airbag HONDA ODYSSEY 2000 RA6-RA9 / 2.G Owner's Manual

Protecting Childre n
Additional Precautions for Small
Children
Never hold a small child on your
lap. If you are not wearing a seat
belt in a crash, you could be thrown forward into thedashboard and crush the child.
If you are wearing a seat belt, the
child can be torn from your armsduring a crash. For example, if
your vehicle crashes into a parked
vehicle at 30 mph (48 km/h), a 30-lb (14 kg) child will become a
900-lb (410 kg) force, and you will
not be able to hold on.
Never put a seat belt over yourself
and a child. During a crash, the
belt could press deep into the child
and cause very serious injuries.
Protectin g Large r Childre n
When a child reaches the recommended weight or height limit
for a forward-facing child seat, thechild should sit in the back seat and
wear a lap/shoulder belt.
If a child is too short for the shoulder
part of the belt to properly fit, we
recommend that the child use a
booster seat until tall enough to use the seat belt without a booster.
The following pages give instructions on how to check properseat belt fit, what kind of booster
seat to use if one is needed, and
important precautions for children
who must sit in the front seat.
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Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y
Allowing a larger child to sit
improperly in the front seat can
result in injury or death if the
airbags inflate.
If a larger child must sit in front,
make sure the child moves the
seat as far back as possible
and wears the seat belt properly.

Protectin
g Childre n
Using a Booster Seat

If a
child needs a booster seat, we
recommend choosing a style that
allows the child to use the lap/ shoulder belt directly, without a
shield, as shown.
Whichever style you select, follow the booster seat maker's instructions. A child may continue using a booster
seat until the tops of the ears are
even with the top of the seat-back. A
child of this height should be tall
enough to use the lap/shoulder belt
without a booster.

When Can a Larger Child Sit in Front

The Nationa
l Highway Traffic Safety
Administration and Transport Canada recommend that all children
ages 12 and under be properly
restrained in a back seat.
The back seat is the safest place for a child of any age or size.
In addition, the passenger's airbag
poses serious risks to children. If the seat is too far forward, or the child's
head is thrown forward during a collision, or the child is unrestrained
or out of position, an inflating airbag
can kill or seriously injure the child.
Of course, children vary widely. And
while age may be one indicator of
when a child can safely ride in the
front, there are other important
factors you should consider.

CONTINUED

Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Additional Informatio n Abou t You r SR S
SRS Component s
Your Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS) includes:
Two front airbags. The driver'sairbag is stored in the center of
the steering wheel; the front
passenger's airbag is stored in the dashboard. Both are marked "SRS
AIRBAG."
Automatic seat belt tensioners that tighten the front seat beltsduring a moderate to severe
frontal collision.
Sensors that can detect a
moderate to severe frontal
collision.
A sophisticated electronic system that continually monitors and
records information about thesensors, the control unit, the
airbag activators, driver and
passenger seat belt use, and all
related wiring when the ignition is
ON (II).
An indicator light on the
instrument panel that alerts you to
a possible problem with the
system (see page 50 ).
Emergency backup power in case
your vehicle's electrical system is
disconnected in a crash.
Ho w You r Airbag s Wor k
If you ever have a moderate to
severe frontal collision, the sensors
will detect rapid deceleration and signal the control unit to instantly
inflate the airbags and activate the
automatic seat belt tensioners.
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Additional Informatio n Abou t You r SR S
During a crash, your seat belt helps
restrain your lower body and torso,
while the tensioner tightens and locks the seat belt to help keep youin place. Your airbag provides a
cushion to help restrain and protect
your head and chest.
Since both airbags use the samesensors, both airbags normally
inflate at the same time. However, it is possible for only one airbag to
inflate.
This can occur when the severity of a collision is at the margin, or
threshold, that determines whether
or not the airbags will deploy. In such cases, the seat belt will provide
sufficient protection, and the
supplemental protection offered by
the airbag would be minimal. After inflating, the airbags
immediately deflate, so they won'tinterfere with the driver's visibility,
or the ability to steer or operate
other controls.
The total time for inflation and deflation is approximately one-tenth
of a second, so fast that most
occupants are not aware that the
airbags deployed until they see them
lying in their laps. After a crash, you may see what
looks like smoke. This is actually
powder from the airbag's surface.
Although the powder is not harmful, people with respiratory problemsmay experience some temporary
discomfort. If this occurs, get out of
the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do
so.
U.S. Owners
For additional information on how
your airbags work, see the booklet
titled SRS: What You Need to Know
About Airbags that came with your
owner's manual.
Canadian Owners
For additional information on how
your airbags work, ask your dealer
for a copy of the booklet titled SRS:
What You Need to Know About Airbags.
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Additional Informatio n Abou t You r SR S
How th e Automati c Sea t Bel t
Tensioner s Wor k
Your Honda has automatic seat belt tensioners for added protection during a moderate to severe frontal
collision.
If your airbags inflate, the tensioners
immediately tighten the front seat
belts to help hold the occupants in
place. The belts will remain tight
until you unbuckle them in the
normal way.
Ho w th e SR S Indicato r Ligh t
Work s
The purpose of the SRSlight is to alert you to a
potential problem with your Supplemental Restraint System.
This light will also alert you to a potential problem with yourautomatic seat belt tensioners.
When you turn the ignition ON (II), this indicator will light up briefly
then go out. This tells you that thesystem is working properly.
However, if the light comes on at any other time, you should have the
system checked by your dealer. For
example:
If the SRS indicator light does not
come on after you turn the ignitionON (II).
If the light stays on after the
engine starts.
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y
S R S

Additional Informatio n Abou t You r SR S
If the light comes on or flashes on
and off while you drive.
If you see any of these indications,
your airbags and seat belt tensioners may not deploy when you need them.See your Honda dealer as soon as
possible. SR
S Servic e
Your Supplemental Restraint System is virtually maintenance-free, and
there are no parts you can safelyservice. However, you must have
your vehicle serviced if:
Your airbags ever inflate. The
airbags, seat belt tensioners, and
control unit must be replaced. Do
not try to remove or replace the
airbags yourself.
This must be done by a Honda dealer or a knowledgeable body
shop.
The SRS indicator light alerts you
to a problem. Take your vehicle to
an authorized Honda dealer as soon as possible. If you ignore this
indication, the airbags might not
inflate when you need them (see
page 50).
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y
Ignoring the SRS indicator light
can result in serious injury or
death if the airbags do not inflate when needed.
Have your vehicle checked by a
dealer as soon as possible if
the SRS light alerts you to a potential problem.

Additional Informatio n Abou t You r SR S
Additiona l Safet y Precaution s
Do not attempt to deactivate your
airbags. Together, airbags andseat belts provide the best
protection in a moderate to severe
frontal collision.
Do not tamper with SRS
components or wiring for any
reason. Tampering could cause
the airbags to deploy, possibly
causing very serious injury.
See page 196 for further information
and precautions relating to your SRS.
Drive r an d Passenge r Safet y

Accessorie
s an d Modification s

Modifying your vehicle, or installing
some non-Honda accessories, can
make your vehicle unsafe. Before
you make any modifications or add any accessories, be sure to read the
following information.

Accessorie s

Your dealer has Genuine Honda accessories that allow you to
personalize your vehicle. These accessories have been designed and
approved for your vehicle, and are
covered by warranty.
Non-Honda accessories are usually
designed for universal applications.
Although aftermarket accessories may fit on your vehicle, they may not
meet factory specifications, andcould adversely affect your vehicle's
handling and stability. (See "Modifications" on page 196 for
additional information.) When properly installed, cellular
phones, alarms, two-way radios, and
low-powered audio systems should
not interfere with your vehicle's
computer-controlled systems, such
as the SRS and anti-lock brake
system.

However, if electronic accessories
are improperly installed, or exceed
your vehicle's electrical system capacity, they can interfere with the operation of your vehicle, or even
cause the airbags to deploy.
Before installing any accessory:
Make sure the accessory does notobscure any lights, or interfere
with proper vehicle operation or performance.
Be sure electronic accessories do
not overload electrical circuits (see page 311). Have the installer contact your
Honda dealer for assistance before
installing any electronic accessory.
If possible, have your dealer inspect
the final installation.

Before Drivin g

Improper accessories or
modifications can affect your
vehicle's handling, stability and performance, and cause a
crash in which you can be hurt
or killed.
Follow all instructions in this
owner's manual regarding
accessories and modifications.

Accessories an d Modification s
Modification s
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 wheel
or any other part of your
Supplemental Restraint System. Modifications could make the
system ineffective. Additiona
l Safet y Precautio n
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.
Befor e Drivin g

Index
Accessories and Modifications.... 195
Accessories................................. 195
Additional Safety Precaution.... 196
Modifications............................. 196
ACCESSORY (Ignition Key Position)........................................ 79
Accessory Power Sockets............. 124
Adding Automatic Transmission
Fluid........................................ 249
Brake Fluid................................. 250
Engine Coolant........................... 243
Engine Oil.................................. 239
Power Steering Fluid................. 251
Windshield Washer Fluid......... 248
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 Safet
y 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..................... 24 1
Adjustments Head Restraints......................... 104
Mirrors........................................ 115
Seats............................................ 100
Steering Wheel............................ 72
Airbag (SRS)............................... 9, 4 9
Air Cleaner Element...................... 252
Air Conditioning Filter.................. 262
Air Conditioning System....... 130, 138
Maintenance............................... 261
Rear A/C Control...................... 152
Usage................................. 130, 138
Air Outlets (Vents)............... 132, 138
Air Pressure, Tires........................ 263
Alcohol in Gasoline........................ 326
Aluminum Wheels, Cleaning........ 285
Antifreeze....................................... 243
Anti-lock Brakes (ABS)
Indicator Light..................... 59 , 212Operation.................................... 211
Anti-theft, Audio System............... 186
Anti-theft Steering Column Lock.. 78
Appearance Care........................... 283
Armrests........................................ . 103
Audio Controls, Remote................ 185
Audio System........................ 155, 167
Automatic Seat Belt Tensioners.... 50
Automatic Lighting Off Feature.... 67
Automatic Speed Control................ 73
Automatic Transmission............... 204
Capacity, Fluid........................... 322
Checking Fluid Level................ 249
Shifting........................................ 205
Shift Lever Position Indicator.. 204
Shift Lever Positions................. 205
Shift Lock Release..................... 208CONTINUED