After extensive research on cause of dome/reading light failure, I found out most of the case for Honda Odyssey not working on single side is likely the switch failure but not the burnout of bulb. This meant I will only be able to fix it, if I endeavor to open the whole unit and replace the switch.
After 30 mins of trial-and-error approach on detaching the dome/reading light unit and $15 package from Amazon (2 LED bulb+2 Switch+Plastic wiggling tool) finally changed the faulty switch – now back to brightness in Honda Odyssey ๐
The familiar rattling noise around 2000-2200 RPM restarted on my Odyssey but this time at slightly different location – the clamp solution last time at Catalytic Converter on the passenger side seems intact while the noise was from the middle part so I tested with similar solution on the other Catalytic Converter.
This time, I tried the nail as a plug between the gap of heat reflector and Catalytic Converter with micro ratchet and looks like it is working fine!! Let’s see how long this plug will stay intact at the location ๐
Our poor minivan has been struggling to blast the lights out due to cataract ๐ so planted a new eye lens on it. ๐
Originally was planning to either use toothpaste cleaning or sandpapering+clear coating but found a good deal out new headlights so endeavored into replacement works ๐
One more – maybe & hopefully the last DIY I am doing with my retiring-soon Odyssey – replacing the ‘pressure rod’ which holds the tailgate door open. (still don’t know how officially it is called) but beauty of YouTube search function and Amazon’s search function give me enough information to order and teach me how to replace.
Now, my odyssey has super power only at the tailgate door from $25+little bit of labor.. ๐
Oh…. Flat tire at home made me a crazy drive to repair and first ever ride of public transportation since pandemic. One fun aspect of driving or crawling with flat tire is… you have an opportunity to talk to tons of good Samaritans who let others know “Your tire is flat!!”
Actually, part of the reason went thru the journey of DIYing was also because of this drill – Installing Trailer Hitch. Again, did the huge amount of search the web and youtube video to know what hitch fits odyssey, how to install, and ordered the ramp, hitch at Amazon and tried to install it.
As usual, everything was smooth in YouTube, while there are so many dumb challenges at my end. All the video suggested me doing with 2 or more people, but I don’t have that luxury – no one in my house can help – so brought out home various size of boxes and used those to balance and attached one hole after another hole. Also, used Ratchet Socket Wrench to installed it but it only went into few rounds and half tightened. ๐ฆ
So used my own ‘impact’ drill with socket but no luck -it was so weak only to make few more twists/advances, then learned that I need Impact Wrench ๐ฆ
As it was already evening, I had to leave the hitch as ‘not to fall off’ level and Amazoned overnight delivery ๐ – This must be the Copang experience I hardly ever had ๐ and magically package arrived at next day morning 6AM.
However, when Impact Wrench arrived tried to use the Ratchet socket but learned this doesn’t fit Impact Wrench and actually it is not recommended to be used with Impact Wrench anyhow ๐ฆ haha – so had to order another long Impact Socket set for Impact Wrench with same day delivery – ha ๐
Finally, all the bolt and nuts are 100% tightened – so wondered a bit on setting the Torque but as the car is old and I suspected some of miss-treading is there during install, thought this is good enough for me ๐
At the end dirty hands with some scratches, series of Amazon orders, and crazy searches on YouTube and Bing (Yes I work for Microsoft haha) mission complished ~80%: Now I need to unbox and install the ordered bike rack ๐
Since very end of last trip to Redwoods National Park/Oregon Coast, I felt some metal is clicking when vehicle’s speed is increased, but immediately disappear after the speed is up and more painfully irregularly.
So much of our freak-o-meter went up, the unlimited search on youtube was on. Metal Noise (when speed is up), Metal scratching when speed is increasted etc.. , then every different ones were suggesting break pad problem, transmission problem etc,.
Data science kicked in with extremely mental hypothesis testing ‘Does it make noise when it is uphill or downhill’, ‘Does it make noise when road surface is not bumpy or not’, then one great clue I landed was ‘It always sounds at 20MPH -40MPH. However, that theory was broken when I was testing on freeway it made a noise again around 60 MPH as well. Ah…
At the end of lengthy period of hypothesis testing, came to conclusion this mostly happens when RPM is passing thru 2,000-2,500 and less in the morning; especially when engine works one more step. Then I searched the web and youtube to learn this is more likely the problem of heat reflection metals around the exhaust system getting aging and loose and the vibration from the engine is making it “rattle” – glad it was not a break nor transmission problem ๐
Went to auto repair shop, and the mechanic simply screwed in one screw piece in the gap at the surrounding cover parts near the engine (Catalyst) and it was fine. His suggestion was using this as molding is the ultimate solution but it will be costly and time consuming ๐
However, that patch didn’t last long, and about a week later started to hear the rattling again. So decided to go more permanent solution.
So crazy DIY kicked in –
Ordered a ‘ramp’ as I don’t have the jack (and I have been in the need of something to put my car up for other reasons)
Looked at the area where the screw-patch was on – clearly gone ๐ฆ
So followed one of the videos suggesting using the metal clamp to hold the covering tight – some suggested zips but clearly got to know that won’t last at here as it was extremely hot with simple driving.
At the end, when the ramp and metal round clamp arrived, put the car on the ramp, dig thru under the car (first time using the back to move around after highschool’s military training class) put two clamps with painful arms with the hope at least one will resolve.
At the end – perfect solution. The rattle is gone now, (although hurt my eyes as particle dust from the car hit my right eye; continuously pumping tears for few hours. (+ countless attempt to wash out with tons of water :))
Weekend project – replacing odyssey’s torn bumper cover – this has been torn for years and years and finally verdict was getting a new one. Torn bumper recovery was too much or work for me or might take too much time and money if I do it at body shop…
Color matching new bumper order from ebay merchant from Grand Rapids, Michigan + youtube educated skill = sort of success except one broken bracket for bumper holder (Amazon is bringing that for me.. ๐ )
Now, I became paranoid on any small rocks hitting the bumper..
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