light HONDA ODYSSEY 1999 Owners Manual

Storing Your Vehicle

If you need to park your vehicle for an extended period (more than one
month), there are several things you should do to prepare it for storage.
Proper preparation helps prevent
deterioration and makes it easier to
get your vehicle back on the road. If
possible, store your vehicle indoors.
Fill the fuel tank.Change the engine oil and filter (see page 235).
Wash and dry the exterior
completely.

Clean the interior. Make sure the
carpeting, floor mats, etc. are
completely dry.
Leave the parking brake off. Put
the transmission in Park. Block the rear wheels.
If the vehicle is to be stored for a
longer period, it should be supported on jackstands so the
tires are off the ground.
Leave one window open slightly (if
the vehicle is being stored indoors).
Disconnect the battery.
Support the front and rear wiper
blade arms with a folded towel or
rag so they do not touch the
windshield.
To minimize sticking, apply a silicone spray lubricant to all door
and tailgate seals. Also, apply a
vehicle body wax to the painted surfaces that mate with the door
and tailgate seals. Cover the vehicle with a
"breathable" cover, one made
from a porous material such as cotton. Nonporous materials, such
as plastic sheeting, trap moisture,
which can damage the paint.
If possible, run the engine for a
while periodically (preferably once a month).
If you store your vehicle for 12
months or longer, have your Honda dealer perform the inspections called
for in the 24 months/30,000 miles (48,000 km) maintenance schedule(Normal Conditions) as soon as you
take it out of storage (see page 224).
The replacements called for in the maintenance schedule are not
needed unless the vehicle hasactually reached that time or mileage.

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Exterior Care

Washing
Frequent washing helps preserve
your vehicle's beauty. Dirt and grit can scratch the paint, while tree sap
and bird droppings can permanently
ruin the finish.
Wash your vehicle in a shady area, not in direct sunlight. If the vehicle is
parked in the sun, move it into theshade 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 vehicle. Rinse the vehicle 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 vehicle using the water and detergent solution and a soft-
bristle brush, sponge, or soft cloth. Start at the top and work your waydown. Rinse frequently.
Check the body for road tar, treesap, 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 vehicle 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 vehicle, inspect it for chips and scratches that could allow
corrosion to start. Repair them with
touch-up paint (see page 279).

The radio antenna on your vehicle 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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Exterior Care

Waxing Always wash and dry the whole
vehicle before waxing it. You shouldwax your vehicle, including the metal
trim, whenever water sits on thesurface in large patches. It should
form into beads or droplets after

waxing.

You should use a quality liquid or paste wax. Apply it according to theinstructions on the container. In
general, there are two types of
products:
Waxes — A wax coats the finish and protects it from damage by exposure
to sunlight, air pollution, etc. Youshould use a wax on your Honda
when it is new.
Polishes — Polishes and cleaner/
waxes can restore the shine to paint that has oxidized and lost some of itsshine. They normally contain mild
abrasives and solvents that remove the top layer of the finish. You
should use a polish on your Honda if
the finish does not have its original shine after using a wax.
Cleaning tar, insects, etc. with
removers also takes off the wax.
Remember to re-wax those areas,
even if the rest of the vehicle does
not need waxing.
Aluminum Wheels On some models
Clean your Honda's aluminum alloy
wheels as you do the rest of the exterior. Wash them with the samesolution, and rinse them thoroughly.
The wheels have a protective clear- coat that keeps the aluminum from
corroding and tarnishing. Using
harsh chemicals, including some commercial wheel cleaners, or stiff
brushes can damage this clear-coat. Only use a mild detergent and soft
brush or sponge to clean the wheels. Paint Touch-up
Your dealer has touch-up paint to match your vehicle's color. The color
code is printed on a sticker on thedriver's doorjamb. Take this code to
your dealer so you are sure to get the correct color.
Inspect your vehicle frequently forchips or scratches in the paint.
Repair them right away to prevent
corrosion of the metal underneath.
Use the touch-up paint only on small chips and scratches. More extensive
paint damage should be repaired by a professional.
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Changing a Flat Tire
If you have a flat tire while driving, stop in a safe place to change it.
Stopping in traffic or on the shoulder
of a busy road is dangerous. Drive slowly along the shoulder until you
get to an exit or an area to stop that
is far away from the traffic lanes. JACK

VINYL BAG
TOOLS

1. Park the vehicle on firm, level and non-slippery ground away from
traffic. Put the transmission in
Park. Apply the parking brake. SPARE TIRE
2. Turn on the hazard warning lights and turn the ignition switch to
LOCK (0). Have all the
passengers get out of the vehicle
while you change the tire.

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Taking Care of the Unexpected

The vehicle can easily roll off

the jack, seriously injuring
anyone underneath.
Follow the directions for
changing a tire exactly, and never get under the vehicle
when it is supported only by the

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Changing a Flat Tire

COVER

3. Open the tailgate. Remove the cargo net.
4. The tools and jack are behind a cover in the cargo area on thedriver's side. Remove the cover by
turning the handle
counterclockwise, then pulling out
the cover. 5. Take the tools out of the storage
compartment.
6. Turn the jack's end bracket counterclockwise to loosen it, thenremove the jack. 7. The spare tire is stored under the
floor between the first and second
row of seats. If the front seats areadjusted to the rear-most position,
move the seats forward slightly and adjust the seat-backs to an
upright position (see page 100).
Lift up the center table (see page 117).
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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 almost
nothing. The engine's starter
motor does not operate at all, oroperates 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: 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 297.
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

Emergency Towing on page 311.)
If the headlights dim noticeably or
go out when you try to start the
engine, either the battery is dis-
charged or the connections are
corroded. Check the condition of
the battery and terminal connec-
tions (see page 251). You can then try jump starting the vehicle
from a booster battery (see page 297).
The Starter Operates Normally In this case, the starter motor'sspeed 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 starting
procedure? Refer to Starting the
Engine on page 197.

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If Your Engine Won't Start, Jump Starting
Your vehicle has the Immobilizer
System. You should use a
properly-coded master or valet key
to start the engine (see page 77).
A key that is not properly coded
will cause the immobilizer system indicator in the dash panel to blink
rapidly. 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 305).
If you find nothing wrong, you will
need a qualified technician to find
the problem. See Emergency
Towing on page 311. Jump Starting
If your vehicle's battery has run
down, 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 251). 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, climate
control, stereo system, lights, etc.
Put the transmission in Neutral or
Park and set the parking brake.

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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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Low Oil Pressure Indicator

This indicator should light when the ignition switch is ON (II), and go out
after 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 186). Although oil
level and oil pressure are not directly connected, an engine that
is very low on oil can lose pressureduring cornering and other driving

maneuvers.

3. If necessary, add oil to bring the level back to the full mark on thedipstick (see page 233). 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 Emergency
Towing on page 311.)

Taking Care of the Unexpected

LOW OIL PRESSURE INDICATOR

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Brake System Indicator

BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATOR*

The Brake System Indicator light comes on when you turn the ignitionON (II). If the parking brake is not
set, it goes off after you start the
engine. If the parking brake is set, it
goes off when you fully release the
parking brake with the engine
running.
If it comes on at any other time, it
indicates a problem with the vehicle's
brake system. In most cases, the
problem is a low fluid level in the
brake fluid reservoir. Press lightly on
the brake pedal to see if it feels
normal. If it does, check the brake
fluid level the next time you stop at a service station (see page 244 ). If the
fluid level is low, take the vehicle to
your dealer and have the brake system inspected for leaks or worn
brake pads.
However, if the brake pedal does not
feel normal, you should take immediate action. Because of the
brake system's dual-circuit design, a
problem in one part of the system
will still give you braking at two
wheels. You will feel the brake pedal go down much farther before the
vehicle begins to slow down, and you
will have to press harder on the pedal. The distance needed to stop
will be much longer. Slow down by shifting to a lower
gear, and pull to the side of the road
when it is safe. Because of the
longer distance needed to stop, it is
hazardous to drive the vehicle. You should have it towed, and repaired assoon as possible. (See Emergency
Towing on page 311 .)
If you must drive the vehicle a shortdistance in this condition, drive
slowly and cautiously.
If the ABS indicator and the TCS
indicator (on EX model) come on
with this indicator, have the vehicle inspected by your dealer
immediately.
Taking Care of the Unexpected

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Fuses

UNDER-HOOD
The primary under-hood fuse box is located in the back of the engine
compartment on the passenger's side.

To open it, push the tabs as shown.
UNDER-HOOD
The secondary fuse box is in the engine compartment next to the
battery.
Checking and Replacing Fuses

If something electrical in your
vehicle stops working, the first thing you should check for is a blown fuse.Determine from the chart on pages 309 and 310, or the diagram on the
fuse box lid (the diagram for the driver's side interior fuse box is on
the kick panel below the fuse box),
which fuse or fuses control that component. Check those fuses first,
but check all the fuses before deciding that a blown fuse is not the
cause. Replace any blown fuses and
check the component's operation.
1. Turn the ignition switch to LOCK (0). Make sure the headlights and
all other accessories are off.
2. Remove the cover from the fuse box.
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