Honda Odyssey: Problems & Solutions:(1995-2004 Models)

hondaconvert1

Have a Honda dealer to check the connection of the audio wires behind the DVD player (possibly loose audio wire connection)... I had intermittent audio issues with mine when playing a DVD with no sound, and it took them months to figure it out going through different Honda dealers. Good luck...

breinders

Are you using Honda's crossbars or aftermarket (Yakima, Thule)? I wonder if the height gained from using the aftermarket type will help the spoiler clear the box.

You're right about not seeing many/any boxes on Ody's. There is so much room in the van that it will be rare to need the extra space - just when we go camping with the kids and with the bikes and all of the associated gear.

huskyfire

This happened to me on my 01 Odessey... It ended up being my EGR or ERG valve needed replaced. Luckily for us, the mechanic ended up being a honest guy and found online that this was covered under an extended warranty.. Honda extended the warranty to 8yrs or 80,000 miles.

srv3

Thanks for the update. I did some research last night and took my Van to a delaer and told them about the 8yr or 80000 warranty on EGR issue . The dealer replaced it and drove 20 miles without an issue. I hope this fixes the issue as I have 77k miles. --Thanks again

norbtuc

Anyone out there with a 2005 Odyssey having trouble seeing all the dash detail during the day? If you were in Canada where the speedlimits are in kilometers per hour, can you see the speedometer display clearly enough to read your speed in KPH? :mad:

seabreez1

I have the same famous Glove Box problem on my 2006 Odyssey which I purchased a week ago. I just overlooked it during test driving before purchase. There are so many discussions on this forum about this problem on 05 models that I assumed Honda should have fixed it on 06 model. Now it seems that Honda did nothing about it. aside from this, I may have another potentially much more serious problem. after the car started and going for about 10 to 20 yards, there is a short and grinding sound coming from underneath the engine area. I suspicious it comes from the transmission when it shifts in low gear. This does not happen every time when stop and go. But I have notice it about 5 times during last two days. planing to bring it back to the dealer to check it up. I am really disappointed about this van's quality, and regret to chose Odyssey over Sienna.

user777

can't address the glovebox issue, but i imagine your dealership can handle that one.

the sound you hear, if once when first taking off is most likely the Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) performing a self-test and is quite normal. there is even a procedure I believe for your dealer to exercise the ABS self-test in your presence to help you correlate the sound you hear with the function.

if however you hear and feel this grinding multiple times when comming to a stop and proceeding...this would be indicative of a problem.

jipster

One week and you're already giving up???

How about posting your purchase information over on the Honday Ody Prices Paid and Dealer experience board.

Well, the glovebox issue is hardly anything to over . I never noticed it until someone pointed it out to me...more than likely no one else will notice it.
And the noise you were speaking of is just the van doing an antilock brake check.
See...problem solved.

jprantl

I have a question about the ABS self check. I purchased a 2005 EX-L about 2 weeks ago when the van came in it only had 5 miles on it and I did not test drive it before i took it home I noticed as i left the dealership that when i get to 10 mph i heard a loud "click" which seemed to come from the left front wheel area. I called the dealer and they told me to watch the video and learn how to set the auto lock system(which i do not have since i do not have the touring model) . My next door neighbor also got the same model 2 weeks later and needles to say hers does not click. I made an appointment with the service dept they told me it was a ABS self check. The click happens only on the initial start from park and only when the engine has been turned off. As soon as you start the van put it in drive and get to 10 mph loud click....is it actually the ABS check or something else? why is it only on my van? Help!!

johnnie_five

I hope your noise problem is just with the anti-lock like others have said.
I guess I can over look the glove box problem since it's only a cosmetic issue, but I hope I don't have a problem of getting very low gas mileage as some of the other owners are. I would be disappointed if I were to get it in mid teens.
I wish more owners would post about their mileage. I'm wondering if only hand full of owners are experiencing the low mileage or most owners are getting close to EPA estimates. I only have 100 miles on my Ody, so after several fill ups I'll post my numbers up at the other forum.

user777

question - did you actually ask your neighbor if he/she hears the self-test or did you have a ride in his/her van and listen for yourself? ...it's possible that they don't hear the test. sound localization is tricky in some environments. my suggestion would be to ride in their van and listen for the same sound. then ride in your van (with someone else driving) and listen for the sound from the passenger seat. it seems to me it is the ABS self test, but another way to alleviate your concerns is to bring your van in (you say you have an appointment) and have them demonstrate the ABS self-test...I believe they have a procedure to initiate it with the vehicle stopped.

jprantl

I have not ridden in their van but will tomorrow. I can hear it from the pasenger seat, but it is possible that i am so conscious of it that i am listening for it to happen. I will have them check the ABS just to make sure since they are going to do a 1000 check up. I thank you for the help and reassurance.

shopaholicmom

I bought my 05 EX odyssey about 3 weeks ago. I hear the same noise everytime I start the car. Let me know what the dealer will tell you because im also thinking about getting my ody checked too.

seabreez1

Not sure if it is related to ABS self-testing because it occurred not only at first taking off but also during proceeding after a stop. But I'll mention this to the dealer's technicians when they are doing the checkup, and post the results after the problem being diagnosed. I want to thank everyone here for your inputs.

user777

i understand. if it also occurs after proceeding from a stop, it is most likely NOT the ABS self-test. make sure you communicate that you hear the sound when proceeding from stops as well.

insist that the service writer get one of the senior techs to ride with you so they hear the same thing you do.

sounds like it might be a stuck / lazy caliper disengaging - but whatever - relatively straight-forward to diagnose.

best of luck.

jt8

2005 Honda EX-L with less than 2K miles, first time I saw a blinking "d" drive indicator light on the dash. Drove it for 5 miles and when I reached home, I turned off the engine & started it back up, the blinking "D" drive indicator light on the dash was gone & went back to the steady light.

Anyone have experienced this problem ? Would appreciate any feedback or recommended solution to this problem.

thanks

user777

if it were me, i'd do what your owner's manual tells you to do when "D" flashes. bring it immediately to your dealership. hope it's just a speed sensor.

mich_chow

I changed the subject to talk more about this sound. I also have this sound or noise or whatever you call it. I have an EX-L RES & NAV and have about 800 miles on it, and the sound is there from the beginning. It could be the ABS check like someone mentioned, but I am not sure. I think I did read about this in this forum or somewhere else that it could also be the VSA being engaged and that is why we hear this noise. It can be best heard with driver side window open and slowly going from start to 10-12 mph range. I am also interested to learn about this more. Because I did disengage the VSA after starting my engine, but the sound still came on after reaching 10-12 mph. So I am curious and if someone know for sure what this is and if this is in ALL Odysseys that would be comforting for many. Thank you!

stevedebi

"If you purchased from an authorized honda dealer in the US, and were not aware that the car came from canada, honda america may still be liable."

I don't see how; Honda of America specifically prohibits importing "grey market" vehicles form Canada. I think the dealership would be responsible.

rorr

Easiest way to check this sound is to determine if the sound occurs only ONCE after you start the car and then start driving, or does it occur EVERYTIME you accelerate from a stop?

If it occurs the first time, and the first time only, after you start the car and then accelerate, it is likely to be the ABS self-test.

If it occurs at OTHER times (or everytime you accelerate from 0 past 10-12mph), then it sounds like a problem which the service department needs to address.

mich_chow

In my case, the sound only comes ONCE, not everytime I accelerate from a stop. Thanks!

I am also interested to hear from jprantl, who wanted to ride the neighbor's van to see if the sound is there or not.

Thank you.

whatgives

I COULD NOT FIND ANY MESSAGE ON THE '06 (244)HAVING LESS HORSE POWER VS TO '05(265). DID I MISS SOME THING? DID HONDA CHANGE THE ENGINE? IF NOT, I FEEL CHEATED.
OWNER OF '05 ODYSSEY.

sebring95

Why would you feel cheated, you've got a lot more horsepower than those '06 models?!?!

A quick search would have revealed this is just on paper. Same motor, same everything.

rorr

Yes, a quick search would have revealed this has been brought up about 10 times so far.

What changed between the '05 models and the '06 models was the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) testing procedure. The engines are EXACTLY the same.

BTW - the '05 models were rated at 255hp, not 265.

rcs_shankar

Kondal,
Try to tune it to 77.9 or 77.3.

See if it works. I had it in my 2004 Ody and it worked.

Rgds
RCS

whatgives

I FEEL CHEATED BECAUSE HONDA OVERSTATED THE HORSEPOWER.

dansgirl

I didn't forget to update you - I just didn't get it resolved until now. Due to problems with a Sick Service advisor, and laziness of the entire Service staff I guess, we didn't get the van back to the shop until this past Friday. It took 2 weeks to get it back in to replace the parts that they weren't even sure would fix it - 1 week for the part to actually make it to the shop, and another week to get anyone to call me back to get the van back in. During this 2 week wait the vibration got worse...I hated my van during this period.

By 4pm on Friday I got a call stating that the vibration was gone. I picked it up on Saturday morning, and YIPEE it drives like a Honda again - no shaking steering column, no vibration in the pedals...smooth!

The culprit was the rear engine mount - the stabilizer was not engaging at all anymore.

This has been my only problem so far, and I'm at 13k+ miles.

rorr

"I FEEL CHEATED BECAUSE HONDA OVERSTATED THE HORSEPOWER."

A couple of points:

First, turn off the CAPS LOCK. "Shouting" is really unnecessary.

Second, no, Honda didn't overstate the horsepower. The engines made 255hp under the old standards. Would you say that all the manufacturer's were 'cheating' up until the early 70's when the SAE changed the standards from the old 'gross hp' ratings to the 'net hp' ratings?

An analogy:

Two students take the same class taught by different teachers: Both students get 100% of their homework correct, both students score a 90 on their midterm and both students score an 80 on their final.

Yet one teacher decides that the homework should score 0% of their grade with the mid-term and final weighted equally at 50% apiece. The student in that class has a final score of 85. The other teacher weights the homework, mid-term, and final exactly the same, each at 1/3. The student in that class has a final score of 90. Two different results, yet EACH student scored exactly the same on the individual components.

Has the student with the 90 "overstated" their grade? No, different methodology was used to determine the final grade.

Are you aware that there are at least a dozen ways for an individual running a dyno to generate hp numbers? Some methods yield higher numbers, some methods yield lower numbers. So long as the method used to generate the numbers is a standardized method, there is no 'cheating' or 'overstated' numbers. I've heard of unscrupulous speed shops who sell performance parts and offer dyno services who will do dyno runs, before and after the sale and installation of speed parts, who will tweak the dyno to 'prove' the parts sold actually added hp.

Do you have any evidence that, under last years SAE testing methodology, Honda inflated the horsepower ratings?

whatgives

Evidence you ask. Evidence you will get. Check out:
http://www.detnews.com/2005/autosinsider/0508/17/A01-283759.htm
You might see my point of view.

rorr

I read that article nearly a month ago. Old news. You may also consider that the Detroit News has long been considered a mouthpiece for the Big 3.

What the SAE did with their revised methodology was to try to eliminate some subjective rules which could be interpreted in various ways. I should point out that whereas Honda and Toyota have revised their hp ratings for virtually ALL vehicles in their lineup (new and carryover), this was voluntary on their part since the SAE only required NEW vehicles or vehicles with revised/new engines to use the new SAE standards.

Note that the domestics did NOT re-test all their engines under the new SAE standards, instead selectively re-testing.

Can you point to ANYTHING which states that Honda, or any other manufacturer, violated the old rules for hp ratings?

sebring95

The way I see it, if the car performs adequately, the hp ratings don't amount to much. I think most auto testers have the Ody performing within reason for the HP rating. Nobody indicated they were suspiscious of the HP rating based on performance, unlike other vehicles in the past that were overrated and busted by magazines. HP ratings are helpful, particularly when comparing identical models with various drivetrain. How the vehicle puts the power to the ground is more important, and that requires some seat-time without really doing a lot of investigation/math (gear ratios, weight, rpms, drivetrain loss, etc.).

If you weren't happy with the performance, you shouldn't have bought the car.

dennisctc

I read that article nearly a month ago. Old news. You may also consider that the Detroit News has long been considered a mouthpiece for the Big 3.

Lived here for 10 years now, and would NEVER consider the Detroit News a mouthpiece by ANY definition!!!! Look at the Minivan write up a few months ago I posted, showing the Oddy the winner, or some of the reviews i.e...He says, She says etc........

lgiff

TCS/Check Engine lights appeared on 2001Odyssey. I took it to my garage. He checked it and said it was knock sensor. He bought the part and found out that, that was not the problem. I took it to Honda Dealer (not mentioning that I took it to my garage first). I told them that I thought it might be the EGR Port Plugging.
They just called me and said that they tested it and it was a knock sensor and something about connector wiring might need to be replaced. and that it was not
EGR. They saw some rodent droppings and thought they may have chewed the wires??
I did not okay the work yet. Should I call him back and tell him that my mechanic checked for knock sensor and that that was not it?? Does it make sense what he said about rodents chewing the wires??
I am so frustrated because I drove a Dodge Caravan for over 10 years with absolutely no problems. We buy an Odyssey and already we are having problems? Thank for your help.

whatgives

All I'm saying is that I was sold 255HP and got 244HP. thats all.
Few FYI's......
I'm a big Honda fan....this is my 3rd Honda('05 EXL RES/NAV). '99 accord, 02 oddy. I and the Mrs. been very happy with the '02. '05 is far better in many way vs. '02. '05 performance is big improvement over '02.

jinxed2

I have the same whistling noise and had it fixed at the dealers but unfortunately when they installed the new molding they cracked the windshield but didn't tell me. Luckily I noticed it and they are going to install a new windshield. It’s pretty bad when you take your vehicle in for a repair and it comes out worse than when it went in! I have only had this vehicle since June. and already had to have the door adjusted for a squeaking noise and now the windshield replacement, the reason we bought the Honda is because we had a 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan that had nothing but problems and was always in the shop. I hope this isn't history repeating itself. If I had wanted to keep running to the dealership I would have kept the Dodge. I'm also sure that they hate hearing my name every time I call since it is the same dealership as we bought the Dodge from and they probably think I am just being overly picky, but when you pay that much for something I think you shouldn't have to keep having things fixed.

tworlton

My check engine light came on about a year ago. When I took it to the dealer they said I hadn't tightened my gas cap enough and charged me $46. My check engine light came back on shortly after and has been on for about a year. I just got a recall notice which said (I think) that there was a problem with the EGR valve. It sounds to me like you were smarter than your dealer or mine. The recall mentioned you should check for a warning light, but did not say it was the check engine light. I don't see any other indicator that would make sense. I will look at the recall notice again when I get home. They are extending the warranty because of the problem.

user777

the tsb is here:
http://www.alldata.com/tsb/Honda/1121842800000_1123225200000_05-026/601.html

i think the MIL (malfunction indicator lamp) is synonymous with the CEL (check engine light). the maintenance reminder lamp is different.

there's nothing in this document about the TCS (traction control system) lamp.

jipster

$46 to tighten a gas cap? Where do I sign up??

jcchevy

Hi, I'm in the midst of hopefully closing a deal for the pyrchase of a 06 odessey NAV and RES, dark blue, gray leather. With what I've been reading about some issues/problems with these vehicles on these forums (and thank you everyone) I would like your opinion, would you buy one knowing these issues/problems? thanks,

jcchevy

rsht

I have an Ody EX-L-R which was built in May 2005. This is my first time owning a Honda. I have been quite lucky so far with this van comparing with other members of this forum.... Although I don't have Windshield Whistle, engine vibration, bad wheel bearings, and etc problems, I did experienced other minor problems (e.g. 2nd day after I took delivery of the van, it had a defective driver seat motor - replaced under warranty; started noticing door trim pieces coming apart in the 3rd and 4th week of having the van - I fixed them myself by re-attached the pieces; and a "just won't Stop rattling" rear 2nd row seat - temp fix by having my daughter sit in that chair ... haha!). Despite what I have read and experienced, I feel this is still a pretty nice van for the money. Given the track history of Honda, new 06 model year should be less if not free from the problems shared in this forum. I wish you luck and perhaps welcome you to the Ody family soon... Best Wish!

kksmith

my check engine light came on, the "D" gear indicator light is flashing, the "1" and "2" inicator lights are on steady and the "N" light is on steady. plus my veh will not shift into the highest gear while driving. obvious its the transmission, bringing to dealer tommorrow. this happened all at once and car still shifts smooth except for not going into the highest gear. any one have same trouble or iknow if this is computer prob or defin a major transmission thing. thanks in advance for any input.

aaykay

By "highest gear", I assume you meant the 5th gear. How would you know that it does not go to the 5th gear ? The car does not have any display that indicates whether it is in the 3rd or 4th or 5th gear or whatever. Just curious.

In my earlier 00 TL, when put into the sportshift mode, it would display the gear that you are in. The Odyssey does not seem to have that display and merely has "D", 2 and 1 and also an "Overdrive" off/on button

kksmith

your right i don't know what gear it is in just know it is not shifting into the highest or higher gears it may be stuck in second gear cant go over 45-50 mph with out bringing rpms over 3000+.

grandtotal

Sounds like you are stuck in 3^rd gear to me.

agirl

Thanks so much for the tips on fixing the power door. I'm no mechanic - I just hate to spend money on something I can easily fix myself. My kids where playing too rough (trying to lock each other out) in my '99 Odyseey. When they were done the power door had no power. The Sliding Door problem light was on. Nothing happened when I pushed the open/close button on the dash or when I pull the door handle. But, the system buzzed when the car was in gear. I did like you said and took the fuse out and then put it back in. It fixed it right away. Thanks so much! I'm sure you just saved me $100 at the service center.

aaykay

Maybe your overdrive button is stuck and in the "off" position. That is probably limiting your gears to the non-overdrive ones (1,2 and 3). It may be worthwhile to check it out.

isellhondas

Great analogy but the original poster still didn't get it.

Something tells me this will continue to get brought up for months to come!

kksmith

thanks, brought to dealer today, they think it has something to do with the gear box, or something with the shifter.....we will see.

thatch1

Did you ever figure out the problem and a solution...we have the exact same thing with our 2001 at 52K....Help, it seems to be getting worse.

hrao

Purchased a new 2005 Odyssey in the summer have just 3000 mile on it, driving at 70 miles per hour I get a loud humming noise, its more noise when driving up hill, Its not there at 40 miles per hour or low speeds,
I saw some posts on transmission problems , but did any one experience any humming noise , should I take to the dealership ?
Buy the way I really low Honda's they run great.