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Now on to the question: Does anything special need to be done to care for the leather seats? I've never owned a car with leather seats. Will they crack in the sun? If they get a bit wet from rain or spilled drink, are they done for?
(My preschooler is responsible for the spilled drink. I am responsible for the rain. I was showing off the cool "window down" feature on the fob to a friend. My wife pointed out that it was pouring. Turns out that there's no cool "window up" feature on the fob. For that, you have to turn on the car. Seeing as I was in the house when I did "windows down," the car got a little wet. Personally, I blame it on God.)
I hope somebody can shed more light on this. I do not understand this post.
So what does Honda intend to do to fix this problem? Service cars so that the brakes do not cause slow down? If so, I think my insurance premiums are set to go up. . . .
:P
I THINK that what the previous poster was referring to (although the verbage was more than a little confusing) was the possibility that the brakes are dragging (partially engaged) even when the brake pedal is not being pressed. This will certainly lead to premature wearing out of the pads and poor gas mileage.
However, this is the first I've heard that some Ody's have 'dragging' brakes. Usually, this occurs because the driver is 'resting' their left foot on the brake pedal. Note: the brake pedal is NOT a dead pedal.
You'll probably have some luck getting your question answered if you post in the Honda Odyssey Owners: Problems & Solutions discussion. There may be other owners there who have had the same problems you're having.
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As for leather, one site states:
"In addition to routine cleaning, leather requires conditioning to replace oils lost through evaporation. (The smell of leather comes from these oils.) If these natural oils are not replenished, leather will eventually dry out, become brittle and crack."
I have a 97 Subaru and the leather seats are overall still in good condition without much care, though I can tell a difference in the "softness" when compared to my Ody (and that great smell is long gone). There are a lot of products geared toward cleaning and protecting your leather seats...I'm still reading up myself. Perhaps others have specific recommendations.
I agree. Using the 'lock' button on the remote should also roll up any windows which are down.
Do the front windows have any 'anti-pinch' sensors similar to the rear windows?
That's a REALLY big bite.
Anyone out there found a cheaper way to get this done?
Thanks,
jp
The front-end popping noises still present. Wish that would go away.
The tire pressure warning finally went on showing front left and rear right as having low pressure. My analog gauge shows that the other tires were at 28 lbs but the tire pressure warning system said it was OK, while the front left was at a low 22 lbs. The lesson here is that tire pressure needs to be monitored manually. Some folks have complained that there tire pressure monitor system is too sensitive. We think our is not sensitive enough.
Gas mileage is about 15 mpg with mostly city driving with AC on all the time with two adult and 2 toddlers and a baby. Over all, we really like the van. However, we wish that the foldable center tray between driver and front passenger was a console instead of a foldable tray. The tray vibrates and causes objects placed thereon to make noises. The tray has little storage space and is practically useless. We hope Honda is reading this.
The steering wheel now vibrates a bit and noises are now little more apparent. It didn't vibrate at all when the van was brandnew. We think that we have been spoiled by the quietness of the van. Maybe it's time to rotate and balance the tires.
- Quirks or Quality?
-- Low MPG? Seeing consistent posts here and elsewhere. Although it is obvious brakes should stop your vehicle they should not stop you from achieving a decent MPG, something close to the fed estimates in legal limit highway speeds and the criteria they call city. At the risk of dodging arrows, it is reasonable to think an average consumer (no such thing) should get something close to these. My opinion is that something is causing the brakes to drag ever so slightly, maybe it's anti-lock genius or an overzealous software designer, but we must recognize it is abnormal. Honda may be hesitant to admit this but there are complaints posted on federal sites. Maybe a 'hush' TSB is brewing?
-- Tires, shimmies, vibration. Reading about the PAX is a mixed bag, love it or hate it. Not sure if those who find abnormalities have it or not but there is a trend.
-- Build quality versus design? Several posters confuse how something was put together with how it was designed. The glove box gap is a perfect example. Having seen a dozen or so '05 and '06's in various trims, they all have that look what I have in the glovebox peekaboo gap. It's not a flaw, we just don't like it, don't confuse the two. I don't like not having a coinholder but the ashtray is not defective for letting coins roll around. Most of these are nits and hope the big ones like AC stone vulnerability are addressed by TSB's, recalls, etc.
I recognize only a small percent of Ody owners come here, most of them to point out problems. I appreciate all the knowledge and insight readers provide. The '06 appears ready for prime time now albiet with a few remaining annoyances. Allocations of a few a month in our FL area have begun, '05's abound. The most overlooked differences by MY are a longer powertrain warranty and the ability to split R & N options. Since it's tough to get a discount we'll be '06 Touring R&N owners soon and I promise not 'misgripe'.
i noticed on the 2006 brochure that there IS now a longer powertrain warranty. it is written in fine print and i think (if i remember correctly) that the powertrain coverage is listed at 7 yr / 70k miles on the 06 brochure at least.
has honda done anything regarding the AC rock problem for the 06s? we have friends that bought one and they too became victims of the rock-on-the-highway-never-seen anything-like-this-before $$ repair, but i know they never posted their experience on line, so it is probably true that many come to this site specifically with problems, but many others have lives and would never even think of wasting hours like i do surfing auto posts...
I asked our dealer's service department about this. They denied having ever even seeing or hearing of the problem. My experience with them so far has been good, so I think they were being honest. From their reaction I assume Honda apparently hasn't taken any action yet.
I solved MY problem with $6.00 worth of plastic gutter screen. Look for my explanation in the Accessories & Modifications part of this news group. It's a simple modification IF you are willing to take your new car apart a little bit (VERY easy..but still...).
jp
I had to REALLY look hard to see what this was all about and, yeah, I guess there is a tiny gap of sorts.
Never heard of this except in these forums.
Wind whistle on passenger side front wind screen, initially fixed by me with tape, and then by the dealer with sealant.
We currently see about 14 MPG in urban driving, 17 MPG on a long run. This is unacceptable, and so far is inexplicable. The dealer says the engine is running to spec., emissions are okay. So, since we are not leaving unburnt gasoline, the energy must be going somewhere other than into overcoming wind resistance. Something in the van must be getting much hotter than it normally should. Is it the brakes, the engine or the transmission?
There is a strange creek, grind or clunk when first driving away after reversing. Many others have noticed that. It would be good to know for sure that it is harmless, but we are still not absolutely sure whether it is the doors, brakes getting into position or suspension issues.
Last and least, the glove compartment is ill designed or badly fitted. If there is a way of adjusting it to look less like an accident than it does now, I'd be interested.
So overall the JD Powers estimate of initial quality while disappointing, closely reflects my (also disappointing) experience.
--cruisin
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I drove a 2006 Touring today and could find absolutely nothing wrong. Here are a few of the things previous posters identified and I tuned into but came up empty so I bought one (see my saga in the Odyssey Prices Paid & Buying Experience Forum).
PAX tire whine/hum/vibration/shimmy - N/A. Even at 85 MPH on a rough interstate, fan & radio off nothing perceivable. Take into account I normally drive an XP EB so what some call noisy may be silence to me.
Glovebox gap - Huh? Both of them had no perceptible gap. I even put white paper on the inside and moved around at different angles, maybe they fixed it for 2006?
VCM 6 vs 3 cyl performance - It's truly transparent and WILL engage at 80 even though others have said it quits at 70'ish.
Low MPG - Local dealer claims all his customers get 30 MPG highway with an EPA of 20/28, yea right! I guess his customers are more aerodynamic or fill the cabin with helium balloons. I expect 18C/22-24 highway once broken in for several thou.
Overall impressions are that Honda hit a home run with this Ody. Without risking being moved to another forum through comparisons, the Sienna uses premium and has no seat memory but I do like the interval keeping cruise control. Honda should include mirror and pedal memory like may others do. The Quest while airy and spacious with the greenhouse windows, feels bottom heavy and has that awful center line spaceship center console (beam me up Scotty, there's no intelligent life at the oil refineries). The also-rans (Chrysler, Mazda, Kia, Domestics) have refined their products well but that doesn't mean I like them or the ranges of quality.
While not flawless the '06 Odyssey especially in Touring trim deserves to be the #1 minivan because it provides Acura like plush furnishings in a practical family wrapper. I can't imagine what else besides subtle changes inside and fuel economy improvements could be done to make it better in 2007.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
The second plan they are selling is perma plate. A paintguard, fiberguard leatherguard and soundguard. Any thoughts?
Here is a summary of some easily identified "other point of view" items for other readers to consider:
1. PAX tires are very costly to repair and capable repair facilities are not readily available in many places. (Read the Edmund's Long Term Test report on their 2005 Odyssey).
2. Expected 18 City is NOT realistic since CR got 12 MPG in city driving with their 2005 Odyssey and other owners of 2005 Odysseys are posting city mileage much lower than EPA rated 20 MPG. However, I feel that highway driving can very easily be in 25 to 30 MPG range if driven responsibly (My minivan rated 18/24 has long term average of 22.6 MPG and 25 to 28 MPG is normal round trip average. Honda vehicles are known to deliver very good gas mileage so you should easily exceed EPA Highway rating.)
3. The Sienna does NOT require premium fuel. Honda salespeople and owners appear to be the only people spreading unfounded rumor based on the fact that the Sienna WILL provide slightly more power using premium instead of regular unleaded.
4. Hard for the Odyssey Touring to be # 1 minivan when it is priced beyond the budget of MANY citizens of the USA.
A week back, during a pure highway trip, with speeds ranging from 70-80mph (mostly in the 75mph range) with the van loaded down with around 300lbs of luggage and my wife and kid, the Odyssey returned 27mpg. The van was never on cruise control and I was essentially driving to see how much the mileage could improve with a soft foot on the gas pedal. That was astounding, since the AC was running full-blast - front and rear. I guess the mileage improves tremendously when the speeds are maintained at a steady speed below 80mph.
Thanks for the Ody congrats, did months of research. I appreciate your inputs and enjoy being enlightened by other points of view. I gather from your name that you're a Toyota salesperson or advocate and I respect that.
1. PAX - Yes, Bubba in Timbuk3 won't know how to fix ona-them-there-it-don't-need-no-air-init-tarrs so I'll always have to go to a Honda dealer, at least until (if?) these proliferate. After all, these high-tech PAX tires are nothing but a beefy radial with a Hula-Hoop & Lego thing inside a 17-1/2 inch rim. I could probably make one at home using playroom giblets. In an attempt to prevent evac syndrome (I have nothing else with me) I'm opting for a Hondacare extended warranty, 6yr/100K, zero deduct, for $1530 (FL pricing) as it includes rental car reimbursement if your in for warranty work over 1/10 of an hour and lodging should you be stranded. I don't recommend any aftermarket warranties as they are skimping somewhere and are high profit items, not high value. The local dealer says that the Hondacare warranty that starts at mile one includes waiting for a PAX tire/rim combo since they are currently the sole source, squarely putting it under the warranty boundaries, not sure if I believe them. Note that Toyota offers PAX as an option, bet nobody orders them that way, wish Honda gave us a choice too.
2 & 3. EPA & fuels - I may have chosen the wrong word when I said the Sienna "requires" premium fuel. I read the manual briefly and I believe it said Toyota, "recommends" higher octane fuels for increased performance, (my interpretation is it's a dog without it) not sure if it said 91 or 93 but all we have in the USA is 87/89/93 octane. The Toyota salesman said it required high-test, not Honda, so bad on me for repeating it or it's true. Our Volvo says it "requires" 91 octane so that leaves me to wonder if I'm doing harm with 89 so I use 93. I expect this with an almost luxury Volvo but not from Toyota. From what I understand of internal combustion engines there's no close correlation between octane rating and efficiency but it does tie closely to performance. In other words, slower burning higher octane fuels will help you giddyup better but might not get much better MPG driven the same as regular with it's lower flashpoint. Each vehicles sensors and computer will even all this out by design.
Regarding expected and actual MPG...I've approached over a dozen MY 05/06 Odyssey owners at the pumps and all have been satisfied with everything BUT the MPG. I've heard everything from 12-20 city to 16-35 highway, so I can expect to be somewhere in this range like you said, toward the low end. I've done the same with six Sienna owners who weren't quite as passionate about satisfaction but had no gripes including MPG. They claimed to get between 13-18C and 18-25H. All that being said, the highest EPA rated minivan for 2005 was the Odyssey at 20/28 even though most will probably never see either one. If I get 16/24 I'll be happy as it beats the 13/16 of our 5.4L Expie EB thirsty refinery-guzzler.
4. Price - prior to the next fillup we can afford a Touring, the bank agreed--fools! Price of a similarly equipped Sienna was about the same with domestics fairly far behind making them much better vehicles because the masses can afford them, yes, wink?
Opine on.
I have always bought an extended warranty on my cars. I have it on my 2004 Honda Civic and my 2005 DGC. The eight year and 120,000 warranty is the longest one I have ever seen. Of course the $2,050.00 price tag is the highest ever seen too. I think it really depends on how long you think you'll keep it. I am sure Honda has a shorter one, such as five years. But if you plan on keeping it that long, it might be worth your while, as you'll pay over $1,000.00 just to get an A/C compressor installed now days. You'll be lucky if your compressor lasts that long, depending on where you live.
The second plan they are selling is perma plate. A paintguard, fiberguard leatherguard and soundguard. Any thoughts?
I would pass that up. The paint guard isn't any better than the wax you can buy on your own at any auto store. Same with the leatherguard. Soundguard, sounds like spraying the under carriage with a tar like substance that you see sprayed on pickup's now. I hear some people say don't spray it on because after awhile, it cracks and rock salt can get up in and under the cracks and cause rust.
My wife and I have been lurking here and reading the messages for the past few weeks. After looking at the Ody, Sienna,T&C, and others (For fun test-drive a Chevy Uplander. It handles like a boat-load of heavy compromises) we went for the Ody. Why? We loved the way it handles, and the interior offered a lot of flexibility. My wife runs our 2 Border Collies in agility competitions (which means crates, a tent, large suitcase-sized bag of gear etc, and I haul my large telescopes, sometimes with her to her competitions). The braking, safety features. and engine power also sold me. The color is Ocean Mist Metallic. She picked it out, and a good choice it is. I wanted red, but the blue has a great look to it.
We looked at the next trim up, but we really don't need/want power doors and most of the other features. I may upgrade the speakers, but that will cost me far less than the factory package. The steering wheel audio controls would have been nice. Leather? With our 2 young pups and the old girl? Forget it! No kids, and no plans
The weekend that we took possession of it, a week ago Friday, I had to travel back and forth to an astronomy get-together with 4 telescopes and a pile of gear for about a total of 550km over three days. It gave me a chance to put it through its paces on the highway and twisty back roads. It did not disappoint at all. Passing on hills was a breeze, and it handled the twists and turns of the rural roads that would have had my old Chevy Blazer 2-door sliding and complaining.
So far, there's everything to like. No complaints yet. We did have the fuel door error message for three or four days, and the oil light came on briefly. Not major, but we'll keep an eye on that.
Cheers,
- Craig
Does anyone knows how may I get the remote entry/control unit and also have it programmed? Do I have to buy one from the dealer?
Thanks.
I called the dealer and they are ordering the two remote transmitter for me.
This forus has been very helpful and you guys are great.
Cheers,
- Craig
The '06 sales literature shows a picture of the NAV display with a tab for DVD/CD. I would be disappointed if the controls for the RES are not integrated into the NAV display.
Lastly, can you watch a DVD on the NAV display when the car is in park?
To answer your questions, yes and no, LOL.
Yes, dissapointments not required, the RES can be controlled via the NAV display along with all audio controls using the NAV's AUDIO button. Think of controlling the DVD as a coin, you can hand it to the second row or control it via the NAV, or traditional radio controls below the NAV. Front controllers can always snatch the coin back. You can also control all this entirely by voice using the steering wheel button. The only thing I sometimes forget is to turn on power to the rear display first on the radio panel below the NAV. My favorite configuration is to have junior watch a DVD using headphones while I tune into the XM comedy channels.
No, you can't watch a DVD while in park on the NAV display for safety reasons. You also can't use the headsets forward of the overhead RES display (they cut off), so that drivers focus on driving. If you want to watch a movie you'll have to hop in the back or be satisfied to listen to it on the speakers. The removable second row remote is the most convenient but certainly not the only way to operate the DVD. Using the remote you can select other sources like CD, FM, XM. To confuse you further (I hope not), you can also play a CD in the DVD player therefore a total of 7 CD's can be aboard. Obviously you cannot play a DVD in the 6 CD player.
I'm still exploring the bells and whistles on our '06 Touring R&N but I'm sure this is how it works. Glad to help out.
sebring95: did you hack the system yourself or did a audio store help you (pimp my ride)? Did you remove the dash to install the wires & board? I mentioned your mod to my wife and she is worried about dismantling the dash & frying the NAV unit on a 35k car. Any help on this would be appreciated. We can email each other if necessary.
I drive some pretty rough roads and have only dragged the front once and did no damage. However, it's very easy to pull the lower spoiler off a car if you're backing up and drag. My Jetta has had the front spoiler ripped off from backing out of parking spots with concrete barriers. The spoiler slips over the concrete easily going in, but rips off going back. Luckily, in the Jettas case the lower spoiler is seperate from the bumper cover so it only destroys the lower piece. My daughter has a Celica and got her front bumper caught on concrete parking barrier as well. When she backed up (didn't realize it was stuck), it literally ripped the entire front piece of the car off. We had to buy some plastic brackets and do some hammering to get it back on. It's still got a rip in the bottom and some cracked paint, but she didn't really want to turn it into insurance or pay to fix it.
The only complaint I have about some of these issues, is the cars sit too low to the ground, but I knew that when I bought them.
It's not difficult really, but if you don't know much about electronics you might want to have a shop do it. Once you start hacks like this, it's really owner beware because if something goes wrong the dealer isn't going to warranty those items you screw up. It's sad Honda didn't include this as it is easily doable. I had about $50 in parts. Probably wouldn't have cost Honda $5.
Note that to change DVD tracks up front you have to use a combination of the regular controls below the Nav as it only displays track & time information. The Nav display doesn't have traditional FFWD/Search/Stop controls as you would expect or like those on the rear remote. To clarify my previous claims, I said it was possible and that is still true, although it's not straightforward as you have to use the play and search tuner buttons to track hop. At the end of a movie it was tricky to find the first track again for a repeat at a red light but I did it. I'm sure some hard-core more experienced Honda Nav owners could offer you other advice and possible more hacks. It may even be possible to surf the web given a WAP enabled PDA or cell phone and a Nav equipped Odyssey, LOL?
http://www.edmunds.com/future/2006/kia/sedona/100458771/preview.html