Hello Odyclub members, I'd like to start by apologizing if this question has already been asked and solved. My father and I bought a 2004 Odyssey approximately 3 weeks ago for his business. He went from a 2000 Nissan xterra to this in order to have more space for his tools and equipment. It has 201,000kms or 124k miles for $2400. So far everythings working great , apart from a p1457 code resulting in a cel, and the transmission is shifting perfectly (knock on wood lol). I've been lurking this forum before joining doing research on the odyssey before buying and the 2004 seemed like our best bet in regards to the transmission failure rate and hence we didn't even consider any other model years that were for sale in our area. However, I have seen that there are quite a few threads still regarding trans failures on 2004s. I'm a bit more worried now as we just spend a little over $1000 to have the timing belt, tensioner, valve clearance check and all 6 spark plugs replaced at our local dealer. The previous owner listed in his ad that the vehicle "has the factory updated transmission" and also told me the same thing in person however I don't know if this is true or not as he didn't really give me any info to back that up. My questions are: 1: How do you know if you have the updated transmission? Build date of ours is, if I am reading the right one, 01/04 in the drivers door jam and vin ends in 4H002010. I've seen threads posting the range of vins that are in the recall (if applicable in Canada) but don't exactly know where our van comes in the range. 2: Is there even a recall in Canada? This link Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database tells me that all 04s have a transmission recall along with a few others not regarding the transmission however when I go to honda.ca/recalls and input my vin there is no transmission recall in the list of outstanding recalls. I called the dealer right after we bought the van to see if we could tell if the t-belt was replaced and they told me that the previous owner was in recently to have all the recalls done (the previous owner told me he took it in to have the airbag recall done) but I am still unsure if a transmission recall was done or not. I guess I could just call the dealer back and ask exactly what recalls were done and if there were any outstanding ones. 3. How do you know if there is a transmission cooler installed already if the recall was done, if someone has a picture showing what the cooler line looks like that'd be awesome. Thanks
2004 Build date vs Transmission
e320
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Hello Odyclub members, I'd like to start by apologizing if this question has already been asked and solved. My father and I bought a 2004 Odyssey approximately 3 weeks ago for his business. He went from a 2000 Nissan xterra to this in order to have more space for his tools and equipment. It has 201,000kms or 124k miles for $2400. So far everythings working great , apart from a p1457 code resulting in a cel, and the transmission is shifting perfectly (knock on wood lol). I've been lurking this forum before joining doing research on the odyssey before buying and the 2004 seemed like our best bet in regards to the transmission failure rate and hence we didn't even consider any other model years that were for sale in our area. However, I have seen that there are quite a few threads still regarding trans failures on 2004s. I'm a bit more worried now as we just spend a little over $1000 to have the timing belt, tensioner, valve clearance check and all 6 spark plugs replaced at our local dealer. The previous owner listed in his ad that the vehicle "has the factory updated transmission" and also told me the same thing in person however I don't know if this is true or not as he didn't really give me any info to back that up. My questions are: 1: How do you know if you have the updated transmission? Build date of ours is, if I am reading the right one, 01/04 in the drivers door jam and vin ends in 4H002010. I've seen threads posting the range of vins that are in the recall (if applicable in Canada) but don't exactly know where our van comes in the range. 2: Is there even a recall in Canada? This link Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database tells me that all 04s have a transmission recall along with a few others not regarding the transmission however when I go to honda.ca/recalls and input my vin there is no transmission recall in the list of outstanding recalls. I called the dealer right after we bought the van to see if we could tell if the t-belt was replaced and they told me that the previous owner was in recently to have all the recalls done (the previous owner told me he took it in to have the airbag recall done) but I am still unsure if a transmission recall was done or not. I guess I could just call the dealer back and ask exactly what recalls were done and if there were any outstanding ones. 3. How do you know if there is a transmission cooler installed already if the recall was done, if someone has a picture showing what the cooler line looks like that'd be awesome. Thanks
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9,924 Posts
We found a Honda TSB for getting the 2nd gear oil jet recall that extends only through VIN 5FNRL18..4B051620. Your 4H002010 VIN is alphabetically beyond that, as far as I can reason. Any VIN after 4B051620 has, as far as we can tell, the internal ATF flow updates mandated by the NHTSA plug the 2nd gear oil jet fix.
Page 2 of this LINK will show you what an installed OEM ATF cooler looks like.
Generally, whenever owners asked the dealer if they should be concerned about the tranny, they seem to have told the late-model-year 2004 owners that they had the "updated" or "improved" transmission. It is in the realm of possibility that the dealer did tell this to the previous owner, as the engineering changes were directed in November 2003 to be cut into 2004 model year production as soon as possible. We've had some forum members with 2004's produced in spring 2004 where the dealer said that they had a "good" transmission.
Hope that helps.
OF
Page 2 of this LINK will show you what an installed OEM ATF cooler looks like.
Generally, whenever owners asked the dealer if they should be concerned about the tranny, they seem to have told the late-model-year 2004 owners that they had the "updated" or "improved" transmission. It is in the realm of possibility that the dealer did tell this to the previous owner, as the engineering changes were directed in November 2003 to be cut into 2004 model year production as soon as possible. We've had some forum members with 2004's produced in spring 2004 where the dealer said that they had a "good" transmission.
Hope that helps.
OF
Thanks for the reply. Very informative. I'm still a bit unsure because the VIN isn't in the recall range, so this should mean that the transmission is the updated one. However, the build date, if i am correct, is 01/04 however from what i've read in other threads, vans built in the spring as you say and beyond are the ones with the fix but from the build date this ones built in January. So i'm still a bit unsure as to whether or not our van has the updated transmission or not. Thanks
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32 Posts
Well, you own it now, there is no point in worrying about problems you don't have yet. Do like most people on here an change the ATF fluid early and often, add an inline filter and an aftermarket cooler.
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9,924 Posts
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6,079 Posts
The recall involved installing an ATF line to the ATF filler bolt on top of the transmission under the air intake tube. Look for it and if there, you had the recall done. Search on "oil jet recall" for more info.
Thanks for the reply. I agree with that.
Thanks, I'll be sure to check that out.
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9,924 Posts
If you have an ATF fill plug on top of the transmission, and Honda says no recall is required for this van, then yours is one with the internal updates. If yours has the oil jet kit that has a tube plumbed into the ATF fill port (i.e., the tube replaces that hex head bolt, which is the fill plug), then yours is the older tranny.
No matter what, synthetic ATF, a decent ATF cooler, and a Magnefine filter are the things you can do to increase the odds of longevity. Nobody has a crystal ball. It could poop the bed tomorrow, or last you another 160,000km (100,000 miles for us yanks).
OF
No matter what, synthetic ATF, a decent ATF cooler, and a Magnefine filter are the things you can do to increase the odds of longevity. Nobody has a crystal ball. It could poop the bed tomorrow, or last you another 160,000km (100,000 miles for us yanks).
OF
What is the ATF fill port or plug you guys speak of? I have always filled the tranny with ATF via the dipstick tube. I too, have an '04 whose build date is in very early 2004 IIRC.
Can someone post a pic, or guide me somehow as to where I'd find this oil jet kit under the air intake?
Can someone post a pic, or guide me somehow as to where I'd find this oil jet kit under the air intake?
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6,079 Posts
See attached for location of ATF filler bolt on top of trans. If you locate the ATF dipstick follow a direct path towards the steering wheel and it will be under the throttle tube and on top of trans.
Mini-update: Well, I went in to the dealer to grab some ps fluid and asked if there were any transmission recalls on this van. The gentlemen behind the counter said there were no recalls for the transmission for this vehicle and that the only outstanding recall was something to do with the srs system (never bothered asking more as I was short on time). I asked if that means if it has the updated transmission and he said "it must mean that, yes". He also said that he thought the recall only applied to 02-03s. I guess that means it does have it, I mean the transmission hasn't lasted 201,000kms for no reason. Thanks for the replies and I will most definitely be doing regular fluid drain and fills with honda fluid and keep my fingers crossed. thanks again
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1,767 Posts
Don't forget to replace also the ATF inline filter. If you need a diagram I can post it for you. Let us know.
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13 Posts
Hello all, I found an '04 vin B070638 at the local u-pullit, build date 2/04. Totaled from body damage and don't know the mileage. Cost $82.50. Any opinion on whether it's worth it to pull as a backup to my '02?
Carl
Carl
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6,079 Posts
Nope. Save up for your next vehicle for when the transmission fails on your 2002.
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Thanks NDNV, it's primarily the wife's vehicle and she still loves it. I was surprised the tranny hasn't been pulled yet since it's in the later vin range, and by all accounts less problematic. I'll probably go back and see what the mileage is and decide whether to grab it. Maybe post it up on Craigslist and see what it brings.
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