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Comments
billg7 Feb 8, 2001 7:27pm
Steve, Host
The noise issue is a matter of degrees. Louder does not mean terrible. As an engineer, I am aware and bothered by things that my wife and most other people probably never notice. I 'hear' every transmission shift, feel and hear tire/road interactions, etc. I should probably join one of those 'multi step programs' to cure my afflictions!
No, it is not really that bad. Conversations between front and middle seat are fine, but it is a bit more stained to do front to way back compared to the Ford. The Ford (SE) was vault-like quiet and isolated. The payoff on the Honda is a much more engaging driver experience with far higher handling limits and an overall feeling of being in control on backroads or emergency maneuvers. My 6 year old sleeps soundly in either row. My wife (in front) is out in minutes!
I put the acrylic deflector on both of my new cars last year (Subaru Outback & Ody). Never had them before. But is was obvious to me that people who had them had far fewer stone chips on the header panel / hood region, and generally cleaner windshields. I am not sure if they add to the noise, but would not be surprised if they did. I am not nuts about the look, but saved paint is worth it.
Pillars (that hold up the roof) are named by letter: A is at the windshield, B is trailing edge of front door / front of sliding door, C at rear edge of slider, etc.
I use Meguiers (sp?) rubber/vinyl spray (it is like Armor All), but I understand you can get a product from the Honda parts counter that may be better. Shinetsu lube ??? Sorry, not sure how to spell it. I spray the stuff onto a rag and wipe down all of the rubber gasket seals on all doors. Sort of makes them grip the metal like suction cups, but prevents sticking that could tear the seals. No movement means no noise.
Steve
Thanks for your opinion about the noise level. My barometer is if a child can still sleep, and thanks for telling me yours can. My 2 year old should have no problem, and my wife falls asleep on long car rides too - in fact, thats why we're looking for a minivan, the legroom in the Subaru Legacy L wagon we have now just isn't cutting it.
How hard is it to install the plastic bug shield? I like the idea but will have to run it by the wife.
Big time thank you on the B-pillar thing and the name of the lubricant for the door seals. Sounds like lubing the door seals will just become part of regular maintenance - want to make sure those doors keep working properly.
As for the checklist, I printed out the list that Steve_Host had posted, so I at least have a starting point. Don't want to impose, but I do appreciate all tips!
thanks again - these boards are just what I was looking for! - JK
Anyhow, back to the Ody! The Honda brand deflector mounts with two large adhesive blocks at the outboard edges that stick onto the paint, then a few metal band clips that wrap around the edge of the hood. I am not nuts about this design, as it cannot be easily removed, compared to the Subaru which is all clips. I don't want to mislead you - I actually installed the one on the Subaru, but let the Honda guys do this one as the labor was free. On the Granite Green (really medium grey), the smoke acrylic looks and fits well.
I saw the checklist last year and read thru it also. It is a well done document, and pretty much what I have been doing instinctively for years, more or less. If this stuff does not come naturally to you, by all means print it out and tick the stuff off as you go. It is your money - never let the salesman rush you to the table until the vehicle is right. They have far more incentive to sweat the small stuff while they still own it, then after title passes to you! But in defense of Honda (at least my dealership), they were incredibly patient and helpful in going over the vehicle with me. I was ready to move on, while the salesman insisted on going over EVERYTHING with my wife.
Steve
Bug shields: I didn't know you had to peel-and-stick a mount to the actual HOOD. Yeesh, doesn't that kill the paint that gets stuck to? Or maybe it can be removed without taking the paint with it? Probably can, I'm just not familiar with them.
BDaddy - thanks for the alternative suggestion, I will check out both before deciding on something.
Steve - thanks for your points on the checklist - I wound up printing it out, but haven't read it all the way thru yet (we're still a good 4 months away from our actual purchase). Was there anything in particular you spent more time on, or that in your experience has been more problematic for dealers to get ready?
Sorry for more questions - I actually took the day off today, so don't have to sweat doing this at work!
Thanks again guys, your help is greatly appreciated. Hey, has anyone heard anything about a new '04 Ody coming out earlier in 2003 to counteract the '04 Sienna release? Haven't seen anything about it on any other boards yet...
Keep passing on that info, thanks in advance - JK
Even worse, often the demo vehicles ride rough because of this and cost them sales.
Steve, Host
BTW, Bill - got a laugh from your profile!
I cannot suggest anything in particular to look for. Take some time to drive it on a variety of surfaces while braking, accelerating, steering with gusto. Then park somewhere and try out everything! A piece of cardboard or old blanket is helpful if you are inclined to crawl underneath as well.
Moderator Steve's point on overinflation is well taken. I also check wheel lug torque after the dealership (or anybody) messes with them. After a recent rotation at the dealership, I found one lug cross-threaded. Had to get out my thread file and 12mm tap/die to fix it. I was annoyed, to say the least. And an independent shop that I had rebalance my new snows grossly overtorqued them. Damn near dropped a xxxx using my Gorilla bar to break them loose. Nothing will kill your brake rotors faster than overtightened lugs.
So are you keeping the Subi?
Steve
We're doing this because the minivan will be the new "family" car, as we need more room for the 2-yr old we have now and for the next that is (hopefully) coming soon.
I will keep driving my '96 Civic with 108,000 miles on it, as I think I will only put a total of 165,000 miles on it by the time the minivan is paid off in about 4.5 years. Knock wood that I haven't had any serious problems with the Civic! (biggest complaint is the intermittent starter malfunction that I've read about with other Hondas).
But I still like the AWD on the Subaru, and that was one of my wife's must-haves when we were looking at cars 3 years ago. It kills me to trade in a 3 year old car, but we really do need the space, and if we trade in my older Civic it won't work financially.
Besides, the more I look at minivans, the more they grow on me. Have you or anyone had any close up looks at the Nissan Quest? Looks pretty cool, don't know much about it though-
All stories appreciated, thanks in advance - JK
We have both a 99 Ody and a Pilot, and while they are both excellent vehicles, the Ody is the better handling of the two for highway driving. the Ody is an August 99 build (55k miles) and has Michellin X-Radial 225x60r16 tires since last fall, and the Pilot has Michellin X terrains. Early on I remarked (on this forum) that the Ody carved highway sweepers like our old 87 Camaro Z28, and I still feel the same way (yes, effortlessly at 75-80 with the X-radials and the MXV4s before them). The Pilot is a good freeway runner, but with 12" less wheelbase (about 107 vs 119 inches), less aerodynamic shape, and more ground clearance, the Ody is a better freeway cruiser IMO.
Interesting comparo to report. We just got back from family trip to Disney World where our rental was an 03 Caravan (with Goodyear Integrity tires-very quiet tires). I was impressed with the Caravan improvements from our previous 95 GC AWD, but driving home late last night in the Ody made me appreciate why I have no desire to trade it. I expected the Caravan to be quieter than our Ody but it wasn't.
I don't suffer the "wind noise" others complain about and fellow Ody owners need to look at upgrading to quieter tires like Michellin X-radials, or the Costco version X-radial Pluses. I suspect your "wind-noise" will diminish dramatically with better tires.
My concern with electronic doors is what happens if you get in a accident and your electrical goes out and you had to open your doors in a hurry. I would hate to be the one sitting in the back of the van. I have a very tuff time opening the doors manually the few times I needed to.
Anyway, My car is very good for a mini-van. I do rate it very well. Although, I did drive a new Nissan Murano and Iam sold on the new crossover. I think I might give this new car a try.
I suppose this is still safer than a manual sliding door, which would continue to open the whole way.
Today I was driving a stretch of highway with moderate cross winds. Doing about 70mph, with temps around 20'F. With the more severe blasts I could feel air entry around the drivers door, and sometimes got a whistle sound as well. I need to work more to isolate this....
Steve
What tires seem to give the lowest noise? I see a few posts that the Michelin X tires lower the noise significantly. I wonder if any other tires do even better?
I wonder if anyone tried undercoating their car? It is suppose to reduce road noise. I am not even sure if they undercoat cars anymore.
I know that if you have installled the two cross bars on the roof rack that that also increases wind noise. One reason probably that Honda does not include them as standard equipment.
I have not noticed a significant problem, for me, with noise. However where I live I have not been on any roads nor have I seen any that were concrete. They have all been asphalt and I suppose that is because they cost so much less, even though they do not last as long. I notice that Consumers Reports rated the noise as about average for the Odyssey.
What year Ody is yours? I know the later years, especially 2002 are reportedly much quieter than our 99....probably like wife's Pilot. That's the downside; upside is the early Ody's are much sportier handling...so I'm told...;-)
Thanks in advance-
Steve
No worries; you got a "quiet Ody".
I am resigned to replacing the "rim protectors" on new Hondas, even the EX models.
Early on with our 99 Ody EX replaced the Firestone Affinitys with Michellin MXV4s in 235x60H16, then Michellin X-Radials in 225x60R16. Our Pilot got new Michellin X-Terrains to replace the GoodYear Integritys due to wife's double flats at 400 miles....long story.
All the Michellins on Ody were improvement over OEM. On the Pilot, I feel the GoodYears were a little quieter, but a lot more fragile ....."passenger car tires on an SUV" is what the AAA repair guy said.
I had also tried Yokohama Avid Tourings in their largest size, 225x60R16, but found them harsh and fairly noisy contrary to rave reviews on Tirerack. I took advantage of the Yokohama 30 day satisfaction guarantee to replace them with Michellin X-Radials. The X-radials were clearly the quietest, most comfortable tires I have driven on the Ody. Also look forward to the 80K miles tread wear rating.
I also had a set of X-Radial Pluses (not quite as highly rated as x-Radial on Michellin site, though TireRack makes no distinction) from PriceClub on a 95 DC-GC-AWD which was a huge improvement over OEM and went 70K miles before replacement with Yokohama Aegis LS4s (which were cheap, good AWD tires and surprisingly quiet). Those looking for cheap winter tires and great all season tires should consider these.....wait a minute, they may not be available in 16"....never mind.
I just bought a Honda Ody 2003 LX. Yesterday I saw the Low Feul Indicator came on, and the fuel gauge is near the end. So I had it filled up. To my surprise, only 14 gal gas was filled. The Ody's tank capacity is 20 gal, so when the indicator lights, there is at least 6 gal gas in the tank. Is that true? Or something was wrong?
I would be grateful if I could hear from you expertises.
Cheers
Steve, Host
You can check on recalls and TSB summaries for your vehicle with The Edmunds Maintenance Guide.
Steve, Host
03oddity "Honda Odyssey Problems" Jan 24, 2003 12:18am
Steve, Host
When the dealer tells me I need an expensive repair, I don't need to go somewhere and get a second opinion. I just tell him to repair it, and I get a rental car also if it is in the shop over night. With the regular warranty you do not get that. You also get road side service, something like the Auto Club.
I would get the HCW as that is most probably the best warranty and the dealer excepts it without any problem.
As to the comeback that the dealer makes a big profit on the extended warranty. They usually sell it for up to about 100% more then you can get it for, so their profit is low if you buy at a big discount.
I think the HCW I like best, 100k miles/7 yr/0 ded, sells for about $900 now at discount. You can find the discount dealers here at this web site and other places. You can buy the HCW from any Honda dealer and for months after you buy the car, without a penalty.
It only takes one big repair for it to pay for itself and if I never get any of my money back on it, it is still well worth it to me for piece of mind.
And yes, I'm sure we've been computing it correctly.
- Squeaks and rattles: Noticed several early on, which was disconcerting. They have not gotten worse, and in fact it's my impression that some have worked themselves out and disappeared... or maybe I've just gotten used to them.
- Road noise: Average on most surfaces, noticeable on certain concrete highways, but not enough to prevent normal conversation.
- Wind noise: I don't have crossbars on the roof, so I'll leave it to others to describe how it sounds if they're installed backwards. I, however, had a loud noise that would occur at ~70mph and get worse as speed increased. It was hard to describe, but was kind of a rubbery resonance/vibration-type thing, impossible to ignore. In two visits to the dealer they couldn't recreate it so basically wouldn't lift a finger to help. On the third visit I mentioned the Technical Service Bulletin regarding improper sealing of the windshield's rubber seal on the top strip near the roof line. I had been able to pinpoint the noise by feeling around the windshield and locating a vibration on the passenger-side A pillar (make sure somebody else is driving at the time, or wind noise will be the least of your problems). I had to get pretty ornery with the service reps and tell them that their inability to find the problem (they're limited to 65mph in that area, so couldn't recreate) didn't mean I should be forced to live with the problem. I made them follow the TSB but seal all around the windshield, not just on the top. They refused, got agitated, insisted the TSB had nothing to do with the problem I was experiencing, and said the stripping was just cosmetic so couldn't be causing the noise (huh???). They finally relented and did the repair just to shut me up, all the while claiming it wouldn't solve the problem.
Long story short, it solved the problem. My advice to you if you're hearing a similar noise: do your homework. Inspect the seal for folds, locate the noise by feeling for vibrations, push the dealer on the TSB and don't give up until you've convinced them to seal the windshield. It was worth the hassle to get rid of that noise! Incidentally, the seal didn't look or feel different after their work, but the glue they added beneath the outer trim did the trick.
Good luck.
How do I get the arm rests off to put on seat covers?
Anybody with access to the TSB know the answer?
Thanks,
Steve
But I was disturbed by a few lines in the fine print. It specifically excluded "body parts". One could then say that many of the reported power door problems, other than directly tied to switchgear/motor would be a non-covered repair. Anyone run into problems here?
Steve
Steve
Steve
I'll probably still go ahead with it, but it is a little bit disappointing.
I live in NY, but bought Honda Care from KY for the same reason. Thanks for confirming my suspicions about body mechanical parts.
Steve
Last question. We are concerned that the ventilation system leading to the third row seat might be inadequate. Any thoughts on this?
2. The lease vs. buy debate goes beyond just the time you plan to keep it. There are many other factors involved - how many miles do you drive a year? are you planning on modifying the vehicle in any way?... search Edmunds elsewhere to find detailed guides on how to tackle this question
3. 3rd row seating ventilation seems adequate to me although I do not spend too much time there. The back tow rows have their own HVAC system and the rear quarter windows open to vent. Should be sufficient.
http://www.insure.com/CustomCenters/AOL/index.cfm?StoryID=45
If saving money on car insurance is important to you, think about driving a more conservative car.
This advice might deflate your dreams of that little red sports car, but the 2002 Buick LeSabre tops the list of least expensive 2002 cars to insure according to the top three auto insurers in the country (State Farm, Allstate, and Farmers). The LeSabre is No. 1 based on its lowest claim record for injury, theft, and collision.
These 2002 cars can save you money on your auto insurance policy:
1.Buick LeSabre
2.Oldsmobile Silhouette
3.Honda Odyssey
4.Buick Park Avenue
5.Pontiac Montana
6.Mercury Grand Marquis
7.Buick Century
8.Chevrolet Venture
9.GMC Safari
10.Oldsmobile Bravada
While none of these cars may make your heart race, they do a better job of protecting you in an accident, and they aren't likely to get stolen from the parking lot. In fact, they have the lowest reported claims rates of injury, theft, and collision among 2002 cars on the market, according to the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI).
So a lot has already been covered on it. Perhaps when they redesign the car in 2004, as I remember, this board will pick up again like old times.
Our grand lady performed just fine in the Boston-area after the 27+ inches of snowfall.
I may not post often, but I've been out here, and I keep coming back.
I was beginning to think this was my very own board here,to do with as I wanted.
I was thinking of turning it into a porno site, and this would have increased the activity here, but I guess I will have to give up on that idea.
I'm looking to buy my first minivan in the next couple months and love to hear what people like/don't like about their minivan.
Keep it coming! Especially if anyone hears of the 2004 Oddy coming out sooner than expected?