Piston Slap: Lerxst's Iliad and the Odyssey

Sajeev Mehta
by Sajeev Mehta

TTAC commentator Lerxst writes:

I’ve got a 2004 Honda Odyssey with approximately 96k miles on it. It has developed a condition where the steering wheel mounted radio controls do not act as expected (i.e. Volume up changes the track, Volume down makes the volume go up, etc., sometimes). The dealer tells me that it’s not grounded well deep in the steering column, and thanks to the Odyssey Club, I have found the TSB that covers this problem.

The dealer would like about $280 of my hard earned money to go in and fix it. American Honda won’t cover it through goodwill due to the mileage.

Since the TSB which gives detailed instructions, I’m inclined to try this myself. I am fairly handy (do my own oil changes, brakes, thermostat, and have used a steering wheel puller before). However, I have no experience dealing with airbags, which would need to be removed and reinstalled. This leaves me a bit apprehensive, since I’d rather not a) have it blow up in my face, b) have to replace the airbag at great cost or c) die because my airbag failed.

Perhaps TTAC’s Best and Brightest can give me a comfort level for working around the driver’s airbag. Thanks in advance for your help!

Sajeev writes:

Well done, avid car forum user! The TSB instructions you sent me are very, very straightforward. So go for it, you’ll save money and enjoy stickin’ it to The Man. And using a steering wheel puller impresses your neighbors. Been there, done that and got the funny looks.

Don’t fear the airbag: it’s no problem if you follow the Factory Service Manual’s procedure. Don’t have a factory manual? Better get one, be it paper copy, CD-ROM or torrent file. Still worried? Wear a full-face helmet and race suit when you pull the airbag and be the Stig of Minivans.

[Send your technical queries to mehta@ttac.com]

Sajeev Mehta
Sajeev Mehta

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  • IGB IGB on Jul 16, 2009

    I thought I'd change the steering wheel on a Saab I had once to something a bit...sportier. Looked easy. I read some instructions online. There turned out to be a coil of wires back there that popped out when I yanked the wheel off. Couldn't put it back together after that. Broke some little plastic thing. Every little plastic thing in a Saab costs $400. Had to go to the mechanic and explain what I did. Tail between my legs, wrote a big check. Bottom line is, just take it to the Honda guy. Give him money. After that, your volume button will control your volume.

  • Bomber991 Bomber991 on Jul 16, 2009

    Don't worry about the airbag. It's basically looks like a can of tuna, and has a wire coming out of it. My idiot little brother wanted to change his Impreza steeringwheel to an STI steering wheel. He got it switched ok, but it was crooked and he wanted to get the cruise control in there, so he tried it again. On his second time taking everything out, he forgot to disconnect the airbag and ended up popping off the cover to the clockspring. He had to get that part replaced through the dealer, part was like $300, and labor was something around $200. $500 for a new steeringwheel, rofl.

  • Dave Holzman A design award for the Prius?!!! Yes, the Prius is a great looking car, but the visibility is terrible from what I've read, notably Consumer Reports. Bad visibility is a dangerous, and very annoying design flaw.
  • Wjtinfwb I've owned multiple Mustang's, none perfect, all an absolute riot. My '85 GT with a big Holley 4 barrel and factory tube header manifolds was a screaming deal in its day and loved to rev. I replaced it with an '88 5.0 Convertible and added a Supercharger. Speed for days, handling... present. Brakes, ummm. But I couldn't kill it and it embarrassed a lot of much more expensive machinery. A '13 Boss 302 in Gotta Have It Green was a subtle as a sledgehammer, open up the exhaust cut outs and every day was Days of Thunder. I miss them all. They've gotten too expensive and too plush, I think, wish they'd go back to a LX version, ditch all the digital crap, cloth interior and just the Handling package as an add on. Keep it under 40k and give todays kids an alternative to a Civic or WRX.
  • Jpolicke In a communist dictatorship, there isn't much export activity that the government isn't aware of. That being the case, if the PRC wanted to, they could cut the flow of fentanyl down to a trickle. Since that isn't happening, I therefore assume Xi Jinping doesn't want it cut. China needs to feel the consequences for knowingly poisoning other countries' citizens.
  • El scotto Oh, ye nattering nabobs of negativism! Think of countries like restaurants. Our neighbors to the north and south are almost as good and the service is fantastic. They're awfully close to being as good as the US. Oh the Europeans are interesting and quaint but you really only go there a few times a year. Gents, the US is simply the hottest restaurant in town. Have to stand in line to get in? Of course. Can you hand out bribes to get in quicker? Of course. Suppliers and employees? Only the best on a constant basis.Did I mention there is a dress code? We strictly enforce it. Don't like it? Suck it.
  • 1995 SC At least you can still get one. There isn't much for Ford folks to be happy about nowadays, but the existence of the Mustang and the fact that the lessons from back in the 90s when Ford tried to kill it and replace it with the then flavor of the day seem to have been learned (the only lessons they seem to remember) are a win not only for Ford folks but for car people in general. One day my Super Coupe will pop its headgaskets (I know it will...I read it on the Internet). I hope I will still be physically up to dropping the supercharged Terminator Cobra motor into it. in all seriousness, The Mustang is a.win for car guys.
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