Auto repair question...

[driver8]

We have a '97 Honda Odyssey van with 130,000 miles on it. When we first start it up and for the first five minutes or so of driving, it spits and sputters like it's not getting enough gas. When the engine warms up, it drives fine. You can feel the change in the engine as you are driving it.

We took it to our mechanic and he cannot determine the problem. There is no computer code or check engine light. He thinks it might be the transmission and suggests that we take it to the Honda dealer to have them check it out. We took it there once and they couldn't determine the problem, as the problem would not occur while they had it.

Does anyone have a suggestion as to what it might be? Does it sound like a transmission problem? If so, we are going to get a new van as I don't want to start pouring money into transmissions.

Any help is appreciated.

[haele]

1. If it doesn't seem as if there's "enough gas", sounds as if it's something

in the air or idle system. My minivan issues (not seeming to get enough gas when starting up, and stalling out unless you had your foot on the gas) started out because the EPG air valve is "sticky", and the check engine light did not start coming on until the idle control motor went after working too hard to make up for the EPG valve failing. You can't tell it's going bad unless you actually take the part off and look at it. There's also some electrical contacts that can get dirty enough to not give your idle parts enough juice, but not bad enough to trigger the computer or alarms.

If you're old enough to remember the "Choke" lever, it was like trying to start up an old Rambler or Beetle without the choke in.

Good luck.

Haele

[Oeditpus Rex]

2. Start with the basics

If an engine runs rough when it's cold and gets better as it warms up, the most common cause is a lean fuel mixture — the ratio of air to fuel is too high. A cold engine needs a richer mixture for proper combustion. (That's why carburetors have chokes — to decrease the air intake and thus richen the mixture.)

With a fuel-injected engine, this could be caused by gum in the fuel lines. Run a bottle of fuel system cleaner through it and replace the fuel filter(s).

If that's not it, you're out only a few bucks, but then you've got to start looking at all the computer crap. (Mechanics these days oughta be beaten over the head with a camshaft. "There's no computer code" is what an IT geek would say, not an auto mechanic. And I can't imagine one thinking this is transmission-related.)

Oh — I'd wager the reason it didn't happen at the dealer is they didn't let the engine get cold enough before testing it.

[driver8]

3. I was really surprised our mechanic thought it was transmission related.

In all fairness, he has checked everything it could be -- including spark plugs, distributor cap, fuel filters, etc. This is the second time he has had the van and he has spent a lot of time checking it out.

[Rhansen]

4. doesn't sound like trans problem

I would be surprised if a trans problem would go away after the vehicle warms up. Your description sounds like a misfire, but you need to know if it is caused by a lean or rich condition or if it is an electrical problem.
If it is a rich condition the exhaust should smell of raw fuel. Lean condition or electrical can be a bit harder to diagnose - esp. over the internet. A lean condition will cause high exhaust temps, possibly making the exh. manifolds glow red.
I'm not overly familiar with OBDII systems or Hondas in general but if it only does it when cold I would suspect the problem lies in the enrichment circuit. I would start trouble shooting there.

[Rabrrrrrr]

5. Tell them instead of just plugging the computer in, to actually open the hood and fucking look.

"Mechanics" today. About as skilled as the tech-helpline assholes who just read "directions" off a computer screen.

:eyes:

[midnight armadillo]

6. Notoriously bad transmission you got there

The combo of Honda's V6 and 4 and 5 speed auto transmissions in their bigger vehicles has been difficult at best. Only the very latest models appear to have solved the problem. The 4-speeds (which you have) were the worst. You definitely want a trip to the local dealer or transmission shop.

I suggest a trip over to www.odyclub.com, the best site for Odyssey-specific info.

I have an '03 Odyssey with 43k miles, I don't expect to hit 100k on the original 5-speed transmission.

Good luck!

[driver8]

7. Thanks for the info.

I'm heading over to odyclub right now!!