Honda Odyssey 1999 - 2004

fibber2

My Ody EX will be 'delivered' on Saturday, but I took it for a spin and ran thru the pre-delivery check list last night. My salesman was out, so I was on my own.

Everything seems great except for one oddity: I got out of the van and locked all the doors with the remote. I then grabbed each door handle to make sure that they were locking properly. To my surprise, the power slider motors activated, cranked against the locked strikers, gave up, pulled the doors back in, and shut down. Is that normal?

I have power sliders on my leased '00 Windstar SE, but Ford disables the power when they are locked. Seems like an odd omission.

Also, I sent e-mails to both Honda of Princeton and Rusty Wallis (Dallas) as per the 1netweb.com/ checklist concerning the HondaCare 7/100/0 for $895, but neither replied to my inquiry. Anyone have any insight? Is this still the 'target' price? Any other dealer suggestions? My dealer quoted me $1225.

My first Honda. Wish me luck,
Steve

scorpion31

Forget about e-mails. Just call Tracy McCrystal of Alton Blakley Honda, KY at 800-264-3275. I called her to discuss my concerns, she sent the HondaCare packet and I now have the 7/100/0 for $875 two weeks ago. It's legit!! Don't let your dealer sell you some lame excuse to justify $1,225. In my opinion, the finance manager is worst than the used car salesman or should I say, a more convincing sales person.(In most cases)

jmnygaard

I also got my 7/100,000/$0 from Tracy McCrystal for $875. I had to get a refund from my dealer (who charged me $1295) first, but it was worth it.
You can also get her at tdabh@yahoo.com. It may take her a couple of days, but she will answer you.

dmathews3

Thats the way they work. Doesn't seem to hurt as I have either pulled the handles or hit the button many times trying to open them when they were locked. I keep forgeting that when you unlock the doors if you push the button only once just the drivers door unlocks. Than when I reach my destination I go to open the doors and you know the rest.

johnnyrf

2 yrs. ago I drove my '99 Odyssey from New Hampshire (Attitash) back to Connecticut in a major storm. Interstate 84 had several inches of unplowed snow on it. At the time, my Odyssey had the original Firestone lousy tires on it and they were worn. The Odyssey handled like a dream notwithstanding the lousy Firestones. (I've since put Michelin x-1's on) The traction control system is amazing. When I got to the back roads, there was at least 6" of untouched snow in my very hilly area. I went up one hill that looked unconquerable. All you do is step on the gas pedal and the TCS does the rest. It is a very strange feeling as the ABS appears to supplement the torque distribution system.
Well there you go. I still wish the Odyssey had AWD, but you never know.....maybe it will now that it is available on the brand new Honda Pilot SUV. My other car is a Subaru wagon and I would love to race the 2 vehicles during the next storm.
Good Luck with your decision. You can't lose with a Honda.

grandtotal

The transmission fluid question is an interesting one. The owners manual says "To thoroughly flush the transmission, the technician should drain and refill it with Honda ATF-Z1 (Automatic Transmission Fluid), then drive the vehicle a short distance. Do this three times. then drain and refill the transmission a final time."
If they do this then they will have replaced approximately 89% of the original fluid by volume and will have consumed 14 quarts of fluid in the process. Somehow I don't think that that is what happens when you have your transmission fluid replaced.

dmathews3

In order to have AWD in the Honda you will need to give up the magic 3rd row seat, and I don't think the few who would want it would justify the many who use the magic seat.

hoss02

You have a better chance of buying a new Odyssey at $2,000 under MSRP from a dealer than getting the transmission flushed as the owner's manual suggests. Those instructions are obviously targeted at mechanics who do not have access to a flushing machine. Honda will not recommend using such a machine knowing that virtually all their dealers do not have these machines. Their dealers would be up in arms! Their primary interests are keeping money at Honda dealers and keeping any repairs beyond the warranty period. I would also guess that maybe 5% of owners will actually read that paragraph in the owner's manual; most people just bring their cars to their dealers or mechanics and don't ask too many questions. I can only imagine how many Chrysler minivan transmissions have suffered an early demise because of the wrong fluid (Dexron) being used.

As far as snow driving, my FWD Grand Caravan was so unreliable that I cringe at the thought of adding an AWD system to the equation. If I needed a lot of snow utility, I'd opt for a set of 4 winter tires. I have an awd Subaru that will drive through a foot of unplowed heavy snow with amazing ease. But when I'm driving it on packed snow and/or particularly slippery icy roads, I think how I'd much prefer to be in a FWD car with 4 winter tires vs. my AWD with Michelin all-season tires.
I have a friend who claims that their '02 Odyssey with Bridgestone Potenzas is not as good as their old-style '95 Odyssey was on slippery hills. I think they may not be used to handling 240 hp in that situation, although the TCS should be doing that anyway

jracine

Hi, I am bout the confirm a lease on a '02 EX-L.

Yesterday I had my first test drive. One thing surprised me: I found the basis of the seat "short" - and I am only 5-6". I can't say i was as comfortable as I had hoped. I drive a Saab 9-5 which has some of the best seats available in any car.

What do you think of the seats? Are YOU comfortable? Is it just me... Thanks for your fdbk.

fibber2

Jacques,

I tested my Ody two nights ago (official delivery tomorrow morning) and am concerned about the same thing. While I didn't take out the tape measure, I figure that the bottom cushion is between 1 & 2 inches shorter than that on my '00 Windstar SE. Being new and extra firm on the front end lip, it hit me under the leg in an odd spot higher up the thigh. I hope that with some padding compression this will become less noticeable and objectionable.

Steve

dkrab

I, too, was very concerned about the short seat cushions when we ordered our Ody. But after driving it just a couple of days, I forgot all about it. I'm 5'-9" 155 lbs. It was my biggest issue with the van, and now it's a non-issue. I find the seats very comfortable.

billg7

It is not unusual for the seats to feel uncomfortable in a new car. That is because you and your body have gotten use to the seats in the old car.

When I first sat in the drivers seat in the Odyssey I found the seat bottom pressing too hard against my thighs. I was able to tilt the seat bottom down, which helped with this. But after maybe 3 months you get use to the seats and they feel comfortable. I now find them comfortable.

Consumer Reports and all the other test reports I have read rate the front seats as very good in comfort. Their only objection being lack of lateral support. That means you tend to slide around curves.

calg

Greetings from next door in Vermont! We live on a private dirt road in a very rural setting... lots of hills, etc. Our Ody has been fine in the snow and ice and I think last winter was a VERY good test for any vehicle in the Northeast:) Just make sure you have good snow tires. We use the Nokia Hakapaliitas (sp?) on both vehicles (our other car is an Accord) and have had very good luck with them. Others have mentioned the Artic Alpins as being very good also... I think they are Michelins. You'll love your Ody... GREAT vehicle.

dmathews3

I'm 6'3" and the seats are fine for me. 2400 mile round trip just after we got it and the seats were fine but could have used a little more leg room.

felixdacat13

The sliding doors activating like you described is very much normal.
When the Van is locked and you pull on the handles, the mechanism tries to open, finds out it's locked, and then shuts down.
When I first got my 01 EX, it was troubling because I tried to open the doors and they wouldn't open. It took me a few days to realize that the Van was locked when I made the attempt.

folkmuse

I surfed over to carreview.com and began reading some owner's reviews of their Honda
Odysseys. I was very surprise and disappointed to find so many people having
problems. I repeatedly read about low mileage transmission failure and, believe it or not,
power doors opening spontaneously while the car was moving! I wonder what percentage of
Odyssey owners experience these disasters?

yennhi

can anybody tell me where is the place to refill the trans fluid. I believe it is somewhere on the top of the transmission, but I can not find it. Thanks

alexv1n

I don't think that AWD is not possible with the magic seat. Mazda MPV is available in AWD in Japan and it has very similar magic seat design... Just my .02

dmathews3

It's possible as in all things are possible. It's just most AWD come through with a solid axle which goes all the way across and takes up a lot of room. Could go to another form of all wheel drive but then there is the problem with the Odyssey fuel tank. It's in the middle of the van somewhere where the transfer case goes. But with a lot of work and money it could be done, but for the few sales it would generate I don't think everyone else would want the price of the FWD to go up to help cover the costs of the extra design. I think that is the only reason DC vans don't have the magic rear seat. Of course Honda could go with the joke seat that GM is now using for their magic seat.

auburn63

99 and up the trans fill is a 17mm fill plug on the top of the trans near the end case. Later models used the dip stick area for the fill.

mschafer

To add a bit of clarification to Auburn63's response. Look behind the engine on the driver's side. It's low down on the top of the tranny between the engine and the firewall. It takes a long funnel to reach the hole.

stangelj

99EX, transmission has performed without a hitch (now at 70,000 km), and never had the power doors open while driving. In fact, they won't open unless the vehicle is in park. Hard to say what % of drivers have had these problems. I've seen some posts about transmission problems but don't ever recall, at lease on Edmunds, seeing anyone with doors spontaneously opening while driving.

fibber2

Thanks for the responses to my queries. If that is normal performance from the power doors - great - just figured it was better to ask than to burn out a motor.

The 'delivery' went very smoothly. Rick at Friendly Honda did a good job of going over everything (including the door question). No surprises financially either. MSRP & $20 paperwork fee (dealing with DMV, etc.). A full tank of gas, even a bottle of touch up paint and a promise of my first oil change for free!

I called Tracy in Kentucky, and she is preparing the paperwork for the 7/100/0 HondaCare. Call me paranoid, but after reading the posting on this board, it seems that the basic 3/36 warr is not enough for me to rest easy. If I come close to break even, I will be very happy.

I did give my dealer a last chance to match, but they explained that 'service' sells it to 'sales' with an internal department markup, making it impossible in their present accounting structure to come close. Considering that they willingly matched internet pricing on 5 add-on's that I requested, I have to think that they would have made a reasonable counter-offer on HondaCare if they could.

Steve

pmarvin

To TCASBOY: Yes, I agree someone's head at Honda should have rolled over the ventilation filter replacement. It is idiotic that the mechanic has to cut and discard the dash brace in order to access the filter. It's bad enough removing the glovebox, but cutting the brace is ridiculous. That said, out 2000 Ody has 104k miles and runs like new. We finally replaced the vent filter at over 100k, and I can say it NEEDED replacing!

ateixeira

AWD: you don't need a solid rear axle, all Subies are 4 wheel indy. So are Audis, Jags, and Bimmers.

I agree that with all that weight on the front wheels, plus traction control, Honda may not feel it's necessary to offer it.

-juice

DTKWOK

True, the Subie's have independents all around, but they also have a place for them to stick the differential into (the Ody's rear wheel well suck up that space) and as dmathews3 pointed out the, Ody's gas tank runs down the center of the vehicle. Maybe they can come up with an offset driveshaft using magnetic couplings????? Just a thought.

ateixeira

Doesn't VTM-4 run down each side instead of down the center? That might fit.

Actually, that's what we should look at, because surely that is the system Honda would use.

-juice

clarence2

Hi,

I need new Tires for the above vehicle. Any Suggestions? I live on Long Island and I need a good all weather tire which will maximize my traction in the Snow and Rain.

BTW, how long do tires normally last? I have about 35,000 miles on them with all the proper rotations. They seem a bit worn though.

I have not been in this forum since my 6 month wait to get this car. It's Awesome.

Thanks

Clarence2

amarchan

Steve,how much did you pay for the extended warranty? How do I get in touch with Tracy in Kentucky?

fibber2

Arturo,

Two people were nice enough to answer my previous query (about one page earlier):

Post 4207 by Scorpion31 & Post 4208 by Jmnygaard

I spoke to Tracy and am waiting for the agreement and credit card authorization form.

Steve

BTW: How close a match is the Honda Care extended warranty to the original 3/36 ??? Some mfgrs pair down the list of covered items. Has anyone seen a comprehensive list? Maybe it will be in the paperwork Tracy sends.....

billg7

The nice thing about the Honda Care Warranty is that there is no list of what's covered, unlike most other non factory warranties.

The Honda Care Warranty contains instead, a list of what's not covered.

That is a big positive. If you look at the list of non factory warranties on what's covered, which I have done, you can not figure what's left out of the list. After going over such a list I was able to determine that it did not cover the power doors, but I am sure other things were left out that I did not see. An automobile contains 1000's of parts, so it is a pretty difficult task.

The list on the Honda Care Warranty on what's not covered is very short and it contains the items that all the other warranties, I have seen, don't cover. Things like normal wear items, like brake pads, batteries, and also some body parts and upholstery items.

tcasboy

pmarvin: Thanks for the input about the a/c filter change. Have you had any rattles from the glove box area since they replaced the filter? Just curious.

clarence: I replaced my 2000 Ody tires at about 27K miles because the original tires were junk (Firestone Affinity). They wore terribly and the left rear took a piece of wood (very small triangular piece of wood) through the sidewall and ruined the tire. After looking at the rest of them closely I decided to just replace them all. I did a lot of research at Tirerack.com and determined that I thought Goodyear Aquatread III's would work best for me, as I live in L.A. (Lower Alabama) and we get very strong thunderstorms in the summer with lots of rain. I have been very pleased with the Aquatreads, although I have read some not so encouraging posts about them in this forum. The Tirerack.com site is VERY helpful and you can read reviews of many different tires.

I was getting the check engine light the past couple of weeks and took the van in for some diagnostics and the dealer said they are going to replace all 6 fuel injectors (under warranty thank goodness). Seems kind of fishy to me, but I guess new injectors can't hurt. The van has been running kind of rough so I'm hoping this will fix it and with only 3K miles left on the warranty I sure am thankful that the light started coming on now instead of 2 months from now. We've got 33K on the van and other than being a little loud over bumps and on the highway and this check engine deal the van has been trouble free for the 27 months we've had it (that sound you hear is me knocking on wood).

lisahhh

This seems so insignificant, but the my clock light stopped working at (36,300 miles). Since I travel to work while it's still dark out, I miss it. Does anyone know if this is just a fuse thing and if its simple enuf for me (blonde...) to fix?

inky

they are very prone to this. Sorry. I think will cost alot usually bulb type thing in dash. My buddies went out at 40k. Honda worked the warranty timing perfectly.
INKY

billg7

You might ask the dealer what that would cost.

I see it as another reason to get the extended warrant. Also the injectors out at 30k. You said you wonder about that, but since you have a warranty you said OK. Without a warranty what would you do. You would perhaps get a second opinion somewhere.

With the extended warranty you have less hassele and it is worth it even if the dealer makes money on them on the average.

mschafer

There's a replacement bulb. List price is about $4. It's not all that difficult to replace yourself, but you do have to dismantle the dash to get to it.

roman9

to: clarence2 - I replaced the tires on my 2000 with Potenza's (225x60). I think they are a pretty good tire. I also see that some of the 2002's are using them as standard as well.

I just completed a vacation driving from Toronto to Orlando and back using I 75. Van ran great. I just set the cruise, put an a couple of CD's and before we knew it we were there. You folks in the US have a great hwy. We drove at 130 to 140 kph (approx 85 mph) speeds all the way - I couldn't believe it! Groups of cars and semi's just blowing by the troopers without worry.

mark189

I'm curious whether those that bought the navigation system have found it worthwhile on a regular basis?

rockycow

be aware that your replacement tires increased the speedo error in your ODY by 1.4%. At least that is what the tire size calculator indicated. Ody speedos already read too fast. I guess it should help reduce speeding tickets. :-)

mschafer

sailing216

What size is the DVD player? Edmunds doesn't post size, just that it has one.

Tires: Replaced Firestone Affinities with GY Aquatred IIIs and it's an unbelievable difference on my nissan sedan. Drive through 3" deep puddle and you won't plane at all. Slight decline in handling (you probably won't notice in a minivan), but traction in water and snow not to mention they are so much more quite makes them the best tire I've owned. Tirerack had prices that nobody could touch---had them mounted and balanced at Walmart for $11 a tire.

sgergen

is 7".

Scott

lcloak

In CA (and other states, too), we use tire chains while driving in the snow in the mountains. Owners manual says only to use cable chains because vehicle has Class "S" restricted wheel clearance. I would prefer to use Diamond tire chains (metal links), which says they meet class "S" requirements. Anyone have any experience with Diamond tire chains on an Odyssey?

pmarvin

My wife has only driven the Odyssey a couple of hundred miles since the vent filter was replaced, but she said she hasn't heard any rattles from the dash area. In a couple of weeks she'll be doing a trip of about 1500 miles and will probably have a better idea.

mschafer

The dashboard brace that gets removed is only there to keep the assembly rigid during assembly of the vehicle.

If the vehicle is put back together correctly (without the assembly brace), there should be no rattles. I replaced mine myself at 45k and 90k. Other than needing some pretty dextrous fingers to reach the fasteners, it's a relatively easy job.

jimblock

A lot of this decision is personal taste. I have one of the first 2000 EX NAV models (got it in September 1999) and I wouldn't be without the NAV features. I don't just use it to find places I haven't been. I use it to find shortcuts (using the map alone, usually); I use it to remind when to turn -- and sort of as a trip computer -- it gives a running estimate of how long it will take to get to a destination. In short, I use it many times every week, if not every day.

When trying to go someplace the first time, it is very helpful -- much better than mapquest, etc. because it guides you as you drive and it recalculates if you miss a turn (by accident, or on purpose).

stangelj

http://www.canadiandriver.com/testdrives/02odyssey.htm

mark189

I read all of the posts here, and one topic solely on the Odyssey's navigation. They seem universally positive. The system sounds great, and should be very helpful. After getting lost numerous times on road trips, I think the navigation system will actually be a safety feature. Trying to read directions and look for signs just isn't the safest way to drive.

With all of this in mind, I switched my order to add the navigation system. I have to wait until April/May for one in Havasu blue, but think it'll be worth the wait.

Thanks for the input.

tcasboy

pmarvin and mschafer: Thanks for the info about the filter. I ordered an air filter from HandA but might get the interior filter also. Just got the van back from the dealer after they replaced all the fuel injectors (2000 LX with 33100 miles) and it was running very well, but yesterday it didn't want to start right away, took a couple of long pulls on the starter to crank, FIRST TIME ANYTHING LIKE THAT has ocurred. That was quite disconcerting seeing as the car just came out of the shop and was running just a little rough but started easily before they changed the injectors. Wonder if I'll have it back in the shop to see why its doing that.

bcambo

I am trying to decide between a Chrysler T&C and a Odyssey.The Chrysler T&C seems to win in the seats, quiet ride and looks dept while the Honda seems technically more sophisticated.Can anyone tell me about the reported improvement in the noise, vibration and harshness of the 2002 Odyssey?Also, I know it is a subjective thing but I also have read that the driver's seat comfort has been improved. The '99 Odyssey I drove seem to have a lot of wind and tire noise at speed. If the 2002 Odyssey is anything like my '87 Honda Accord with 154,000 miles on it, I'm ready to plunk down my hard earned cash..After at least 2-3 good years of predicted repair on the Chrysler and the problems I have read concerning the Honda's transmissions the choice does not seem so easy.