[mjhoviou]

I need the alternator test procedure for the 2015 Odyssey. Does anyone have it?

Here is a synopsis of my current situation:

• van had trouble starting about a week ago
• the battery was about five years old
• I removed the battery and charged it in my garage
• After charging the battery, I reinstalled it and started the van
• After starting the van, I disconnected the battery and the van continued running for about a minute with no issues with the battery disconnected.
• I concluded since the alternator kept the van running with the battery disconnected (and the battery is five years old) that the problem was the battery and not the alternator.
• I replaced the battery.
• My wife has been driving the van for a couple days with the new battery.
• Yesterday when she was driving the van, the dashboard display touchscreen went dim and the screen above it that shows the camera view also went dim. By the time she reached her destination both screens were black.
• This morning I checked battery voltage and it was 12.4 volts prior to starting the van.
• After starting the van the battery voltage went to about 14 volts +/- 0.1 volts. I turned the lights and A/C on and the voltage remained in the 14 - 14.1 volt range.
• I also drove the van to Autozone this afternoon and they did a basic diagnostic test that showed status good for the battery and alternator.

The only other interesting thing I have noticed is one of the windshield washer fluid nozzles is broken and it sprays windshield washer fluid into the engine bay. It looks like it has dripped some windshield washer fluid onto the alternator.

Let me know if any of you have any thoughts. I know this is a common issue on these vans from looking through the forum last night and today. I think the best thing for me to do next is to follow the Honda test procedure and determine whether the alternator has some weird problem even though I am measuring 14 volts when I have my meter on the battery posts.

thanks!

 

[rmyoder]

Replace the washer nozzles first to avoid any spray into the alternator. I used cheap units from Amazon and they are working well. Others here indicate less than satisfactory performance with the cheapos, so YMMV.

Check that the battery terminals are tight. Aftermarket batteries have slightly smaller positive posts, and the OE terminal can't tighten fully onto them. Shims are available at autozone, but others here just pinched a small screw between the terminal and post, to make it tighter.

 

[mjhoviou]

Just a follow up to the original post....

I am now wondering if the "auto dim" setting for the display screens was originally turned off before I replaced the battery, and after replacing the battery the "auto dim" setting went back to default on state.

I am going to look into that in the next hour and see if I can figure out if there is an auto dim setting, and how to change it.

 

[mjhoviou]

Replace the washer nozzles first to avoid any spray into the alternator. I used cheap units from Amazon and they are working well. Others here indicate less than satisfactory performance with the cheapos, so YMMV.

Check that the battery terminals are tight. Aftermarket batteries have slightly smaller positive posts, and the OE terminal can't tighten fully onto them. Shims are available at autozone, but others here just pinched a small screw between the terminal and post, to make it tighter.

I am going to replace the washer nozzles in the next day or two. My wife picked up some replacements from the Honda dealership for the washer nozzles today. There were about $22 a piece.

The battery terminals are very tight. I bought the new battery from the Honda dealership. I was going to get an aftermarket battery, but I just didn't want to deal with any hassles of it not fitting correctly. The new battery from Honda was around $160.

 

[mjhoviou]

Just a follow up to the original post....

I am now wondering if the "auto dim" setting for the display screens was originally turned off before I replaced the battery, and after replacing the battery the "auto dim" setting went back to default on state.

I am going to look into that in the next hour and see if I can figure out if there is an auto dim setting, and how to change it.

I looked into this for a while. There is a button with a sun and moon on it, the instructions indicate "Press to change the audio/ information screen brightness. Press once and make an adjustment. Each time you press , the mode switches between the daytime mode, nighttime mode and OFF mode "

I think when I changed the battery the daytime and nighttime mode brightness was changed back to default settings. My wife had the headlights on in auto yesterday, and I think the van switched from daytime mode to nighttime mode which dimmed the displays (it was not night time, but it was dusk and rainy so the sensor turned the headlights on). Then I think she pushed the button while trying to adjust the brightness, and accidentally turned them off while she was driving.

I went through the settings for daytime and nighttime brightness, and I think they are good now. We will test it over the weekend.

 

[phattyduck]

After starting the van, I disconnected the battery and the van continued running for about a minute with no issues with the battery disconnected.

Don't do this again on any modern car. It can cause voltage spikes that can ruin any number of electronic control devices in the van/car/truck.

-Charlie

 

[mjhoviou]

Don't do this again on any modern car. It can cause voltage spikes that can ruin any number of electronic control devices in the van/car/truck.

-Charlie

It is now in my mental bank not to do it again. The changing technology makes me feel old my friend. I am thankful I did not damage anything on this go 'round.

 

[phattyduck]

It is now in my mental bank not to do it again. The changing technology makes me feel old my friend. I am thankful I did not damage anything on this go 'round.

It hasn't been a good idea since the 80's...

-Charlie