Questions:
1. Are we indeed getting the best possible scenario with a Honda rebuilt trans? How do we know if they are telling the truth?
2. What should we be expecting as far as warranty for rebuilt trans? At first they seemed to say it would only be covered for as long as our extended warranty remained (one more year). Then they said it would be 3/36. Should this warranty come directly from Honda?
3. Is this going to happen again? Should we just get rid of this van? Other than this issue, we have been pretty satisfied with it. And as I indicated, there are hardly any miles on it (49,000).
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Wish I had better answers for you, but I wouldn't hold your breath on Honda at this point. Here's my timeline...
- Bought new Feb 2002
- Took to dealer twice in Oct 2005 for similar problems to everyone else. Dealer couldn't -find problem.
- After evacuating from WILMA, transmission fails 6 hrs from home in Nov 05. Local dealer replaces under extended warranty (54,000 miles). #1 dead. :confused:
- Similar problems come back in Jan 07. Dealer finds nothing first two tries.
- In Dec 07 dealer reports transmission is bad and needs to be replaced. Covered under extended warranty. (89,500 miles) #2 dead. :mad:
- Feb 08 extended warranty expires (6 yrs)
- Apr 08 problems resurface. May 08 dealer reports transmission bad and needs to be replaced. Covered under Honda parts warranty (all parts covered for 1 yr; if installed by Honda, covered for 1 yr and includes labor). (95,400 miles) #3 dead...didn't last six months! :mad2:
My personal speculation is that Honda is replacing bad transmissions without fixing the problem....they're solving the symptoms.
Autopartswarehouse I don't know what the problem is, but I know damn well a transmission should last longer than 6,000 miles!
I'll be looking to dump this van before next May when the 1 yr warranty expires on this transmission. I have lost faith in Honda to properly repair it and worry that the next one will fail outside of the warranty, thus costing me money!
So to answer your questions:
1. Best case scenario? Your rebuilt will last. Most likely scenario? Whatever caused the first transmission to fail will affect any future transmissions you get from Honda...
2. Warranty is on the part and is for one year. The 3/36 is on a new Honda as I understand it, meaning the warranty is for 3 yrs or 36k miles whichever comes first from the first date the vehicle entered service. Make the dealer write it down if that's they're telling you 3/36 on the replacement transmission. If you go by the warranty book for your Odyssey online, there's no discussion of warranties for rebuilt work...just the parts warranty discussed above.
3. Based on my experiences, I would argue it'll happen again...it's just a matter of when. Unless you like the idea of paying $3-5 thousand down the line, I'd cut your losses while it's still low mileage and you can get better money.
Sorry to paint such a gloomy future, but having just picked up the Ody with it's four transmission in 6 yrs today, I'm not overly optimistic at this point....
Scott