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Comments
No, Allen, it was more than just that. The '05 T&C Touring is equipped pretty much 1:1 with my '02 Ody EX. Include the stow&go & power liftgate, trip computer, and you could say maybe even better equipped. The problem (and I speak as the former owner of a '97 Dodge GC) is really that it seems time has stood still for them.
The front seats still lack support in critical places, steering is vague and slow to respond, suspension wallows with or without a load, cornering limits are low (and yes, the morning of our trip I topped off the tire pressure @ my house / digital gauge). The power doors kept getting confused and had to be reset multiple times. Fit and finish was iffy, inside and out.
Stow&go is a neat idea, but not well executed. First off, they become very uncomfortable is a few short miles. You have to put the headrests at full to get them out of the center of an adults back. They had to move the spare tire carrier up under the dash area to make space. It hangs down too low, reducing ground clearance. The step in height seems to have been raised as well. Parked side by side, our Ody looked to have a lower floor, yet more ground clearance. Oh, and they had to route the exhaust around the seat tub - looked rather nasty on that side.... And just like on our '97, the A/C could not keep up in 85'F weather if you sat parked for more than a minute or two. The capacity on either the Ford or Honda units seem to be much higher.
Things we did like - power liftgate is particularly handy when you have your hands full dealing with kids. Split rear bench stows nicely, but unfortunately was not as comfy to sit in as it looks (better in ody). It is a bit quieter, and maybe a little smoother (but what it gives up in handling was too big a trade-off for either my wife or I). Front seat cushion is longer, and fits American thighs better than Honda seat. His/Her HVAC controls reminded me why I liked my old Dodge.
So there you have it. I had no real complaints about either my '97 Dodge, or our '00 Windstar. I just expected a lot more from a supposedly 'new' DC product. Maybe it is that they tried to graft too much new into a well used platform without going to a true 'clean sheet' design. Maybe the '08's will be better????
Beth was excited when they rolled out the rental. She had been talking about one of these as her next van. A day in it was enough to make her consider trying out a Sienna or an '05 Ody.
Steve
Have someone pull the lever while watching the catch retract. Lube it (WD-40, or the like), to make sure it pulls in and pops out fully. Move the door by hand while your partner keeps the lever pulled. Is the door just reluctant to move, or is it hanging up on the catch? Most likely the hinge and spring need to be cleaned and lubed to restore the 'pop out' operation. A lithium based spray grease is best used here.
Hope this helps,
Steve
They did the fix, but here's my problem. It seems like we are getting terrible gas mileage since the fix. We just took a trip to the outer banks from NJ and barely got over 20 mpg. I used to get about 25 mpg on all highway drives. Has anyone else experienced this? If so, any suggestions?
Thanks in advance for the advice.
Jeff
Steve, Host
The EGR is used to recirculate exhaust gas as a virtual "inert gas". The internal combustion engine theoretically uses a the expansion of a heated gas to push the piston, turn the crank, and output mechanical energy. The gas is heated (internally) by the combustion of the fuel. Traditionally the gas was 100% (atmospheric) air. However, the air/fuel ratio must be within certain limits to promote combustion and limit temperatures. This means to completely fill a cylinder with a charge of "gas", one has got to input fuel in a fairly well defined amount. By using an "inert gas" to be heated instead of just air, you can limit the fuel, by limiting how much of the gas charge is actually fresh air. This allows the reduction of the amount of fuel to a level that would normally raise temperatures excessively and result in knocking.
If the EGR valve doesn't actually open, or does so insufficiently, the charge will have extra air (at about 1/5 oxygen). This will precipitate a knock, unless the sensors (O2 sensor or the knock sensor) detect excessively lean conditions, and adjust the rate of fuel injection. So, you may be burning a bit more fuel because of a reduced amount of EGR.
OTOH, I suppose it's possible that you were running excessively lean/hot before, but that probably would've shown up early on as a fault in the engine malfunction codes, triggered because the system was unable to bring the system back to conditions preventing knock or excessive 02 in the exhaust.
Oxygen Sensors 101
But since the techs diagnosed the EGR, Msibille's explanation makes more sense.
More opinions can be had in the Got a Quick, Technical Question? discussion.
Steve, Host
It rocks left and right in turns and forward and back when stopping/starting.
Has anyone else had this problem? or had it fixed?
I was hoping that some adjustment could be made or a simple worn out part could be replaced. Otherwise, it will probably be quite expensive to fix.
You are most welcome! Funny thing - a few days after I posted to your question, my wife mentioned problems opening the fuel door! Sure enough, it took fingernails to catch an edge. I lubed the hinge, and now it pops out about 2".
Steve
I have a '99 Odyssey with about 115K miles on it and the last few weeks the air conditioner has been very intermittent/sporadic in any mode. THe fan keeps operating but often times blows only hot/humide air instead of the good stuff. When we had it in for service at the dealer, they found no problem and said the coolant level was good and there were no leaks, etc. THey could not replicate the problem. Of course, right afterwards we went on a 500 mile trip, and you guessed it, it was a non-air conditioned on for the most part, and not by choice.
I am not an expert on how the AC systems work but to me it sounds like some kind of loose or defective sensor...the fan kicks on but the compressor doesn't push out any cool air.
Any advice is appreciated.
Bob in RSM, CA
Reuters
Steve, Host
Honda, Japan's third-largest automaker, said it would also fix a faulty fuel pump.
The affected vehicles include 9,784 Inspire and Saber sedans produced at Honda's U.S. plant and 3,270 Lagreat minivans made at its plant in Alliston, Ont.
The remaining 56,966 vehicles were produced in Japan and include Odyssey, Avancier station wagons and Inspire sedan models, Honda said.
The vehicles were produced between Aug. 26, 1999, and June 2 this year.
Once the EGV valve was replaced, the hesitation went away.
They may tell you there is no problem (which is what the first dealer told us), but insist they address the issue. We had warranty issues with this, took it to Honda Corp and they covered half the cost since the car was ever so slightly out of warranty.
BTW - Dealing with Honda Corp is a nightmare - this will probably be our last Honda.
The symptoms are consistent, when cruzing anywhere between 35 - 75 mph in either 4th or 5th gear you can feel the van bucking like the engine is hesitating or baddly missing. Then it will simply go away.
On rare occassions, the engine will momentarily stall under acceleration and then pick right up and continue accelerating.
This issue is very disappointing since we are happy with the van otherwise. I'm considering my legal options under the "lemon law" if the dealer can't fix this issue shortly.
My brother in law just bought, a week ago, a brand new 2004, Navy Blue EX with DVD. One week into his ownership, the back area/cargo area has this annoying and LOUD squeak. You hear the squeak while driving or when you have the van parked, open the tailgate and push down on the bumper or over the bumper where the cargo area starts. As the van bounds up and down you hear this loud squeaking and creaking and the van is only ONE WEEK OLD! Can someone explain if they have encountered this and what can be done? Thanks!
Steve
The frustrating steering problem with my 2003 Odyssey developed after an abrupt avoidance manuever caused by a woman slamming on her brakes mid-highway for a rabbit; I had to slam brakes and make an S-move around her to avoid her and since then the van steering is exceptionally loose and takes two hands to make a simple turn or to parallel park. 90 degree right or left turns require almost 180 degree or sometimes more turns of the steering wheel. Three visits to the dealer and a right with the service manger resulted in reports of 'nothing wrong' and 'it's the Honda feel.' This despite explanations that it didn't drive like that when I bought it and I've been driving Ford and Honda minivans for 10 years so I know how they handle.
Now, frustrated, and with the notice of a possible transmission replacement or at least a modification needed, I'm torn between trying a 2005 or the Sienna (worrying too about sludge and handling issues too) since it seems unlikely Honda will ever find a fix for this one's steering issue. Unless anyone has other suggestions.
Also, my '04 seems very quiet on the highway. I can easily have conversations with anyone in the van. What's with everyone complaining about "road noise" etc.?
Further, in town, stop and go, short trips are the absoulute worst for mileage. We get in suburban driving about 15-16 on our 00. Long highway rides we get about 21-22.
Personally I avoid off brand gas. Usually all gas comes from the same sources in one area - in metro Boston there is an Exxon/Mobil distribution center and an Irving that I know of. I've seen Shell trucks loading up at the Exxon/Mobil center. With the brand names, you get additives that help clean your fuel system which may improve your mileage. There is no need to jump to premium - just pay a few cents more for a brand name fuel.