Comments on: Excessive Engine Vibration with ECO on the Honda Odyssey EX-L and Honda Odyssey Touring http://accuratecars.com/blog/2008/11/26/excessive-engine-vibration-with-eco-on-the-honda-odyssey-ex-l-and-honda-odyssey-touring/ We specialize in Honda and Acura Automobiles. Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:25:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: ebrian http://accuratecars.com/blog/2008/11/26/excessive-engine-vibration-with-eco-on-the-honda-odyssey-ex-l-and-honda-odyssey-touring/#comment-981 ebrian Fri, 05 Mar 2010 16:04:13 +0000 http://accuratecars.com/blog/?p=190#comment-981 I read your email and understand some of you frustration. First, you can always install the EX-L wheels and tires on your van, even though it is a Touring model. If you do not like the EX-L wheels, you can move up to the 5 spoke Touring wheel that is found on the '07-present Touring models with non-PAX tires. Both of these wheels take regular tires, and it will be worth the one-time extra expense to remove the PAX system, if you plan on keeping the van for several years. The engine mount is a pain in the neck, but simply dampens the engine vibration in Economy mode. The mount will need to be replaced soon, but there are a lot of Odyssey vans on the road with broken rear engine mounts. The engine vibration will get progessively worse in ECO mode and will put additional stress on the other mounts. Being mentioned in a Service Bulletin is not the same as being in a Service Recall. A Service Recall is safety related and requires manufacturer funding (such as the Toyota issue with the uncontrolled acceration). A Service Bulletin is usually a problem that has effected enough units that a Bulletin is issued by the manufacturer, so dealership service departments know what to look for, if a specific complaint comes in. These issues are rarely "Goodwill" honored (in full) if outside of the warranty period. However, you may be able to negotiate for Honda buying the part and you paying the labor to install it.....The part costs more than the labor, so negotiate for the part if they won't fully cover the entire repair. The Power Steering effort seems to be related to cold weather. The fluid simply does not flow well when very cold, and nothing reasonable can currently be done to remedy this seasonal issue. Thanks for reading our blog articles. Sincerely, Ed Brian Accurate Auto Sales, Inc. (866) 445-9570 hondaed@accuratecars.com www.accuratecars.com Specializing in the sales & service of Honda and Acura automobiles I read your email and understand some of you frustration.

First, you can always install the EX-L wheels and tires on your van, even though it is a Touring model. If you do not like the EX-L wheels, you can move up to the 5 spoke Touring wheel that is found on the ‘07-present Touring models with non-PAX tires. Both of these wheels take regular tires, and it will be worth the one-time extra expense to remove the PAX system, if you plan on keeping the van for several years.

The engine mount is a pain in the neck, but simply dampens the engine vibration in Economy mode. The mount will need to be replaced soon, but there are a lot of Odyssey vans on the road with broken rear engine mounts. The engine vibration will get progessively worse in ECO mode and will put additional stress on the other mounts. Being mentioned in a Service Bulletin is not the same as being in a Service Recall. A Service Recall is safety related and requires manufacturer funding (such as the Toyota issue with the uncontrolled acceration). A Service Bulletin is usually a problem that has effected enough units that a Bulletin is issued by the manufacturer, so dealership service departments know what to look for, if a specific complaint comes in. These issues are rarely “Goodwill” honored (in full) if outside of the warranty period. However, you may be able to negotiate for Honda buying the part and you paying the labor to install it…..The part costs more than the labor, so negotiate for the part if they won’t fully cover the entire repair.

The Power Steering effort seems to be related to cold weather. The fluid simply does not flow well when very cold, and nothing reasonable can currently be done to remedy this seasonal issue.

Thanks for reading our blog articles.

Sincerely,
Ed Brian
Accurate Auto Sales, Inc.
(866) 445-9570
hondaed@accuratecars.com
http://www.accuratecars.com
Specializing in the sales & service of Honda and Acura automobiles

]]> By: Lisa D http://accuratecars.com/blog/2008/11/26/excessive-engine-vibration-with-eco-on-the-honda-odyssey-ex-l-and-honda-odyssey-touring/#comment-979 Lisa D Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:42:35 +0000 http://accuratecars.com/blog/?p=190#comment-979 I have a 2006 Odyssey touring with the lovely PAX tires. I recently had to have my 4th flat tire replaced and while the car was at the dealership they discovered the rear engine mount was broken. After reading this blog, I understand that is no surprise. They told me that it would cost $750 to replace it. If it is broken, it is covered by the previously mentioned service bulletin? I called my advisor and he told me that it was not. When I pushed further and asked about the good will consideration, he said that he would get back to me. They also told me that they would not worry with replacing the mount. So the questions for you are: Does it need to be fixed? Will I have any luck with the good will consideration? Is there anything more I should do at this point? Sorry for the long post, but my other issue is that it seems that my power steering is going out. When I make tight turns or pull into parking spots, it feels like I am moving the car with my own arms. Would this be covered under any service bulletin or am I on my own? Thanks so much for your blog and your advice! Lisa I have a 2006 Odyssey touring with the lovely PAX tires. I recently had to have my 4th flat tire replaced and while the car was at the dealership they discovered the rear engine mount was broken. After reading this blog, I understand that is no surprise. They told me that it would cost $750 to replace it. If it is broken, it is covered by the previously mentioned service bulletin? I called my advisor and he told me that it was not. When I pushed further and asked about the good will consideration, he said that he would get back to me. They also told me that they would not worry with replacing the mount. So the questions for you are: Does it need to be fixed? Will I have any luck with the good will consideration? Is there anything more I should do at this point?

Sorry for the long post, but my other issue is that it seems that my power steering is going out. When I make tight turns or pull into parking spots, it feels like I am moving the car with my own arms. Would this be covered under any service bulletin or am I on my own?

Thanks so much for your blog and your advice!

Lisa

]]> By: ebrian http://accuratecars.com/blog/2008/11/26/excessive-engine-vibration-with-eco-on-the-honda-odyssey-ex-l-and-honda-odyssey-touring/#comment-846 ebrian Sat, 30 Jan 2010 14:35:36 +0000 http://accuratecars.com/blog/?p=190#comment-846 I don't have any particular Honda dealer that I can refer you to.... As you know, just because a business is franchised, does not automatically mean that they are competent.... Look at fast food....All McDonalds restaurants are franchised, but some are nasty and you would not eat at them....The same goes for franchised car dealers....All of them may be franchised by the manufacturer, but that doesn't mean that they no what they are doing, or if they care whether your car gets fixed today or a week from next Thursday.... I suggest just doing your background reasearch before entrusting your vehicle to any dealer or repair shop. Hope this helps. Ed I don’t have any particular Honda dealer that I can refer you to….

As you know, just because a business is franchised, does not automatically mean that they are competent….

Look at fast food….All McDonalds restaurants are franchised, but some are nasty and you would not eat at them….The same goes for franchised car dealers….All of them may be franchised by the manufacturer, but that doesn’t mean that they no what they are doing, or if they care whether your car gets fixed today or a week from next Thursday….

I suggest just doing your background reasearch before entrusting your vehicle to any dealer or repair shop.

Hope this helps.
Ed

]]> By: charan http://accuratecars.com/blog/2008/11/26/excessive-engine-vibration-with-eco-on-the-honda-odyssey-ex-l-and-honda-odyssey-touring/#comment-844 charan Sat, 30 Jan 2010 02:55:34 +0000 http://accuratecars.com/blog/?p=190#comment-844 Thanks for replying .your valuable info gave me lot of confidence to understand eco system. As you know i live quite far away from you .do you have any reliable dealer in USA near to vancouver (b.c.),so in future i can deal with them. Thanks for replying .your valuable info gave me lot of confidence to understand eco system. As you know i live quite far away from you .do you have any reliable dealer in USA near to vancouver (b.c.),so in future i can deal with them.

]]> By: ebrian http://accuratecars.com/blog/2008/11/26/excessive-engine-vibration-with-eco-on-the-honda-odyssey-ex-l-and-honda-odyssey-touring/#comment-836 ebrian Thu, 28 Jan 2010 14:20:40 +0000 http://accuratecars.com/blog/?p=190#comment-836 ECO mode is a good thing.....And you do not want to dis-able it....And I don't know of a way to dis-able it without sending false information to the ECU (computer). With that said, please realize that just because there is a lot of information about torque converter failure on the internet; not everyone is experiencing problems with it. I do not recommend trying to dis-able the economy mode. However, I do recommend dis-abling overdrive, when you will not be exceeeding 50 - 55 mph. If you are on roads and highways that you are driving below 55 mph, simply turn off the overdrive by pushing the button on the side of the gear shifter. This will still allow the van to go into ECO mode, but it will not allow the van to shift into overdrive, which severely taxes the engine at speeds below 55 mph. Ed ECO mode is a good thing…..And you do not want to dis-able it….And I don’t know of a way to dis-able it without sending false information to the ECU (computer).

With that said, please realize that just because there is a lot of information about torque converter failure on the internet; not everyone is experiencing problems with it.

I do not recommend trying to dis-able the economy mode. However, I do recommend dis-abling overdrive, when you will not be exceeeding 50 - 55 mph. If you are on roads and highways that you are driving below 55 mph, simply turn off the overdrive by pushing the button on the side of the gear shifter. This will still allow the van to go into ECO mode, but it will not allow the van to shift into overdrive, which severely taxes the engine at speeds below 55 mph.

Ed

]]> By: charan http://accuratecars.com/blog/2008/11/26/excessive-engine-vibration-with-eco-on-the-honda-odyssey-ex-l-and-honda-odyssey-touring/#comment-833 charan Thu, 28 Jan 2010 02:46:18 +0000 http://accuratecars.com/blog/?p=190#comment-833 HI , I BOUGHT 2009 (US MODEL) EXL 2009 ODYSSEY WITH 3500 MILES. THIS VAN WAS WRITTEN OF IN RECORDS.ECO LIGHT WITH SHUDDERING NOISE BOTHERS ME A LOT. I CAME TO KNOW THROUGH YOUR BLOG THAT IN FUTURE I CAN HAVE TORQUE CONVERTOR PROBLEMS. I LIVE IN VANCOUVER CANADA AND DEALERS KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ECO SYSTEM.CAN I SOMEHOW DISABLE ECO SYSTEM. HI , I BOUGHT 2009 (US MODEL) EXL 2009 ODYSSEY WITH 3500 MILES. THIS VAN WAS WRITTEN OF IN RECORDS.ECO LIGHT WITH SHUDDERING NOISE BOTHERS ME A LOT. I CAME TO KNOW THROUGH YOUR BLOG THAT IN FUTURE I CAN HAVE TORQUE CONVERTOR PROBLEMS. I LIVE IN VANCOUVER CANADA AND DEALERS KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ECO SYSTEM.CAN I SOMEHOW DISABLE ECO SYSTEM.

]]> By: ebrian http://accuratecars.com/blog/2008/11/26/excessive-engine-vibration-with-eco-on-the-honda-odyssey-ex-l-and-honda-odyssey-touring/#comment-810 ebrian Sat, 16 Jan 2010 15:41:47 +0000 http://accuratecars.com/blog/?p=190#comment-810 Hello Doug, I appreciate your comments and our service department will be glad to help you with your problem. In cold weather there is a seal that can cause air to enter the power steering system. This causes the power steering pump to cavitate and that is the whine that you hear. Over time, this can damage the pump. Usually, we can replace the seal and the reservoir to remedy this issue without having to replace the pump. Honda has reduced the price of the reservoir and the repair can be performed at Accurate, for about $110.00. Because of the few "sue happy" people that live in our society today, we do not offer advice on how to fix something. This is especially true of brakes and power steering systems. Our blog articles are written for informational purposes only to identify problems and that is why you do not see a step-by-step instructional in any of our articles pertaining to car repair. Our service department is made up of former Honda & Acura dealership technicians, and we are very experienced with Honda and Acura products. If you wish to attempt this repair by yourself then I wish you great success in the endeavor. However, it has been our past experience that people that do not work on Hondas everyday, usually endure more expenses in the final repair bill, than if they had simply come to our service department first. I would recommend that you call us and set up an appointment to bring your van in. 615-220-0333 Hello Doug,

I appreciate your comments and our service department will be glad to help you with your problem.

In cold weather there is a seal that can cause air to enter the power steering system. This causes the power steering pump to cavitate and that is the whine that you hear. Over time, this can damage the pump.

Usually, we can replace the seal and the reservoir to remedy this issue without having to replace the pump. Honda has reduced the price of the reservoir and the repair can be performed at Accurate, for about $110.00.

Because of the few “sue happy” people that live in our society today, we do not offer advice on how to fix something. This is especially true of brakes and power steering systems.

Our blog articles are written for informational purposes only to identify problems and that is why you do not see a step-by-step instructional in any of our articles pertaining to car repair.

Our service department is made up of former Honda & Acura dealership technicians, and we are very experienced with Honda and Acura products.

If you wish to attempt this repair by yourself then I wish you great success in the endeavor. However, it has been our past experience that people that do not work on Hondas everyday, usually endure more expenses in the final repair bill, than if they had simply come to our service department first.

I would recommend that you call us and set up an appointment to bring your van in.

615-220-0333

]]> By: Another Doug http://accuratecars.com/blog/2008/11/26/excessive-engine-vibration-with-eco-on-the-honda-odyssey-ex-l-and-honda-odyssey-touring/#comment-807 Another Doug Sat, 16 Jan 2010 03:30:19 +0000 http://accuratecars.com/blog/?p=190#comment-807 My 2005 Odyssey EX-L is making exactly the same noise from the "belt" side of the engine after being driven 30+ minutes in cooler weather. My local Honda dealer (10-20 miles south of you) explained to me that the power steering fluid reservoir needed to be replaced along with the tubing coming from the lower port. They wanted around $400 to do this, but I note that you had earlier posted that the reservoir could be bought for around $75. I'm fairly competent with the wrenches, is this replacement a job that can be done without special equipment? What does Accurate charge for the work? Thanks! Doug My 2005 Odyssey EX-L is making exactly the same noise from the “belt” side of the engine after being driven 30+ minutes in cooler weather. My local Honda dealer (10-20 miles south of you) explained to me that the power steering fluid reservoir needed to be replaced along with the tubing coming from the lower port. They wanted around $400 to do this, but I note that you had earlier posted that the reservoir could be bought for around $75. I’m fairly competent with the wrenches, is this replacement a job that can be done without special equipment? What does Accurate charge for the work?

Thanks!

Doug

]]> By: Doug http://accuratecars.com/blog/2008/11/26/excessive-engine-vibration-with-eco-on-the-honda-odyssey-ex-l-and-honda-odyssey-touring/#comment-769 Doug Wed, 30 Dec 2009 22:06:52 +0000 http://accuratecars.com/blog/?p=190#comment-769 Thanks for that tip on the service bulletin. I hadn't thought of it specifically at the time, but the top pulley is the power steering pump, and that seems to be where the noise was coming from. I haven't heard the noise since, but I am going to talk to my dealer here in Palm Bay, FL. Hopefully, the pump wasn't damaged by that 40 mile drive on a Virginia ByWay. Thanks Again, and I've bookmarked your site for future reference. Doug Thanks for that tip on the service bulletin. I hadn’t thought of it specifically at the time, but the top pulley is the power steering pump, and that seems to be where the noise was coming from. I haven’t heard the noise since, but I am going to talk to my dealer here in Palm Bay, FL. Hopefully, the pump wasn’t damaged by that 40 mile drive on a Virginia ByWay.

Thanks Again, and I’ve bookmarked your site for future reference.

Doug

]]> By: ebrian http://accuratecars.com/blog/2008/11/26/excessive-engine-vibration-with-eco-on-the-honda-odyssey-ex-l-and-honda-odyssey-touring/#comment-768 ebrian Wed, 30 Dec 2009 14:26:09 +0000 http://accuratecars.com/blog/?p=190#comment-768 Your noise is likely to be related to Honda Service Bulletin 07-055, which was last updated August 21, 2009. This bulletin is based on a hum, buzz, or whine type noise which comes from the power steering pump. The bulletin gives this symptom, "The power steering pump whines, buzzes, or hums after driving for 30 minutes in temperatures of 35 to 40 degrees". The probable cause is a defective power steering fluid reservior. Hope this helps..... Ed Your noise is likely to be related to Honda Service Bulletin 07-055, which was last updated August 21, 2009.

This bulletin is based on a hum, buzz, or whine type noise which comes from the power steering pump.

The bulletin gives this symptom, “The power steering pump whines, buzzes, or hums after driving for 30 minutes in temperatures of 35 to 40 degrees”.

The probable cause is a defective power steering fluid reservior.

Hope this helps…..

Ed

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