[tmonter]

Well I have the Odyssey in the shop and they're working on it as I post this. I got the typical P0740 code of death and the TCS light coming on at the same time.

We half expected this when we purchased the van, but never nice to deal with.

Here are some pictures of the disassembly and what was found.

The van has 109,400 miles on it and this is the first transmission.

As you can see in the pictures one of the friction plates was worn down to bare metal which is fairly typical according to my transmission guy who incidentally I've known for ~15 years

 

[tmonter]

Picture of third clutch pack worn through all friction material

According to my transmission mechanic this is a common occurrence with this transmission. It sounds like Honda had a bad batch of friction packs or just a poor friction material design. He stated more often than not the shifting problems are due to friction material clogging solenoids due to premature breakdown of the materials.

 

[tmonter]

Another picture of the disassembly:

 

[tmonter]

One more picture:

 

[gregersonke]

The biggest problem is actually heat. When the material gets too hot it gets soft, when its soft it, wears away faster. Thus clogging solenoids causing shift issues and more heat and further wear of the friction plates.

A good filter and cooling setup will greatly lengthen the life of the transmission.

 

[tmonter]

The rebuild will get a new cooler but I haven't discussed the addition of a filter. I may just do that myself shortly after the rebuild is complete.

It seems to me that it's not just the heat issue as other transmissions experience the high heat but not the clutch pack degradation we are seeing on the Odyssey.

I don't disagree that the heat is an issue but according to the transmission people the clutch pack material used has also been an issue. It would be nice to get a more detailed failure analysis to know what the true issues are here since I don't think heat is the only issue at work.

 

[jimmyt]

what kind of cost are you looking at?

 

[tmonter]

$3180.00 will be the cost plus $200 for the cooler and filter + install for them.

Warranty is 24k Miles or 2 years but he said he'd definitely do something for us if it doesn't last at least 60k or more. In fact he believes we'll get well over 100k out of the rebuild if we're easy on it and do the fluid changes.

Given the price the dealership quoted me for a 12k/1Yr warranty ($4600) it's a way better deal.

 

[gregersonke]

Ask if you can get a remote filter installed. That way its easily serviced wherever you go. B&M makes a good one thats easily installed and serviced with standard oil filters. Throw a magnet over that oil filter to catch the magnetic stuff and enjoy a long-life transmission.

Sounds like a great deal though and its what I reccomend for most users here.

 

[tmonter]

The cooler that will be installed is a TruCool 4490 per the Torque Converter re-manufacturer recommendations. The filter as far as I know will be a Magnafine to prevent any particles from getting to the transmission.

On a interesting note my repair shop was telling me they were still getting some fibers out of the cooler lines after 4 hours of flushing with hot transmission fluid which makes me wonder if a lot of the transmission failures on the rebuilds/replacements is caused by the existing cooler lines not being properly flushed?

Anyways I can't say enough good about the shop that is working on my transmission. They have never jerked me around and have always been up front which I love.

http://www.palousetrans.com/

If you happen to live in the North Idaho/Washington Area I highly recommend them.

 

[RayIN]

$3180.00 will be the cost plus $200 for the cooler and filter + install for them.

Warranty is 24k Miles or 2 years but he said he'd definitely do something for us if it doesn't last at least 60k or more. In fact he believes we'll get well over 100k out of the rebuild if we're easy on it and do the fluid changes.

Given the price the dealership quoted me for a 12k/1Yr warranty ($4600) it's a way better deal.

Thanks for the thoughtful post. I have a few questions if you don't mind:
How much of that 3180 is parts?
Do they just replace the cluch packs & gaskets & flush the lines?
Are the replacement cluctch fibers OEM? If so, how can one be sure it's not the same crap that was in there to begin with?

Thanks

 

[gregersonke]

The cooler that will be installed is a TruCool 4490 per the Torque Converter re-manufacturer recommendations. The filter as far as I know will be a Magnafine to prevent any particles from getting to the transmission.

On a interesting note my repair shop was telling me they were still getting some fibers out of the cooler lines after 4 hours of flushing with hot transmission fluid which makes me wonder if a lot of the transmission failures on the rebuilds/replacements is caused by the existing cooler lines not being properly flushed?

Anyways I can't say enough good about the shop that is working on my transmission. They have never jerked me around and have always been up front which I love.

http://www.palousetrans.com/

If you happen to live in the North Idaho/Washington Area I highly recommend them.

I might make a run through there sometime next year. If I can schedule a service of the transmission during that trip It would be worth it.

The magnefine filter is awesome. Its just a pain to change out every 15-25k because its inline. Thats why I like the remote filter (spin off and spin on).

 

[tmonter]

I can see where the spin on type filter would be nice for ease of changing the unit. I will definitely ask about installation of that type of filter. Any links to the recommendations for that style?

 

[gregersonke]

Search this term into ebay, google shopping, or bing shopping

REMOTE TRANSMISSION FILTER KIT

Ebay is a good place to get the kit otherwise its usually 50 bucks at most shops.

 

[tmonter]

Thanks for the thoughtful post. I have a few questions if you don't mind:
How much of that 3180 is parts?
Do they just replace the cluch packs & gaskets & flush the lines?
Are the replacement cluctch fibers OEM? If so, how can one be sure it's not the same crap that was in there to begin with?

Thanks

As I understand they use a genuine Honda Converter that has been rebuilt and many geniune Honda parts but I'm not sure what is what. I'll ask in an e-mail to them later today and let you know what I find. Not sure what the labor/parts breakdown is but I would guess 1/3 Labor and 2/3 Parts. I will definitely give you the breakdown when I get the final invoice.

 

[jay25]

As I understand they use a genuine Honda Converter that has been rebuilt and many geniune Honda parts but I'm not sure what is what. I'll ask in an e-mail to them later today and let you know what I find. Not sure what the labor/parts breakdown is but I would guess 1/3 Labor and 2/3 Parts. I will definitely give you the breakdown when I get the final invoice.

Honda does not rebuild converters! Everyone gets their converters from the same company. The full rebuild kit comes with clutches, steels, and seals. You have to purchase the filter and TQ separately. I just took apart the transmission that was replaced by Honda 2 years ago. They only changed the damaged clutches and left the others in there.

Two of the valves in the Valve body got stuck. Thats why the tranny failed!

 

[tmonter]

I know Honda doesn't rebuild the torque converter. What I said is that it's a genuine Honda unit that has been rebuilt.

What I did find is that the re-builder of the torque converters does require the unit have a cooler installed at the same time to keep the warranty.

Here was the breakdown of the parts charges from my transmission shop:

Transmission Oil Filter (magnafine) hosing and fittings - $38.07

Overhaul kit with Honda OE lined plates - $459.01

Torque Converter - $455.85

Amsoil Synthetic ATF - $79.43

Steel Clutch Plates - $37.72

Steel Clutch Plates - $53.64

Steel Clutch Plates - $42.40

Differential Bearing Left - $56.05

Differential Bearing Right - $44.10

Aux Transmission Cooler & Fittings $112.20

They did a good job of piping the cooler and ran it in parallel with the stock cooler in the radiator per the torque converter remanufacturer's recommendations.

 

[jay25]

I know Honda doesn't rebuild the torque converter. What I said is that it's a genuine Honda unit that has been rebuilt.

What I did find is that the re-builder of the torque converters does require the unit have a cooler installed at the same time to keep the warranty.

Here was the breakdown of the parts charges from my transmission shop:

Transmission Oil Filter (magnafine) hosing and fittings - $38.07

Overhaul kit with Honda OE lined plates - $459.01

Torque Converter - $455.85

Amsoil Synthetic ATF - $79.43

Steel Clutch Plates - $37.72

Steel Clutch Plates - $53.64

Steel Clutch Plates - $42.40

Differential Bearing Left - $56.05

Differential Bearing Right - $44.10

Aux Transmission Cooler & Fittings $112.20

They did a good job of piping the cooler and ran it in parallel with the stock cooler in the radiator per the torque converter remanufacturer's recommendations.

Overhaul kit with Honda OE lined plates - $459.01

That overhaul kits comes with all the plates.

Steel Clutch Plates - $37.72

Steel Clutch Plates - $53.64

Steel Clutch Plates - $42.40

some shops be hooking up their customers. Torque Converter - $455.85

if you guys want overhaul kits with plates, seals and torque converters just contact me. I can do half price of that, forgot to mention the filter!!!!

 

[tmonter]

I just don't have the time or tools to do a rebuild myself thus I'm using a shop I trust to do the work and I know they mark up the parts they use. That's just the cost of doing business and having overhead for running a shop. I know I can get the parts for cheaper elsewhere but remember I'm having someone else do the work. The overall price I got changed was actually quite good for the quality or work they do.

Total with Tax came to $3349.00 and I know this shop will stand behind their work.

Just a note the plates they provided don't say clutch plates but I'm assuming they are. Rebuild kits do vary by supplier so perhaps the kit he uses and trusts does not come with the plates.

The plates they provided say steel plate:

Part numbers and QTY:

80126 (4) $9.43 each

80124 (12) $4.47 each

80120C (4) $10.60 each

BTW A little research shows the kits they use do not come with the steel clutch plates. I'm guessing they prefer a different plate than the standard ones.

I must say the transmission is nice and smooth and shifts nice now.

Glad to have our Odyssey instead of the piece of junk Dodge loaner we had lol.

 

[jay25]

if you trust them folks and they are replacing all those parts, good on you. Not everyone is honest now a days. For those dishonest ones are the ones that end up shutting their places down. Your getting a cooler put on thats awesome.