Honda Odyssey Transmission Problems

2392 messages,  Last post on May 01, 2013 at 11:03 AM

You are in the Honda Odyssey Forum.

What is this discussion about? Honda Odyssey, Van


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#1886 of 2392 Re: Honda Transmission Sucks...... [longo2] by ignorisbliss

May 24, 2011 (11:58 am)

Replying to: longo2 (May 23, 2011 5:16 pm)
You are absolutely correct. The 4 speed and old 5 speed transmissions had many problems. They were replaced with the new 5 speed in the 2007 TL, 2003 MDX, 2006 Pilot, and 2007 Odyssey. The TCM (transmission control module) for the new 5 speed (found in the Ridgeline) was not programmed correctly for the Odyssey and if you didn't have the recall done (for new programming) your torque converter would burn out.
As suggested by website accuratecars.com I did a complete (not flush) transmission fluid change to DW-1 which is Honda's full synthetic transmission fluid. I have a 2007 Honda Odyssey with 120,000 km and only time will tell if this works!

#1887 of 2392 HondaWho by hondawho

May 24, 2011 (1:59 pm)

Just returned from Honda service with an estimate of over $5000 to replace the transmission on my 2002 Odyssey. It has almost 120,000 miles but after reading the comments about multiple transmission replacements averaging every 50k miles, I guess I should be happy. I called Honda America but got the usual "nothing we can do" after every reasoned complaint I could think of. This is my 4th and last Honda needless to say!

#1889 of 2392 Re: HondaWho [hondawho] by longo2

May 24, 2011 (4:11 pm)

Replying to: hondawho (May 24, 2011 1:59 pm)
Honda is making a small fortune on these a/t replacements.
 
 They are not "Honda Factory Re-builds" anyway...they bid out the contract for all their rebuilds to a big anonymous outfit with the fastest turnaround, and lowest cost.
 
Guess why so many of the 'rebuilds' have such a bad reputaion? They use the same Honda parts, spend no time solving the basic design flaws of the unit, patch them up and quickly send them back to the Honda warehouse for dealer installation.
  
Until Honda a/t's come with an easy to service filter (or you intall one yourself) these things are time bombs.
 
Your best bet for anyone with these older Ody's (myself included) is to avoid the Honda shop at all costs and go with a re-buider who actually gives a ^&*T about fixing them and usually at a couple of thou$and less than the "Honda" re-build.
   
 Insist they install a Magnefine filter in the return line, put in a full synthetic fluid and change it often, drive it for a while.....then ...."See-ya-Honda"

#1890 of 2392 Re: I sued Honda in Small Claims Court and Won [boo_honda] by uk_evv

May 28, 2011 (5:33 pm)

Replying to: boo_honda (Mar 01, 2011 7:47 pm)
I have a 2003 Honda and I am the second owner, I bought it in 2005 and it has 103000 miles. After reading your post, I am very nervous about keeping the van. Is there something that I can do to get it checked because my wife and kids depend on the van?

#1891 of 2392 Re: I sued Honda in Small Claims Court and Won [uk_evv] by pgnagel

May 29, 2011 (9:49 am)

Replying to: uk_evv (May 28, 2011 5:33 pm)
The number one cause of ANY brand of automatic transmission failure is heat. Have your transmission serviced annually. You don't need to flush it, just drain and refill. Honda now sells a synthetic fluid for its automatic transaxles. It's pricey, but far less than a new gearbox.
 
Have your mechanic install a good aftermarket cooler. Hayden is an excellent brand. Their model 678 cooler will keep your transaxle happy for a long time. Here's a link:
 
http://www.amazon.com/Hayden-Inc-678-Transmission-Cooler/dp/B000C3DDKO
 
Don't drive it like a race car. Minivans aren't meant to be drive like someone is chasing you. A light right foot means less stress on all the compenents, front the engine to the tires, and everything in between.

#1892 of 2392 Re: I sued Honda in Small Claims Court and Won [pgnagel] by ignorisbliss

May 29, 2011 (10:48 am)

Replying to: pgnagel (May 29, 2011 9:49 am)
Great advice. I would still do a flush to get all Z-1 out and then do drain and fill regularily with DW-1.
Some Ody's have a tube type cooler. Do you think an inline is still required if you put in DW-1?

#1893 of 2392 Re: I sued Honda in Small Claims Court and Won [ignorisbliss] by pgnagel

May 31, 2011 (4:09 am)

Replying to: ignorisbliss (May 29, 2011 10:48 am)
Synthetic fluid isn't magically better, its' just more stable. So yes, I would still install the Hayden cooler.
 
Our Odyssey has that useless Honda cooler. It's a joke, and it should be replaced with the far more effecient *stacked plate* version. See this link for a quick tutorial on how heat affects the fluid:
 
http://www.txchange.com/heatchrt.htm
 
You can't cool ATF fluid too much. Spend the $60 on the Hayden cooler and have it installed. You could save yourself $100 and do it yourself. It really isnt' difficult if you have a little patience.

#1894 of 2392 Re: I sued Honda in Small Claims Court and Won [pgnagel] by ignorisbliss

May 31, 2011 (1:21 pm)

Replying to: pgnagel (May 31, 2011 4:09 am)
Yep you are right. This is very cheap insurance. I will give it a try.

#1895 of 2392 Re: I sued Honda in Small Claims Court and Won [pgnagel] by ignorisbliss

May 31, 2011 (1:35 pm)

Replying to: pgnagel (May 31, 2011 4:09 am)
This Hayden Cooler, according to the Amazon website, is only compatible with Honda Odyssey 1999-2004?
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