Honda Odyssey Care and Maintenance

ravichander

As a habit for over 30 years with my cars, I have been doing my oil/filter changes every 3K miles or 4 months which ever comes first. Cheap insurance

Macakava

I used to do oil changes myself on my Subaru Loyale car since it was easy to get under it without having to jack it up and the oil drain plug was towards the front of the car, as was the oil filer. But my Honda Accord sits so low that it is impossible to do it myself and I am bit reluctant to put it on ramps.

How do you do the Odyssey oil changes. Do you use ramps or jacks? If so what make and where do you buy them. How difficult or easy is it to do the oil changes? Where do you get the drain plug washers for the Odyssey? If it looks reasonably easy, I might like to do the oil changes myself.

Thanks

sbpceap

Oil change on the Ody isn't hard. Jack up vehicle (if using floor jack, jack under center towing hook under front of chassis). Support with jackstands; an oil change is not worth dying for. Turn wheels to right, and behind passenger front wheel you can access the oil filter. If it is the tiny Honda oil filter, you'll need a tiny oil filter wrench. I haven't changed the drain plug washer on this nor any other vehicle with every single oil change, and I've never had a leak.

As for changing the pollen (cabin) air filter behind the glove box, it's a different story. It exposes Honda engineers as fallible human beings. Thankfully, this is only done every 2 years! Putting the cabin filter behind things that obviously weren't meant to be easily moved or taken apart makes this biannual event as eagerly anticipated as your next colinoscopy! -sbpceap

macakava

I have my own home -made ramps made with pieces of wood blocks nailed together. Before I had a steel pair I bought, but these slipped/slide when driving up. My home-made wood ramps are longer and has 4 stages of about 3" high each so the final stage is about a foot high - which gives me lots of clearance.
This ramp work great for our family of 5 vehicles - no slipping or sliding.

Oil changes are easy on the Ody. However removing the filter will drop oil on a control arm member - so I line that part with aluminum foil to keep the oil away from it. You can get the washer from the Honda dealer for less than 30cents each -but I have reused the old washer with no oil leak problem so far.

It cost me less than $5 in oil and filter after buying these parts on sale. You can get rid of the used oil at Advance Auto stores and also most Auto Zone stores as well. Some Jiffy Lube stores will also take it as well.

breinders

* Friendly encouragement to use the search feature of this site to look for info before posting. This has been covered and here is some of that info. *

The 05 Ody has a "Maintenance Minder" that directs you to perform required maintenance (and not unnecessary maintenance). There is no predetermined time/mileage on most of the maintenance. No trying to decide if you meet the Normal or Severe driving conditions. It's probably an uncomfortable change fo those who have many years of the 3,000 mile/90 day oil change interval ingrained in them. The computer tracks the mileage and driving characteristics and displays a code when it is time for maintenance. The code is displayed on the dash where the odometer/temperature info is. You have probably already seen the percent of oil life remaining indicator there. The code relates to the codes you find in the owners manual.

Example:
A1 -
A - Oil Change 1 - tire rotation

simonlow

Today I bought from a Honda dealer an oil filter wrench, the dealer said it will work for all Honda models. I later bought a Fram oil filter PH3593A and found out the wrench does not fit. The specs say the wrench is 79mm. Does anybody know if I got the correct wrench? I went to the Honda home page but it has nothing on it.

Thanks,
Simon

fish8

First of all what part of the dash is painted? What year is your van? I think the Service Manager is making excuses as to why they won't fix your peeling dash. I am about 99.9% sure those products will NOT hurt your dash. If, in fact, they are that bad for your dash, then Honda needs to specify that these chemicals will harm your dash and any damage caused will not be covered by warranty.

user777

just changed my '03 cabin filter at 30K. ouch, this is tough.

i used a pair of metal snips to cut away the plastic horizontal member hiding access to the metal bracket. i believe your comment about the plastic adding rigidity for dash installation - makes sense - that stuff is all pretty soft plastic. still seems a shame to cut it away - but i figure if the MDX people have to do it, the Ody people can do it to.

as you state, the bolt on the left holding the metal bracket in place behind the center console is very very difficult to gain access to... i used a very small 8mm open-ended wrench to back it out (i backed it out all the way and completely removed the bracket; didn't try just loosening it to the maximum extent possible). my mistake. to re-install it when the job was done, i used a piece of electrical tape over the bolt hole, then pushed the bolt through it -the electrical tape holding the bolt in place for me. a job for three hands! if i had just grossly loosened it like you, and dropped the bar down, that would have saved me a lot of time and effort. if i ever do this again...i'll try what you did.

one wonders why they couldn't have used a multi-part metal bracket so perhaps only the right side would require removal. however, strategically placed members can add a great deal to stuctural / cabin integrity, specially for the front passenger. i assume a multi-part bracket wouldn't have the same characteristics.

geesh - i'm thinking of purchasing a honda or haynes service manual to see how the pros do it! maybe that trick you used on the bolt for the bracket on the left hand side is in there.

sbpceap

I like user777's idea of a multi-part metal bracket that doesn't require an octopus to get at the fasteners. I wish he/she designed the dash near the cabin filter location instead of Honda engineers. I am tempted to cut the bracket next filter change and install a more removable bracket. After all, the metal brace looks like something from a kid's erector set, so it can't be doing much.

I have the Honda service manual. There were no easy suggestions in it by nor for the pros. In fact, the instructions were spotty at best. The illustrations were also simple line drawings showing what screws to remove, including a couple that didn't even have to be removed. Maybe the Haynes is better?

user777

Thanks for the kind words. You'd think they could have a two-piece bracket designed don't you? Geesh - maybe there's room for aftermarket development here.

To be honest, it did seem like the top and bottom of the metal braket were both rolled and also - the bracket body itself seemed to be "pressed/formed" in a manner i believe to increase crush rigidity both axially and perpendicularly (is that a word)? while we really don't know how stucturally significant that metal bracket may be, we *might* infer from the presence of the 8mm bolts at both ends, that it's the 8mm bolts which are probably the weakest link.

Sort of nice to know the Honda service manual doesn't provide tricks that weren't immediately obvious. Now I see why it costs so much to replace the darn filter. You think the mechanics HATE this portion of the 30/60/90/120 service?

hondaconverted

I have searched and read most of the advice given here about resetting the MDI on the '05 EX Model, but I believe it's a little bit different on the Touring model. Does anyone know how to do this when the maintenance reminder comes on (for a simple oil change, etc.)?

user777

Don't they address this topic in the Owner's Manual? If not, on Honda's Owner Link Website?

hondaconverted

I wish that they did contain that information. I won't rule out that I haven't searched everywhere possible. But I have definitely searched everywhere I can think of. I have been looking all over that manual for the answer, but can't seem to find it. I have called numerous dealers. They seem to WANT you to come in so that they can reset it for you. I would much rather do it myself, since I have my oil changes done myself.

rsht

Oh! Wow! What a major excuse and blame on aftermarket products/services... This Service Manager of your's was taking you for a BS ride for sure! I have been using Armorall on all my cars including my wife's 05 Odyssey; not only used Armorall on the dash boards but also on door panels too. It is hard to believe the color were "painted" on as to color dyed into the dash board material. Anyhow, just as a FYI, my wife's Odyssey dash board is just fine with Armorall all over it. Good Luck to you in getting your's fixed.

rsht

Although, I have an 05 Odyssey EX-L, it shares the same version of Owner's Manual with the Touring Model. When I was searching for the procedure to reset my Ody's Oil Life indicator (back to 100%), I recall seeing the procedure for doing so on the Touring Models as well. Its in the manual believe me, even with screen shots as I recall. I will lookup my copy and post the page number in my next post ASAP (my wife has the van for an out of town trip...).

jwikert

I've got a 2003 Odyssey with 34K miles on it. I've had the tires rotated a few times and they're all wearing very evenly. The problem is they're also about down to the wear bars. I always thought Michelin tires were supposed to be among the best. Are you really only supposed to get about 35K or so miles out of them?!

I talked to a technician at a local Honda dealership and he said he had the same problem with a set of Michelin's and that he changed over to Goodyear tires when his wore out. He was speaking off the record, of course, because Honda apparently has a deal with Michelin. I tried to see if Michelin would give me some sort of a warranty credit on a new set of tires but their whole process sounds like a hassle. It would be much easier for me to just go and get a new set of Goodyear (or other) tires. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

robr2

I always thought Michelin tires were supposed to be among the best. Are you really only supposed to get about 35K or so miles out of them?!

Don't confuse high quality with longevity. Most OEM tires are a compromise. The OEM Michelins on my 98 Accord lasted about 40K. The OEM ones on my 00 Odyssey have about 38K on them and they are on their last season.

user777

i don't know if this is helpful to you or not but, on our '03 LX, my Bridgestone Potenza RE92s (40K tire) managed 27.5K (with prescribed rotations). i presume on your EX, you had Michelin Symmetry tires. I think they are 65K tires. the tread depth is 10/32, and the wear bars are at what 2/32? if your at 3/32 you got what 7/8ths of the usable tread usage in 34/65 miles? do you know how they calculate the pro-rated warrenty figure?

jwikert

Thanks. I hadn't stopped to think about the whole OEM angle. I guess they're going to put lower quality tires than you could buy on your own. I don't know the exact measurement of the depth right now, but I've got to take it in for an oil change this weekend and might ask the Honda dealer if they know what sort of credit I might be looking at. Sounds like it may not be worth the trouble. Goodyear, here I come!

rsht

Okay, here it is... The section about resetting the Engine Oil Life Indicator for 05 Odyssey is in your Owner's Manual, Page #320 for the LX and EX models, Page #321 for the Touring. For just informational materials (Touring owners), most of the descriptions can be found in the Multi-Information Display section of your Owner's Manual. Good Luck!

aspesisteve

anyone had the tranny fluid flushed on their Oddy?

Honda wants $130 to provide this service - I'm thinking it probably double what jiffy lube might charge, but I'm concerned that it should be thoroughly flushed unlike an oil change.

I've got 33k miles on my '02 oddy and the tranny has never given me any problems despite towing a 1,200 lbs trailer up to the Sierras several times. The engine in this vehicle is very impressive.

dsrtrat2

It is easy to do yourself. Every time you drain the tranny you are taking out 3.5 qts. which is roughly half of it. Drive it awhile and drain it again. Each time you do this you reduce the amount of old ATF by one half. After four times you are down to 1/16 of the old ATF. I know that this half isn't exact but is close enough for government work.

Use Honda's ATF at about $4-5 per qt. and it will cost about $35.

jwikert

Just to close the loop on this... I was at my Honda dealer today for some service and asked about the tires. They told me that "the factory generally wants you to have the smoothest ride, so they'll compromise longer life on the tires for a better driving experience." What a load of crap! I've driven a variety of vans on a number of different types of tires, cheap and expensive, and I can't say I've ever noticed a difference made by a set of tires. They also told me the Michelin's that come OEM on the Odyssey are generally only good for 35K or so, which of course is where my mileage is. How convenient. They tried to steer me towards buying new Michelins. What's that old Herb Brooks saying, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me"? I'd only buy more Michelin's if they'd throw in a dunce cap! I'll get the last bit of wear out of these and then put some Goodyear tires on there later in the fall.

user777

well, my experience maybe 10 or so years ago with a Jetta and then a Corrolla, was that indeed, the michelins i had purchased for both vehicles *DID* wear early. as a product line though, i think they make tires that do wear longer than others, and there does appear to be tradeoffs.

http://www.tirerack.com will allow you to compare several tires up against each other and has other very good information on tire selection, ratings and capability.

the forum "Ask Connor at the TireRack" will allow you to make inquiries with a Tire Specialist.

hondajoe1

Hello,

I have 2000 Odyssey with 30k miles and I have change A/C filter soon, Could you tell me how do change this filter and where I can find it?
Thank you very much.

Joe

iamq1

I am down to about 10% oil life on my 2005 odyssey and it shows a code of A. According to the manual, It appears that I just have to change the oil and not the oil filter. It looks like code B is oil and oil filter change. I have always done the oil and oil filter together. Have people just been changing their oil when they see Code A?

user777

i'd be interested in the response on this one. i thought changing the filter was at least as important, perhaps more important than changing the oil itself.

mdunant

look on the warranty board as I saw 850.00 as the price for the 7k/ 100000 mile warranty. If you go to the dealer he probably sell it to you for that anyway!

Marcel

dsrtrat2

For the cost of a filter versus the cost of engine repair I would err on the side of changing the filter every time. The filter holds some of the "old" oil if you don't change it. Just MHO.

aspesisteve

got the mailer from Honda stating extended warranty coverage for the EGR valve for Oddysey and Pilots from 99 to '03 and instantly new that's what's been wrong with my car. Wife thought the tranny was going on our '03 Oddy, but it only feels like it's slipping while at a constant speed.

Since the EGR valve was replaced the car drives like new - I'm looking forward to measuring my gas milege now with the fix.

Since my car was there I had them flush the ATF - they got me pretty good on that for $130 - think I'll do it myself next time.

wolverine88

My Ody has 37K miles now. What service should I get and how much does it cost normally (I am in michigan)? So far, I've done only regular oil change at dealer.

Now when I start the engine in the morning, it starts with some noise and I need to hold the key for a whle. Is it related to tranmission fluid?

Thanks.

b1owner

The first two times I had the oil on my 2005 Touring Odyssey changed, I had it done by the quick change folk who have done my oil changes for several of my vehicles over many year's time. Both times, the oil change provoked the Check engine light to come on. I immediately went to the Honda dealer located less than a mile away who checked and reset the light, but who told me they would start charging about $90 to do the check and reset if it happened again. Therefore, they advised me to have them do the oil changes. I have trouble believing that the 2005 Touring Oddy cannot have oil changes at quick change businesses, but am unwilling to risk the reset fee. Has anyone else experienced this problem? If so, do you know of any way around it. Going to the dealer is time consuming and inconvenient, though no more expensive than the quick change place.

I was reading a message elsewhere that talked about rere-settinghe MVD display. Turn to the item you wish to reset. Turn the engine off; push in the button on the dash; with the button pushed in, turn engine to on (not start) and continue to hold button in. The message stated it should reset in no more than 15 seconds.

Two weeks ago I experienced my first 'flat' with the PAX system that is a standard feature on the 05 Touring Oddy, a nail in the tire causing a slow leak. To my horror, I found that PAX system tires cannot be fixed today as an ordinary tire would be were it to pick up a nail, and no one is really clear about when they will be subject to simple repair. Instead, you must install, not just a new tire, but an entire new wheel assembly that will cost in excess of $550 EACH in the event the situation is not covered by warranty. The wheel assemblies are only available now at Honda dealers, which in turn are only located in populous areas of states. I drive a lot, and a lot of that driving is in remote areas. Instead of having the reliable vehicle I intended to purchase, I have one that can hold me up for a couple of days and cost a fortune to fix the problem if I pick up a nail. Does anyone have any infoinformationt can reassure me that my understanding is in error? If so, please let me know the real scoop.

autowrite

The 2005+ Honda Odyssey does not come with PAX tires in Canada; just the 16" wheels.
:shades:

roygoldman

Just got an '06 Odyssey with Navi. It seems there is some thin plastic film covering the Navi screen--when the sun is behind me, it's quite hard to see the screen and I see lots of tiny "air bubbles." Reminds me of how lots of eletronic devices come with such films, which are of course intended to be removed. I looked for some obvious place to peel it off, but couldn't find an easy corner to start pulling... I don't want to aggressively peel it off in case I've misintepreted what I'm seeing and it's actually suppoesd to be there..

So--thoughts? anyone else see this?

Thanks

Roy

tjalili

Hi Guys,

I Just got my 2006 Odyssey EX, and I'm experiencing something which i'm not sure if its normal or not. After I start the car, after being parked for a minute or two, and then driving off, I hear a slight clank sound (for a second), that occurs once and goes away. Not sure if it deals with the initial shifting of gears or what. But I dont hear it after that point. It only occurs after the car has been parked.

Any feedback would be appreciated,
Thanks,

robr2

You only hear it after starting the car and driving off - correct?

If so, that's the ABS system doing a self-check. All vehicles do it - some louder than others. It's perfectly normal.

johndoe101

Hi,
I was trying to post to the "Run-flat, self-sealing, PAX tires for Minivans" discussion, but it's a read-only discussion.

Anyhow, I was wondering about something and maybe someone can help clarify it for me.

Lets say I have about 30K on my new 2006 Odyssey PAX tires. All of a sudden, one tires goes flat and needs a replacement. Do I replace only the flat wheel? If yes, wouldn't that make the ride a little akward and also cause more wear due to uneveness.

Normally, you replace them in pair, not just one. Are the PAX tires a special exception or just to expensive to replace in a pair?

Also, every Honda dealers requires you to make an appointment when you need maintenance on a car. At one time, we had 3 local Honda dealers say they are very busy and book for the entire week and would not be able to service our Honda Accord car. If I get a flat on my PAX tires, will they service my car right away vs waiting a week for the next available appointment? It's not like I can take the Odyssey to any service shop.

Thanks!

rsht

Roy, A quick and easy thing to do is take your Ody to your dealership. Tell it to your Sales person, if its the removable "film" they should have removed it during the Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI), if its intended to stay on, the sales person should tell you right there without having to schedule an appointment with the Service Department. Without looking at it, I can only guess that if its not the removable/protective film, then its the anti-reflective "coating" to minimize sun light reflection on the screen.

rsht

In regards to your PAX System question, below is the web site from Michelin talks about the Michelin PAX System.... I hope there is some info that will be helpful to you. http://www.familycar.com/CarCare/RunFlatTires.htm#head

About the "Check Engine" light provoked by your Quick Lub oil changes, my take is to fill the new oil filter with 5W-20 oil before installing it... I get the feeling that the Check Engine light gets triggered while the new oil is still circulating through the system and the oil filter... By filling the new oil filter with new oil first will shorten the time for the oil to reach all the engine components... My 2 cents.

glassblower

When i washed off some bird crap from my 05 Touring model I noticed that the crap had eaten through the clear coat and paint leaving little spots of metal exposed! Is this type of problem covered by warranty? If not, am I going to have to bite the bullet to have this repaired? Has any one else had any problems with the paint/clear coat? Any suggestions on how to approach the service department to deal with this matter would be appreciated!

rsht

Wow, that was some heavy duty birdie crap...
I would say that the paint, being this is an 05 model, your dealership should be able to help you... But, check your warranty booklet first to verify the coverage, especially within the first year. I would say you have a good chance. Good Luck!

fibber2

My dad had cherry trees in our yard when I was a kid. The red bird poop was so acidic it would eat thru the steel if it was left long enough! Depending on what the local population eats, it can be a real problem. Unfortunately, "environmental damage" is often excluded, but let us know how it works out.

Steve

jrule

I drive a 2005 Odyssey. At 70-73 mph I get 23mpg; at 65mph I get 25mpg.
FYI The EPA sticker MPG is based on a computer model that is going 48mph on the flat with the A/C off. Most stickers are inflated 10-15% and some cars are as high as 20%.

sak1

I was carrying a 2.5 gallon water bottle that has leaked into my 05 leather third row seat. I was able to remove the carpet and pads from the floor and dry but looks like the seat pad and back has absorbed lot of water. Anyone has any recommendation on what to do? I am thinking of replacing the pads on both the sear seats. I am not sure if just drying would be enough - mold etc.

dsrtrat2

Have an EX-L Odyssey and is the first leather seats I have had. Any tips that have worked well for you in maintaining them? Any and all ideas are most welcomed.

multiplechoice

Do you know what weight oil they are putting into your vehicle? I doubt that they are using the 5W-20 oil. Though I doubt the oil viscosity would cause the check engine light to come on- just wanted to point out that most places don't use the correct viscosity oil for Hondas.

macakava

For those who intend to perform maintenance on their Odys or other Honda vehicles, I have just discovered a great source, Hondaparts4u.com, that charges a flat shipping rate of just $5.95 anywhere in USA. There is also no sales tax as well if you live outside CT. I ordered through their toll free (800)732-7559 as these items are not available on their web.

For example, my local Honda dealer charges $4.50/qt for ATF-Z1 plus sales tax for about $4.85. I recently purchased(with no sales tax) and received 2 cases(24 qts) of Honda ATF-Z1 fluid for $3.25/qt; several drain($1.25 ea) and fill ( $2.50ea ) tranny washers, and Honda Ody front brake pad set $39.99. The total weight was 50+ lbs for only $5.95.

Since I intend to do at least 2 drain and fill for each tranny oil change, I would use almost a case (of 12 qts) with each tranny change. On reflection, as I plan to do tranny oil changes every 25K miles, I should have bought 3 cases of ATF-Z1 for the same $5.95 fee. Like my engine oil and filter which I change every 3K/3months, it is cheap insurance against engine and tranny failures.

For those who take their cars to garages for tranny service, beware that some garages(even some dealers I heard) use cheaper Dexron ATF for obvious reasons - which would result in poor tranny performance and eventual breakdown.

Happy grease monkeying!!

fibber2

CEL after an oil change: I believe that there is a TSB out on this... I was scanning thru the AllData listing of bulletins, and I saw an advisory. Sorry, but I did not read it as it was for '05's, not my aging '02. If I run across it again, I will post an update.

Steve

my1sthonda

Thanks everyone.
I stumbled through resetting the oil display after the first oil change (and filter change, always). But after the second it added the A code (valve adjustment not needed) and I could not reset until reading several messages. Push, ignition on, hold...
Thanks again.

bradt

The engine light on our 2002 Odyssey came on last two weeks and it does not go off. I took it to a Honda dealer and they said it's the transmission and it needs to be replaced. The error code they told me was PO 740. Anyone here has any sugustions as to what the dealer said? The van only has 58k miles.

Thanks

autowrite

My current tires on my 2002 Odyssey ex are Michelin Symmetry 98T 225/60r16. I would like to replace these for Michelin Hydroedge 97T 225/60r16 or 99T 235/60r16.
My dealer has stated that 97T gives me 80kilograms less weight to carry. Would that matter so much? I live in southern Ontario, Canada; where it's about (24-30C) 75-85F in the summer and December to March 30th it's (-15 to zero C) 5-32F. If I went to the 99T would I have problems with oversizing/clearances?
I like the comfort and snow traction with the Symmetry but they wear out too soon (80K).
Please everyone let me know you thoughts.
Thank you!
:confuse: