Registered: Jan 2007
Location: Colorado, USA
Posts: 99

Posted this in a different forum and was told to post it here, too:

The '98 Odyssey has been good to us, there is just one thing that worries me - and forgot to ask the Honda dealership mechanic at the recent 90K miles service (he did say he thought the car is in "good mechanical condition").

When I start from a full stop and gradually apply the acceleration, no problems. I am always staying below 3000 rpm during my normal city driving.

To reproduce the problem: I'm driving at 35 mph then I have to slow down (school zone, turning, etc.). I'm now at 18-20 mph for a few seconds, as I make the turn. I need to go faster again and when I apply acceleration (gently then stronger but NOT flooring the pedal) the car seems to struggle around 20 mph for a couple seconds. Then I hear increased noise, more mechanical struggle, the speed goes up little by little and finally it becomes responsive again and accelerates ok.

Is this hesitation normal? Any comments are appreciated.

All the best from your Ody Club friend in Colorado!

__________________
1998 Odyssey LX - 6 seats, blue,
2.3L VTEC engine, 115k miles

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Nov 2001
Location: Torrance, CA, USA
Posts: 277

Others who are more mechanically inclined should reply to your query. But my sense of it is that your Ody is for the moment in too high a gear, perhaps going a little too fast to be in a lower gear, and "struggles" to build up speed. I might even say it happens with my '98 if I have it at the wrong place in terms of the variables of rpm, speed and gear.

__________________
stevenj
'98 Odyssey LX-7 100k
'88 Acura Legend

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Dec 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 142

Well, I'm not sure what you mean by 'mechanical struggle'.

Are you hearing things in the engine that you don't like the sound of? Or is it just bogged down?

My 95 has always had certain 'dead' spots in the power band. Meaning, too low of RPM's for the engine to build up a lot of power, but too high to be in a lower gear.

I was told by my mechanic, that my engine (not sure on the VTEC's) really only develops a lot of its power above 3k RPMs...(which helps since I don't have a tach) and that the engine will run fine at higher RPM's for acceleration.

Since getting that advice, I have kept the engine in the lower gear (via accelerator) until I know there is enough power for the next gear, then I'll let it shift down.

I don't want to say I drive aggressively, b/c I don't, I do however, accelerate harder than I used to (thus keeping it in a lower gear) and that has helped eliminate most of my 'bogged down' issues. You can really feel the power build once you hit mid-range RPM's, at lower RPM's it can really cause some headaches.


My opinion is that 1 more gear in the tranny would have been perfect.

Last edited by dorelse on 01-19-2007 at 09:54 PM

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Mar 2006
Location: a bit North of Chicago
Posts: 821

Thats why I HATE automatics!

__________________
1992 Honda Accord 5speed
1990 Civic wagon 5speed(sold)
1996 Odyssey EX (totaled but kept to drive until she gets another 1)
1995 Odyssey LX (sold)
1997 Civic LX 4-door(sold)
1992 Civic DX 4-door(sold)
1989 Prelude Si (sold)

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2005
Location: Catasauqua, PA
Posts: 1303

http://www.odyclub.com/forums/showt...;threadid=36809

Does this seem similar to what your experiencing?

__________________
1998 Isuzu Oasis S (Blue)
1999 Isuzu Oasis LS (Green)
Mods for Both Cars - http://www.raxtuning.com/personal/car_mods.html
Visit The FAQ/Howto at: http://www.raxtuning.com

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2007
Location: Colorado, USA
Posts: 99

Thank you all for the insight and thanks to HostileJava for the link. Yes, same thing.
I'm not the only one

I've had GM cars before (V6 engines) and never experienced this transmission hesitation.

dorelse wrote:
> my engine (not sure on the VTEC's) really only develops a lot of its power above 3k RPMs...

Thanks. I've been trying to be gentle on my first Honda, especially since it gets much noisier above 3000 rpm. Will higher RPM in town compromise the good fuel economy I'm getting? I should try driving differently for a month to test this..

__________________
1998 Odyssey LX - 6 seats, blue,
2.3L VTEC engine, 115k miles

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Dec 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 142

Honestly, I'm not one to keep track of gas mileage. I pretty much use what I use, when its on E, time to fill up again.

I'm sure it will go down. I don't think it'll be horrendous...I mean, its still a 4 cyl after all.

Drive with how you're comfortable.

I was in Minnesota last weekend and filled up on 92 Octance (non-Ethanol) gas and noticed that my engine seemed to run smoother, and accelerated better. Could have just been in my mind, but it sure felt like it made a difference in the motor.

Here in IA, I can only get 91 Octane, and it has Ethanol mixed in, but it seems to be ok too.

So maybe trying the Premium gas will make the difference for you...worth a shot.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: May 2007
Location: MI
Posts: 17

Hi,
I am a proud new owner of a '98 LX and I too am expeiencing this hesitation-fairly consistently. I tried the driving in D3 vs. D4 for around town and although slightly different, ithe hesitation is definately still there. It IS odd that I do feel a bit of an upshift when changing from D3-D4 when I am under 30-40 mph though...
I would not expect to feel any noticeable difference as long as I am under the typical D4 shift point (under gradual accel.) which I would expect to be no lower than around 40-50 mph at minimum.

It has 113.5K and has had somewhat regular std. Honda maint. service intervals. I am thinking possibly fuel filter or intake carbon build-up. Anyone notice a change in smoother acceleration performance from these items? Any other items noticeably effect this kind of behavior. Transmission fluid was just changed (-yes it was replaced with Honda ATF I believe). I saw posts about trans problems and though otherwise it seems to be shifting fine-I have read about 5-7 filters that can get plugged when some are acting up. I wonder if there is a chance that some partially blocked filters could be causing such-anyone verify that this might not be the cause?

I can't believe that this is a typical "Honda" phenomenon / behavior. I also don't neccessarily think that it is transmission either but it cetainly could be-and this thread seemed most appropriate even if it ends up not being the problem as this is what if "feels" like.

Thanks and great forum / site.

Regards,
New proud ODY owner

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2005
Location: WV
Posts: 660

It is not unusual to be in 4th gear when 30-40 MPH.

At that speed it is very easy to end up back in 3rd if you are wanting to move at any decent reasonable pace.

Between 30-40 it's easy to end up in 4th by easing off the RPM's.

Only when you increase the RPM's does it go back into 3'rd before going back to 4th when the RPM's are in line with the MPH you are driving.

If you are feathering the gas pedal when 30-40 MPH and having it slowly increase in overall speed will it stay in 4th gear up until your final destination MPH.

It is rather sensitive to RPM's, as are Honda autos in general.

The transmission in my 95 Odyssey acts the same as my 84 Accord auto did.

You just get used to it after a couple decades and learn how to manipulate it.

Honda has not reinvented their Hondamatic transmissions for quite some time. They just make them worse as time goes by, my only knock against Honda. Not precisely "bad", but they cannot handle torque for **** and live 200k+ like they do for 4 cylinders.

Great for 4 cylinder engines, though.

__________________
Heathermist Metallic 95 EX w/ 4300k Retro-Solutions BiXenon's & JDM F22B.
Navajo Red Metallic 89 LX-i w/ H&R's, Tokico's, Prelude UCA's, Pacesetter exhaust & hollow cat.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2005
Location: WV
Posts: 660

I should note I do have an occasional lurch in the transmission, but only when I am balls to the wall in 3rd around 55-65 MPH and then it jumps into 4th, then yea sometimes it lurches. You feel a bit of a jerk, lurch, however you want to describe it.

But only when I am being radical.

__________________
Heathermist Metallic 95 EX w/ 4300k Retro-Solutions BiXenon's & JDM F22B.
Navajo Red Metallic 89 LX-i w/ H&R's, Tokico's, Prelude UCA's, Pacesetter exhaust & hollow cat.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jul 2006
Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Posts: 308

Just put your foot down a short while before you require it Autos require forward planning lol

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: May 2007
Location: MI
Posts: 17

OK,...thanks (I think!) yes it does appear to be in 4th very quickly (compared to OD in other vehicles I have owned). But yeah the hesitation is not when going Balls to the wall (although it may). It is more basic around town-slow down for a turn, or just basically around the 15-22 mph-going into and out of 1-2nd maybe?? Anyway-it is very annoying and if you are slowing-which it happens immed. after such when accelerating-then stomping on it early is not really a reasonable solution although thanks for the tip trend.whore!!

Not likely that it is intake or fuel related eh?!! Just thought it may have bugged someone else enough to troubleshoot and rule out those as potential. Anyway I'll try to just "Respect the van" and "Let it go" I suppose!!

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2007
Location: Colorado, USA
Posts: 99

jmmsunshine,

It looks like we have the same problem
I started this thread because I'm always working while driving (planning the work day step-by-step) and this day dreaming makes me quite gentle on cars - and then came this Honda with an issue that reminds me I'm driving - no fun.

As everybody on this thread reassured me that it's normal for a Honda AT, I relaxed a bit although I can tell when the lurch is coming

Reading the other threads (Odyssey 1999 and newer) I realized that newer ATs are even worse, glad I have a cute little '98!

__________________
1998 Odyssey LX - 6 seats, blue,
2.3L VTEC engine, 115k miles

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2005
Location: WV
Posts: 660

I would change the transmission fluid out regularly if you're noticing issues, with any luck until it is reduced or goes away.

I am wondering though if HostileJava notices anything that you two are talking about, perhaps it's a 98 Odyssey issue when they started using the VTEC engine.

__________________
Heathermist Metallic 95 EX w/ 4300k Retro-Solutions BiXenon's & JDM F22B.
Navajo Red Metallic 89 LX-i w/ H&R's, Tokico's, Prelude UCA's, Pacesetter exhaust & hollow cat.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jan 2005
Location: Catasauqua, PA
Posts: 1303

I'm not sure if I'm just used to Honda transmissions and there not or what. But both my 98 and 99 shift a little rough/different compared to American cars that I've owned. But no different then any other Honda I've had. There could genuinely be something wrong with there transmissions on the other hand. I think someone would really have to drive and compare.

__________________
1998 Isuzu Oasis S (Blue)
1999 Isuzu Oasis LS (Green)
Mods for Both Cars - http://www.raxtuning.com/personal/car_mods.html
Visit The FAQ/Howto at: http://www.raxtuning.com

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged