Honda Odyssey 2005+

stickguy

if the VCM doesn't kick in at higher speeds (or typical real world highway conditions), the VCM model will actually get worse mileage on the highway, because it is geared a little shorter (so it revs a little higher at the same speed).

rand01

Stands for Multi-Information Display, which is on the Touring models only. Sounds like somebody is confused at pazbien's dealership, I don't see what this has to do with the VCM. Malfunction codes do not show up on this display, and there is a procedure you have to follow to reset it in regards to maintenance items.

aabb

Good point stickguy. Since the EX and LX revs a little lower at highway speeds, the engine noise on those would be less. Also since they dont have VCM, the have less vibrations.

 

The noise complaints we have heard so far relate to road noise, tire noise and wind noise and not engine noise. So it appears that the ANC on the ex-l/touring are working well to quell the extra engine noise.

 

But if the VCM causes actually registers lower mileage, honda has a big issue.

stickguy

I don't think the difference in RPM is very big, and it is still loafing along at highway speeds probably. Overall, the VCM will probably at least offset the gearing.

 

I would just as soon have the "normal" engine, but since VCM comes with the moonroof, I will live with it.

hlmrspd

The VCM comes on at 70+ mph but it will turn off on the slightest rise. It exhibits the same behavior when driving 45 mph as well.

 

The VCM does not come on at lower speeds, the lowest speed it seems to come on at is 35 mph to 40 mph.

stickguy

Wonder if it comes on at idle? That would work almost like 1/2 of a hybrid system (where the engine shuts off when you stop).

 

Maybe someday I will find a flat road and drive at a steady 67 mph. Yeah, right!

 

If the Ody can get 25 on a trip up the NY thruway (75+ up the hills), I would be more than pleased.

rycher

hi all....need some help....about to make '05 Odyssey purchase decision....i like the red and black exterior colors, but wondered about dirt factor....specifically, does one of these colors show dirt a lot more than the other? or does one 'hide' dirt better...i hate a constantly dirty car, and didn't want to regret my color choice....any thoughts....please?

 

thanks.

isellhondas

These show EVERYTHING! dirt, scratches, tiny dings!

 

I know, and I've had my last black car!

mikeo1

True but nothing looks better when its

clean than black.

rycher

if cleanliness is important to me, are you saying that you think i'd regret buying the black '05 odyssey?

 

i wonder if red fares okay relative to the other '05 colors.

 

thanks.

diggin

I'd like to throw this out for discussion...

 

When the climate control system is set to Auto mode (as well as a couple other modes) the air conditioning is automatically turned on. If people are defaulting to this mode, which I suspect a lot of people are doing, then the AC will be used to some extent (sometimes more, sometimes less) to regulate the climate control system. This would definitely impact MPG.

 

We make sure to manually turn the AC off when our desired climate conditions have been met.

 

Any other thoughts on this?

isellhondas

You WANT the A/C on with your defroster! Running the AC takes the moisture out of the air.

 

And, today's A/C compressors are so efficient they really won't affect mileage much at all.

 

Not like the old days.

gonammer

Your 2004 crossbars will not fit the 2005 rack. I had a set of 2000 Odyssey crossbars that I kept before I got rid of it in hopes that it would fit my new 2005. The 2005 is wider so the crossbars are too short. The same holds true for the cargo tray. The older one is smaller than the newer one due to larger interior space.

gonammer

You don't need a Torx wrench to do the install yourself. Get a hex wrench and it will do the trick. I don't remember the size.

 

There is one big caution that everyone should be aware of. In order to install/remove the crossbars, you need to remove the front covers. These covers are amazingly expensive for being just plastic. And they are held in place with a very small piece (~1/4 inch) of plastic fitting/tab. These tabs are easy to break. Be very careful when removing and replacing these covers. I learned the hard way.

robr2

Buy a silver or gold color - they stay clean looking.

heywood1

I'm with Isell. I've had my last black car. They look great when they're new and when they're clean. But I hate the 'spiderwebbing effect' you get in the paint as it ages, no matter how careful you are with washing and waxing. And I've seen the red Odyssey in person, and I think it's a great color--not too dark or too bright.

isellhondas

Oh, please...use a Torx wrench! You CAN use a hex or Allen wrench but you may round out the fastener.

 

Just like using a Crecent wrench on a bolt instead of the correct size.

rand01

Both are great colors! Red will show less dirt but is still going to show the dirt more than the lighter colors. My Suburban is red, I use a California duster quite often on it! We would have gone with the red if the only choice in the leather wasn't that neutral (tan). I would have preferred a black or gray interior. We ended up with Ocean Mist with the black interior.

ytjk

I drove 500 miles from my home in a loaner Sienna to pick up my brand new Odyssey. 2004 Sienna had 8 or 9k on it. Came back the 500 miles with both vehicles

 

So, the Honda was brand new. But used 20% more gas than the Sienna on the way home, 60-80 MPH 95% highway. I have the EXL-RES NAV. I filled them both right after I left the dealer from the same pump, was just curious how it would pan out. I didn't go straight back in one shot, so there was a little driving in town, etc.

 

I thought the VCM should really kick in at those speeds.

 

I am slightly hopeful that the engine "breaks in" but I've a couple new cars (granted never a Honda) and I've never had the mileage change from what I got when I drove off of the lot, as has been suggested here.... But again YMMV I'm not disagreeing with anyone else's experience. Just saying my own.

 

Overall, disappointing to drive off the lot like this.

 

How could there be 25% more -- whatever, friction, that somehow "goes away"?? I don't know.

 

Anyway-- I just think people who buy a new Honda should know that their mileage off the lot may be significantly worse than advertised and significantly worse than the competition so that they are not as disappointed as I was.

 

If my mileage improves (or doesn't), I'll be sure to report to the community, to help build the picture.

 

Jeff

jchan2

Doesn't mileage improve over time as you own the car because the engine "breaks in" as they call it, or am I mistaken?

 

I get 26 MPG on the highway in my 2002 Odyssey EX a lot of the times, and if I'm lucky, I can hit 27 MPG with the cruise set.

ytjk

You said: My odyssey is VCM equipped. At first I was getting very low MPG, but I went and complained to my dealer and he told me that the MID Resets itself everytime you turn the van off. I left my van at the dealer and after that a few weeks later I got great MPG. If honda screwed up the VCM we should get a REFUND!!!!!A BIG ONE for paying so much for the touring!

 

Did you ever figure out why the change, and sorry if I am light technically what is MID??

 

Hopefully I "break in" too and start to see something better, I've just never seen this phenomenon on other new cars (not honda) I have owned...

stever

Some people get their best mileage right from the start while the rest of us have to wait for the drivetrain to settle in. The mileage on my Quest kept going up for the first 10,000 miles.

 

Like you say, YMMV, especially in this case <g>.

 

Steve, Host

ggs

When "breaking in" a new engine, you should stay under 60mph for whatever number of miles the manufacturer recommends--usually the first 500 miles or so. Also, you'll get worse gas mileage the faster you drive.

ggs

While current A/C systems tend to be more efficient nowadays, they will still affect gas mileage to a significant degree, depending on how often they are used. Especially a large vehicle with dual climate zones running.

 

Obviously though, if the weather dictates it, you shouldn't let gas mileage prevent you from using your A/C.

ggs

"We make sure to manually turn the AC off when our desired climate conditions have been met."

 

It's probably a reasonable practice as long as you aren't frequently stopping and restarting the A/C during a single trip.

hansienna

AGREE 100 % with statement "you shouldn't let gas mileage prevent you from using your A/C".

     False economy to spend $25,000 to $40,000 for a nice new minivan and then try to save a few dollars on gasoline by not using the A/C all of the time.

msullivan

I called 1-877-PAX-TIRE and they were very helpful. They answered all my questions about the tires and what can be done.

diggin

I realize all that. We don't turn it off until our climate control conditions have been met. Sometimes, especially on cold rainy days, we just leave it on if the conditions require it.

 

If the AC is being used constantly it will affect MGP, there's no getting around that. How much depends on the the compressor efficiency of the vehicle.

isellhondas

Not by much though on a modern car. Still, if it makes you feel better, turn it off!

aabb

modern car still has to play within the laws of physics. I monitor mpg on my 2003 and see a 2 mpg difference between summer and winter.

denver5357

Man, you guys monitor mileage close than Bush minitors national debt. :-) I feel like I am in the stone age, writing my mileage in my little notebook at each fill-up.

 

Thanks for the good discussion and info.

jkprice1

After a 2 day test drive ( awesome dealer let me do this on his demo) we settled on a silver EXL w/pinstripe and traded the Pilot. Looks good for a van. The driver/pass. seats were soooo much better than the EX. I don't know if it's the leather or what but both my wife and I are happy w/it. Now, to see what kind of mileage I get.

thedesmonds

Has anyone had experience with the Touring Model in snowy conditions? I am trying to decide between the AWD Sienna and the Odyssey.

luellen6

Glad to hear you are happy with your new Odyssey. We got the Touring model and love it. Unfortunately it doesn't come with the plus one seat (middle of second row). We said you took yours out for more room. Any chance you want to sell it? We desperately need one and the dealer says it won't be available for sale for a while. We have beige leather interior but will take any color.

luellen6

Does anyone know where we can buy a plus one seat for the 2005 odyssey? The Dealer says they won't be available for a while and we need it now. We found a shop that does modifications for handicaps and will install the seat belt, but we need the seat. Need beige leather but will take any color.

rsblaski

I just filled the gas tank of my '05 Touring w/NAV & RES for the first time. I reset the trip odometers and everything zeroed out except the average MPH, which remains at 16 mph.

Is there something I'm missing to reset this?

I checked the owner's manual and it appears that avg. mph, mpg, and trip odometer should all return to 0 when reset.

Is anyone aware of a fix for this?

Thanks,

Rick

stever

If you mark your email public in your profile, people who may have one they don't want can contact you (since we frown on buying/selling on the boards). Otherwise try eBay or craigslist.org.

 

Steve, Host

isellhondas

Didn't know that!

 

Craig

stever

I suspect you're on a lot of people's lists too, LOL.

 

Steve, Host

ytjk

You said: When "breaking in" a new engine, you should stay under 60mph for whatever number of miles the manufacturer recommends--usually the first 500 miles or so. Also, you'll get worse gas mileage the faster you drive.

 

--------

It seems like people are looking for a reason the Honda's bad mileage was my fault. I'm a first time Honda owner, new to the board, but I'm not the problem here.

 

The 2005 Odyssey owner's manual specifically points out what the break-in procedure is, and it has nothing about driving under 60 MPH.

 

I should

-Avoid full throttle starts and rapid acceleration

- Avoid hard braking

-Don't change the oil until scheduled

and

- Don't tow a trailer.

I have to assume anything else is hearsay.

 

Of course if I drive faster, I get less mileage, I am not complaining about the Honda's absolute mileage, I am complaining that the Sienna which I drove at the same speed right in front of the Honda did so much better.

 

Another tank this week, another 15.4MPG around town.

 

Jeff

yjfu

Another week passed by and my '05 EXL is still at dealers for wind noise fix(18 days now). There is no ECD. I hope it won't go over 30 days.

yatesd

Jeff,

 

I don't think he was that far off base. You are correct about the Honda manual, but I just happened to read a GM manual this week and it recommended staying under 60MPH for the first 500 miles.

 

I don't think there is any hard and fast rules. Nothing happens at exactly 600 miles either. I personally just tried to be more gentle than normal for the first 1,000 miles.

 

Ironically, a gentler break-in may help the vehicle last longer and achieve an ultimately better gas mileage. However, it may take even longer for us to see the improvement!

 

--

Doug

05 Odyssey Touring w/approximately 1,000 miles on the vehicle (now I can really mash the throttle!)

ytjk

Not being defensive, but I didn't buy a GM--

 

I am sensitive to being gentle (like the manual says) but the 2 or 4 hundred RPM difference between 60 and 70-- Can't believe that makes a difference.

sk1234

I want to buy 05 Odyssey Touring Model with Nav and DVD in the DC Maryland sub-urban area. I would like advice on recent purchases/ deals that anyone received RECENTLY with Maryland dealers.....

 

Thanks.

cccompson

I doubt that it, in fact, does make any difference. To me, though, the key factor in breaking in a new engine is not just keeping it under a certain speed (or rpm) but varying the speed and avoiding prolonged use at a set rpm.

isellhondas

Don't bother checking your mileage until you have at least 5000 miles. I can't explain it and it makes no sense (to me, anyway)but for whatever reason Hondas seem to improve once they have been driven seveal thousand miles.

macakava

After any engine is broken in after several thousand miles, theres is less internal friction which results in better fuel consumption/mileage.

isellhondas

I just didn't realize how big of a difference it can make. I've seen it myself with my own Hondas.

stickguy

My wifes Xmas present unexpectedly came early this year. A nice slate green/olive EX-L followed us home last night.

 

After seeing this color on a clean car (it's amazing how much dirt can change the appearance), it is a beautiful color. The Olive interior is very nice also. Matches the dash colors nicely, and just looks richer than the gray.

 

My wife has most of the 40 miles on it to herself, but in my brief drives it seems very nice. It will get a much better workout next week travelling around the eastern seaboard.

 

Seems quiet, and I made it on a 7 minute drive without having to call my chiropractor.

 

quick impression:

 

-yes, it could use a telescopic wheel. Not crucial, just have to get used to the layout (quite a bit different than our old car).

-Tons of room all around, but still easy to see out of. Good visibility.

-It fit in the garage (thank god), although there isn't much width to spare going in. I think the mirrors don't stick out as far as on our Quest.

-Quiet ride, well isolated from the outside world. No wind noise that I could hear, but I only had it up to about 50. Wife had it on the highway last night (on the way home from the dealer), and said it was quiet. Also rides extremely well.

-Dashboard is fantastic. Very easy to read.

-Owners manual is 402 pages long. I read the whole thing last night.

 

There are a ton of interesting features (such as the maintenance minder you get through the trip odo). I ibet the majority of owners will never even know that have some of them.

 

Biggest challenge was figuring out the ventilation system. Wife roasted the whole way home because all the temps somehow got set to max.

stickguy

as noted, there is no break in period per se. Just avoid hard braking for 200 miles, and hard accelration, CC and towing for 600. They specifically say to drive it normally, which sure doesn't include keeping it under 60!

 

I'll take care of the 600 next week on the annual Xmas tour of the families. It will be hard to keep it below 80 on the NY thruway, but I'll try to keep it around 75.

 

Closest thing to a problem we have found is one of the latches for the visor (pass. side) is crooked, so it doesn't clip in tightly. I may fix it myself, or just wait until I get the plates in a few weeks and let them do it. Other than that, fit/finish seems excellent.

 

It does seem to be very airtight. You have to give the drivers door a good push when all the other doors/windows are closed.

 

Radio seems OK around town, but I haven't tried a CD or played with any of the settings yet.

 

This is also a late build (42K+ vin). Rolled off the truck Friday AM, I drove it Friday afternoon (compeltely unprepped with 3.9 miles on it), and went back with the wife Sat AM. Saw it cleaned up, and bought it on the spot. Picked it up at dinner time, so all in all, a hectic day.