.

It is best to tow the vehicle no far-
ther than 50 miles (80 km), and
keep the speed below 35 mph (55

km/h).

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

Coolant
Adding......................................... 177

Checking..................................... 132

Proper Solution.......................... 177

Temperature Gauge.................... 55

Corrosion Protection..................... 218

Crankcase Emission Control
System......................................... 255

Cruise Control Operation............... 64

Customer Relations Office........... 251

DANGER, Explanation of................. ii
Dashboard........................................ 50 Dashboard Compartment............... 88
Daytime Running Lights................. 58
Dead Battery, What to Do............ 230 Defects, Reporting Safety............. 264
Defogger, Rear Window................. 61
Defrosting the Windows................. 99
DEXRON ®
III Automatic
Transmission Fluid.................... 182
Dimensions..................................... 248
Dimming the Headlights................ 58 Dipstick
Automatic Transmission........... 182
Engine Oil................................... 131
Directional Signals........................... 59

Disabled, Towing Your Car If...... 244

Disc Brake Wear Indicators......... 147
Disposal of Used Oil...................... 176
Doors Locking and Unlocking............... 70
Power Door Locks....................... 70
DOT Tire Quality Grading........... 251
Driver and Passenger Safety............ 3
Drive Belts...................................... 195
Driving............................................ 139 Economy..................................... 133
In Bad Weather.......................... 148
In Foreign Countries................. 254

Economy, Fuel............................... 133

Emergencies on the Road............. 221
Battery, Jump Starting.............. 230

Brake System Indicator............ 237

Changing a Flat Tire................. 223

Chargilng System Indicator ...... 235 Checking the Fuses................... 240
Low Oil Pressure Indicator...... 234
Malfunction Indicator Lamp.... 236
Manually Closing Sunroof........ 238
Overheated Engine................... 232
Emergency Brake............................ 85
Emergency Flashers....................... 61
Emission Controls......................... 255
Engine Belts............................................. 195
Coolant Temperature Gauge ..... 56
Malfunction IndicatorLamp................................. 32, 236
Oil Pressure Indicator......... 32, 234
Oil, What Kind to Use............... 173 Overheating................................ 232
Specifications............................. 249
Ethanolin Gasoline....................... 254 Evaporative Emission Controls.... 255
Exhaust Fumes................................ 47
Expectant Mothers, Use of Seat Belts by......................................... 17
Exterior, Cleaning the................... 214

CONTINUEDProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Index

Fabric, Cleaning............................. 216

Fan, Interior...................................... 94

Features, Comfort and Convenience................................. 93
Filling the Fuel Tank..................... 129
Filter
Air................................................ 185

Oil................................................ 175

First Gear Position......................... 144
Flashers, Hazard Warning.............. 61
Flat Tire, Changing a.................... 223

Fluids
Automatic Transmission........... 182
Brake........................................... 183
Power Steering........................... 184
Windshield Washer................... 181
FM Stereo Radio Reception.................................... 117
Folding the Second Seats ............... 78
Folding the Third Seats.................. 80
Foreign Countries, Driving in...... 254
Four-way Flashers........................... 61
Front End, Towing by Emergency
Wrecker...................................... 244
Fuel.................................................. 128

Fill Door and Cap....................... 129
Gauge............................................ 56

Octane Requirement................. 128

Oxygenated................................ 128

Tank, Filling the......................... 129

Fuses, Checking the...................... 240

Gas Mileage, Improving................ 133

Gasohol........................................... 128
Gasoline.......................................... 128

Gauge............................................ 56

Octane Requirement................. 128

Tank, Filling the......................... 129

Gas Station Procedures................. 129

Gauges
Engine Coolant Temperature .... 56

Fuel................................................ 56

Gearshift Lever Positions............. 142
Glass Cleaning............................... 217
Glove Box......................................... 73 Halogen Headlight Bulbs.............. 206
Hazard Warning Flashers............... 61
Headlights......................................... 58
Aiming......................................... 202Daytime Running Lights............. 58
High Beam Indicator................... 54
High Beams, Turning on............ 58
Low Beams, Turning on............. 58
Reminder Chime.......................... 58
Replacing Halogen Bulbs ......... 206

Turning on.................................... 58

Head Restraints............................... 76 Heating and Cooling........................ 94
High Altitude, Starting at.............. 141 High-Low Beam Switch .................. 58
Hood, Opening the ........................ 130 Horn................................................... 57
Hot Coolant, Warning about........ 177 Hydroplaning.................................. 151

Identification Number, Vehicle.... 246

If Your Car Has to be Towed....... 244ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t