Honda Odyssey 1999 - 2004

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Comments

  • kenm8kenm8 Member Posts: 71
    My wife and I have a 2000 Ody EX. Our solution to transporting our dog to the vet, to training or elsewhere is to use an airline shipping crate. I pull out the middle seats (I know - they are heavy) and put in the crate. The crate can then be secured to the seat anchors on the floor with appropriate tie-downs. Our motivation for this was safety. In the event of an accident, the dog will not come hurtling into the driver/passenger. But just as important, the dog will remain in the crate in the vehicle. We are concerned that one or more doors could be flung open in an accident. If this were to happen, a loose uncontained dog could possibly be tossed onto the pavement where severe injury or death would be likely.
  • fibber2fibber2 Member Posts: 3,786
    years, but with the engine upgrades in 2002, octane requirement dropped to 87 (regular). Still, I detect an unacceptable amount of ping on hill driving during the summer months, so I alternate tanks of regular with some 89/91. The extra $2-3 seems well worth it for my peace of mind.

    Steve
  • robr2robr2 Member Posts: 8,805
    Premium fuel was not recommended on the earlier years. The fuel requirement is 87 octane and that with the use of 91 octane, the engine would produce an addtional 5 HP. My 00 Ody does not ping with 87 octane.

    If you are having a pinging issue, then using higher octane will help but it is in no way a requirement for normal operation. The pinging may be a symptom of a mechanical issue.
  • dave594dave594 Member Posts: 218
    I think the talk about the earlier models requiring premium is an urban legend. I have a 99 and the owner's manual specifically states that unleaded regular (87 octane) is fine for the engine.
  • tcasboytcasboy Member Posts: 214
    It wasn't an urban legend. The 2000 (US version)owners manual very clearly stated that 87 was acceptable, but premium was recommended and that the engine would make an additional 5HP with the higher octane gas (as had been stated).
  • dave594dave594 Member Posts: 218
    That means that the engine would run fine on 87. However if you wanted to maximize perform you can get an extra 5 hp by using premium. The original question was whether 87 was fine for the engine, and it is.
  • davenowdavenow Member Posts: 171
    If 5 extra horses are delivered to the van on premium, then would i be correct in assuming that the Ody's engine would be on par with the 04 Sienna's engine of 230 HP?
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Premium was never recommended. The earlier Odysseys wold get another 5 HP if premium was used but 86 octane is just fine.

    I doubt very much that anybody could feel the difference of five more horsepower!

    A lot of well meaning people waste a lot of money buying premium gas that isn't needed.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Current Odysseys have 240 H.P.
  • davenowdavenow Member Posts: 171
    240 HP on premium...
    230 HP not on premium...
  • grandtotalgrandtotal Member Posts: 1,207
    Nope, 240 HP on regular.
  • tcasboytcasboy Member Posts: 214
    Dave594: I guess we are in violent agreement. It read to me like YOU said the recommendation for premium was an urban legend. That to me sounded incorrect, as the manual did recommend premium fuel. It also said that regular was ok. I never said that the van wouldn't run fine on regular. I put regular into my 2000 LX for 67,000 miles. Your post made it sound like the idea of actually using premium came out of the blue, when in fact it was recommended in the manual.
  • hansiennahansienna Member Posts: 2,312
    Specifications and Features page lists:
       Horsepower@ rpm (SAE net)240 @5500 RPM.
       Torque(lb-ft @rpm) 242 Torque @4500 RPM.
       Required Fuel: Regular Unleaded
  • hansiennahansienna Member Posts: 2,312
    Some time ago jerhot stated a 2001 Ody EX MSRP $26,500 sold for $18,700.
        Assuming that no premium was paid, that is a depreciation of only $7,800 in 3 years.
        Can any other minivan match that low depreciation?
  • dave594dave594 Member Posts: 218
    I meant it when I said the premium recommendation was an urban legend. Nowhere was it mentioned in the owners manual that anything higher than 86 was recommended. I have the owners' manual from my 99 Ody here and it says on Page 182:

      "Your Honda is designed to operate on unleaded gasoline with a pump octane number or 86 or higher. Use of a lower octane gasoline can cause a persistent, heavy metallic rapping noise in the engine that can lead to mechanical damage.

      We recommend gasolines containing detergent additives that help prevent fuel system and engine deposits.

      Using gasoline containing lead will damage your vehicle's emissions controls. This contributes to air pollution.

      In cananad, some gasolines contain an octane-enhancing additive called MMT. If you use such gasolines, your emissions conrol system performance may deteiorate and the Malfunction Indicator Lamp on your instrument panel may turn on. If this happens, contact your authorized Honda dealer for service."

      And under the back cover for Service Information Summary: "Gasoline - Unleaded gasoline, pump number of 86 or higher"

      I looked all over the owner's manual for a recommendation for premium gasoline, even if it were for the extra 5 hps, and I can't find it. If you have, please give the page reference to me.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    grandtotal is correct. It's 240 HP either way.
  • rickpctrickpct Member Posts: 71
    Am getting real close to minivan purchase, but sitting on fence re Ody EX v Sienna LE.

    Does anyone know how long the '04's will continue to be generally available before 05's hit the street? I continue to notice lots of Ody's on dealer lots. Plus saw a few trailer loads of new Ody's on I-95 heading to dealers no doubt!

    I plan to buy in March, and hope that the good deals on the ody continue!
  • nofeernofeer Member Posts: 381
    i think historically that may-june are the best months to buy, but i think consumer reports can tell you when the best deals are, each product has a "time" of best deals. With the ody, knowing that it will be all new this fall, honda should be giving killer deals to reduce inventory. same for sienna, they know that honda's new van is coming and they want market share, and clear the decks for new cars in the fall. also price pressure from the other van makers. people have tax money and it get very competitive may-june. i plan on buying may-june because of taxes in KY, buying in the fall hurts since you pay personnel property tax in october then again in jan without it being pro rated. so for me it's the first half of the year.
  • kimo9kimo9 Member Posts: 71
    Went to my local Honda dealership today to inquire about Honda brand oil and whether it is somehow a step above the rest. "As long as it's a name brand oil anything will do," he said. They'll sell you the Honda oil if you want it but they buy Valvoline in bulk for their service department to do oil changes for customers. They went on to say that all of the top-brand oils have the correct lubricants and detergents necessary to meet the strict standards set by the industry.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    One weight fits all :-)

    Steve, Host
  • nwngnwng Member Posts: 663
    honda usually have a summer clearance sale every year. I checked carsdirect.com for my area and their prices are $200 about invoice, that means you can get invoice price if you do it yourself. I would wait for the summer clearance event cause they might have low apr financing (0.9% for 60 mos?)
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Lowest True Cost to Own Vehicles for 2004

    Steve, Host
  • tcasboytcasboy Member Posts: 214
    Ok: Dave594, Isellhondas and robr2: I traded in my 2000 LX so I don't have the owner's manual, but I did locate my copy of the United States version of the sales brochure for the vehicle. In the spec section, it lists the horsepower for the vehicle at 210@5200 rpm with an asterik. The asterik (on the previous page in tiny little letters says this:

    "With premium fuel (205hp/217 lb-ft with regular unleaded fuel)"

    I was pretty sure that my (US version) owners manual recommended premium fuel but did allow that regular was also acceptable. Wish I could quote that to you, but I can't.

    Here's some more info.

    The Feb 2000 Consumer Guide book that tests and rates each vehicle and lists their invoice and suggested prices also states "Honda recommends premium fuel, but says the V6 will tolerate regular with a slight loss of power."

    The June 1999 issue of Consumers Reports also mentions that the van will develop 210 HP on premium and 205 on regular gasoline.

    I never ran premium in my 2000 Ody, and I certainly don't in my 2004 one either, but Honda did recommend premium fuel (for maximum performance) for the U.S. version of the vehicle during model year 2000 and I believe for other years as well, until they upgraded the engine in 2003.

    Anyway, hardly an urban legend, its right there in black in white in the official company brochure of the US version of the vehicle.
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    This was a hot issue when the redesigned Odyssey came out in '99. Lots of posts can be found with an Advanced Search, like the two that start with this one:

    octane levels by bobresnikoff Jan 24, 1999

    Steve, Host
  • dave594dave594 Member Posts: 218
    I go by what's in the owner's manual. This is what I follow to maintain my warranty, everything else is extra. The manual is written by the engineers and is what is supposed to be followed to keep the vehicle running and to stay within your warranty limits. The brochure is a marketing tool and is not the definitive word on the way the vehicle is to be maintained. I don't doubt at all that the vehicle gets the extra hps with premium, but it's not even a recommended step in the owner's manual. If someone wants to do it, there's certainly no harm. As to what CR said about Honda recommending premium gas, that is patently not true according to the owner's manual. Reporters are not always right and in this case I'll defer to the owner's manual, unless Honda sends out a correction for it.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Sorry, but you are wrong. Honda never "recommended" premium fuel. They simply stated, back in those years, that the Odyssey would develop slightly more horsepower if premium was used.

    Consumer's Reports is often wrong and this is one of those times.

    My 99 V-6 Accord Coupe has the same engine as a 99 Odyssey and the fuel requirements are the same.

    I've run a couple of tanks of premium in it and I couldn't tell the slightest difference.

    Yes, it is, indeed there in black and white!
  • nit2nit2 Member Posts: 40
    I wasn't able to find a board that discussed registration questions, so I thought I would try posting here to see if anybody can help: I recently purchased an Ody EX-L which I believe comes with a V-6 engine. The dealer did the registration & title. However, when the title came in Saturday, I noticed it says the van has 4 cylinders. Question: Should I bother to get it corrected? Will this be a problem if/when I am ready to sell the van?
    TIA
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Host Karen tells me that there are some good rumors flying about the 2005 Ody over in Honda Odyssey Owners: Future Models. Check it out.

    Steve, Host
  • grandtotalgrandtotal Member Posts: 1,207
    My 99 V-6 Accord Coupe has the same engine as a 99 Odyssey and the fuel requirements are the same.

    Your Accord has an engine closely related to the 99 Odyssey, but it's not the same.
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    Really? Look the same to me...same H.P. etc.
  • grandtotalgrandtotal Member Posts: 1,207
    V6 Accord had a 3 litre engine producing (I think) 200 HP. 99 Odyssey had a 3.5 litre engine producing 210 HP (on premium gas).
  • impact01impact01 Member Posts: 95
    You write: "Really? Look the same to me...same H.P. etc."

    And he SELLS hondas for a living!. LOL, sorry couldn't resist!.
  • tcasboytcasboy Member Posts: 214
    Come on, he couldn't possibly be wrong. I can't count the number of times I've showed car sales people features of one of their vehicles during a test drive that they weren't aware of. I even showed one where the spare tire was in the 2000 Ody. Hard to believe.

    Plus, I don't recommend or use premium, I just thought that a couple of folks on the board (Dave and Isell) where trying to come off like anyone who had at least heard of the possibility of using it (from their "United States" version of the brochure and owner's manual) must be a kook and succumbing to an urban legend. The engine was rated with a notation for premium fuel. It was in writing from the company, not an urban legend.

    It also was Consumer Guide I quoted with the Honda recommendation, not Consumer Reports. In all fairness, the July 1999 Consumer Reports list the fuel that they used as regular, with a notation that the vehicle would make 5 more HP on premium.

    Thankfully now the engine is rated at full power with regular gas, even if Isellhondas isn't sure of which engine goes in which model.
  • baby927baby927 Member Posts: 7
    I've read the manual and still have question: With the front control on dash set to red RR with the fan speed on one of the settings, and the rear control on ceiling set to the red person, should warm air come out of the ducts under the two front seats?
    The fan in the way back wall picks up speed, but no air blows out of the ducts under seats. I have to take in the van for a recall on belt tensioner, and was going to inquire about that.
    The way the manual reads, I should expect air to flow out of the ducts under the two front seats.

    Anybody????

    Thanks in advance!!
  • isellhondasisellhondas Member Posts: 20,342
    I had a brain lapse for sure...of course they aren't the same.

    Thanks for the wake up!
  • paulmlacpaulmlac Member Posts: 27
    We have an ’04 Odyssey. I had the dealer install the AT & PS cooler when purchasing it. I did not get the hitch / wiring because I was uncertain at the time (and still am – see below) what I’d need.

    Vehicle stats:
    GCWR = 8,265 lbs.
    GVWR = 5,665 lbs.
    Dry weight = 4,365 lbs.
    20 gallon gas tank = 120 lbs.
    Occupants = 210 lbs over and above Honda’s 300 lb allowance.
    Cargo = an estimated 150 lbs.
    Hitch = an estimated 50 lbs???

    Camper stats:
    We are looking at 2 different pop-ups:
    One is a Fleetwood Tacoma. Unloaded vehicle weight = 2,030. Tongue weight = 150.
    The other is the Fleetwood Sedona. Unloaded vehicle weight = 1,545. Tongue weight = 170.
    In either case, add the following:
    Options = 90 lbs (roof AC = 70 lbs, furnace = 10 lbs, misc = 10 lbs).
    Propane tank = 38 lbs.
    10 gallons of water = 84 lbs.
    Cargo = another estimated 150 lbs.

    When I do the math:
    I’m under the Ody’s supposed 3,500 tow weight limit.
    However, I’m around 90% of the GCWR.
    And, I’m even closer on the GVWR calculation.

    I need some advice:
    1) Is the weight of the Ody in the brochure the “dry weight”?
    2) Am I really that close on GCWR & GVWR – did I do the math right?
    3) Does anyone else tow a 1,500 lb or 2,000 lb pop-up with an Ody & how much do you feel it?
    4) I have heard that Ody’s tend to sag when hitched up. As a result, I would definitely want a WDH for the Tacoma but probably not for the Sedona. Agree or disagree?

    Thanks for any & all help!
  • sevenwayshamsevenwaysham Member Posts: 5
    Can people share their experience with how noisy (road/wind)noise a Honday Odyssey creates? We are looking to purchase either an Odyssey, Pilot, or Toyota Highlander and I'm interested in people's experience. I have a 2000 Honda Civic and it is VERY noisy...thanks.
  • tcmebtcmeb Member Posts: 1
    We picked up our Odyssey last week. We like it but when we were on the highway we heard a really annoying wind noise in the back.

    We brought it to the dealer, who told us it was because the cross bars were installed backwards.

    They fixed it, but we still have a wind noise, although much less annoying. It seems like it is due to the cross bars? Anybody else have that problem?
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Try a Discussion Search; some people seem to have more problems than others:

    billg7 Jan 21, 2003 12:57am

    You may want to browse around the Honda Odyssey Owners: Problems & Solutions board too.

    Steve, Host
  • mautomauto Member Posts: 75
    What about Saturn using Honda's 3.5L engine in its Vue Redline. You know that Honda will also begin letting other makers use its 2 and 2.4L engines soon. This is because they redesigned these engines to have a crank rotation the same as every other engine on the planet. The Civic engine is still an opposite crank rotation and thus cannot be utilised in any other car. I bet that too changes in the next gen.
  • kimo9kimo9 Member Posts: 71
    http://www.hondacuraworld.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&- amp;Product_Code=08T44-S87-100&Category_Code=HO

    Thoughts?
  • steverstever Guest Posts: 52,454
    Both my cars have them, but I haven't used them since moving from Anchorage four years ago to Idaho. Up there I would plug them into a switched outlet and if it was ~10°F or below, I would flip the switch an hour before heading out. Then the car would crank easier and I'd get in and go.

    Steve, Host
  • kimo9kimo9 Member Posts: 71
    Is is somehow better for the engine/vehicle to use the block heaters? Or is it more of a convenience in giving an easier start? We've had a harsh winter up here (-20 some nights) and I wonder if there'd be a negative cumulative effect on the engine.
  • laundryguylaundryguy Member Posts: 89
    There is generally more engine wear starting a cold engine than a warm engine, mainly because the oil hasn't warmed enough to get the best lubricity that is optimum for your engine. Some ads for the fancy oil additives claim as much as 65% of the wear takes place in a cold start situation. Probably got one data point then tried to say that was the standard improvement (better to sell more product).

    In theory, your engine would last longer and put less stress on the corresponding components if the oil is warmed. What it corresponds to in real life miles, etc probably cannot be determined.

    I had one on a Ford Windstar and never used it. Was on the vehicle because it was relocated from a much colder climate (near Duluth, MN).
  • dave594dave594 Member Posts: 218
    Block heaters are only a necessity, IMHO, in colder climates (consistently below 0 degree F). If they have plug-in outlets in the parking lots where you live, then you know you have to have a block heater. Otherwise you shouldn't have to have one if the weather stays above 0. I have to say that it was a great thing to have when I lived in North Dakota on those -20 mornings to just crank once to have the engine turn over and have warm air coming out of the heater ducts not soon afterward.
  • bigdaddycoatsbigdaddycoats Member Posts: 1,058
    http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000080&sid=aTstuyh- oic0E&refer=asia
  • psgpsg Member Posts: 72
    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4740343
  • adeandreaadeandrea Member Posts: 6
    Anyone know who manufactures the RES DVD system for Honda? Is it actually Honda?

    Same manufacturer for the headphones?
  • adeandreaadeandrea Member Posts: 6
    I'll answer my own question --- Panasonic makes the DVD / Radio units, but I'm still not sure about the headphones.
  • bshawnbshawn Member Posts: 8
    Finally, I sold my 03 Odyssey LX ... Good riddance!
    I know this might stir some discussion but for the price I paid, I could not handle the door rattles, wind noise, road noise, and intermittent tranmission slippage anymore. I love the way the new Sienna drives and hated where Ody stood in comparision.

    I was surprised with CarMax's offer, which was about $200 above KBB "excellent" trade-in value ($700 above trade in & $600 below private party on Edmunds) and sold it as soon as it was appraised.

    Now, I gotta figure out what I'm gonna do with $500 in savings every month (payment+insurance)!!!!!!!!!

    Good luck with your Odys friends.
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