Just want to share my story. Last Thursday, I got the blinking CEL after dropping off the kids off at the sitters. Quickly pulled into the local auto parts store to read the code, misfire on cylinder 1. I had it towed to the dealership I bought it from to have it diagnosed. While waiting, I heard the mechanic page the service advisor. After 20 mins, the mechanic came to talk with me. Said he knows sometimes the service advisor gets busy and can leave me waiting. He said I had a fouled spark plug and needed new rings. I asked how much is that going to cost, and he said it was not cheap. He said, "push for warranty." I said I just passed the 60K warranty. He said, "I don't make the final call, but just push for warranty." I thanked him and he left. I talked with a friend who is a mechanic via chat while waiting and he showed me a post of this forum about replacing rings and VCM. When the service advisor came to talk with me, he said that I needed new rings. While in the waiting room, he said they had done enough of these he could save me some money. I told him this is not a 60K mile problem. I said there must be some of a grace period on the powertrain warranty. He said, "Lets go talk in my service manager's office." He told his service manager that I had the infamous fouled spark plug issue. I told service manager, I should not have to pay for the full repair. He said recently they have been seeing more 2016 come in with the same problem. He told me about some lady with a 2014 that was on the hook for a 3500 bill for new rings at 140K miles. I told them if I was at 140K I might be able to justify this problem, but not at 63K. Service advisor said you must spend a lot of time in ECO mode. I told them have only done service via a Honda dealer and this should not be happening at this mileage. He said that doing service only with Honda would go a long way with Honda NA and he would try to get me cover at 100% of the cost of new rings. They gave me a loaner and sent me on my way. Next day, they called me and said Honda NA agree to participate in repairing my van. They would offer a one time goodwill assistance. I would have to pay a little less than $600. At this point I needed my van, the little 2020 CRV loaner was way too small. I had to make three full car seats (three kids 3 and under) work in the CRV and it was a stretch (I had to force the doors closed). I did request them to replace spark plugs in 5 and 6 as well. I got the van back on Wednesday. They did not charge me extra for the extra spark plugs on 5 and 6. It ended up being 399 for parts and 195 charge for deductible. At least that's how they wrote the repair order. I had already ordered a VCM Tuner II. Delivery date is tomorrow. I will install it immediately. Just want to let you know what happen with my 2016. Wish I would of known about this forum when I bought the van. I would of installed a VCM muzzler from the get go. Needless to say, I am going to keep the receipt and claw back what I paid when the next class action goes through.
2016 Odyssey Piston ring replacement at 63K
odyclub812
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2016 Honda Odyssey here with 57k miles and have the same issue with piston ring failure. This should be covered, correct?
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Nope. No coverage after the 2013 model year. Any assistance you may get from Honda is subject to their own generosity in the moment, and lately it hasn't been pretty.
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I guess some people need to follow a certain process and follow a strangers advice at the dealership with something to gain, over listening to a bunch of strangers on a forum who had the same experience but have nothing to gain from them.
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The dealer said the code that pops up is p0301. That does not even state it’s the piston rings. Only says this code is for spark plugs. What are you suggesting to repair for $130?
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Doesn’t Honda have a powertrain warranty? I thought it was 60kmiles or 5 years, which I’m under.
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I have 2016 odyssey with 40k miles. 3 weeks out from the 5 year/60k mile warranty and Honda is covering 80% of the cost.
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Crazy! Anyone else out there with this issue?
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P0301 is a misfire code, caused by the fouled up piston rings and spark plug.
suggest you read this thread, that one of the good forum volunteers put together for owners like you.
PISTON RINGS/MISFIRES/FOULED SPARK PLUGS - The VCM mega...
This thread explains all the key details regarding VCM. Rather than re-explaining everything about VCM to every new forum member, they can simply be directed here. Self-service FTW! While there will be plenty of discussion in this thread, this first post contains the key information, so reading...
www.odyclub.com
The powertrain warranty does not cover carbon build-up in/on the cylinders/rings.
Replace spark plugs, disable VCM and drive on.
-Charlie
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Thank you! Will the dealership do that?
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Sorry - I automatically assumed you were out of your powertrain warranty. Most people who end up here are.
If you still have some factory powertrain warranty left, then Honda could be helping you out. Still not a sure thing. Some other posters here have made claims under the original powertrain warranty and gotten help. And after you get your van back, the VCM Megathread you were referred to above should be considered required reading. Actually, you really need to read it now.
Jinkies.
EDIT: I missed the part about still being under (or out of?) warranty. If they're covering 80%, that's pretty good. What would you have to pay?
ORIGINAL COMMENT:
My recommendation - ask them to replace just the one affected spark plug (it has only been one, based on my own experience and the multitude of threads I've seen here). Then order what folks refer to as the VCM Muzzler device.
Basically, that ECO light that turns green on your dash when you're cruising (i.e., engine under low load) is what is causing the issue. Some of the cylinders turn off, ostensibly to help fuel economy and reduce emissions. This is called Variable Cylinder Management, or VCM as the odyclub denizens refer to it. When this happens, a design flaw allows oil to seep past the piston rings into the idle cylinders. The oil will eventually foul the spark plug, resulting in the codes and running really rough.
Replacing the piston rings will alleviate the symptoms, but does not address the root cause, which is that the VCM is still active. The solution is to purchase and install (for much much much less than $3400) a VCM muzzler device. This basically tricks the vehicle into not turning on the VCM/ECO mode, which means your cylinders are active 100% of the time and you will not have idle cylinders into which oil can seep.
I would get the VCM Tuner II. Very easy to install if you're even a little handy, or for a handy significant other/friend/independent mechanic. The dealership will not install aftermarket parts like this.
VCMTUNER II - Advanced - 2007+ for Honda Acura 3.5L I-VTEC Disable VCM / ECO mode
Accepting Backorders. See below. Read Reviews | Vehicle Fitment List Current Shipment times will be between 1/3/2022 - 1/7/2022 on new orders placed as of 12/27/2021. Please see Contact link for more details. Note: You will receive a tracking number upon shipment. Customers with 2007-2008...
www.vcmtuner.com
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Thank you
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Thank you for the info!P0301 is a misfire code, caused by the fouled up piston rings and spark plug.
suggest you read this thread, that one of the good forum volunteers put together for owners like you.
PISTON RINGS/MISFIRES/FOULED SPARK PLUGS - The VCM mega...
This thread explains all the key details regarding VCM. Rather than re-explaining everything about VCM to every new forum member, they can simply be directed here. Self-service FTW! While there will be plenty of discussion in this thread, this first post contains the key information, so reading...
This is something else to know about this: the fuel & emissions savings are very small on an individual basis. However, for Honda's Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) rating it makes a big difference for them. I lost less than a single MPG muzzling my 2015. Muzzling also makes the van far more pleasurable to drive.
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I have piston ring issue on 2016 Honda Odysee as well (132k miles and just out of warranty). I’m going to see if Honda Care will grant an exception and cover the cost. It looks like a lot of people having same issue as me. LET OUR VOICES BE HEARD HONDA!!!
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3,512 Posts
Welcome to Odyclub! Sorry to meet you under these circumstances.
Believe me when I tell you, there's no doubt Honda has heard everyone's voice on this loud and clear. They just don't choose to react in a helpful way.
Fortunately, the piston ring replacement IS NOT MECHANICALLY NECESSARY. I don't mean to shout at you but it's really important that you realize and accept this fact as soon as possible. Please have a look through the VCM megathread - you can fix this yourself permanently for about $300.
PISTON RINGS/MISFIRES/FOULED SPARK PLUGS - The VCM mega...
This thread explains all the key details regarding VCM. Rather than re-explaining everything about VCM to every new forum member, they can simply be directed here. Self-service FTW! While there will be plenty of discussion in this thread, this first post contains the key information, so reading...
www.odyclub.com
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Thank you for pointing me to the VCM megathread. I met with service manager already on Friday and they will try and do a ‘good will’ fix. I’m not sure exactly what that means or how much I will have to pay. I’m. a bit confused about installing the muzzler on the VCM, replacing the bad oily spark plugs and then do the piston rings ‘fix themselves’? In short, if I choose to go that route I can ignore the supposed ‘piston ring issue’ it’s $3000+ work effort and just say install a VCM muzzler? Do you think an authorized Honda dealership would even offer that fix as an option or would I have to go somewhere else? I’ll keep this forum updated in what happens with my ‘good will fix appeal’ tomorrow and what route I end up taking.
This is exactly what I would do. Install the muzzler with new spark plugs and reject the piston ring job. I'd expect the dealer to lean on you hard that doing the rings is the only good fix, but don't be fooled. It's also highly unlikely that the dealer will install a muzzler (and would never offer it as an approved solution) but any independent shop can install it easily, and it's an easy DIY if you can follow a YouTube walkthrough.
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UPDATE:
I received a ‘favorable’ decision on my 2016 Odysee piston ring issue. I still have to pay $1042 to replace said piston rings. After talking to the service manager he also recommended the after market ‘VCM muzzler’ fix, but Honda won’t do it. The new piston rings come with 1 year 12k mile warranty so I’m covered for a little while , but w/out a guaranteed ‘long term’ permanent fix the problem could come back again. Long-story short if I want this issue permanently fixed I’m looking at 1k ‘goodwill’ fix plus after market VCM muzzler cost. I guess I should be grateful I’m not having to pay 3k+ , but other owners should be aware of this design flaw.
I received a ‘favorable’ decision on my 2016 Odysee piston ring issue. I still have to pay $1042 to replace said piston rings. After talking to the service manager he also recommended the after market ‘VCM muzzler’ fix, but Honda won’t do it. The new piston rings come with 1 year 12k mile warranty so I’m covered for a little while , but w/out a guaranteed ‘long term’ permanent fix the problem could come back again. Long-story short if I want this issue permanently fixed I’m looking at 1k ‘goodwill’ fix plus after market VCM muzzler cost. I guess I should be grateful I’m not having to pay 3k+ , but other owners should be aware of this design flaw.
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