[Fenny]

So I checked the mega thread and from my searches I haven't been able to find this one, maybe someone has an idea? I'm not mechanic, just a guy who uses youtube and forums a lot. Mine is a 2007 Odyssey EXL. So, history of work on the doors:

1) About a month ago the sliding door on the driver side wouldn't latch properly and I was getting the parasitic drain on the battery and continuous alarm. I quickly found the solution on the forums and pulled the panel and removed the mechanism to give it a good cleaning and lube job. I think it solved the problem (door would close and no alarm anymore), but not 100% sure because:
2) Less than 2 days later the cable on the passenger side snapped and the door wouldn't latch properly and I was getting the parasitic drain and the dash warning that something was wrong with that door. I didn't have time to fix it at that time so kept charging it up and finally got to it today:
3) Being a cheap ass I cut the cables with the plan of going manual. While I had it taken a part I changed the rollers as well as they were pretty worn (used genuine Honda parts, no cheap amazon ones). Door seems to be working just fine in manual now.
4) Figured I'd make the driver side sliding door manual at the same time, no point in only having one in manual so I cut those cables and now both doors are manual. But here is where it gets odd...

PROBLEM: The driver side sliding door, which was working just fine, now no longer opens from the outside. I pull the handle and nothing happens at all...I reef on the handle, and nothing happens; fast slow, hard gentle...nothing makes it happy! Now with that said if I open it from the inside, no problem at all! Un-latches and slides open just fine, just nothing happening from the outside. The passenger side opens from both inside and out without issue.

PROBLEM 2: Not sure if this is to be expected, as I didn't see it in the video, but I get a warning now on the dash that both the right and left sliding doors have a problem.

So guys, any suggestions?

 

[WiiMaster]

Use the foil trick to read the codes for the Slide Door light.

This is why I never suggest "converting" to manual. It's a can of worms. All the different modules in the van communicate with each other, and when you mess with the sliding door in that way, the modules can get confused, and there's no telling what happens after that.

Normally I would say try the reset procedure first, but you'll want to get those codes first since doing the reset would erase the codes.

 

[Fenny]

This is why I never suggest "converting" to manual. It's a can of worms.

The challenge is when the replacement parts are about the same value as the van!

Thanks, I'll give the foil thing a try when I can find a couple hours to play with it some more.

 

[WiiMaster]

The challenge is when the replacement parts are about the same value as the van!

Are they? A broken cable can be fixed with a $100 kit from CarCableGuy, and even a new motor is $400. If your van is really worth $400 I know plenty of people who would buy a running and driving 3rd gen for $400, myself included. Absolute steal.

 

[celicool]

Do you have to cut the cable to make your door manual? What's wrong with turning off that master Sliding Door Switch (on the left of your steering wheel) ?

 

[Juggawut]

One of my ways to pass time is to scour Marketplace for incredible finds that I have no real money for. Kinda like a hobby. I've been starting to think I should start squirreling away some cash and just flip cars in my spare time because of all the cheap cars that the seller doesn't want because of an "issue" that is not that big of a deal to repair.

I find a real gem at least once or twice a week. Something I could probably make $1500 to $2k+ from with minimal effort. I am seriously considering this, because of the method of thinking that says "my vehicle is almost worthless as is." "the problems are adding up."

 

[celicool]

One of my ways to pass time is to scour Marketplace for incredible finds that I have no real money for. Kinda like a hobby. I've been starting to think I should start squirreling away some cash and just flip cars in my spare time because of all the cheap cars that the seller doesn't want because of an "issue" that is not that big of a deal to repair.

I find a real gem at least once or twice a week. Something I could probably make $1500 to $2k+ from with minimal effort. I am seriously considering this, because of the method of thinking that says "my vehicle is almost worthless as is." "the problems are adding up."

I think you've got the right idea.

One man's trash is another man's treasure
One man's headache is another man's opportunity

 

[Fenny]

Are they? A broken cable can be fixed with a $100 kit from CarCableGuy, and even a new motor is $400. If your van is really worth $400 I know plenty of people who would buy a running and driving 3rd gen for $400, myself included. Absolute steal.

It's not so much the parts as the time. The conversion to manual took less than an hour. To replace the motor I have to tear the whole side out of the van. That's going to take me all day or two, I've never done it before so I'd be pretty slow at it. I have two jobs, 4 kids and a home that is 140 years old with more work needed on it than the van. The manual conversion I could do on my own, replacing the motor I either sacrifice the weekend or have a shop do it, which I was quoted over $2000 for.

 

[WiiMaster]

Well, it sounds like you're going to end up spending that time you supposedly saved diagnosing this new issue, so it seems you didn't really gain much.

 

[Fenny]

Well, it sounds like you're going to end up spending that time you supposedly saved diagnosing this new issue, so it seems you didn't really gain much.

Yup, but it was worth a shot. I know you said you like keeping them automatic but I've had nothing but problems so from multiple videos online and after talking to my local mechanic and getting quotes it presented the best option. The car is not in great shape and I just keep reading about problems with the doors so I didn't have great faith that a repair would permanently solve the problem.

So I also notice today that doors weren't latching. As I understood it even if I switch to manual the door should catch and latch the last 1/2 inch or so under power. I'm going to pull the fuse and reset them to see if that fixes the latching issue, I'll check back in once that's done. Thanks for the help guys, it's appreciated, even when you're pretty sure I'm making the wrong choice

 

[thscott]

Good luck. A latching issue is often caused by a bad latch. But check the easy things first.

 

[hpark21]

Maybe OP can follow this cable and make sure that it properly activates when the outer door is pulled:

Here is also the adjustment that you can do on the cable from the door handle side:

 

[Fenny]

Thanks! I'm going to shelve that options as as last resort, but I hadn't found those diagrams so if I have to open up the door then I'll check those cables and see if that's the cause.

Update on today: I quickly reset the doors by pulling the #7 fuse. Good news! That solved the dashboard lights and the latching issue. So no more "check door" yellow light on the dash and now the doors will automatically latch the last inch or so. Unfortunately, the exterior door handle still isn't fixed. I don't know if this has anything to do with the reset but the door handle will work about 1 out of 5 tries, which I believe is better than before, but it still a pain in the ass when you have to pull, pull, pull, pull, open!

Another question: Some of the videos I saw about turning the doors manual involved pulling the fuses. Others didn't mention it. Should I pull the 4 fuses associated with the automatic doors?

 

[elisa7joy]

Was hoping this was my issue... But no....

Anyhow manual is better imo cuz I just like slamming the sliding doors closed... Best thing about owning a minivan has always been this for me. Great stress reliever...

Manual "mode" doesn't offer this awesome feature either...still gives some resistance.

 

[Bear3412]

Was hoping this was my issue... But no....

Have you had a chance to locate / read this Mega Slider Thread?

Power sliding door mega thread - common issues, their...

The goal of this thread is to consolidate all the information about power sliding door issues that is spread out across the forum. While it will be primarily focused on the 3rd generation Odyssey (2005-2010), the basic ideas in this thread can be applied to all Odysseys with power sliding doors...

www.odyclub.com

Hopefully this may help, or lead you to direct questions.

Although this site thrives on all questions, so , . .

Ask away . . .

 

[elisa7joy]

Have you had a chance to locate / read this Mega Slider Thread?

Power sliding door mega thread - common issues, their...

The goal of this thread is to consolidate all the information about power sliding door issues that is spread out across the forum. While it will be primarily focused on the 3rd generation Odyssey (2005-2010), the basic ideas in this thread can be applied to all Odysseys with power sliding doors...

www.odyclub.com

Hopefully this may help, or lead you to direct questions.

Although this site thrives on all questions, so , . .

Ask away . . .

Yeah I read that... I also tried commenting on this thread which sketchy is the purpose of the thread😬