Tranny problem recommendations.

M

mimico_polak

Well-known member
Site Supporter
Forum Sponsor
Not that type of tranny! Honda Odyssey tranny!

Our 2018 Odyssey with 181,000kms has starting to show some signs of hesitation / jerking from the transmission. It's mostly found and noticed during 50-80kph slower speed drives. May happen on the highway, but rarely or it's just unnoticeable due to the speed and general vibration.

It's very slight, and happens mainly when down shifting or when the car is searching for gears.

We do a drain and fill service annually now but it's becoming more notable and more concerning.

We're considering a replacement, but outside of that the van has been amazing (regular maintenance, front and rear suspension, brakes, etc so far).

If the answer is a new transmission, the car's not worth that as it's probably worth around 10-12k on the wholesale market as a trade (if that).

Recommendations for route forward? This is not a DIY as it's way above my skill / tool level. Remanufactured? Keep going? Something of concern even?
 
That is so many trans fluid changes. You'd probably have been fine with 1-3 during your ownership instead of 7+. How much did they cost you? When I have done trans fluid changes before, the fluid cost a bunch ($~100-300 depending on car).

When was last trans fluid change vs onset of symptoms?

I assume you can manually select gears in the Odyssey? If so, try driving it like a standard and see if problem is resolved. That would help to isolate the problem to the logic side of the transmission or the mechanical/clutch side.
 
GreyGhost said:
That is so many trans fluid changes. You'd probably have been fine with 1-3 during your ownership instead of 7+. How much did they cost you? When I have done trans fluid changes before, the fluid cost a bunch ($~100-300 depending on car).

When was last trans fluid change vs onset of symptoms?

I assume you can manually select gears in the Odyssey? If so, try driving it like a standard and see if problem is resolved. That would help to isolate the problem to the logic side of the transmission or the mechanical/clutch side.
Click to expand...
Sorry guess I should clarify...the first transmission service we did was 5 years ago (so 2021), then 2 years after that, and now annually.

Symptoms started over a year ago or so, possibly 2+, and we've just been doing them more often ($210/last one - previously $150).

Will try driving it in manual mode this week.
 
Sounds like your best options are

1) Sell or trade it in now while it still runs ok
2) Keep driving it till it dies then get a rebuilt transmission

When I used to own an Acura TL I would suck out the trans fluid with a fluid extractor pump (you can find them on amazon for < $100), then just refill with new fluid. Took only a few mins to do and saved a ton of money compared to letting the dealer do it. This doesn't get all the fluid out but doing it semi-regularly ensures you have reasonably clean fluid in there. Not sure if you can still do this with a 2018 as my TL was older and transmission dipstick tubes are less common on newer cars. In any case the drain/refill is more of a preventative thing, if your transmission is already showing symptoms new fluid probably won't fix anything.
 
ToSlow said:
Have they tried a complete trans flush or just dropping the fluid and refilling?
Click to expand...
Just drain and fill.

I've read and have it not recommended to do a pressure flush due to things getting dislodged and getting into areas they shouldn't be in.
 
I'm sure you already did an online search for transmission problems for your vehicle. There does seem to be a lot of issues with various models years. In your model year there are some software updates and possible other electronic issues, or doing a re-flash of the software. Changing the fluid more regularly does seem to help as well, which I believe you are doing already.

My only Honda a 2008 Accord had a torque converter problem. It's a part before the transmission. It would drive very jerky when shifting in lower gears. The problem was only noticeable first thing in the morning, or first time driving the car for the day as it had to be completely cold. Not to say it's your issue, something to consider as the 2 parts work together.

Good luck!
 
danp said:
Sounds like your best options are

1) Sell or trade it in now while it still runs ok
2) Keep driving it till it dies then get a rebuilt transmission

When I used to own an Acura TL I would suck out the trans fluid with a fluid extractor pump (you can find them on amazon for < $100), then just refill with new fluid. Took only a few mins to do and saved a ton of money compared to letting the dealer do it. This doesn't get all the fluid out but doing it semi-regularly ensures you have reasonably clean fluid in there. Not sure if you can still do this with a 2018 as my TL was older and transmission dipstick tubes are less common on newer cars. In any case the drain/refill is more of a preventative thing, if your transmission is already showing symptoms new fluid probably won't fix anything.
Click to expand...
And you work at Honda so I'll take that advice strongly!

I'll look into rebuilds, but a newer Odyssey is tempting...although the price is :sick:

Although I have seen decent 2023-2024 models for sub-50k which is shocking considering 6 months ago I couldn't find anything below 55k on the used market within original warranty.
 
mimico_polak said:
Just drain and fill.

I've read and have it not recommended to do a pressure flush due to things getting dislodged and getting into areas they shouldn't be in.
Click to expand...
My neighbour had the same problems, all indications pointed to a complete trans overhaul or replacement. ended up taking it to the dealers and they did a flush and the trans worked great right up till he traded it in last wk. the flush was done over a yr ago
 
Additive?

My wife's Chevy Uplander occasionally burped on the highway and a GM service manager suggested an additive. It didn't help.

Then my Safari started doing the same thing and I tried the same additive and it was a complete cure.

My hate is that you can't add anything to most of the new vehicles. You can't even check tranny fluid levels. My subject vehicles were pre 2004. Now it's dealer item at $300 for flush and fill and they don't always get it right.
 
Last edited:
There is a good ( and honest ) tranny place on South Down Road on the west side near the GO station. I got my high mileage Odyssey done there. He'll tell you if it needs replacing and save some money either with service or replacement. Good luck.🍀
 
MacDoc said:
There is a good ( and honest ) tranny place on South Down Road on the west side near the GO station. I got my high mileage Odyssey done there. He'll tell you if it needs replacing and save some money either with service or replacement. Good luck.🍀
Click to expand...
Trymans transmission
 
Oh boy. I thought this was a thing of the past. I lived through this with my 2001, and pretty sure I shared the odyssey of our Odyssey's trans.

First, what's the mileage and in-service date of yours, and line it up with the transmission warranty - check if there's a separate transmission extension because of known issues (TSB's, recalls, etc.)? Did you buy it new and had all scheduled maintenance done at the purchasing dealership or other dealerships, or were some or all of them done independently?

If you're out of warranty due to mileage, check for TSB's/recalls/class action suits for odometer reading too high, then recalculate your actual mileage - there can be enough of a difference to bring you back under warranty, as it did for me (sort of).

Get the dates and mileage of your transmission fluid changes and where and what fluid. If they're all Honda dealerships and Honda fluid and within the prescribed maintenance windows, you'll have a much better chance of good will from Honda Canada or one of the dealerships (I recommend Parkway Honda from my own experience).

Let me search for what happened to mine and how I got it fixed without having to type everything out again.
 
Relax said:
Just when I thought everyone on here drove Hyundai's. So which dealership?

From my 2000 Odyssey experience, I can say that Ideal Honda (401/Dixie) completely let me down considering I bought it new there and also serviced it mostly there during warranty. Within the first 3 years, I brought it in with a flashing transmission light which was the tell-tale sign of impending transmission failure, but they said they couldn't find a problem. There was even a TSB and transmission warranty extension. Then when the transmission finally stopped automatically shifting gears 10000 kms after the extended warranty expired (but still within time limit), they wouldn't cover it under goodwill even though I had brought it in with the same complaint before. So there I was manually shifting my Odyssey for about 6 months until I get another letter from Honda about a class action lawsuit settlement for the speedometer reading 10% too high. Well, in that case, the 10000 kms I was over by was really about 9000 kms under, and I should have been covered. Called Ideal up again and got "Sorry, you have to deal with Honda Canada", which also went nowhere.

Out of frustration I ended up calling Parkway Honda which I always passed on my way to/from work, and they really stepped up. They said they would work with Honda Canada to cover a remanufactured transmission, but they would need me to cover the labour, which worked out to about $900. Considering I was getting quotes of $2500 and up for an out-of-pocket job, I jumped at it and it drove like new when I got it back.
Click to expand...
 
mimico_polak said:
Just drain and fill.

I've read and have it not recommended to do a pressure flush due to things getting dislodged and getting into areas they shouldn't be in.
Click to expand...

If it's the same as our Odyssey (and a lot of other transmissions), a proper fluid service requires multiple drain/fills (like at least 3) to actually get all the fluid out (since only a fraction of the fluid comes out during a drain, leaving the majority of it still in the transmission).

This video starts off optimistic, but I haven't watched the whole thing. Sounds like a proper 3x drain/fill with the correct fluid may be all you need.

 
mimico_polak said:
Not that type of tranny! Honda Odyssey tranny!

Our 2018 Odyssey with 181,000kms has starting to show some signs of hesitation / jerking from the transmission. It's mostly found and noticed during 50-80kph slower speed drives. May happen on the highway, but rarely or it's just unnoticeable due to the speed and general vibration.

It's very slight, and happens mainly when down shifting or when the car is searching for gears.

We do a drain and fill service annually now but it's becoming more notable and more concerning.

We're considering a replacement, but outside of that the van has been amazing (regular maintenance, front and rear suspension, brakes, etc so far).

If the answer is a new transmission, the car's not worth that as it's probably worth around 10-12k on the wholesale market as a trade (if that).

Recommendations for route forward? This is not a DIY as it's way above my skill / tool level. Remanufactured? Keep going? Something of concern even?
Click to expand...
Was it drained & filled at a Honda dealer? Honda fluid? Some say any other transmission fluid can damage a Honda.
My '18 Ridgeline has started to stutter in the last couple months. 80,000kms.
I've never serviced the transmission.
New, refreshed, hybrid Ridgeline was to be available in a '27, so I would have traded it in.
Now, that's been delayed until the '28 m.y........grrrrrrr.
Forum Sponsor
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom