Interesting. I didn't realize honda had gone to 9 or 10 speeds in the odyssey. My car has a pita procedure but it swaps almost all the fluid (about 1L stays unless you physically disassemble entire transmission).
Tranny problem recommendations.
- Thread starter mimico_polak
- Start date
Glenn/RZ500
Well-known member
I did the Google.."2018 Odyssey electronic transmission control problems and solutions". Your issues are like the ones I had on two separate Ford vehicles, they turned out to be electronic. Have you tried the 5 step TCM reset, easy to do, listed there? Other common electronic techno f**kery are software updates, sensors, battery and cables, and solenoids. I was actually surprised at what I thought was so many un-Honda like problems....maybe that`s the norm now though. Check that Google search out, good luck!
It has the super common ZF transmissions (which are probably used by ford too). If the ZF transmission had a foible, both Honda and Ford vehicles would experience it.
If he has the Touring model its the Honda 10 speed unit.
I'm a bit of a Mazda guy and the later models have been reported with the same issues. In my digging, I have learned (and I'm sure others have too) that every electronic transmission made in the last 10 years has a learning feature. Mazda has a reset that you can do without diagnostic tools. I found this video on youtube. I did not validate but it costs nothing to try.
Won't help you much, but I have a 2015 Odyssey EX-L with 317,000 km on it. Only had one transmission issue a couple of years in. We got stuck in line at Tim Horton's. It was in gear, but would no longer move. I got help to push it out of the line. Had it towed to a shop, and when they looked at it the next day, it ran fine. Never had an issue since. I had a transmission fail on a Chevy Venture after a transmission change at the dealer, so I've been loath to do them on the Honda. I've done at least one, and probably two, so far.
Thanks all. Looks like I’ve got some more investigating to do!
I’ll try the relearn method first, then off to the 3x drain and fill.
After that…Honda dealer or a transmission shop. Sadly updating the software could only be done at the dealer from what I’m reading.
I’ll try the relearn method first, then off to the 3x drain and fill.
After that…Honda dealer or a transmission shop. Sadly updating the software could only be done at the dealer from what I’m reading.
Drain and fill is actually quite easy to do yourself. Raise it and level it. Drain it, there's a hole on top accessible under the airbox area to refill until oil comes out of the level hole.
Run it through gears and repeat (or just drive it until you have time to do it again and repeat). After you've done it once and you know the level is correct you don't need to level the van and pull the level screw. Just lift the van enough to get at the drain bolt and measure what drains and put back in the same amount.
Relax
Well-known member
Let me know when you plan to do the 3x drain and I'll see if my garage is in a state where you can use the lift. Worst case it just needs to be not raining so I can dump everything onto the driveway while we do it.
Offering the lift is a standup move. He is a baller with a quikjack now. It may pay for itself on just this job. Putting a vehicle onto jackstands 3 times sucks.
Fwiw, there were multiple procedures for my car. One had you run through every gear in the air, one said to just put it down and drive. The transmission was ****** when it was in the air which concerned me. As soon as I put it down, it was perfectly happy. I think it was the computer freaking out about no traction and engaging awd and then brakes to try to even out wheel speeds.
Relax
Well-known member
Couldn't remember which vehicle his Quickjack doesn't fit and too lazy to look. Regardless, as much as Quickjacks trump jack stands, its so much nicer to stand, crouch, kneel or sit (depending on how high we can raise it) under a lift. Plus the lift is level on the locks, which is problematic with Quickjacks that really shouldn't be shimmed to make level.
Disabling traction control is usually part of the procedure when running all wheels in the air, can't remember about AWD but I know Subarus can be made to run that way. EDIT: Google AI says "pressing the traction button on the dash is not enough. The computer will still try to stop the wheels from spinning in the air. You must physically pull the ABS / VDC Solenoid fuse to cut power to the module." - for my 2012 Impreza.
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