If the window is down a few inches or more the door won't open all the way. If the windows are closed, I would guess something is broken that is making the door think the window is down.

 

Yeah! That's it!

The driver's window was all the way up and sure enough, the passenger window was down. I even looked in the owner's manual to see and didn't find anything.

Why would Honda design a door that only opens part way if the window is down?

 

Why would Honda design a door that only opens part way if the window is down?

So that it doesn't break your child's hand in case he/she had it sticking out the window. Pretty standard feature on the Oddy since the 2nd gen when the automatic sliding doors were introduced.

Each generation has this exact question multiple times.

 

Yeah, OK, finally got it...

I had a good weekend and wasn't thinking right...

And...we're coming from an 02 Ody which didn't have windows in the second row, so it was never a problem.

Those guys at Honda, always one step ahead!

 

I meant to say 3rd gen with windows but hadn't had coffee yet.

 

This happens with mine on the driver's side passenger door, but it only seems to happen when it's very hot outside. The door only partially opens. This usually happens when I leave work and the car has been shut up all day. I go out to open the door and the door only opens part way. Always wondered why. It makes sense that it would stop if the window was down, but I'm guessing that heat must do something to the switch to make it think that the window is down. Hmm... I guess I'll mention it to the dealer.

 

I never got this as a safety feature since the doors move so slowly it seems like a small risk. I have not investigated it on my ody yet but on my sienna I figured out where the catch was and would manually unstick it so I could open the door the whole way. Drove me nuts if I was parked on a hill and the door kept slipping down and hitting me as I was trying to buckle in a kid or whatever.

Now if they really want a safety feature in a car they should make windows that reverse if they hit resistance in closing. I've had two kids mash fingers in windows.

 

Ah, I always wondered why it would occasionally only open part way. Didn't remember if the windows were open, but they must've been.
I had always suspected that it would only open part way if the battery voltage was getting low in an effort to save battery life. But I guess I was wrong.

 

when it first happened to our van, i was freaking out ..

 

next step

First post, but I do search before typing so be kind!

The 2010 owners manual explains the power door safety feature of the open window, and you can even see the simple cable driven pop out bracket that deploys on the bottom rail assembly when the windows are open. Simple enough. My issue is, passenger side window is up but the bracket has remained extended - it moves freely (i cant push it to the stowed position with my finger) but the spring is such the the mechanism fails to the "safe", or partial door opening position. Whatever box commands that bracket to retract isn't talking.

I found some detailed reset hacks on other model years in the forum, curious if anyone has any similar tales of woe on their 2010 Ody before I start pulling breakers at the kids nap time :rollingeyes:.

Thanks in advance, looks like a cool community and since I plan to keep this heap running for a long time I will contribute when I have anything of value.

 

Problem solved - posting for the next guy in case it helps. I completely started the car and rolled down the Passenger windows so the window position agreed with the safety mechanism position. Completely powered off the vehicle (didn't pull the battery, or any fuses, but that would have been next if this didn't work). I left it for an hour while we did the kid stuff and then when the car was started again I rolled up the window hoping that would trigger the retraction of the safety mechanism. It worked, door opened fully after that. Seems cheesy but for now all is good. Back to the archives for this thread....

 

I don't want to start a debate about whether this is a good idea, but in my opinion the "feature" of the doors not opening all the way with the windows down isn't useful with manual doors. It can actually be dangerous when parked on a slope with no way to keep the door open. Here's an easy fix: on the lower "arm" of the door, zip-tie the little lever that pops out when the window is lowered. Photo is from my '14.

 

God is good for leading to this. Thank you for describing / asking the right question for this is how I found this thread and my answer.

Blessings