'99 Odyssey stalling. Serious problem, please help!

Just curious if anyone has expirienced this. My wifes 99 Odyssey, with
85,000 miles, stalls. No matter the spped, 10 mph or 50mph. It totally
stalls. The lights flicker, and the engine shuts off, and
depends..it'll start right back up, or at times take numerous
attempts. We took it to the dealer today, and they said they never
heard of that happening before. When I checked the van out it had a
slightly loose battery cable. I tightened it, but that didn't do a
thing. It's done that at least a half dozen times in the last week.
Anyone ever have a similar problem?? Dealer still has it, hope they
find out. Hate for it to stall on the freeway with the 4 kids in it.

Just in case the dealer comes back with one of those, "we couldn't
duplicate it, so we won't take a look at it" BS, can any of you guys
guess as to what might be causing such a problem? TIA!

 

====================

Do a google search on 'Honda ignition switch recall', and see if you're
the owner described. :-(

It may not apply to your model / year, but symptoms sound good.

'Curly'

 

====================

Do a google search on 'Honda ignition switch recall', and see if you're
the owner described. :-(

It may not apply to your model / year, but symptoms sound good.

'Curly'

 

There are numerous things that can cause the problem but I would think that
codes were set in the computer. The ignorance of the dealers statements just
shows why he should not be in a service position. I would go to the dealers
management and file a complaint with them...

 

There are numerous things that can cause the problem but I would think that
codes were set in the computer. The ignorance of the dealers statements just
shows why he should not be in a service position. I would go to the dealers
management and file a complaint with them...

 

if its the ignition switch, i dont think a code would be set.

 

if its the ignition switch, i dont think a code would be set.

 

It could be the electronic ignition computer chip, which cost around $300 to
500 in Aussie to replace. This chip usually fails when heated and works
again when cooled. This chip gets damaged thru age or thru trying to jump
star another car using jumper leads.

 

It could be the electronic ignition computer chip, which cost around $300 to
500 in Aussie to replace. This chip usually fails when heated and works
again when cooled. This chip gets damaged thru age or thru trying to jump
star another car using jumper leads.

 

I agree with the other posters whom said that the ignition swith could be
the problem. However, I would also like to provide some info. I learned
from a poster several months ago that had some stall problems. He tried
lots of things to fix the problem but when he changed the fuel
filter--that solved his problem. He suspected that he purchased a bad tank
of gas that had water in it. Some of the water got trapped in the fuel
filter and it was the cause of his stall problems. This could also be your
problem.

 

I agree with the other posters whom said that the ignition swith could be
the problem. However, I would also like to provide some info. I learned
from a poster several months ago that had some stall problems. He tried
lots of things to fix the problem but when he changed the fuel
filter--that solved his problem. He suspected that he purchased a bad tank
of gas that had water in it. Some of the water got trapped in the fuel
filter and it was the cause of his stall problems. This could also be your
problem.

 

=============================

Good point, Ted,

I think I remember that one. If that's the case here, a full tank of
ethanol-enhanced fuel, or a couple of those tiny bottles of methyl
hydrate might prove the theory right away, rather than scheduling a trip
to the dealer. Injected engines respond really fast to changes in fuel,
because of the 'recirculating' nature of the fuel system.

There's a product called HEAT-something, I don't know if we have it in
Canada,(we just buy methyl alcohol in the small bottles) but it might be
the quick fix for Steve's problem.

'Curly'

 

=============================

Good point, Ted,

I think I remember that one. If that's the case here, a full tank of
ethanol-enhanced fuel, or a couple of those tiny bottles of methyl
hydrate might prove the theory right away, rather than scheduling a trip
to the dealer. Injected engines respond really fast to changes in fuel,
because of the 'recirculating' nature of the fuel system.

There's a product called HEAT-something, I don't know if we have it in
Canada,(we just buy methyl alcohol in the small bottles) but it might be
the quick fix for Steve's problem.

'Curly'

 

I think it's called Heet for the methanol and iso-Heet for the isopropanol:
http://www.goldeagle.com/heet/faqs_heet.asp. Methanol is only slightly
miscible with gasoline and doesn't work nearly as well as isopropanol.
There are of course, some other brands here - any 99.9% isopropanol will
do.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

I think it's called Heet for the methanol and iso-Heet for the isopropanol:
http://www.goldeagle.com/heet/faqs_heet.asp. Methanol is only slightly
miscible with gasoline and doesn't work nearly as well as isopropanol.
There are of course, some other brands here - any 99.9% isopropanol will
do.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

You said that when it stalls the dash lights come on? If so, it is NOT the
ignition switch problem. The problem with the ignition switch would cause
the engine to cut out , but the car would give you NO indication that it had
happened (other than the sudden loss of power). If you looked at the
dash/listened to the radio... it would appear that all is just fine. I
should know. I was one of the "early" sufferers... and I filed with the
NHTSC and posted to the website of others who had the ignition problem - in
my report I also cited that website. Later, there was a recall, imagine
that...

--
KWW

me??

 

You said that when it stalls the dash lights come on? If so, it is NOT the
ignition switch problem. The problem with the ignition switch would cause
the engine to cut out , but the car would give you NO indication that it had
happened (other than the sudden loss of power). If you looked at the
dash/listened to the radio... it would appear that all is just fine. I
should know. I was one of the "early" sufferers... and I filed with the
NHTSC and posted to the website of others who had the ignition problem - in
my report I also cited that website. Later, there was a recall, imagine
that...

--
KWW

me??

 

============================

As I recall, when we had ours fail on the highway at night, the cruise
cut out, the engine died, then the oil light came on nice and bright,
and maybe the engine light. It was such a surprise at the time I didn't
really take notes, though . . .

'Curly'

 

============================

As I recall, when we had ours fail on the highway at night, the cruise
cut out, the engine died, then the oil light came on nice and bright,
and maybe the engine light. It was such a surprise at the time I didn't
really take notes, though . . .

'Curly'

 

Have your ignition switch recall performed.