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Comments
The Ody will soon exhaust its 36K warranty with no problems. That said, statistics indicate that it would have a long life especially given my robust PM schedule.
My soon to be 13 year old Lincoln Continental is purring smoothly as new. The probability of it making it to 20 years old looks good, again with my robust PM schedule. The ability to keep my vehicles to a very long life (12+yrs)through my own robust PM has enabled me to invest money (otherwise spent earlier to replace a younger car)sensibly so that I can purchase a new car replacement for cash if I want to, unless there are irresistable promotions like 0% financing that I would be insane not to take.
OK, your '93 Conti is running well...?? ...air ride? ...head gasket? ...transmission? ...radio? ...A/C control module? ...dash delamination? ...switch desintegration???? My '91 Conti would not run for a week without leaving me wondering if I was going to get through the day. It tore a huge hole into my wallet!! No Honda had ever left me stranded. I agree that rigorous PM is a ticket to long life; - FOR THE RIGHT VEHICLE!!! No amount of PM would have kept my Conti or your Winnie alive! I too tend to keep my cars until the wheels come off, and I am suspecting that my '91 Accord will be with us for many more years. I still enjoy driving it! Not as refined as the newer models, but solid and strong!! Today I could kick myself for not buying the '91 SE trim level. ...water under the bridge! In March or April I too want to get an '07 Element EX auto 4WD. This would make four Hondas in my driveway... :-)
This Conti had the usual first year model growing pains covered by warranty. These pains included the auto power locks with its control module. CR had good reliability reports on this Conti model especially 1997 onwards when the early year bugs were addressed. I am concerned about the complex air suspension because it would an expensive repair. But if it fails, I would mostly likely replace the Conti as I have gotten my money's worth from its 13 yr life with me.
My Conti runs great - especially at a stop light and the guy on the right wants to play fresh with me with his car to speed up and get in front of me before the 2 lanes narrows into one. I just simply disengage the traction control and let loose the V8 - fun to see the guy disappear in the rear view mirror.
Hondas are great with long life. They frequently last more than 200K miles. I expect my Ody to last at least that long. Hondas are fun to drive too with their spirited and good driver engagement. When it is time to replace my Conti, I would strongly consider another Honda.
Could be, but dealer service in 3-5 years could cost about the same as a factory extended warranty. Brakes could cost $700 front and rear. Quite possibly needed twice over 5 years. I already did need this twice on a 2002 Odyssey. And those high dollars for inspections at 30k miles also add up to real dollars.
"I agree, you might be able to get away with it owning Hondas, but beware and do not blame the dealer if you get put on ice... "
Put on ice? That would mean the Honda broke down prematurely. This is also a definite possibility especially with the transmission.
"All your home-grown documentation, if there is any, means little to nothing to a dealer when he has to shell out services on a vehicle with NO documented past!"
I already gave the dealer a generous profit when buying. I have had some routine overpriced services done at the dealer. For routine service, dealer costs me more time and money than do it yourself.
If that I get a premature breakdown for the supposedly reliable Honda and do not get a significant discount on repair, my Honda buying will end immediately.
I believe Ford hires former prisin guards as customer service agents.
What is also important is to do the PM before it becomes an unscheduled repair. E.g. Replace the brake pads before they are worn down so that the rotors are not scarred and require turning/planing. Many people are forced/duped into a $500+ brake job when a pad replacement for about $50 will work. Been doing that for over 25 yrs!
For engine oil changes, it costs me about $5 in parts for my Ody and $7 for the Conti. I stock up on cases of oil and filters on sale. Compare that to more than 4 times the cost at dealer or garage. And I know what I am using and am doing it right especially after 30yrs of doing it.
Similar costing savings for tranny oil changes, brake jobs, hose/belt changes, etc. The total savings add up to very large numbers for up to 4 vehicles at any time over the past 30 yrs!
thanks.
Chris.
Thank you for your thought. Being not mechanically savy, what does binding in the steering mean and what are the usual causes and fixes?
Thank you very much.
nvd
Haven't heard from you in about a year. Where ya been mon?
I'm a your local Toad,Root, Vine,Dolphin wants to enter HONDA WORLD PIPELINE. Welcome to Oroquieta City, Philippines. Thank you very much.
Regard's,
limpyobaybay corals care
The first thing I would like to do is oil change. Since my labor cost nothing, I decide to use genuine Honda parts. After I tried order oil filter online, I got myself confused. There are 2 oil filters for our 2004 Odyssey EX.
Part # Description List Price Sale Price
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------------
90015-PH1-013HOLDER, OIL FILTER 3.93 3.07
15400-PR3-315CARTRIDGE SET, OIL FILTER (TOYO ROKI) 5.97 4.65
Does anyone know the difference between these 2 filters? Is it worth using the expensive one?
Also, is there any pitfall when changing oil at home? Any special tools?
I never had to take my 2004 Ody EX back to the dealer for any warranty(no problems) or PM service.
Regarding oil changes, run to your nearest Advance Auto Parts store now and stock up on the their Ody oil filter, Total Grip PN AA7317. It is made by either Purolator or Fram for Advanced Auto. It is on BOGO free sale now, i.e. 2 for $2.88 = $1.44 each. Same deal last year at 2 for $2.48. Do not use the other new replacement PN in their catalog - that filter is smaller, holds less oil and also has less filtration. Been using this on my Ody and my son's 2005 Maxima since new. No need to fall for the marketing hype of the other expensive brand names! We have stocked up on about 24 filters. We have also stocked up on engine oil whenever on sale & especially with rebates. Our cost for oil change parts(oil & filter) is $5 - $7, depending on oil price.
You can dumped you used oil at Advanced Auto or Auto Zone - who accept them.
Have fun - it is a piece of cake!
Check out this interesting evaluation someone did on oil filters a few years ago,
http://mymiata.paladinmicro.com/MiataOFilters.htm
17mm is the drain plug size I recall.
I checked with a sales guy in Advanced Auto, he found out from their database that the drain plug size (the part that screw into the oil pan) is 14mm (???). But he was not sure what size is the plug cap. I found out that the cap of my drain plug is 22mm. How weird?!
The Total Grip filters do not have a smooth finish to them. There may be some paint overspray over the edges. But that does not matter. And it does have a nice end grip to easily remove/unscrew it. The filter screws into the engine block below out of sight. "Aunty Mildred cannot see it to complain". What matters is that it works and cleans oil like the Purolator or Fram brand that makes it.
Point is - I have used many different filter brands for the past 30+yrs with no issues and I keep the cars in my family for over 10+ yrs and with high mileage to support it.
22mm is very large and 14mm sounds small. SO maybe my 17mm may be correct as it sits almost dead center! How is that for logic :-O)) I would know for sure when I change the Ody oil next month.
Was this oil change done by outside fast lube place or dealer? I would expect it more from the former.
It makes for a quicker change. Drawbacks, I don't know.
See this:
http://hometown.aol.com/qckchanger/
The "Miata" study is one of three that I have seen in recent years that considered the internal construction of the Fram to be marginal in terms of filter material, surface volume and endcap sealing. If it fails in use, it becomes either a restriction (and oil goes thru the bypass unfiltered), or blows out (same net effect - no filtering).
My own personal experience with STP was very negative on a Nissan that had the cartridge facing on a downward angle. The anti-drain-back valve (the rubber seal at the outer holes) failed on several, requiring a 'fill' on each cold start. So when you needed oil the most to guard against wear, it let you run dry. Granted, this fail mode would not apply to the Ody (faces straight up), but does speak to their build quality.
Purolator, on the other hand, supplies the OEM filter for a few car makers, and seems to be well constructed based on these independent studies. If there was a way to tell which Total Grip units were made by Purolator, that would indeed be a real bargin - good quality at a great price!
Steve
You may not feel a difference mon... but according to your own link, your engine can.
Not sure why you would post all filters are the same, then provide a link where one filter is rated a "P.O.S" :confuse:
Maybe you are imagining "something strange" in your head? :P
But, for the most part, I would think the vast majority of filters would do a good job... some better than others. And a few you would want to stay away from.
Any idea what's the problem. Thanks.
1) What does the temp gauge read? Is it coming up to the normal position, or is it perpetually reading low? Do you remember how far from home it usually took to get to full operating temp, and how does that compare to now? Could be a stuck engine thermostat.
2) Try the rear heat. Does it feel normal (hot)? If so, something is amiss with the front heating system.
3) Try shutting the front completely off, wait a bit, then hit Auto. Mine occasionally fouls and needs to be cycled.
I have not had a need to study the Ody specifically, but in general regulation of the heat up front is usually accomplished by a combo of two methods. There is a valve on a water line that controls hot fluid flow to the heater core in the HVAC box under the dash near the glove box. And within the box is a motor controlled flap that mixes cold cowl air with the warm air off the core. Either of these two could be messed up.
If you can find the water lines that go from the engine to the firewall, you might be able to see if they feel hot (indicating hot fluid flow into the core). If not, the water valve is either bad or not getting a signal to open. How that valve is actuated (motor or cable), or where it is will take some diagram study. Sorry I cannot be more specific.
Steve
HURRY UP - the BOGO free special on Total Grip ends soon, Mon!
Sometimes, you do see strange things happening to other heads!
Same Fram number used as well for Total Grip filter for my Lincoln Continental 4.6L DOHC V8. No engine failure in her almost 13years. She gets "lubed" regularly, Mon!
Fibber2's suggestion to watch the engine temperature gauge is good. If the engine temperature is consistently low even after the engine should have warmed up to operating temp, that usually indicates a stuck open thermostat.
Thanks for your feedback. Here's my findings to fibber's questions.
1) The temperature gauge do reach normal reading, but it seems to take a few more minutes to get there than before(not 100% sure, can be my bias to make myself believe in the delay).
2)I did try the rear heater once the temperature gauge reached normal reading. I am by myself so I had to park the van first. The air from the rear register did feel warmer that the front (when I was driving) but still not hot. But when I did a front to rear comparison when the van was in the Park position, the air from the front register did feel warmer (still not hot) and matched the warmness of the air from the rear register.
3) It made no difference to turn off the heat, wait a few minutes and restart.
I am not sure where to locate the water lines as I am not handy when it comes to work on automobile.
Last time when I filled up the gas tank, I got an average of about 16mpg which is typical in the winter time. It goes up to 17 or 18 mpg in the summer.
Is there such a thing as partial stuck open thermostat? My theory is based on 2) above that the air was warmer when the van parked for a while and not moving.
I plan to take the van back to the dealer to service this problem. Thanks for all of your inputs.
Check the background of 'your' Ody and make sure it hasn't been totaled or flooded, or...??
For comparison:
2007 Odyssey LX - around $23,700 ($26,240 MSRP)
2007 Odyssey EX - $26,500 ($28,518 MSRP)
You may get another $500-$1000 if you agressively shop.
Lastly, I own both generations of Odysseys ('00 & '06). After driving the '06 for a few months, I realize the '00 is built much better, quieter & smoother engine.
Also, be aware there are some design defects with the new ones including the droning defect, power steering pumps, & bad engine mounts.
Honda high resale hurts pre-owned car buyers. Better to spend an extra $3k and buy a new Ody LX, or an extra $1,100 and buy the GC if new.
I'm unfamiliar with the droning defect...what is it? I know the 04 has 2 recalls and the dealer assured me that in order for the vehicle to be a certified used vehicle, those issues were addressed.
Honestly, I loved the ODY...the mileage bugs me even though I've heard the reliability is fantastic. The Grand Caravan...driving it today and it has way more interior noise than I like (much like my Windstar). Otherwise, it handles nicely and I love the Stow n Go.
Looked at wifes van today (while replacing the battery - another story for my next entry...). Behind the engine on the firewall, right below the center spark plug you will find a cable operated valve, and rubber hoses that go thru the wall into the underdash region.
This evening I was looking on another Ody board for something else and stumbled upon a thread in which several reported no heat, and traced it to this valve. Sounds like it might sieze up and break the actuator arm attached to the cable. Someone said it was a $25 part. One possibility. Hope this helps narrow your search.
Steve
Two person job - one to work the controls, the other to watch and see if the cable and valve arm moves. Plus a hand on the pipe to see if it gets hot, and if the return line gets hot. If that looks OK, then on to other possibilities!
Steve
Took the Ody to dealer yesterday. They let the Ody parked outdoor for few hours to cool down and then drove it for a few miles to warm up. They measured the air coming out from the register (bottom vent) to be 135 to 140 degrees which met the Honda spec. They claimed by the time the air hit any part of the human body, it would drop to roughly 80 degrees depending on the outside temperature. I asked them did they check the cable operated valve and they said yes and the valve was moving freely. They said it did not look like a stuck thermostat based on the temperature gauge movement. The bottom line is nothing wrong with the heating system. They told me I should not expect to feel as warm as a passenger car due to the sheer volume of the van.
When my wife picked me up from the dealer after I dropped off the Ody, I can feel right away her Accord was a lot warmer than my van. She had her Accord parked outside the driveway overnight and the Ody was parked inside the garage. The outside temp was about -5 degrees yesterday morning and I would say about 20 degrees warmer insider the garage. And no doubt the Accord was a lot warmer than the Ody driving the same distance.
Right now I am puzzled by this. Maybe the dealer is right. I should not expect the Ody to be as warm as the Accord in extreme cold weather for a 20 to 25 minutes drive.