1997 Honda Odyssey Owner's Manual - Page 126

The Braking System If this happens, you will immediately notice that the brake pedal goes down much farther and you need to press on it much harder. A much longer distance will be needed to stop the car. Slow the car by downshifting to a lower gear and removing your foot from the accelerator pedal. Pull to the side of the road as soon as it is safe. Because of the longer stopping distance needed, brake system failure is very hazardous. You should have your car towed, but if you must drive the car in this condition, be extremely cautious. Have your car repaired as soon as possible. Anti-lock Brakes Your vehicle has an Anti-lock Brake System (ABS). ABS helps to prevent the wheels from locking up and skidding during hard braking, allowing you to retain steering control. When the front tires skid, you lose steering control; the car continues straight ahead even though you turn the steering wheel. The ABS helps to prevent lock-up and retain steering control by pumping the brakes rapidly; much faster than a person can do it. You should never pump the brake pedal, this defeats the purpose of the ABS. Let the ABS work for you by always keeping firm, steady pressure on the brake pedal as you steer away from the hazard. This is sometimes referred to as "stomp and steer." You will feel a pulsation in the brake pedal when the ABS activates, and you may hear some noise. This is normal, it is the ABS rapidly pumping the brakes. Activation varies with the amount of traction your tires have. On dry pavement, you will need to press on the brake pedal very hard before you activate the ABS. However, you may feel the ABS activate immediately if you are trying to stop on snow or ice. Driving