Registered: Feb 2003
Location: North East Coast
Posts: 161

I recently got a noticeable decrease in road noise within the cabin in a round about way and thought this could be useful info to other owners.

I came across a PDI - "Pre Delivery Instructions" - for a Honda Pilot that describes a Dealer prep procedure to install rubber "body plugs" to cover holes in the chassis.

The holes are used to tie down the vehicle during shipping. Honda provides the plugs in the vehicle's document kit and instructs Dealers to cover the holes before delivery to Buyers. See the attached image.

I look under my chassis, found the holes, but no plugs. I've subsequently found that this appears to be a common procedure for all Hondas from Accords to Civics and should apply to Odysseys also. So, I went to my Dealer and sure enough they gave me 4 plugs in a plastic bag and apologize for the missed the step in prep.

Neither Honda nor the Dealer could say why the plugs were needed. There are many other holes in the same area without plugs, so this is certainly not a water tight area.

After installing as per instructions, I and my passengers experienced a noticeable decrease in road and wind noise from within the car. I was pleasantly surprised, since even my hard of hearing father in-law had previously commented on the noise level in the car.

Whether this is the reason that Honda went to the expense and effort to provide the plugs would only be a guess on my part. Whatever reason that was, I thought it would be wise to make sure my dealer followed through on their instructions. I suspect that the trainee who did my prep work didn't read the instructions or thought that no one would know the difference, since the area is not visible.

Since in I’ve never seen a mention of these plugs on this site previously, I was wondering whether other owners actually have the plugs installed or not with associated differences in noise levels.

Anyone has a thought please weigh in.

Attachment: screen1.gif
This has been downloaded 2230 time(s).

__________________
Nuodyowner
2003 EX Sandstone Metallic
Mud Guards, Cargo Mat & Tray
Weatherteck all around

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: North East Coast
Posts: 161

quote:

---

Originally posted by grady wilson
i cannot see how the plugs can make any noise difference.

salt can collect however.

---

__________________
Nuodyowner
2003 EX Sandstone Metallic
Mud Guards, Cargo Mat & Tray
Weatherteck all around

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: North East Coast
Posts: 161

quote:

---

Originally posted by grady wilson
i cannot see how the plugs can make any noise difference.

salt can collect however.

---

__________________
Nuodyowner
2003 EX Sandstone Metallic
Mud Guards, Cargo Mat & Tray
Weatherteck all around

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: May 2003
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 423

I just checked mine and there were no plugs. Does anybody have the plugs?

__________________
2003 Odyssey EX - Taffeta White

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Nov 2001
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 829

Mine didn't have the plugs either. Being of a curious nature, I cut some pieces of closed cell pipe insulation and stuffed the four holes fairly tightly with home made plugs. Taking the van for a drive, right away I though that the exhaust noise was slightly lower. To check to see if I was just hearing things, I removed the plugs and right away the exhaust noise seemed slightly more noticable.
Back in went the home made plugs and once again the exhaust seems a bit quieter. I really didn't notice wind or other road noises since I sayed on city streets and it's a clam day weather- wise. Next I'll try it on the highway when I get a chance.
At this point I'd say "good tip" nuodyowner.
The muffler is just inboard of these tie down holes and looks like a direct path for noise into the channel and maybe then into the interior.

Looks like I'll have to bug my Honda dealer for the missing plugs.
Sure can't hurt.

-Mark

__________________
---------------------------------------------
'02 Ody EX-L
Astrostart 903 remote starter.
"Aardvaark" reverse vent window mod.
Hayden 677 ATF cooler.
Cold weather reverse clunk tranny.
Running happy on 5W30.

1975 Opel Manta.

1963 Ford Thunderbird Landau Coupe. Factory a/c.
Running happy on 10W40.

'87 Honda HR214SXA mower (No mods).
'04 Honda HS520A snow blower (No mods).

SCCA member since 1973.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: May 2003
Location: St. Louis
Posts: 423

Went by my dealer this afternoon. They tell me the Odyssey does not come with those plugs. They said only the Pilot, CRV and Passport use them. Anybody else have a different story?

__________________
2003 Odyssey EX - Taffeta White

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Nov 2001
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 829

I'd be curious to see if anyone else notices a noise difference after temperarily blocking these four holes. Rags, old foam insulation or even balls of duck tape should work for a trial.

If Honda doesn't supply them for the Ody, then some other solution needs to be devised. My tightly inserted closed cell pipe insulation should be good for the long run. There are seperate drain holes on the bottoms of these channels to drain away any water that would enter the four tie down holes.

-Mark

__________________
---------------------------------------------
'02 Ody EX-L
Astrostart 903 remote starter.
"Aardvaark" reverse vent window mod.
Hayden 677 ATF cooler.
Cold weather reverse clunk tranny.
Running happy on 5W30.

1975 Opel Manta.

1963 Ford Thunderbird Landau Coupe. Factory a/c.
Running happy on 10W40.

'87 Honda HR214SXA mower (No mods).
'04 Honda HS520A snow blower (No mods).

SCCA member since 1973.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Nov 2001
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 829

After a highway drive, I don't really notice any change in road noise or wind noise. However the exhaust/engine noise when accelerating seems to be less with the holes plugged.
My take on it anyway. Noise measuring equipement would be needed to really say for sure.
I'm leaving my homemade plus in since they seem to help.

-Mark

__________________
---------------------------------------------
'02 Ody EX-L
Astrostart 903 remote starter.
"Aardvaark" reverse vent window mod.
Hayden 677 ATF cooler.
Cold weather reverse clunk tranny.
Running happy on 5W30.

1975 Opel Manta.

1963 Ford Thunderbird Landau Coupe. Factory a/c.
Running happy on 10W40.

'87 Honda HR214SXA mower (No mods).
'04 Honda HS520A snow blower (No mods).

SCCA member since 1973.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jun 2002
Location: Redmond, WA
Posts: 2812

quote:

---

Originally posted by Aardvaark
After a highway drive, I don't really notice any change in road noise or wind noise. However the exhaust/engine noise when accelerating seems to be less with the holes plugged.
My take on it anyway. Noise measuring equipement would be needed to really say for sure.
I'm leaving my homemade plus in since they seem to help.

-Mark

---

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Feb 2003
Location: North East Coast
Posts: 161

quote:

---

Originally posted by RacerRik
Went by my dealer this afternoon. They tell me the Odyssey does not come with those plugs. They said only the Pilot, CRV and Passport use them. Anybody else have a different story?

---

Attachment: screen2.gif
This has been downloaded 1027 time(s).

__________________
Nuodyowner
2003 EX Sandstone Metallic
Mud Guards, Cargo Mat & Tray
Weatherteck all around

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Nov 2001
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 829

Out of curiosity, I took a look under a couple of new MDX's at the Acura dealer and they both had these tie down plugs.
They also had all other holes in these channels plugged with grommets as close as I could tell, even the holes on the bottoms that look like drain holes.
I think I'm going to do some more plugging and see what happens. I'll probably use some dumb-dumb putty (strip caulk) for the small holes.
If the results are good, I'll look into the proper plugs or reasonable facsimiles.
Got to take a closer look at the MDX's to see what is and isn't plugged.

__________________
---------------------------------------------
'02 Ody EX-L
Astrostart 903 remote starter.
"Aardvaark" reverse vent window mod.
Hayden 677 ATF cooler.
Cold weather reverse clunk tranny.
Running happy on 5W30.

1975 Opel Manta.

1963 Ford Thunderbird Landau Coupe. Factory a/c.
Running happy on 10W40.

'87 Honda HR214SXA mower (No mods).
'04 Honda HS520A snow blower (No mods).

SCCA member since 1973.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Aug 2001
Location: Northern California
Posts: 4378

quote:

---

Originally posted by Aardvaark
After a highway drive, I don't really notice any change in road noise or wind noise. However the exhaust/engine noise when accelerating seems to be less with the holes plugged.
My take on it anyway. Noise measuring equipement would be needed to really say for sure.
I'm leaving my homemade plus in since they seem to help.

-Mark

---

Hey Aard, maybe ya plugged the tailpipe.

Jerry O.

__________________
UFCW Retired
UNION, YES!!!
(The labor movement, the folks who brought you the weekend)

2006 Ocean Mist Metallic EX-M(Mouse fur) + WeatherTech cargo mat, Mr. Grille, Dashhugger dashcover, ScanGauge, Magellan GPS, Acura MDX wheels, 245/50-18 Yokohama ADVAN S.4 tires and AirLifts. Also, a few "faux" items, such as "dual" exhaust outlets, smoked plexiglass foglight hole fillers, and miscellaneous homegrown ground effects items, topped off by an "R" next to the "Odyssey" on the rear liftgate.
2001 GG LX-R(revised), still in the family. Now at 85K miles.
1994 Dodge Caravan SWB w/3.0, still in the family w/ over 150K miles
Dyson DC17 vacuum cleaner (to maintain the "dash rug")
John Deere 14PZ mower (push-it-yourself)

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Nov 2001
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 829

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jerry O
Hey Aard, maybe ya plugged the tailpipe.

Jerry O.

---

Nah. I'm saving my nose for that. So far I haven't found any ants
in it.

__________________
---------------------------------------------
'02 Ody EX-L
Astrostart 903 remote starter.
"Aardvaark" reverse vent window mod.
Hayden 677 ATF cooler.
Cold weather reverse clunk tranny.
Running happy on 5W30.

1975 Opel Manta.

1963 Ford Thunderbird Landau Coupe. Factory a/c.
Running happy on 10W40.

'87 Honda HR214SXA mower (No mods).
'04 Honda HS520A snow blower (No mods).

SCCA member since 1973.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Nov 2001
Location: Des Moines, IA
Posts: 829

Okay, after plugging the three remaining holes per side and going for a drive including the interstate, I'm saying there is a small but perceptible decrease in both drivetrain (exhaust to me) and road noise by plugging these holes.
My drive included a stop at the closed for the night Acura dealer
and another look at the MDX's plug arrangement. The MDX has plugs in all of the holes in the box sections, though there are more holes then in the Ody's similarly formed sections.

A look at the Ody tells me that the holes in question lead to the sliding door rocker panel area which is not insulated with carpeting as is the rest of the floor. This may explain why any noise passing through the holes would by diminished by plugging them IMO.

Guess I'll be looking for more permanent plugs.

__________________
---------------------------------------------
'02 Ody EX-L
Astrostart 903 remote starter.
"Aardvaark" reverse vent window mod.
Hayden 677 ATF cooler.
Cold weather reverse clunk tranny.
Running happy on 5W30.

1975 Opel Manta.

1963 Ford Thunderbird Landau Coupe. Factory a/c.
Running happy on 10W40.

'87 Honda HR214SXA mower (No mods).
'04 Honda HS520A snow blower (No mods).

SCCA member since 1973.

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged

Registered: Jun 2002
Location: Redmond, WA
Posts: 2812

quote:

---

Originally posted by Aardvaark
Okay, after plugging the three remaining holes per side and going for a drive including the interstate, I'm saying there is a small but perceptible decrease in both drivetrain (exhaust to me) and road noise by plugging these holes.

---

Report this post to a moderator | IP: Logged