Honda 1996 Odyssey Owner's Manual page 122

Automatic Transmission
Neutral (N) — Use Neutral if you
need to restart a stalled engine, or if
it is necessary to stop briefly with
the engine idling. Shift to Park posi-
tion if you need to leave the car for
any reason. Press on the brake pedal
when you are moving the shift lever
from Neutral to another gear.
Drive (D ) — Use this position for
4
your normal driving. The transmis-
sion automatically selects a suitable
gear for your speed and acceleration.
You may notice the transmission
shifting up at higher speeds when
the engine is cold. This helps the
engine warm up faster.
Drive (D ) — This position is similar
3
to D , except only the first three
4
gears are selected. Use D
towing a trailer in hilly terrain, or to
provide engine braking when going
down a steep hill. D can also keep
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the transmission from cycling
between third and fourth gears in
Driving
stop-and-go driving.
For faster acceleration when in D
D , you can get the transmission to
4
automatically downshift by pushing
the accelerator pedal to the floor.
The transmission will shift down one
or two gears, depending on your
speed.
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.
when
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It will help reduce wheelspin.
Whenever you move the shift lever
to a lower gear, the transmission
downshifts only if the engine's
redline will not be exceeded in the
lower gear.
or
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First (1) — To shift from Second to
First, 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,
D and D , you can operate this
3 4
transmission much like a manual
transmission without a clutch pedal.