2008 Odyssey Not Coasting - Transmission?

I just bought a 2008 Odyssey a few weeks ago. I have noticed that the van does not seem to want to coast smoothly when letting off the gas at speeds under 40MPH. I have only seen three other people bringing this up on other websites but they did not provide any follow-up information after taking it to the dealer.

Since it was a new van I thought maybe this was just the way the Odyssey transmission works. The longer I drive it the more I wonder if something is wrong with it. Here are the two main symptoms:

1) If I am driving at about 24 MPH and let off the gas the van does not seem to want to coast smoothly. It feels like it is riding down the gear until it gets to around 15 MPH then it noticiably seems to coast more smoothly (maybe after a gear change?) The same thing happens around 40 MPH. Someone else described it as the van feels like you are slightly touching the brake.

2) Someone else explained this well so I'll just copy them: "When slowing down and the vehicle downshifts, there is a noticable jerk, and I have to adjust how I am braking". This is especially true when I am braking slightly harder than normal. The downshift is very noticable to the point that it will slightly pull me forward from the seat.

Has anybody else noticed this? I may be looking into this too closely...but with all of the problems I have recently had with my 2001 Windstar I am very proactive about watching the performance on my new vehicle.

Thanks,
Ryan

Ryan, kind of funny, but I too traded my 2001 Winny for a 2008 Ody LX a few months back. Yes Honda automatics in general have a VERY different feel to them than a conventional automatic transmission. Honda transmissions are different beasts. They use sliding spur gears (like a manual trans) as opposed to conventional planetary gear sets like ~90% of ATs use. What you are describing is the down-shifting you feel with the Honda trans. You will feel this every time you slow down with your foot off the go pedal. It's the nature of the beast, common with all Honda ATs for the most part. Be thankful your 2008 has the "heavy-duty" 4-shaft trans based from the 4x4 Ridgeline. I'm still not sure I like a minivan that feels like a sports car, but it's okay I guess. It's a nice, well thought out van.

Joel

Ryan, kind of funny, but I too traded my 2001 Winny for a 2008 Ody LX a few months back. Yes Honda automatics in general have a VERY different feel to them than a conventional automatic transmission. Honda transmissions are different beasts. They use sliding spur gears (like a manual trans) as opposed to conventional planetary gear sets like ~90% of ATs use. What you are describing is the down-shifting you feel with the Honda trans. You will feel this every time you slow down with your foot off the go pedal. It's the nature of the beast, common with all Honda ATs for the most part. Be thankful your 2008 has the "heavy-duty" 4-shaft trans based from the 4x4 Ridgeline. I'm still not sure I like a minivan that feels like a sports car, but it's okay I guess. It's a nice, well thought out van.

Joel

Thanks for the reply Joel. A little while after sumbitting my post I went to the dealer to have them check it out. I also asked if I could drive another van while they were looking at it. They brought up three different vans that did not have gas and when they finally gave me one to drive it was the EX-L which has a different engine and trans. I could not get the same thing to repeat but I have heard that each van can have a different shift pattern because it is all electronically controlled. The van I was driving may follow the same pattern at different speeds.

Bottom line is that I don't mind the difference in how the transmission works as long as it is going to last more than 100,000 miles. I just got done replacing the trans in my 2001 Windstar so I'm hyper-sensitive to any potential problems with my new van.

.. the EX-L which has a different engine and trans. I could not get the same thing to repeat.

Actually all 2008 Odys have exactly the same trans. The only difference is the i-VTEC engine is available on the EX-L as opposed to the standard VTEC. I don't see 100Kmi as being a problem at all. Also keep in mind, in the event of an early catastrophic failure, Honda is very good at reimbursing their customers. FWIW, I traded off our 2001 Windstar @ 114Kmi with it's original trans, shifting like it did when I bought the van at 3yrs/32Kmi old. I did do a few pan drops and ATF changes on it. The only MV I've never heard of trans issues on is the Sienna. Dunno about the Sedona or Entrourage. Chevies weren't bad, but of course are no longer along with the Brownstar.

Joel

I have the same problems and I have 2005 Honda EX-L

Newer Honda transmissons have what honda calls "grade logic". The vehicle will down shift like a manual transmission when on decel and brake pedal is applied. Not sure if it is the owners manual, but it should be there. Honda Auto transmissions are manual transmissions with hydraulics as controls. Much different than domestics automatics.