On 12-2-03 the dealer got back to me after looking at and driving the
van.

They said it needs a new transmission. It's still covered by the
dealer warranty. The factory warranty is 3 years or 36, 000 miles,
however the dealer will extend the warranty to 7 years 100,000 miles
on the drive train if you bring the vehicle to them for all scheduled
maintenance including 3,000 mile oil changes. The oil changes cost is
$28.00, so it is a bit more expensive than a grease monkey. This was
the first new vehicle I have ever purchased that I actually had any
sort of extended warranty on. Guess I lucked out by doing that.

Dealer says replacement transmission is a re-manufactured unit meaning
it will have new internal parts and a used case. They also went onto
say that they have never experienced additional problems with the
re-manufactured units. They say the re-man trans is built by Honda
and is not outsourced to a sub-contractor. They also said that the
2003 and newer vehicles with the V-6 power train have significantly
fewer transmision problems than the older vehicles did.

It will take a week or so, for them to receive the replacement
transmission. I'll post a follow-up of how thing go.

Craig






On Mon, 01 Dec 2003 04:21:56 GMT, ccharris@earthlink.net (Craig
Harris) wrote:

>I have a 2002 Odyssey EX that is approaching 60,000 miles. When we
>started it up the day before yesterday in the garage we noticed what
>sounded like a whining sound coming from the engine compartment. The
>vehicle is kept in a heated garage (55 deg F). It is not extremely
>loud, but is most noticeable when the engine is revved and is
>decelerating to idle from about 1800 RPM.
>
>My fist thought was that it sounded like a power steering pump that is
>low on fluid. Fluid level was fine. Using a stethoscope could not
>hear any abnormal noise from pump.
>
>Could also not hear any abnormal noise from alternator or A/C
>compressor. Cycled compressor on and off with no change.
>
>It's difficult to actually pinpoint source of noise, but it sort of
>sounds to me like it is lower in the engine or possibly transmission.
>Noise level seems to be the same on either the driver or passenger
>side of engine.
>
>Engine oil and transmission fluid were both very clean and at correct
>levels.
>
>Entire vehicle has been serviced at all recommended intervals by the
>dealer. Dealer offered a 100K drivetrain warranty if all service was
>performed by them at recommended intervals.The timing belt tensioner
>TSB was done the first week of November.
>
>I called the dealer on Saturday and was instructed to bring it in.
>The van drove fine, but I can still hear the noise when in gear or in
>neutral. When I dropped it off, the people that checked it in did not
>think anything sounded abnormal. I asked them to have the mechanic do
>a side by side comparison with another Odyssey when they actually have
>the mechanics look at it during the week.
>
>A couple of questions I have is:
>
>1.) Is it possible that something associated with the belt tensioner
>TSB work could be causing this noise?
>
>2.) Is it possible that a bearing in the transmission could be on the
>verge of failing?
>
>I guess I'm just curious if anyone has had a similar experience.
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>Craig Harris
>ccharris@earthlink.net
>