2005 Honda Odyssey Changing out catalytic converters and O2

AIREWOK

MEMBER
2005 HONDA ODYSSEY
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
101,000 MILES

Just had the dealership look at my Odyssey. The van quit running on the side of the road. We got it started again after letting it sit for about 10 minutes, drove it about 20 more miles, stopped it for about an hour then got back in it and it started right up. 5 miles down the road it quit again. Couldn't get it to restart so we towed it to the dealer. Dealer says we need to replace both of the upper converters and all 4 O2 sensors. Really? I don;t think this is the issue but even if it is, is it something I can do myself? How do they know that all 4 sensors are bad? Or even that both converters are bad?

3 Replies

MERLIN2021

MECHANIC
17,250 POSTS

The check engine light ever come on? It should have, codes are read from the PCM(onboard computer) This will tell the Dealer where the problem is, there are about a dozen codes related to O2 sensors, and P0420 and P0430 related to converters that are not performing. If the exhaust is blocked by broken or melted converter beds, it would not be hard to figure it out! If you have access to a lift, an acetylene torch and drills incase one of the studs break, you could try, but I do not recommend it unless you are familiar with doing this type of work!

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Tuesday, March 30th, 2010 AT 4:19 PM

AIREWOK

MEMBER
2 POSTS

The check engine light did come on. I took the bottom converter off but it was fine. Only clogged with the melted converter beds from one or both of the converters mounted on the engine. How likely is it that both engine mounted converters burned up at the same time? And all 4 O2 sensors fried at the same time? The front mounted converter is the easiest to get to so I am going to look at it first but I am still curious if I should replace the O2 sensors regardless.

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Wednesday, March 31st, 2010 AT 1:49 AM

MERLIN2021

MECHANIC
17,250 POSTS

What I can say is buy a cheapo scan tool and red the codes. Post all codes here and I can better guess what's going on, but, at over 100,000 miles, the O2 sensors are at the end of their designed lifespan.
If a converter did melt, O2's MUST be replaced, any unburned gas that snuck thru the cats has probably finished off the sensors. But at this point, you do need to look at both cats, or read the stored codes.

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Wednesday, March 31st, 2010 AT 12:48 PM