2002 Odyssy Transmission Problem

Hi,

On my 2002 Odyssy van (23,000 miles or so), I was getting a hissing noice
from the engine (at all speeds). I took the van to the dealer - who said he
needs to replace a transmission bearing which he said he promptly ordered.

Now when I took the van for bearing replacement, he says he needs to replace
the entire transmission.

1. Is this normal?

Also, he is replacing the transmission with a "re-manufactured"
transmission. I feel deceived that they are using a used part for something
as important as transmission even though they say it is covered for 7 years
or 100,000 miles.

2. Is it acceptable/customory for them to use a remanufactured part?
3. Have others been thru the same thing? What are my options?

I did a google search on this problem and I came to realize that
transmission issue has been a problem with Honda in prior models. Did not
realize that ...:-(

I have been a loyal Honda customer (this is my third car/van from Honda),
now I am not sure ...

Thanks for any info.

 

Ask the dealer. If you get an option of whether to get a new or used part,
then assert your rights. I personally wouldn't feel comfortable about this
either way unless I drove away with the same warranty whether they used a
new part or a used one for the repair.

AJPDLA

 

Yes. By and large, modern automatic transmissions are "black boxes"
that field techs aren't really supposed to work with. They're so
complicated, they just get rebuilt in shops that are dedicated to the
task.

In addition, Honda is VERY gunshy about their automatic transmissions
now--for good reason. They put out several hundred thousand
questionable automatic transmissions over a period of years, making them
look like Chrysler. I think that Honda probably wants to look at your
transmission to see if it's a fluke or if it's in the pattern of bad
ones.

Technically, they say the problem was fixed before model year 2002.
But, nobody's really quite sure--even Honda.

Not to worry. It may have been rebuilt, but with all new parts.

Check your warranty. I believe so.

You and I both, pal. I have an 02 Odyssey, and when I went to buy a
used Accord my Honda mechanic impressed upon me the need to buy a manual
transmission. At one point, his shop was replacing about a transmission
a day--and that was before Honda announced the warranty extension for
the affected units.

http://www.odyclub.com

 

Wow...thanks for the nice info. Now I feel a little relieved..

 

Yes...I am going to the dealer to talk about what options did I have, and
why I was not told about it ...

Thanks for the info.

 

a re manufactured is as good as a new trans, more human tender loving care
is used by the people rebuilding it. As a former trans man I can build them
with my eyes closed. The worse part is removing and installing. The dealer
does not rebuild because he does not want to hire a skilled person that will
not stay busy enough. After the trans is assembled it is checked with air to
make sure all clutches and packs work with no leakes.

 

Now when I took the van for bearing replacement, he says he needs to
I've seen a post here not so long ago where an Accord transmission broke
down on a brand new car, less than 1000 miles I think.
They did replace it with a remanufactured transmission.
When you have warranty, it only means that they have to repair it. You will
not get a new car if something brakes the next morning you took delivery of
a brand new car, unless it is not repairable or more expensive than a brand
new one.
So they only need to repair your tranny. Even at the dealer, I'd doubt that
they have a tranny specialist. Usually only specialized shops will strip a
tranny down and repair it. So they have to send it out. It is less expensive
for them and less trouble for you to order another one which was already
repaired. Normally it means that most of the interior components were
replaced with brand new ones anyway.
As long as you get the 7 years/100000 miles warranty, I wouldn't worry about
it.

 

You might want to go to http://www.odyclub.com and do a search on this
subject. It has been discussed in great detail there.

 

My 99 Accord has a different transmission - I'm not sure how
different, but it is a 4 speed auto vs 5 speed auto. The original was
replaced at ~51k miles with a "Honda Remanufactured" transmission out
of warranty with at a 75% discount. This second transmission was in
turn replaced for free at 76k.

Acceptable? If what American Honda's District Service Rep told me is
true - that everything inside the case is new, then I would say it is
perfectly acceptable. Based on the fact that my second transmission
failed with 25k on it, I'm guessing that they are lying, or the design
is really just pathetic.

Customary? From what I have read and been told, remanufactured is the
only warranty replacement option.

Yes - If you want more details, search google for my previous posts or
email me. Fortunately you are under a nice extended warranty - a
luxury not extended to many pre 2001 cars. A friend that owns a CL-S
recommends fluid changes every 10-15k based on forums he frequents.
That may be the cheapest insurance. If I keep my car, I will probably
change the fluid at 15k intervals.

This was my first Honda. I bought it new, babied it, drove mostly
country road and highway miles and got hosed anyway. I'm really not
sure what I'll buy next. I think pretty much any car could be as
problematic, or worse.

Good luck.

-James

 

Thanks all the posts again. This is very informative.

I am not sure if this is what they do. They DID tell me they have a 7 year
100000 mile warranty. They did not give me anything on paper to say that my
warranty is good for seven more years or (123,000 miles since mine already
had about 23,000 miles).

Are they supposed to give me something on paper as proof of warranty (so I
don't get screwed down the road), or is it on the computer system somewhere
in Honda under my VIN?

 

Are they supposed to give me something on paper as proof of warranty (so I

For sure, if Honda gives you a warranty, it would be in their system under
your VIN number so you can get it repaired at any Honda dealership.
On the other hand, I would request at least a printout to have a proof on
paper.

 

It is until 7 years / 100000 miles, not an additional 7 years/100000. This
is the same guarantee extension given to the cars with the problematic
transmissions. You should have gotten a letter from Honda announcing this.

I'm not sure if Honda does this the same way as Acura, but with an Acura you
can register your car on the "owners link" web page and it will tell you
what recalls and extensions apply to it. You might try the Honda website
and see if there is a similar feature. If anything shows up there, then you
know it is in their computer.

 

I didn't get anything other than my invoice showing the warranty
(which is 12 months/12k miles in my case), but the details on warranty
length did not show up when I had a new dealer print my maintenance
records.

I would have guessed that the 7/100k was the extended warranty Honda
issued to your year and type of vehicle and would suggest double
checking the length of it - maybe call the Honda Customer Care 800
number.

Also, it may be worth your while to have the alignment checked.

-James

 

Ok ... a trip back to the dealer in in order. That is what I will do.

Thanks again all for the replies.

James - I have a question. Why would I want to check the alignment ...
doesn't the dealer check it as part of the transmission change...

 

No, it's a total of 7 years/100K miles from date of delivery of the
vehicle.

But the 2002 models were specifically NOT covered by that particular
warranty extension. So if yours is under warranty for that long, then
your must have bought the extended warranty?

If you didn't buy the extended warranty, and yours is a 2002 model,
chances are very good that the transmission is not covered beyond the
standard 3 year/36k mile warranty.

Whatever warranty your car is covered under, is listed in the Honda
computer system under your car's VIN. Have them look it up and print it
out for you. It's no big deal.

 

7 years, 100k total. whichever comes first.

 

One would think that they would with all of the "stuff" that
presumably needs to be moved out of the way to swap the transmission,
but after my first transplant my nearly new front tires wore
prematurely within a few thousand miles due to way too much negative
camber. A recent r.a.m.honda post mentioned a dealer claiming the
alignment was not necessary. It may not be necessary, but checking it
should be cheap or free. As for my recent transplant, I am not very
concerned since the car drives straight and I will be replacing all 4
tires and checking the alignment within the next month or so - if I
keep the car.

-James