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Honda Odyssey Transmission Problems

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

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Messages Page 204 of 240

#2029 of 2392 Need a little insight please by 2004odyssey1

Nov 05, 2011 (10:35 am)

I'm the original owner of a 2004 odyssey with 147k miles. Our family loves this car as it very functional for us and minimal problems up to now.
 
Over this past summer, we embarked on a 10k mile road trip in the odyssey. Prior to the trip, i had the basic tune-up performed (oil change, inspection) and had all 4 tires replaced. Also 2 motor mounts were replaced.
 
During this trip, we were driving through Texas during the heatwave and experienced a massive burst of oil from the front drivers side area. Driving with cruse control about 80mph, suddenly there was a loss of acceleration and the engine reved up over 4000rpm's. We were luckily planning to exit the interstate for gas/food and the off ramp was a few hundred feet ahead. When the loss of power occurred, I quickly ahifted to neutral. Upon limping (back in D but only idling speed) to the closest service station, i could see a lot of oil leaking. Again it seemed a bursting of oil due to the heat. Ill add the car was not overheating temp gauge wise and the a/c radio etc working fine.
 
So pretty concerned at what i saw, i took the car to different mechanics in the small town. They were not transmission specialist nor was there a honda dealer. They both basically told me that engine oil and atf levels were fine. One mechanic thought the atf was overfilled and "overflowed" but couldnt pinpoint where. The other mechanic mentioned a similar theory. The strange thing is after restarting the car after it cooled down, it seemed to run just fine. Although leary at first and driving quite conservatively, we made it from Texas back to Southern California without any problems or a repeat of the oil "burst" with odyssey performance quite normal.
 
Recently, im experiencing a clunking sound from the drivers side area. Like a metal to metal sound shaking inside an enclosure. It seems that the sound is at its worst when the car has not been driven for many hours (overnight) and hitting small bumps in the road. But after driving for approx 5-10 minutes the sound seems to reduce quite a bit. But lately, the sound persists constantly though always improving from the initial startup. Also I park on an incline with the front of the car up about about 25 degrees. My mechanic which has been very fair and reliable for many years cant explain it. I dont know if the oil bursting episode and the sound I'm hearing now are related. I'll also add that steering and breaking seem normal and the check engine ligjt is not lit.
 
Im not sure if this a transmission issue but trying my luck here. Any insight or any guidance to diagnose this would be gratefully appreciated. Thanks in advance.

#2030 of 2392 Re: Need a little insight please [2004odyssey1] by longo2

Nov 05, 2011 (10:54 am)

Replying to: 2004odyssey1 (Nov 05, 2011 10:35 am)
Was it motor oil, or a/t fluid?
 
 Did they put it up on a rack to see where the oil came from?

#2031 of 2392 Re: Need a little insight please [2004odyssey1] by donethat_1

Nov 05, 2011 (11:28 am)

Replying to: 2004odyssey1 (Nov 05, 2011 10:35 am)
This is probably more common than you think. More than likely, it is a transmissin problem. i had a 2001 with 68K miles and it went out. You will read plenty of stories where people are drivng doen the road with their kids in the car and all of a suddne the engine revs up and ultimately, the transmission leaks and fails.
 
Honda has had this issue for many years and thousands of consumers have been affected. Honda was invovled in a class action lawsuit over the ODY and lost a judgement of $$90 million. They knew of the issue when they made the van and still sold it to unsuspecting consumers. I called Honda and tried to work things out with them and they told me bascially, too bad so sad. There is nothing we can do. If I were you, I would get rid of the van now why it is still running. The rplacement transmission is of no use. It is the same one they put in originally which has failed again and again. For some owners, 6-7 times.
 
When I traded mine in they asked me if I had any transmssion issues with the van. That was the first questin they asked. That should tell you something.
 
I hope this helps. I got rid of my ODY and traded for another brand. I will never buy another Honda as long as I live nor will any family member or friends after this issue.

#2032 of 2392 Re: Need a little insight please [longo2] by 2004odyssey1

Nov 05, 2011 (9:37 pm)

Replying to: longo2 (Nov 05, 2011 10:54 am)
The mechanic was sure it wasn't motor oil. He did raise it and I had an oil change performed. He mentioned that the amount drained was close to normal. He thought it was atf but with the oil splattered everywhere, a discharge point couldn't be pinpointed. The amount that was splashed along he underside and front left wheel area seemed like a large amount, like I would guess at least a quart... but that's just a guess. But the level on the atf dipstick was right in the middle.
 
I'll add that there is no leaking now.... not even a drop.

#2033 of 2392 Re: Need a little insight please [donethat_1] by 2004odyssey1

Nov 05, 2011 (9:40 pm)

Replying to: donethat_1 (Nov 05, 2011 11:28 am)
I'm hoping that a new transmission is not required but I'm not too hopeful after reading so much about them here. At this time, I need to keep driving this car but if I get a chance to retire it, I will. Thank you.

#2034 of 2392 Re: Need a little insight please [2004odyssey1] by vanwaanabe

Nov 06, 2011 (12:47 pm)

Replying to: 2004odyssey1 (Nov 05, 2011 9:40 pm)
It's a transmission.
 
If you go to fix it and they blow you off - and they will - calmly tell them you are going to post your experiences on Honda's facebook page.
 
They completely blew me off: Honda and the dealer (who couldn't find the problem until the moment it went off warranty).
 
I called corporate and they yawned it wasn't their problem. I explained I was going to post on Facebook and make it my mission to ensure the cost of blowing me off would greatly exceed the cost of a new transmission.
 
After a few days of me calling and directing them to my facebook posts they magically decided they could fix my transmission.

#2035 of 2392 Re: Trans on my '04 just died [longo2] by julecat1

Nov 06, 2011 (4:07 pm)

Replying to: longo2 (Aug 29, 2011 7:34 am)
Original poster here. Got my car back a week later and a few months later all is okay. Car rides different and I think I'm going to live on the "uh oh is this a trans faliure" edge again. Noticed on here that many have a 1-2yrs warranty on the trans. Our rebuilt a got 6 mo/6000 miles warranty. Have been researching pre owned vans since we got this fixed, sadly none are Hondas, we are done with them as soon as this van dies it's slow death. Dang it, I drove my brand new 91 Nissan Sentra to 212,000 before I sold it after 10yrs only because I had more kids than I could fit-lol! Anyway, the person who bought it (a new teen driver) had it for three more years when the engine seized and it was done. I never had to do much beyond oil changes, the usuals like brakes etc. That car never broke down on me! Why oh why don't they make cars that last anymore like that?

#2036 of 2392 Honda "Legendary" reliablity by longo2

Nov 06, 2011 (6:01 pm)

" Why oh why don't they make cars that last anymore"
 
Every car company goes through a bad patch of years, Honda has been in trouble since the late 90's with their a/t problems. Sadly it's been bad enineering, cruel intentions and a denial brought on by puffed up pride in their brand that is part of the Odyssey's a/t issues (and other HOnda's that used the same tranny)
 
Someone once cynically said "Honda engineers must be the best, else how could they design vehicles that fall apart right after the warranty runs out"
 
Chrysler a/t's were once the benchmark of bad a/t engineering, and they too lost a class action lawsuit that cost them a kazzilion dollars in once loyal customers.
 
There are Ford F 150's that will blow the spark plugs right out of the engine. VW's that eat their camshaft and bearings. GM cars that hydrolock the motor from leaky intake manifold gaskets, Subarus with blown head gaskets, Toyota sludge monster engines, and the carnage goes on.
 
If I've missed any of your personal favorites , please add to this list.

#2037 of 2392 2004 Honda Odyssey transmission - Help?? by sassafrass1219

Nov 07, 2011 (6:32 pm)

I own a 2004 Honda Odyssey which I have been very satisfied with. It has approximately 180K miles. Prior to this I owned a '99 Windstar which I why I will never own another Ford. Enough said on that. I was driving with my young children in the back seat on the highway when I started hearing a noise that sounded like my engine was struggling to reach another gear. I was traveling around 55, so I don't quite know what gear comes next, but maybe it was downshifting - don't know. Anyway, the engine light comes on, the TCS light comes on and the tackometer (excuse spelling) shoots up to 7. I note that I was not going as fast as I should be an navigated the car safely to the side of the road. After I recovered my initial panic and rejoiced in my children and myself still living, I called my spouse for assistance. He drove the car to the dealer. The car needed to be pulled off the road several times, turned off and restarted on the way to the dealer. 2 days later I am informed that my transmission needs to be replaced which entails having the computer panel replaced and extraneous fluids replaced as well. The estimate is approximately $6,000. Does that sound realistic?? Should I replace or dump the 6K down on something else, in which case what?? Suggestions welcomed. Thank you!

#2038 of 2392 Re: 2004 Honda Odyssey transmission - Help?? [sassafrass1219] by hondamaybe

Nov 07, 2011 (7:04 pm)

Replying to: sassafrass1219 (Nov 07, 2011 6:32 pm)
Well you say you were very satisfied with this Honda and you had 180,000 miles on it which I think is good... Why not buy another Honda van, maybe a little newer with less miles on it... Some of the complaints I read on here and other web sites are unrealistic. Cars do not last forever.... I love my 2004 Honda van which has 94,000 miles on it and if I get to 180,000 I will be really happy.... no complaints... Of course this is just my opinion, but one observation I have is a lot of these vans seem to have transmission problems and it could be just the way they are loaded down and used really hard..

Messages Page 204 of 240

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