Do you really need 90 degree screw driver? I have seen people just using 1/4" wrench with screw driver bit just taped on it to undo that screw.

 

I've been watching some non-Odyssey Honda tutorials on doing this, and it looks like I will have direct access after removing that housing, but I'm going to have to drill a hole in the assembly to get the pin out and release it. Hopefully I have enough space to drill while it's still in the car. Some tutorials were able to do it right in the car but others had the whole thing out, so I guess we'll see.


It's not 100% required, but I was using a screwdriver bit with a vice grips and getting like... 1/20th of a rotation at a time. After about 40 turns it still was too tight to get with my fingers so I called it a night.

It was late anyway, and I have Amazon Prime and could probably use a 90 degree screwdriver anyway, so figured I might as well. I figure if I'm going to do all my car repairs myself, might as well have the right tools to make my life easier.

 

My new low-profile 90 degree screwdriver came, so I went ahead and popped that screw off. It does, in fact, reveal the cylinder. I should be able to drill a hole and pop out the pin and release the cylinder. I should be able to try that later today or this evening.

 

Turns out: yes, you can replace just the ignition cylinder without removing much else from the car.

I did notice on my test drive that the anti-theft light was blinking every 5 seconds or so while I was driving, which is a little concerning. But I didn't replace any electronics at all. Nothing is happening other than that, though. Maybe I just need to put the code in the radio and it will stop, we'll see.

So anyone wanting to try this: it's not actually that hard, it's just there aren't any good tutorials that show you how to do just this part on an Odyssey that I could find.

Hardest part was taking the lower cover off from under the steering wheel area. You just gotta work it, and make sure you check to see what's getting hung up and just slowly work your way out. If you could turn your wheel upside-down, it would help, but you probably can't because it's locked. 3 screws for that.

You'll have to find your own tutorials on getting those covers off, and then it's not that hard to get the little black cap off (2 screws?) and then the... Whatever it's called, thing that checks to make sure your key has the right chip (another 2 screws).

You'll want a 90 degree, low-profile screwdriver for sure. Also a pick set.

This tutorial helped with drilling holes to get the old cylinder out:

Don't lose the first pin you drill out! The kit doesn't have a replacement for that.

Then I just bought an amazon ignition cylinder kit for like $18 + tax. The instructions for re-keying the new one are right in the product description. They're... Fine. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B83Y9DQW?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

Just be careful when you finally pull out your cylinder that nothing falls out. You'll want to draw a diagram of the different wafers (corresponding to the diagram on the product page) and pull each wafer out one at a time and note which number 1-6 it uses. Then you install the correct wafers on the new cylinder.

If you find that some of the wafers are sticking out too much, try a different size. Even if your original had something different. You don't want anything sticking out.

I would use tape (painters tape works fine) to tape the side you aren't working on so nothing falls out. Once you stick your key in it, they'll stay in. And obviously take the tape off before you put it in the housing. I would take the tape off only when the key is in it.

Other than that, not too bad. This method allows you to use the same keys everywhere, and you don't have to worry about any chips or anything. Not bad!

 

One final update: I entered the code into the radio and the anti-theft security light stopped blinking while in transit. Evidently, if the security light is still blinking while you're driving, it's probably because you haven't entered the code in yet.

 

Same thing happened to us yesterday. My wife was at the grocery store when the ignition seemingly failed. I had the van (2006 EXL, 290k miles) towed to the dealership, and this morning they called me with a $1300 quote for full ignition replacement.

Doing some rapid research now, weighing options for next steps.

@thunderpanda - so are you still able to use your original key & FOB?

 

Yep! Original key and FOB. Didn't have to change anything.

And honestly, if I had to do this again it would probably take me at most an hour. Most of the time the first time was spent trying to piece together different tutorials and figure out what was actually needed. But I already did that for you, so just re-read what I wrote and you should be fine.

Just do yourself a favor and make sure you buy a low-profile 90-degree screwdriver. You'll need to buy the ignition kit anyway so you might as well grab that and save yourself a lot of time.

In total this is a very inexpensive fix and will save you having to pay the $1300 at the dealer. They'll replace everything ignition-related.