check engine light HONDA ODYSSEY 1999 User Guide

Windshield Washers

Check the level in the windshield
washer reservoir at least monthly during normal usage. In bad weather,
when you use the washers often, check the level every time you stop
for fuel. This reservoir supplies the
windshield and rear window washers.
The windshield washer reservoir is located behind the passenger's side
headlight.Check the reservoir's fluid level by
removing the cap and looking at the
level gauge attached to the cap.

On Canadian models

The low washer level indicator will light when the level is low (see page
61).
Fill the reservoir with a good-quality
windshield washer fluid. This increases the cleaning capability and
prevents freezing in cold weather.
When you refill the reservoir, clean the edges of the windshield wiper
blades with windshield washer fluidon a clean cloth. This will help to
condition the blade edges.
Do not use engine antifreeze or a
vinegar/water solution in thewindshield washer reservoir.
Antifreeze can damage your vehicle's
paint, while a vinegar/water solution
can damage the windshield washer

pump.

Use only commercially-available
windshield washer fluid.

Maintenance
LEVEL GAUGE

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Air Conditioning System

Your vehicle's air conditioning is a sealed system. Any major mainte-
nance, such as recharging, should be
done by a qualified mechanic. You
can do a couple of things to makesure the air conditioning works
efficiently.
Periodically check the engine's
radiator and air conditioning condenser for leaves, insects, and
dirt stuck to the front surface. These
block the air flow and reduce cooling efficiency. Use a light spray from a
hose or a soft brush to remove them.
The condenser and radiator fins bend
easily. Only use a low-pressure spray
or soft-bristle brush to clean them. AIR CONDITIONING
CONDENSER
Run the air conditioning at least once a week during the cold weather
months. Run it for at least ten minutes while you are driving at asteady speed with the engine at
normal operating temperature. This circulates the lubricating oil con-
tained in the refrigerant. If the air conditioning does not get as
cold as before, have your dealer
check the system. Recharge the
system with Refrigerant HFC-134a (R-134a). (See Specifications on page 316.)

Whenever you have the air conditioning

system serviced, make sure the service

facility uses a refrigerant recycling
system. This system captures the
refrigerant for reuse. Releasing

refrigerant into the atmosphere can

damage the environment.

Maintenance

NOTICE
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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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Index
Accessories and Modifications.... 189 Accessories................................. 189
Additional Safety Precaution.... 190Modifications............................. 190
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key Position)........................................ 79
Accessory Power Sockets............. 124
Adding Automatic Transmission

Fluid........................................ 243

Brake Fluid................................. 244

Engine Coolant........................... 237

Engine Oil................................... 233
Power Steering Fluid................. 245
Windshield Washer Fluid......... 242
Additional Information About Your Seat Belts........................ 45
Lap/Shoulder Belt....................... 45
Seat Belt Maintenance................ 47
Seat Belt System Components... 45
Additional Information About Your SRS................................... 48
Additional Safety Precautions.... 52
How the Automatic Seat Belt

Tensioners Work..................... 50

How the SRS Indicator
Works...................................... 50

How Your Airbags Work............ 48

SRS Components......................... 48
Additives, Engine Oil..................... 235
Adjustments Head Restraints......................... 104
Mirrors........................................ 115
Seats............................................ 100

Steering Wheel............................
72

Airbag (SRS)............................... 9
, 49
Air Cleaner Element...................... 246
Air Conditioning Filter.................. 256 Air Conditioning System.......130, 138 Maintenance............................... 255
Rear A/C Control......................

146

Usage..................................130 ,


138

Air Outlet
s
(Vents)................132, 138
Air Pressure, Tires........................ 25

7

Alcohol i n
Gasoline........................ 321
Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning........ 279
Antifreeze....................................... 237
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) Indicator Light..................... 59, 206 Operation.................................... 205
Anti-theft, Audio System............... 180 Anti-theft Steering Column Lock .. 78
Appearance Care........................... 277
Armrests......................................... 103
Audio Controls, Remote................ 179
Audio System......................... 149, 161Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners.... 50
Automatic Lighting Off Feature.... 67
Automatic Speed Control................ 73
Automatic Transmission............... 198
Capacity, Fluid........................... 316

Checking Fluid Level................ 243
Shifting........................................199
Shift Lever Position Indicator.. 198 Shift Lever Positions................. 199
Shift Lock Release..................... 201

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Index

Battery
Charging SystemIndicator............................ 58, 302
Jump Starting............................. 297 Maintenance............................... 251
Specifications............................. 317
Before Driving............................... 181
Belts, Seat..................................... 8, 45
Beverage Holder............................ 118
Body Repair.................................... 283
Brakes Anti-lock System (ABS)............ 205Break-in, New Linings .............. 182

Fluid............................................ 244

Light, Burned-out...................... 268
Parking........................................ 116
System Indicator.................. 58, 304
Wear Indicators......................... 204
Brakes, ABS Operation.................................... 205
System Indicator.................. 59, 206
Braking System.............................. 204
Break-in, New Vehicle .................. 182
Brightness Control, Instruments... 67 Brights, Headlights......................... 66
Bulb Replacement
Back-up Lights........................... 269
Brake Lights............................... 268Cargo Area Light....................... 272
Front Parking Lights................. 267
Front Side Marker Lights......... 267 Headlights.................................. 266
High-mount Brake Light.......... 270
Individual Map Lights............... 272 License Plate Light.................... 271
Rear Bulbs.......................... 268, 269
Specifications............................. 317
Turn Signal Lights..................... 267
Bulbs, Halogen............................... 266

Cables, Jump Starting With.......... 298

Cancel Button................................... 75

Capacities Chart............................. 316
Carbon Monoxide Hazard.............. 53

Cargo Area Light........................... 127

Cargo Net....................................... 194

Carrying Cargo.............................. 191
Cassette Player
Care............................................. 178
Operation........................... 154, 175

CAUTION, Explanation of.............. ii

CD Changer...........................157, 171 CD Player ...............................157, 169
Center Pocket................................ 122
Center Table................................... 117
Certification Label......................... 314
Chains............................................. 263 Change Oil How to.........................................235

When to....................................... 224

Changing a Flat Tire..................... 287
Changing Engine Coolant............. 239
Charging System Indicator .... 58, 302
Checking Automatic Transmission
Fluid........................................ 243

Battery Condition...................... 251
Brake Fluid................................. 244Drive Belts.................................. 256
Engine Coolant........................... 187

Engine Oil................................... 186

Fuses........................................... 306
Power Steering Fluid................. 245ProCarManuals.comMain Menu s t

Index

Checklist, Before Driving............. 196
Childproof Door Locks................... 85
Child Safety...................................... 22
Cleaner Element, Air..................... 246

Cleaning
Aluminum Wheels..................... 279
Carpeting.................................... 280

Exterior....................................... 278

Fabric.......................................... 280

Interior........................................ 280

Seat Belts.................................... 280

Vinyl............................................280

Windows..................................... 281
Climate Control System................ 138
Clock, Setting the.......................... 117
Coat Hook....................................... 123
Code, Audio System...................... 180
CO in the Exhaust......................... 323
Coin Holder.................................... 122

Cold Weather, Starting in............. 197

Compact Spare............................... 286
Consumer Information*................ 328
Controls, Instruments and.............. 55

Coolant
Adding......................................... 237
Checking..................................... 187
Proper Solution.......................... 237

Replacing.................................... 239

Temperature Gauge.................... 63

Corrosion Protection..................... 282

Crankcase Emissions Control
System.........................................323

Cruise Control Operation............... 73
Customer Relations Office........... 328

DANGER, Explanation of................. ii

Dashboard.................................... 2, 56

Daytime Running Lights................. 67

Dead Battery, What to Do............ 297

Defects, Reporting Safety............. 332

Defogger, Rear Window................. 71

Defrosting the Windows.......135, 144

DEXRON ®
III Automatic

Transmission Fluid.................... 243

Dimensions..................................... 316

Dimming the Headlights................ 66

Dipstick
Automatic Transmission........... 243

Engine Oil................................... 186

Directional Signals........................... 68
Disabled, Towing Your

Vehicle If..................................... 311

Disc Brake Wear Indicators......... 204
Disposal of Used Oil...................... 236

Doors
Locking and Unlocking............... 79Lockout Prevention..................... 80
Manual Sliding Doors.................. 88
Monitor Light............................... 60
Power Door Locks....................... 79
Power Sliding Doors.................... 90
DOT Tire Quality Grading........... 319
Drive Belts...................................... 256
Driver and Passenger Safety............ 5
Driving............................................ 195 Economy..................................... 188
In Bad Weather.......................... 210
In Foreign Countries................. 322

Economy, Fuel............................... 188

Emergencies on the Road............. 285
Battery, Jump Starting.............. 297

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