wheel HONDA ODYSSEY 1999 Owner's Manual

Controls Near the Steering Wheel
Steering Wheel Adjustment
See page 19 for important safety
information about how to properly
position the steering wheel.

Make any steering wheel adjustment
before you start driving.
To adjust the steering wheel upwardor downward:
1. Push the lever under the steering column all the way down.
2. Move the steering wheel to the desired position, making sure the
wheel points toward your chest, not toward your face. Make sure
you can see the instrument panel gauges and the indicator lights. 3. Push the lever up to lock the
steering wheel in that position.
4. Make sure you have securely locked the steering wheel in place
by trying to move it up and down.

Instruments and Controls

Adjusting the steering wheel
position while driving may
cause you to lose control of the
vehicle and be seriously injured in a crash.
Adjust the steering wheel only
when the vehicle is stopped.ProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Steering Wheel Controls

Cruise Control

Cruise control allows you to maintain
a set speed above 25 mph (40 km/h)
without keeping your foot on the accelerator pedal. It should be used
for cruising on straight, open highways. It is not recommended for
conditions such as city driving,
winding roads, slippery roads, heavy rain, or bad weather. You should
have full control of the vehicle under
those conditions.
Using the Cruise Control

1. Push in the Cruise Control Master Switch to the left of the steering
column. The indicator in theswitch will light.
2. Accelerate to the desired cruising speed above 25 mph (40 km/h). 3. Press the SET/decel button on the
steering wheel. The CRUISECONTROL light on the
instrument panel comes on to show the system is now activated.

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Instruments and Controls

Improper use of the cruise
control can lead to a crash.
Use the cruise control only
when traveling on open highways in good weather.
RESUME/accel

CANCEL

SET/decel

CRUISE CONTROL MASTER SWITCHProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Steering Wheel Controls

The cruise control may not hold the set speed when you are going up and
down hills. If your speed increases
going down a hill, use the brakes to slow down to the desired speed. This
will cancel the cruise control. To resume the set speed, press theRESUME/accel button. The
CRUISE CONTROL light on the
instrument panel comes on.
When climbing a steep hill, the automatic transmission maydownshift to hold the set speed. Changing the Set Speed
You can increase the set cruising speed in any of these ways: Press and hold the RESUME/
accel button. The vehicle will
accelerate. When you reach the
desired cruising speed, release the
button. Push on the accelerator pedal. Ac-
celerate to the desired cruising
speed and press the SET/decel
button. To increase your speed in very
small amounts, tap the RESUME/
accel button repeatedly. Each time
you do this, your vehicle will speed up about 1 mph (1.6 km/h). You can decrease the set cruising
speed in any of these ways: Press and hold the SET/decel
button. The vehicle will decelerate. Release the button when you
reach the desired speed. To slow down in very small
amounts, tap the SET/decel
button repeatedly. Each time you do this, your vehicle will slow
down about 1 mph (1.6 km/h). Tap the brake pedal lightly with
your foot. The CRUISE CONTROL light on the instru-
ment panel will go out. When the
vehicle slows to the desired speed,
press the SET/decel button. The
vehicle will then maintain the desired speed.
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Steering Wheel Controls

Even with the cruise control turned
on, you can still use the accelerator
pedal to speed up for passing. After
completing the pass, take your foot off the accelerator pedal. The vehicle
will return to the set cruising speed.
Resting your foot on the brake pedal
will cause the cruise control to
cancel.
Cancelling the Cruise Control

CANCEL
BUTTON

You can cancel the cruise control in any of these ways: Tap the brake pedal.
Push the CANCEL button on the

steering wheel.
Press the Cruise Control Master

Switch.
When you push the CANCEL button,
or tap the brake pedal, the CRUISE
CONTROL light on the instrument
panel will go out and the vehicle will
begin to slow down. You can use the
accelerator pedal in the normal way.
The system remembers the previously-set cruising speed. Toreturn to that speed, accelerate to
above 25 mph (40 km/h) and then
press the RESUME/accel button
until the CRUISE CONTROL light
comes on. The vehicle will accelerate
to the same cruising speed as before.
Pressing the Cruise Control Master
Switch turns the system completely off and erases the previous cruising
speed from memory. To use the
system again, refer to Using the
Cruise Control.

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Steering Wheel Controls, Keys and Locks

Remote Audio Controls

On EX model

These buttons let you control some functions of the audio system with-out removing your hands from the
wheel. Refer to page 179 for a com- plete explanation. Your vehicle comes with two master
keys and a valet key.
The master key fits all the locks on your vehicle: Ignition
DoorsGlove box TailgateThe valet key works only in the
ignition, the door locks and the
tailgate. You can keep the glove box locked when you leave your vehicle
and the valet key at a parking facility.
You should have received a key number plate with your keys. You
will need this key number if you ever
have to get a lost key replaced. Keep the plate stored in a safe place. If you
need to replace a key, use only
Honda-approved key blanks.
Instruments and Controls
KEY

NUMBER
PLATE

MASTER
KEYS
(BLACK)
VALET KEY
(GRAY)

KeysProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Keys and Locks

As required by the FCC:
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC rules. Operation is subject to the
following two conditions: (1) This device way not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any
interference received, including interference that may cause undesired
operation.

This device complies with DOC
regulations in Canada.
Changes or modifications not expressly
approved by the party responsible for
compliance could void the user's
authority to operate the equipment.
Ignition Switch

The ignition switch is on the right side of the steering column. It has
four positions: LOCK (0)
ACCESSORY (I)
ON (II)
START (III)LOCK (0) — You can insert or
remove the key only in this position.
To switch from ACCESSORY to LOCK, you must push the key inslightly as you turn it. The shift lever
must also be in Park. The anti-theft
lock will lock the steering column
when you remove the key.
If the front wheels are turned, the
anti-theft lock may sometimes make
it difficult to turn the key from LOCK to ACCESSORY. Firmly turn
the steering wheel to the left or to
the right as you turn the key.
Instruments and ControlsProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Audio System

Remote Audio Controls
On EX model
Two controls for the audio system are mounted in the steering wheel
hub. These let you control basic
functions without removing your hand from the wheel. The top and bottom buttons adjust the volume up or down
Press the proper button and hold it
until the desired volume is reached, then release it.
The AUDIO/CH button has three functions, depending on whether youare listening to the radio, or playing a
cassette or CD.
If you are listening to the radio, use
the AUDIO/CH button to changestations. Each time you press this
button, the system advances to the next preset station on the band you
are listening to. You will see the
number of the selected Preset button
in the display. To change bands,
press the AM/FM button on the audio system's front panel. If you are playing a cassette, use the
AUDIO/CH button to advance to the next selection. You will see "FF"
blinking in the display when youpress the AUDIO/CH button. Thesystem fast forwards until it senses a
silent period, then goes back to
PLAY.
If you are playing a CD, the system skips to the beginning of the next
track each time you push the
AUDIO/CH button. You will see the disc and track number in the display.
Comfort and Convenience Features

AUDIO/CH
BUTTONProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Accessories and Modifications

Modifications
Do not remove any original
equipment or modify your vehicle in any way that would alter its design or
operation. This could make your
vehicle unsafe and illegal to drive.
For example, do not make any
modifications that would change the
ride height of your vehicle, or install
wheels and tires with a different overall diameter.
Such modifications can adversely affect handling, and interfere with
the operation of the vehicle's anti-
lock brakes and other systems. In addition, any modifications that
decrease ground clearance increase
the chance of undercarriage parts striking a curb, speed bump, or other
raised object, which could cause
your airbags to deploy.
Do not modify your steering wheelor any other part of your
Supplemental Restraint System.
Modifications could make thesystem ineffective. Additional Safety Precaution
Do not attach or place objects on the
airbag covers. Any object attached to
or placed on the covers marked "SRS
AIRBAG," in the center of the steering wheel and on top of the
dashboard, could interfere with the
proper operation of the airbags. Or,
if the airbags inflate, the objects could be propelled inside the vehicle
and hurt someone.

Before DrivingProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Preparing to Drive

You should do the following checks and adjustments every day before
you drive your vehicle.
1. Make sure all windows, mirrors, and outside lights are clean and
unobstructed. Remove frost, snow, or ice.
2. Check that the hood and tailgate are fully closed.
3. Visually check the tires. If a tire looks low, use a gauge to check its
pressure.
4. Check that any items you may be carrying with you inside are storedproperly or fastened downsecurely. 5. Check the adjustment of the seat
(see page 100).
6. Check the adjustment of the inside and outside mirrors (see
page 115).
7. Check the adjustment of the steering wheel (see page 72 ).
8. Make sure the doors and tailgate are securely closed and locked.
9. Fasten your seat belt. Check that your passengers have fastenedtheir seat belts (see page 15). 10.Turn the ignition switch ON (II).
Check the indicator lights in the
instrument panel.
11.Start the engine (see page 197). 12. Check the gauges and indicator lights in the instrument panel (seepage 57).

DrivingProCarManuals.comMain Menu Table of Contents s t

Automatic Transmission

Second (2) — To shift to Second,
pull the shift lever towards you, then shift to the lower gear. This position
locks the transmission in second
gear. It does not downshift to first gear when you come to a stop.Second gives you more power when
climbing, and increased engine
braking when going down steep hills. Use second gear when starting out
on a slippery surface or in deep snow.
It will help reduce wheelspin.
When driving down hill with a trailer, use the Second position.
First (1) — To shift from Second toFirst, pull the shift lever towards you,
then shift to the lower gear. With the
lever in this position, the transmis- sion locks in First gear. By upshift-
ing and downshifting through 1, 2,
D3 and D4, you can operate this
transmission much like a manual
transmission without a clutch pedal. Engine Speed Limiter
If you exceed the maximum speed
for the gear you are in, the engine
speed will enter into the
tachometer's red zone. If this occurs,
you may feel the engine cut in and out. This is caused by a limiter
in the engine's computer controls.
The engine will run normally
when you reduce the RPM below the

red zone.
Shift Lock Release
This allows you to move the shift lever out of Park if the normal
method of pushing on the brakepedal and pulling the shift lever doesnot work.
1. Set the Parking brake.
2. Remove the key from the ignition
switch.

3. Place a cloth on the edge of the shift lock release slot cover on thesteering column. Remove the
cover by carefully prying on the
edge with a small flat-tipped screwdriver (not included in the

tool kit).

Driving
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