Inside My Odyssey Transmission - EricTheCarGuy

[@thormcgee968]

Clutches burning up are usually the result of something else failing. Such as a bad shift solenoid, worn drum seals or worn bushings can cause a drop in fluid pressure that will cause the clutches to burn up. Replacing the clutches without fixing the cause will result in the same failure. The best thing to do is a full and complete disassembly and cleaning. Replace all drum seals, bands, clutches, bushings and solenoids. Use a caliper to compare the clutch disk thickness from the old to the new or book specs to make sure you are using the correct amount and thickness. I rebuilt the 4l30e trans in my 528i and I have to say it was a real pain in my yanno. I used a master rebuild and also replaced all thrust washers, bushings, solenoids, force motor and T converter. Depending on the year, they used different thickness and amount of clutch plates. It's easy to get crossed up if you don't measure everything to verify the correct thicknesses. Most transmissions are computer controlled now, so a wonky computer or gear position switch can ruin a transmission also. It's easy to get crossed up inside these beasts. Taking pictures and video as you disassemble can be a life saver. Don't even try a transmission rebuild without a press and transmission service manual and the proper tools. I had to make a bunch of tools to get my job done. I also had to buy some proper tools for setting up the clearance between drums and pumps end play. In the end I ended up saving about $1200.00 by doing it myself. The transmission shop wanted $2300.00 to rebuild mine including the r&r but if I want my solenoids and force motor replaced it will cost extra. In the end my diagnosis was that I had excessive bushing clearance that caused hydraulic pressure bleed off. It's been rolling for 4 years and hopefully a few more.

[@opl500]

You make me want to make sure every car I buy is manual :/

[@eksine]

you're correct, Eric's tranny failed 2 weeks after this

[@odelljames7715]

Thor Mcgee us

[@Nocturnalzyx]

bad shift solenoid is my issue right now

[@adeoyesamson7615]

I have an odizay which the D light is blocking and about not to move and select well, after which confirmed that the two sensor outside the gear buss is confirmed to be ok, so kindly advice me on the next action as an expert

[@ericthecarguy]

@KHT175 Hands down the automatic transmission is the most complex component on any vehicle.

[@lolatmyage]

This is a great video to show why automatic transmission related work is so expensive.

[@SupramanTRD]

most of the labor is actually removal and install of the transmission itself. Dealing with the transmission internals is done on a bench in a garage. It's alot quicker when done by pros.

[@winningoO]

You're right, Eric. Don't try this at home, go to a friend's house.

[@hjlautoparts2555]

hahaha great idea!

[@RamblinAround]

It took guts to dig into that thing. That was way too complex for me. Glad it worked out for you!

[@Ottonic6]

I wanna do this, I fixed the gears on my 10 speed bicycle.And it worked perfect. No problem... It might take me 1 hour, tops... Yeah, right... Man what a mess, it's amazing the engineering put into these. Eric you can do it..

[@jeffreymurdock8366]

You were very careful in your disassembly and made notes and that's why you were successful. I am the same way. I did the clutch on my motorcycle recently and did the same thing and was successful. While I do work on cars this is my first bike and I didn't have a manual to look at. I'm like you as we both don't like paying people to work on our cars.

[@JSWMobileMedia]

Your honesty about the challenges faced (even by an experienced technician such as yourself) gives us DIY'ers hope and motivation to keep going! Great videos! Keep making them!

[@dougk1533]

Eric, you are one of the first people I turn to when fixing my 2000 Honda Odyssey and my 2005 Infiniti, though I usually don't touch the G35X too much. Your videos are extremely helpful and sometimes, like this one about replacing clutch pads on the Odyssey are really really fun and funny to watch. Thanks for all that you do.

[@georgezhang1555]

Really appreciate your efforts in letting us see what is inside the transmission , parts , each of them associated to make transmission work

[@ericthecarguy]

@RamblinAround It was more that I was broke and needed the van than anything else. I'm glad it worked out too and that I was able to make a video. Thanks for watching.

[@ericthecarguy]

@fastveedub Cool, I've never been in one of those Audi's you spoke of but it sounds similar. I'm glad it worked out too as taking this trans out without a lift or a trans jack is tricky. Thanks for the comment.

[@triumphovertragedy7860]

Holy moly... 8 yrs ago. Congrats Eric!!!

[@lightningsmokerXx]

Could you imagine a Do it Yourself mechanic trying this. Eric is a professional mechanic and he's stressed out doing it. I felt bad for him watching this as you can hear it in his voice he's tired and not sure if it was gonna work.

[@codyburns4149]

I'd like to see most diys safely remove the transmission.

[@SupramanTRD]

it's still only stressful because Eric is unfamiliar with the way a Hondamativ works. When you have a thorough understanding of how it works, it's alot easier.

[@RideCamVids]

On each clutch pack you have to compress the centre with a special tool then remove the retainer clip. After that you can remove the main piston assembly to replace the o-rings on the outer and inner section where it seals the pressurized ATF within the drum chamber. Also as is mentioned, shift solenoids do act up causing erratic shifts on that gear. Honda transmissions are the simplest to fix by the way.

[@spelunkerd]

Learning any skill is always about learning personal limitations. That's why it's really helpful (for we students) to see how much of a struggle it was for a master to do this job. When learning by proxy through a computer screen, a student can only get so far. You miss out on the wisdom that comes from hands on experiences like this. I'm really glad and impressed that you took the extra time to do this video....

[@Addrit85]

After 7 years working in a quick lube shop, and having to say "I don't know" when customers asked me if these transmissions had filters and where they were, I finally know the answer. That's why I love your videos, Eric, even if they're not about something I have to do or have ever done, I always learn something from them.

[@galebyassin1624]

Eric you have to change the pistons in all drums and all clutches in all drums also. you can chek the piston if works, to introduce aer pressure and to see if the pistons work or not. remember if you have a brone or worn clutches you have a problem with the piston in that drum; or with the line pressure or with the solonoid that regulate the pressure line that press the piston.

[@ericthecarguy]

@jd5179 Me too, that's why I normally avoid this kind of work but it was worth a try just to get a look inside. Thanks for the comment.

[@ericthecarguy]

@ffgew22 Well that's what I'm here for. I'd say that ffgew22 pretty much covered it, the clutches were the metal discs that I replaced inside that drum assembly if you were wondering. A certain amount of slip is built into an automatic transmission so ALL of them will have some amount of metal that is hopefully trapped by the filter as well as the magnets.

[@ericthecarguy]

@KNTRIDER Not really, the metal debris is picked up by a magnet on the drain bolt, the filter is just a screen anyway and to be honest it's not like an engine that is not a sealed system and is subject to contamination. The auto trans lives on it's own and the only contamination would be it's own worn internals or something you dropped down the dipstick hole, a screen is sufficient to deal with that mostly. It's important to use Honda fluid in these however, if not problems can result.

[@TimeOutGirls]

Dude, you are great on showing procedures on How-To video's. I believe most people wish they new someone like you personally, as the come-to-guy. Thanks for your time!

[@ericthecarguy]

@Begbucks I've heard of it but never tried it, perhaps I should have given it a shot before making this attempt. So far it seems to have worked though. Thanks for the suggestion.

[@bonvo86]

im glad that you admit to the fact that automotive transmissions are a totally different art form then normal automotive repair

[@ericthecarguy]

@DtoWnSux1 Since it's a manual trans I don't believe you have much to worry about, just change it with Honda fluid and you should be fine.

[@ericthecarguy]

@santos8070 The shift valves on this transmission are electronic and right on top of the trans and easy to change, I would have preferred that actually.

[@rick62008]

Even though it's not advisable to try this at home, thanks for sharing. It's amazing how we normally don't give much thought about the beauty and complexity of a gear box while shifting from gear to gear, either manual or autamatic!

[@ericthecarguy]

@Goat366 Not exactly sure but normally they are just under the trans pan. It's hard to say exactly what is going on but fluid changes are often the first step in a trans repair however sometimes changing the fluid in a trans that hasn't had a fluid change in some time can cause it to slip more instead of fixing it. I know that may not be the best of news but changing the fluid is still a good place to start.

[@ericthecarguy]

@DtoWnSux1 Manuals don't use the fluid to operate the trans where automatics can't function without fluid. All your doing inside a manual trans is lubricating parts, in an auto trans the fluid not only lubricates but it also performs critical functions that operate the trans and as a result of this it wears out differently than it's manual counterpart.

[@ericthecarguy]

@KNTRIDER I'm learning too and I'm glad to have you along for the ride, thanks for the comment.

[@GhettoWagon]

WOW its nice that the whole case comes off with all the sub assembles intact.

[@ericthecarguy]

@DanielGMich To be honest I really wouldn't do anything else other than perhaps replace the other clutches and possibly the filter but that's really just a screen and could easily be cleaned out. I might do a video but to be honest it's good to verify an issue before rebuilding instead of what I did here. I also have concerns that people will get in over their heads with this job as it is very involved, I forgot to show the subframe on the floor, getting this trans out by yourself is a chore.

[@ericthecarguy]

@robertfrate The 4 cylinder transmission is not the same. I would not advise taking apart an automatic transmission unless you have the experience and the tools, in fact this trans failed again 2 months after this repair.

[@ethanwatters8704]

You are the Freakin Man Eric. What a boss. Your videos are always awesome and helpful. I bought the last Honda transmission of my life last summer at the total of just over $5000 out the door. 2004 Pilot with 150k miles. Evidently quality control is no longer their strong point with Honda. It seems that there are a lot of automatic transmission problems in the late model Honda's. That is sad because the 80's and 90's Honda's were pretty solid. Oh well, Honda lost a customer for life. I will not buy another one.

[@Ubon94]

Don't be a knee jerk person. All manufacturers have their fair share of problems. Do your study before you make a decision!

[@ericthecarguy]

@darcygoesfast No worries, three months after this it went out again. It is true as I've put my fair share of these transmissions myself. Thanks for the comment.

[@grawey77]

Eric is a master technician so this is not that big of a step for him to try something like this. You never know what you can do until you try anyways. Eric is one of the best mechanics on youtube.

[@ericthecarguy]

@PeterGriffin4200 I suspect it's been replaced in the past but that does not mean it won't fail again. I've replaced more than one in some cases. You'll just have to wait and see I guess.

[@ericthecarguy]

@IrnMaiden304 With automatic transmissions it's all about pressure, the seals, and the clearances. You need the pressure to move and hold things, the seals to keep that pressure where you want it, and the clearance to be in the money zone for things to work well. If things wear past the service limit you will loose pressure and your ability to hold things in place, hence the term 'slip' when referring to what happens when an auto trans is not performing up to par.

[@ericthecarguy]

@rwdplz1 Yea most other transmissions use a planetary gear set up which might appear more complicated. Thanks for your comment.

[@ericthecarguy]

@bowlingballout Great to see you! Sorry I haven't been around lately but things have gotten kind of busy. As for the timer it would have run up a little over 11 hours for this one, long day for sure. Hope you had a great Christmas as well and a Happy New Year. Thanks for stopping by.

[@ericthecarguy]

@pyronitro Interesting I'll have to look into that. Thanks for the suggestion and for your comment.

[@ericthecarguy]

@markw365 Thanks for the info and the comment. Good luck with the install.

[@ericthecarguy]

@drdougdeep I'm not aware of a puller, so I guess no on that one. The trans failed about 3 months after this, I hope to put a replacement in when I get the time and make a video of the process. Thanks for the comment.

[@ericthecarguy]

@cranbboy1 Thats the thing that keeps me coming back to being a tech the fact that there is always something new to learn. Thanks for your comment.

[@ericthecarguy]

@vitali1985 It does sound like a transmission issue you might want to check the fluid level and condition first but if it's at the proper level then you probably need a transmission.

[@dinosoarskill17]

Dear EricTheCarGuy, Why are all of your videos so awesome?

[@ericthecarguy]

@12santo1 Those are the classic signs that the trans is on it's way out. You might do a fluid change but to be honest you should just prepare yourself to replace it. BTW you should ALWAYS use Honda fluid in a Honda transmission.

[@GammaCruxis]

This is the one that I stumbled upon that got me interested in your videos. Not only did you have the knowledge to actually get it to work properly, (sorry it didn't hold up) but you also had the courage to outright say 'this might not turn out properly' instead of being a great ape about it and beating your chest. Certainly earned my respect. ^^

[@ericthecarguy]

@hobieslug45 yea the measurements are a big part of a tranny rebuild as well as working in a clean environment. They are good transmissions for the most part but I feel after they tried to make them shift smoother they ruined them, the older transmissions that shifted harder lasted much longer. Thanks for your comments.

[@ericthecarguy]

@Paddedmind Cool, thanks for the comment and the update.

[@ericthecarguy]

@Oozingmachismo24 Yea, they are. The weird thing for me is the auto trans was made in Japan and that used to mean it was bullet proof.

[@codyburns4149]

I did this on my wife's Honda pilot in 2011. That is one of the hardest repairs I ever preformed

[@ericthecarguy]

@shalisa71 In fact I've done those in the past but it's been some time, it's usually pretty straightforward however if it's 4WD it presents it's own set of challenges but it's still a pretty straightforward job from what I remember.

[@ericthecarguy]

@Mr91GTS It was a long day to be sure but I should have taken my time and rebuilt it right or just replaced it as it failed again 2 months after I did this. Lesson learned but I think when I go to swap it out I'm going to make a video on it. Thanks for your comment.

[@ericthecarguy]

@robertfrate Make sure that the vehicle is warm and OFF when you check the fluid, Honda's are different than many others in that respect.

[@ericthecarguy]

@tudorart Thanks very much for that comment it really brought a smile to my face, it's nice when people 'get' what I'm trying to do with my videos. You can learn just as much if not more from failure.

[@ericthecarguy]

@Trainsmaster Given that they are known for going bad I don't think a salvage yard trans is the way to go as it could just last a couple of months and your right back where you started. I don't stand behind any work I do with customer supplied parts but I do with the parts that I supply and I would say that is typical.

[@ericthecarguy]

@rgiaco777 Yea I was tired as that was a loooong day. Yea, that's the reason why I preach using only Honda fluid in a Honda trans because they are different than any other trans I can think of and the fluid was designed to work in their transmissions specifically.

[@ericthecarguy]

@hobieslug45 Absolutely, especially with an electronically shifted transmission proper voltage is everything. Thanks for the comment.

[@IommiFan70]

you are one of the most ballsy machanics i've ever seen nice job!

[@ericthecarguy]

@fridofrida No it just went out. I didn't have much hope for this working in the first place because it wasn't a 'proper' rebuild I was just trying to see if I could do it on the cheep.

[@paulmiller9993]

I Eric that's a great job you did because I went to school for automotive and learn that the automatic transmission is the most complicated part in the automobile.. continue the good work because it's a never ending learning process and we all know that we have people who specialize in tranny.

[@ericthecarguy]

@jjashik7 There should not be an issue as long as you turn the traction control off, if not the ABS will kick in. To be honest that method is not really necessary if you change the fluid about every 30K as that is what is recommended by Honda. However if it's been a while since it was changed or someone put dextron in there that method would work very well.

[@ericthecarguy]

@The18Jake Start with the obvious like checking the fluid level, if it's OK then see if there is some way to pull codes from the trans unit. Next it would be time to check the pressures inside the transmission in order to determine if it's a problem with the internal parts inside the trans.

[@sluggyjunx]

Nice vid, Eric. Thank you for showing how those clutches come apart and work. It's the first time I've seen that and I'm fascinated. Enjoy the vids. Keep 'em coming. Thanks!

[@ericthecarguy]

@antonio30824 No matter what if you haven't changed the fluid in a while it's a gamble. Personally I would do a drain and fill before a flush but as I said either way you may end up with a problem in the end. Good luck.

[@ericthecarguy]

@kazimann The torque converter is only part of the equation but there are many things inside the "slush box" that make it work including clutches.

[@ericthecarguy]

@dfelb8 I tried Lucas before I got to this point so no it won't work unfortunately. It's really a design flaw and I'm going to look into a way to update it and present that information should I find it at a future date.

[@ericthecarguy]

@Pawsandconsider I actually need to replace the trans in this van still and when I do I hope to make a video but it may be some time before I have the time to do that but I do plan to make a video of the process. As for doing it yourself know that you will need to drop the entire sub frame to get the trans out, it's a pretty involved job for the DIY.

[@ericthecarguy]

@youtubasoarus Your right, when Honda decided to make their automatic transmission they really just modified the manual that they had using clutch drums in place of syncros as a result it is a unique design that's why I preach using Honda trans fluid only as just about every other auto trans is of a different design, Honda specially designed their fluid to work in their transmissions.

[@ericthecarguy]

@BEASTFROMBOSTON Your most welcome, thanks very much for your comment.

[@ericthecarguy]

@andrewthompsonuk1 Lets just say that I have 'extensive' experience with Honda transmission problems and given that it was only slipping in one gear I don't think 'pressure' was the problem but rather the clutch packs, I replaced the seals as well, remember in the world of automatic transmissions thousandths of an inch make all the difference and may not be apparent to the naked eye. I plan on making a video on transmission diagnosis at some point to help pinpoint problems before disassembly.

[@ericthecarguy]

@pogly100 I'm just happy it worked and I was able to drive home. Thanks for the comment.

[@ericthecarguy]

@The18Jake If it's shifting normally then I wouldn't worry about it, the buzzing may be normal.

[@ericthecarguy]

@Paddedmind Tough call really. I might start by changing the fluid with Honda fluid, it's easy to do really just drain and refill. If the condition gets better change the fluid one more time after driving for a while as someone may have used regular ATF in it.

[@ericthecarguy]

@shayorshayorshayor There is a lot to that question but I hope to cover most if not all of the automotive systems on the car before I'm done including a more detailed description of how automatic transmissions work.

[@ericthecarguy]

@TheEsevee Hard to say, aside from the hard parts inside the transmission there are electronic controls that could also cause shifting problems. You need to do some pressure testing and diagnosis BEFORE you take it out to really know what is wrong with it.

[@ericthecarguy]

@LeathanEre No problem, those are easy.

[@ericthecarguy]

@spelunkerd I'm going to be honest with you and say that I'm really a student myself, most of what I know is based on past experience as well as observing the experiences of others, I just happen to be good at putting it to video. I see your point however and thank you for your comment.

[@ericthecarguy]

@comma567 I'm with you 100% on the clean thing, I really didn't want to do this in my shop to be honest because it was soo dirty. I agree about the clutches but to be honest this was a shotgun job and I knew it, I just didn't have the cash for a reman so I took a chance. I'll be shopping for a reman soon cause it started acting up again.

[@ericthecarguy]

@pawtnahshipp101 I'm aware that could be an issue and probably should have taken more time with this 'rebuild' but I just didn't have the time or money at the time, I knew it was a shot in the dark but I decided to take the chance. It did fail about 2 months after this video. Thanks for the comment.

[@ericthecarguy]

@jeepcherokee40 The things we do to save a buck. In this video however I had an other motives to make a video showing the inside of a Honda trans which is something that not many get the chance to see, as you know from your Jeep experience other transmissions are different.

[@Rogertraduz]

Awesome! It have to be a good felling after all done! I just changed my fuel pump, Map sensor,after 4 o 5 Days watching some videos, reading a lot i finally found that was a bad ignition coil on my old Chrysler minivan that decided to not start just on the same day i placed it for sell! I understood that the better way to get things done is to get informed and make some tests before the adventure of taking out any part and fixing a problem!

[@ericthecarguy]

@ducksunlimited12345 I'll keep that in mind, thanks for the comment.

[@ericthecarguy]

@CoolasIce2 I also replaced the seals but didn't show it in the video. So far it's running fine almost 3 weeks later.

[@ericthecarguy]

@Paddedmind Good luck and have fun with your rebuild.

[@deezol]

This takes guts. I'm glad you filmed the entire procedure. Very informative as well.

[@ericthecarguy]

@DaMenaCe3 I hate to say it but what you describe are the classic symptoms of a transmission failure, in fact the transmission in this video had very similar symptoms.

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

@finalman82 Brilliant idea! My observation is the older transmissions use a fine mesh filter and the "life time" fill ones use a cloth type filter. The mesh is only there to stop particles that would jam and block the controls. However it does not stop sludge form clutches etc. that will wear the transmission.

[@martinmares8998]

Not an easy job to do but you took on the challenge of doing it yourself. Keep up the good work.

[@hnmcclain]

I love your videos man. I've learned a ton from you over the year... but admittedly it's really just fostered a reckless sense of confidence!!!lol

[@ericthecarguy]

@FITVANITY11 I'd be looking at the rod that runs from the transmission to the shifter and the shift rod itself to see if anything is loose. It might also be a suspension or engine mount issue so do what you can to narrow down your search by checking all these things.

[@joginderdeol1109]

I did my transmission for my Honda Pilot just because I watch your all videos

[@ericthecarguy]

@cbr900rr919 Yea those transmissions are fun but these can be tricky, I suppose if I did more of this work it would be less intimidating. Thanks for the comment.

[@AlphaMaxx1]

Oddyseys and accord 98-02 v6 auto transmissions are prone to have problems of slipping and acting up when auto transmission overheats (after 20 minutes of driving it approx) when these start to fail. I was able to fix my accord 99 v6 by installing a third party oil transmission cooler and now it drives flawlessly. Every owner should install one of this in their cars.

[@MBLRStudios]

My dad had a '98 Honda Accord and the automatic transmission went out in 2000. Honda replaced his transmission under a warranty and he never had transmission problems again until it went out again 3 months ago, so he just decided to get a new car.

[@hypojames]

I second this! My 2001 2.3 accord 4 speed auto used to muck around alot when hot. I fitted a plate and fin cooler eliminating the factory terrible tank in rad setup and its been great ever since. only 51k miles on the clock too!

[@ericthecarguy]

@pyronitro Personally I'm not into using type F in a Honda trans, I'm curious to see how things work out with yours however.

[@ericthecarguy]

@wilnerlivesformaiden It would have been better had it worked out. Thanks for the comment.

[@TheTarHeelTom]

For anyone who has spent even a little time working on early motorcycles, that type clutch is very recognizable as a wet motorcycle clutch. Some people changed those plate often, some of us never had to. On the motorcycle, there was only one clutch, which had to be disengaged prior to every shift.

[@Ashroyer86]

you can shift without manually using the clutch

[@jimmyweider3113]

I am also aware we are always learning ,but you catchh on quick and we out here need you to teach us .

[@TechnnoTrucker]

I opened up a Ford Taurus automatic transmission took it apart and put it back together and left out a spring and a white spacer. You got skills. I would rather replace the transmission. However I like seeing the inside of transmissions.