A Few Words About Safety; Service Information - Honda 2004 Odyssey Service Manual

A Few Words About Safety

Service Information

The service and repair information contained in this
manual is intended for use by qualified, professional
technicians. Attempting service or repairs without the
proper training, tools, and equipment could cause
injury to you or others. It could also damage the vehicle
or create an unsafe condition.
This manual describes the proper methods and
procedures for performing service, maintenance, and
repairs. Some procedures require the use of specially
designed tools and dedicated equipment. Any person
who intends to use a replacement part, service
procedure, or a tool that is not recommended by Honda,
must determine the risks to their personal safety and
the safe operation of the vehicle.
If you need to replace a part, use Honda parts with the
correct part number or an equivalent part. We strongly
recommend that you do not use replacement parts of
inferior quality.
FOR YOUR CUSTOMER'S SAFETY
Proper service and maintenance are essential to the
customer's safety and the reliability of the vehicle. Any
error or oversight while servicing a vehicle can result in
faulty operation, damage to the vehicle, or injury to
others.
Improper service or repairs can create an unsafe
condition that can cause your customer or others to
be seriously hurt or killed.
Follow the procedures and precautions in this
manual and other service materials carefully.
FOR YOUR SAFETY
Because this manual is intended for the professional
service technician, we do not provide warnings about
many basic shop safety practices (e.g., Hot parts wear
gloves). If you have not received shop safety training or
do not feel confident about your knowledge of safe
servicing practices, we recommend that you do not
attempt to perform the procedures described in this
manual.
Failure to properly follow instructions and
precautions can cause you to be seriously hurt or
killed.
Follow the procedures and precautions in this
manual carefully.
Some of the most important general service safety
precautions are given below. However, we cannot warn
you of every conceivable hazard that can arise in
performing service and repair procedures. Only you
can decide whether or not you should perform a given
task.
IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
• Make sure you have a clear understanding of all basic
shop safety practices and that you are wearing
appropriate clothing and using safety equipment.
When performing any service task, be especially
careful of the following:
– Read all of the instructions before you begin, and
make sure you have the tools, the replacement or
repair parts, and the skills required to perform the
tasks safely and completely.
– Protect your eyes by using proper safety glasses,
goggles, or face shields anytime you hammer, drill,
grind, or work around pressurized air or liquids and
springs, or other stored-energy components. If
there is any doubt, put on eye protection.
– Use other protective wear when necessary, for
example, gloves or safety shoes. Handling hot or
sharp parts can cause severe burns or cuts. Before
you grab something that looks like it can hurt you,
stop and put on gloves.
– Protect yourself and others whenever you have the
vehicle up in the air. Anytime you lift the vehicle,
either with a hoist or a jack, make sure that it is
always securely supported. Use jack stands.
– Protect yourself by wearing an approved welding
helmet, gloves, and safety shoes anytime you are
welding. You can receive burns from hot parts,
allow the parts to cool before working in that area.
– Protect yourself from paints and harmful chemicals
by wearing an approved respirator, eye protection,
and gloves whenever you are painting. Spray paint
only in an approved paint booth that is well
ventilated.
• Make sure the engine is off before you begin any
servicing procedures, unless the instruction tells you
to do otherwise. This will help eliminate several
potential hazards:
– Carbon monoxide poisoning from engine exhaust.
Be sure there is adequate ventilation whenever you
run the engine.
– Burns from hot parts or coolant. Let the engine and
exhaust system cool before working in those areas.
– Injury from moving parts. If the instruction tells you
to run the engine, be sure your hands, fingers, and
clothing are out of the way.
• Gasoline vapors and hydrogen gases from batteries
are explosive. To reduce the possibility of a fire or
explosion, be careful when working around gasoline
or batteries.
– Use only a nonflammable solvent, not gasoline to
clean parts.
– Never drain or store gasoline in an open container.
– Keep all cigarettes, sparks and flames away from
the battery and all fuel-related parts.