engine HONDA ODYSSEY 2012 RB3-RB4 / 4.G Service Manual

299
uuWhen DrivinguPrecautions While Driving
Driving
Precautions While DrivingAvoid driving in deep water and on flooded roads. This can damage the engine or
cause electrical component failure.
If there is a strong impact with something under the vehicle, stop in a safe location.
Check the underside of the vehicle for damage or any fluid leaks.■
In Rain
■
Other Precautions
1Precautions While Driving
NOTICEDo not operate the shift lever while pressing the
accelerator pedal. You could damage the
transmission.
If the ignition switch is turned to ACCESSORY
(q
or
LOCK
(0
while driving, the engine will shut down
and all steering and brake power assist functions will
stop, making it difficult to control the vehicle.
Do not put the shift lever in
(N
, as you will lose
engine braking (and acceleration) performance.
During the first 600 miles (1,000 km) of operation,
avoid sudden acceleration or full throttle operation so
as to not damage the engine or powertrain.
Avoid hard braking for the first 200 miles (300 km).
You should also follow this when the brake pads are
replaced.

300
uuWhen DrivinguAutomatic Transmission
Driving
Automatic TransmissionThe following conditions cause the engine to run at high revolutions, and increase
creeping:
•Immediately after the engine starts.
•When the heating and cooling system
*/climate control system
* is in use.
Keep the brake pedal firmly depressed when stopped.
Quickly depressing the accelerator pedal while driving uphill may cause the
transmission to drop to a lower gear, unexpectedly increasing vehicle speed. Depress
the accelerator pedal carefully, especially on slippery roads and curves.
■
Creeping
■
Kickdown
* Not available on all models

301
uuWhen DrivinguShifting
Continued
Driving
ShiftingChange the shift position in accordance with your driving needs.■
Shift lever positions
*1: Models with D4 button
1Shifting
You cannot turn the ignition switch to LOCK
(0
and
remove the key unless the shift lever is in
(P
.
The vehicle may move forward very slightly even in
(N
while the engine is cold.
Depress the brake pedal firmly and, when necessary,
apply the parking brake.
Park
Used when parking or starting the engine
Reverse
Used when reversing
Neutral
Used when idling
Drive
Used for normal driving (gears change between
1st and 5th/6th
*1 automatically)
D3
Press the D3 button while the shift lever is in
(D
.
Used when●Going up or down hills●Towing a trailer in hilly terrainModels with D3 buttonLow
Strong engine power when climbing and strong
engine braking when going down steep hills. Release Button
D3/D4
Button
D4Press the D4 button while the shift lever is in
(D
.
Used when●Going up or down hills●Towing a trailer in hilly terrainModels with D4 button

uuWhen DrivinguShifting
302Driving
■
Shift Lever Operation
1Shift Lever Operation
NOTICEWhen you change the shift lever from
(D
to
(R
and
vice versa, come to a complete stop and keep the
brake pedal depressed.
Operating the shift lever before the vehicle has come
to a complete standstill can damage the transmission.
Use the shift lever position indicator to check the
lever position before pulling away.
Whichever position the shift lever is in when driving,
a blinking
(D
indicator indicates a transmission
problem.
Avoid sudden acceleration and have the transmission
checked by a dealer as soon as possible.
The fuel supply may be cut off if you drive at engine
speeds in or over the tachometer red zone (engine
speed limit). If this happens, you may experience a
slight jolt.
It may not be possible to operate the shift lever if the
brake pedal is applied while the shift lever release
button is held down.
Depress the brake pedal first.
Tachometer's red zone Shift Lever Position Indicator
Depress the brake pedal and
press the shift lever release button to shift.
Shift without pressing the shift lever
release button.
Press the shift lever release button and
shift.D3/D4 Indicator

306
uuWhen DrivinguVSA
® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC (Electronic Stability Control), System
Driving
VSA
® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC (Electronic
Stability Control), SystemVSA
® helps to stabilize the vehicle during cornering if the vehicle turns more or less
than what was intended. It also assists in maintaining traction on slippery surfaces.
It does so by regulating engine output and selectively applying the brakes.
When VSA
® activates, you may notice that the
engine does not respond to the accelerator.
You may also notice some noise from the
hydraulic system. You will also see the
indicator blink.
■
VSA
® Operation
1VSA
® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC (Electronic Stability
Control), System
The VSA
® may not function properly if tire type and
size are mixed. Make sure to use the same size and
type of tire, and the air pressures as specified.
When the VSA
® indicator comes on and stays on
while driving, there may be a problem with the
system. While this may not interfere with normal
driving, have your vehicle checked by a dealer
immediately.
VSA
® cannot enhance stability in all driving situations
and does not control the entire braking system. You
still need to drive and corner at speeds appropriate
for the conditions and always leave a sufficient
margin of safety.
The main function of the VSA
® system is generally
known as Electronic Stability Control (ESC). The
system also includes a traction control function.
VSA
®
System
Indicator

307
uuWhen DrivinguVSA
® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC (Electronic Stability Control), System
Driving
This button is on the driver side control panel.
To turn the VSA
® system on and off, press and
hold it until you hear a beep.
VSA
® will stop and the indicator will come on.
To turn it on again, press the (VSA
® OFF)
button until you hear a beep.
VSA
® is turned on every time you start the
engine, even if you turned it off the last time
you drove the vehicle.
■
VSA
® On and Off
1VSA
® (Vehicle Stability Assist), aka ESC (Electronic Stability
Control), System
Without VSA
®, your vehicle will have normal braking
and cornering ability, but it will not have VSA
®
traction and stability enhancement.
In certain unusual conditions when your vehicle gets
stuck in shallow mud or fresh snow, it may be easier
to free it with the VSA
® temporarily switched off.
When the VSA
® system is off, the traction control
system is also off. You should only attempt to free
your vehicle with the VSA
® off if you are not able to
free it when the VSA
® is on.
Immediately after freeing your vehicle, be sure to
switch VSA
® on again. We do not recommend driving
your vehicle with the VSA
® and traction control
systems switched off.
If the low tire pressure/TPMS, low tire pressure, or
TPMS indicator comes on or blinks, the VSA
® system
comes on automatically. In this case, you cannot turn
the system off by pressing the button.
You may hear a motor sound coming from the
engine compartment while system checks are being
performed immediately after starting the engine or
while driving. This is normal.
VSA
® OFF
Indicator

313
uuWhen DrivinguBSI (Blind Spot Information) System
*
Driving
Press the BSI OFF button until you hear a beep to turn on and off the system. A
message on the multi-information display appears for five seconds and indicates
that the system is on or off.
When BSI is off, the BSI indicator in the instrument panel stays on.
BSI is in the previously selected on or off setting each time you start the engine.■
BSI On and Off
1BSI (Blind Spot Information) System
Turn the system off when towing a trailer. The system
does not work properly for the following reasons:•The added mass tilts the vehicle and changes the
radar coverage.•The trailer itself can be detected by the radar
sensors, causing the BSI alert indicators to come
on.
BSI may be adversely affected when:•Objects (guard rails, poles, trees, etc,.) are
detected.•An object that does not reflect radio waves well,
such as a motorcycle, is in the alert zone.•Driving on a curved road.•A vehicle is moving from a far lane to the adjacent
lane.•The system picks up external electrical interference.•The rear bumper or the sensors have been
improperly repaired or the rear bumper has been
deformed.•The orientation of the sensors has been changed.•In bad weather (Heavy rain, snow, and fog).
For a proper BSI use:•Always keep the rear bumper corner area clean.•Do not cover the rear bumper corner area with
labels or stickers of any kind. •Take your vehicle to a dealer if you need the rear
bumper corner area or the radar sensors to be
repaired, or the rear bumper corner area is strongly
impacted.
BSI
IndicatorMulti-information
display
BSI OFF Button

315
uuBrakinguBrake System
Driving
Your vehicle is equipped with disc brakes at all four wheels. A power assist helps
reduce the effort needed on the brake pedal. The brake assist system increases the
stopping force when you depress the brake pedal hard in an emergency situation.
The anti-lock brake system (ABS) helps you retain steering control when braking very
hard.
2Brake Assist System P. 317
2ABS (Anti-lock Brake System) P. 316
■
Foot Brake
1Foot Brake
Check the brakes after driving through deep water,
or if there is a buildup of road surface water. If
necessary, dry the brakes by lightly depressing the
pedal several times.
If you hear a continuous metallic friction sound when
applying the brakes, the brake pads need to be
replaced. Have the vehicle checked by a dealer.
Constantly using the brake pedal while going down a
long hill builds up heat, which reduces the brake
effectiveness. Apply engine braking by taking your
foot off the accelerator pedal and downshifting to a
lower gear.
Do not rest your foot on the brake pedal while
driving, as it will lightly apply the brakes and cause
them to lose effectiveness over time and reduce pad
life. It will also confuse drivers behind you.

316
uuBrakinguABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
Driving
ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)Helps prevent the wheels from locking up, and helps you retain steering control by
pumping the brakes rapidly, much faster than you.
The electronic brake distribution (EBD) system, which is part of the ABS, also
balances the front-to-rear braking distribution according to vehicle loading.
You should never pump the brake pedal. Let the ABS work for you by always
keeping firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal. This is sometimes referred to as
"stomp and steer."■
ABS operation
The brake pedal may pulsate slightly when the ABS is working. Keep holding the
pedal firmly down. On dry pavement, you will need to press on the brake pedal very
hard before the ABS activates. However, you may feel the ABS activate immediately
if you are trying to stop on snow or ice.
When the vehicle speed goes under 6 mph (10 km/h), the ABS stops.
■
ABS
1ABS (Anti-lock Brake System)
NOTICEThe ABS may not function correctly if you use an
incorrect tire type and size.
When the ABS indicator comes on while driving,
there may be a problem with the system.
While normal braking is not affected, there is a
possibility of the ABS not operating. Have the vehicle
checked by a dealer immediately.
The ABS does not reduce the time or distance it takes
to stop the vehicle. It only helps with steering control
during hard braking.
In the following cases, your vehicle may need more
stopping distance than a vehicle without the ABS:•When driving on rough road surfaces, including
when driving on uneven surfaces, such as gravel or
snow.•When tire chains are installed.
You may hear a motor sound coming from the
engine compartment while system checks are being
performed immediately after starting the engine or
while driving. This is normal.

318Driving
Parking Your VehicleWhen Stopped1.Always use the parking brake when you park your vehicle.
2.Make sure the parking brake is set firmly, or your vehicle may roll if parked on an
incline.Parking1.Depress the brake pedal firmly with the shift lever in
(D
.
2.Apply the parking brake while holding the brake pedal down.
3.Move the shift lever to
(P
.
4.Turn off the engine.
1Parking Your Vehicle
Do not park your vehicle near flammable objects,
such as dry grass, oil, or timber.
Heat from the exhaust can cause a fire.1When Stopped
NOTICEThe following can damage the transmission:•Depressing the accelerator and brake pedals
simultaneously.•Holding the vehicle in place when facing uphill by
depressing the accelerator pedal.•Moving the shift lever into
(P
before the vehicle
stops completely.
1Parking
Raise the wiper arms when snow is expected.