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Honda Odyssey possible electrical problem

Tiny
MARKCORINNA
  • MEMBER
  • HONDA ODYSSEY
Hi, I have a first generation Honda Odyssey 2.2.
Yesterday I drove for about 15 minutes on the open road and the engine died. I tried starting it but I left the car sitting for 5 minutes and it started again. I checked and cleaned the battery terminals and test drove the car, and all was fine. I left the car for a few hours then drove it home again for about 15 minutes on the open road and the same problem happened again after the same distance travelled. I have power to run the radio and everything else but the car just keeps dieing. The only different thing I have done to the car was that earlier on the same day I topped up the water in the battery as it was low.
Should I get the battery tested?
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Monday, January 1st, 2007 AT 12:37 PM

15 Replies

Tiny
CNCTONY
  • MEMBER
  • 5 POSTS
Should there be (FSSx) fuel system status bank one and bank two for my Van?

Are 2 oxygen sensors, one before the cat and one after the cat, enough for 2 closed loop feed back control systems?
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Tuesday, September 19th, 2006 AT 4:12 PM
Tiny
BRUCE HUNT
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,754 POSTS
During this death sequence, did the check engine light come on? This does not sound like a battery issue. You have a sensor that is failing but now to try and narrow it down. Get the codes read from the computer to help us out.
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Monday, January 1st, 2007 AT 12:57 PM
Tiny
MARKCORINNA
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  • 13 POSTS
Could you please let me know how I get the codes read from the computer?
Is this something a mechanic can fix or do I need an auto electrician to look at the car?
Thank you
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Monday, January 1st, 2007 AT 1:40 PM
Tiny
BRUCE HUNT
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,754 POSTS
First of all did the light come on? Then if so and possibly anyway, the codes are something stored in the computer memory. They are accessible by anyone with an OBD2 scanner. The scanner is something that is readily available and you might have a friend that owns one. I have one I picked up for $30, new and it does the job just fine. Check around. But did the CEL come on?
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Monday, January 1st, 2007 AT 1:57 PM
Tiny
MARKCORINNA
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
Hi, The check engine light doesn't come on while I am driving. I didn't notice if it was on when the engine died.
It is interesting that the problem occurs after I have been driving for a while (approx 15 minutes)

Thank you
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Monday, January 1st, 2007 AT 2:13 PM
Tiny
BRUCE HUNT
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,754 POSTS
When the car dies and won't start. Check the spark to see if it is getting spark. Then check the engine for fuel delivery. The plug after cranking for 10 seconds should have fuel on it and the cylinder should smell of fuel. Lack of any of the above and we can head down the right path.
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Monday, January 1st, 2007 AT 2:40 PM
Tiny
MARKCORINNA
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
I will check it out and let you know. I have a fuel filter I have tried putting in but the bottom nut is really hard to undo on the old fuel filter.
The car has travelled 80,000 miles. Is it possible the old fuel filter is causing the problem?
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Monday, January 1st, 2007 AT 5:40 PM
Tiny
MARKCORINNA
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
I will check it out and let you know. I have a fuel filter I have tried putting in but the bottom nut is really hard to undo on the old fuel filter.
The car has travelled 80,000 miles. Is it possible the old fuel filter is causing the problem?[/Quote:14b84bcefd]

Hi Bruce,
I just went to turn the car on to let it idle for a while and wait for the engine to cut out so that I could check for spark and fuel, and I noticed that when I turned the ignition one or two clicks, the warning lights etc didn't come on on the dash and then when I turned the key further, the car wouldn't start. I turned the ignition off and turned it on again and the lights came on and the car started.
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Monday, January 1st, 2007 AT 5:56 PM
Tiny
MARKCORINNA
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
I will check it out and let you know. I have a fuel filter I have tried putting in but the bottom nut is really hard to undo on the old fuel filter.
The car has travelled 80,000 miles. Is it possible the old fuel filter is causing the problem?[/Quote:5383d93a46]

Hi Bruce,
I just went to turn the car on to let it idle for a while and wait for the engine to cut out so that I could check for spark and fuel, and I noticed that when I turned the ignition one or two clicks, the warning lights etc didn't come on on the dash and then when I turned the key further, the car wouldn't start. I turned the ignition off and turned it on again and the lights came on and the car started.[/Quote:5383d93a46]

HI Bruce,
The car stopped after 5 minutes idling.
I checked and found there is spark coming from the spark plugs and there is a strong smell of fuel when I turn the engine over.
I also turned the engine over when there were no lights on on the dash, and still got spark and fuel coming through.
Thank you
Mark
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Monday, January 1st, 2007 AT 6:21 PM
Tiny
BRUCE HUNT
  • MECHANIC
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Get the fuel filter changed and let me know. You might have to use a vice-grip to get the nut loose. Try spraying on some liquid wrench or other bolt loosening solvent. Even oil on the nut and allowed to soak can help.
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Tuesday, January 2nd, 2007 AT 12:31 AM
Tiny
MARKCORINNA
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
Hi Bruce,
I will change it and let you know. Is it possible that this has caused the car to stop after a short time of travel?
Any ideas as to why the lights on the dash (oil, engine, etc) don't light up when I first turn on the ignition?
Thank you
Mark
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Tuesday, January 2nd, 2007 AT 2:47 AM
Tiny
BRUCE HUNT
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,754 POSTS
Stranger things have happened. Especially, if one has run the vehicle out of gas or continuously takes the tank down to a near empty state consistantly and another factor would be the conditions and condition of the tank itself.

The dash lights should show when the key is in the on position. My question is whether they show at all and I am wondering if you are having any other problems related to the dash?
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Tuesday, January 2nd, 2007 AT 8:59 AM
Tiny
MARKCORINNA
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
Hi Bruce,
I changed the fuel filter and it didn't fix the problem.
I got my local Honda agent to plug their diagnostic computer into my car and they couldn't find any faults. (This mechanic was really cool as he had nothing to do all day so he offered to come to my house and did the diagnostic check for free)
the mechanic suggested that the coil or ignitor could be the cause since the filter didn't fix the problem. Is this possible?
I called an auto electrician and they want to have the car for a day and see if they can find the problem. They were not very helpful and wouldnt say how long it would take to check the coil and ignitor but they were able to tell me they charge $50 an hour. (As you can imagine, I don't have much faith in them being honest with how much time they need for finding the fault)
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Wednesday, January 3rd, 2007 AT 1:12 AM
Tiny
BRUCE HUNT
  • MECHANIC
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Electronic stuff is sometimes very finicky. It can cause problems that linger or they can just plain fail. However, if you are doing the test during the time period that the car will not start and the spark is present and I am talking about a nice blue spark to the plug, it can not be the coil.

I was glancing through the notes we have gone through and you talk about lights on dash being on one time and not the next but is it usually no lights of dash when not starting? Could you ask this very nice Honda gentleman about a recall on ignition switches. I seem to recall that there might have been one but not sure.
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Wednesday, January 3rd, 2007 AT 10:43 AM
Tiny
MARKCORINNA
  • MEMBER
  • 13 POSTS
Hi Bruce,
It was the ignition switch. I easily removed it and got a replacement from my local Honda agent.
I also checked with Honda to see if my car was on the recall list but it wasn't. They did say that in the future they may get notification from Honda Japan that my cars chassis number is included in the recall and then they will give me a refund.
Thank you so much for all your help and advice.
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Wednesday, January 3rd, 2007 AT 5:48 PM

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