Just got a 2004 Honda Odyssey and need to know about some issues...

Hi all;
My wife and I just got a 2004 Honda Odyssey.
It had some bumbs and bruises, but no more than our perfectly running
2003 accord, so we were'nt too picky.
I won't waste any time here, I will list some issues I have come
across and I would like some info from other 2004 odyssey owners to
see if these are common or cause for alarm.
For what it is worth, I just took it to our local honda service
department for the 60,000 mile service. We love the service department
here. As odd as this sounds, they are very fast, very nice, and very
honest.

1) Transmission; I have read countless horror stories about the
transmission on this generation of Odyssey. The shifting seems very
smooth, except 2nd to 3rd gear. I brought this up at the service dept
and they said a recall for the tranny was performed but if it gives us
more trouble, we are welcome to bring it in to be rechecked.

2) Steering; the power sterring is smooth, and this would only be
noticable by me (I am anal about cars), but the steering almost seems
"choppy" and if you are going the right speed, and you kind of let the
steering wheel go a bit around a curve, you can feel it turning back
in a choppy fashin, not a smooth turn. I thought at first this was a
steering fluid issue, but assumed that was checked at my 60,000.

3) DVD. I popped in a DVD I made of some VHS movies and it didnt work.
But havent tested any other DVDs other than the DVD that came with the
van, explaining the DVD system. Also, the remote doesn't work, which
may mean it needs a new battery, but without a screwdriver handy, I
wasnt about to just slide the battery compartment cover off with my
human strength.

I guess other than these issues, we really love our van (My wife
doesnt notice any of the issues I list here, but I am very picky about
this kind of stuff)

Any thoughts?
Thanks in Advance

Jamison
www.techtipsforparents.org

 

It may be that way forever. Or it may get worse.

I will never, ever, ever pay for a transmission repair to my 02 Odyssey.
Shame on Honda for doing what they did. I've had the recall performed,
but Honda spent many years nickel and diming the whole transmission
thing and sticking their heads in the sand about it.

I have a good dealer, so it's likely they will never put me in the spot
of having to yell and scream about it. But I will if need be.

Make sure factory DVDs work, then try making DVD-R. The ones I make at
home always work. But I can't reliably make DVD+R work in ANY player,
not just the Honda.

 

Jazz wrote:
Also, the remote doesn't work, which

---------------------

The key fob remote? If the little LED lights up, you need to retrain the
remote to the vehicle (or you got the wrong remote).

I'd do a drain-n-fill on the tranny anyway. Just assume the last guy was
neglectful.

'Curly'