Originally Posted By: Barwich
I am a little behind on the current Japanese motors. Can you guys fill me in, what is the VCM? Also was not aware of the belt on Honda and chain on Toyota. How is the current auto transmission in the Odyssey?
VCM ISSUES
"On certain Honda vehicles equipped with V6 engines with Variable Cylinder Management (VCM-2) , the cycling of the cylinders under certain drive conditions allows for spark plug cooling, which may result in carbon fouling of the spark plugs. . When the fouling becomes severe, the Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL) will come on, and one or more Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC P0301, P0302, P0303, or P0304) will be stored in the vehicles Powertrain Control Module."
"Honda put out a very complex and sketchy system and used consumer vehicles as a test bed.
When it came to light there were serious issues they scrambled like mad to correct them and created new issues.
Instead of shelving it till they got it right and losing a few CAFE credits they foisted it once again on the consumer."
"Some early VCM-1 had burnt on deposit and varnish issues caused by excessive heating of the front bank in eco mode.
This caused hard sludge that clogged the internal PCV system and made matters even worse.
Changing the oil at OLM or 7500 mi didn't help, no PVC valve maintenance was recommended by Honda, oil and fuel additives are taboo says Honda so where exactly is the lax maintenance?
"Some VCM-2 engines have carbon problems, still no PCV maintenance or additive recommendation AFAIK.
Again what lack of maintenance? I don't know anything you can do to prevent carbon buildup and stay within their maintenance guidelines."
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/3284911/Can_Honda_VCM_problems_be_fixe
LA2318616.4
218800-10002
UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
A federal court authorized this notice.
T his is not a solicitation from a lawyer.
If you are a current or former owner or lessee of any of the following Honda
vehicles
equipped with a 6-cylinder
(“V6”)
engine with Variable Cylinder Management
(“VCM-2”) you could receive benefits from
a class action settlement concerning
Engine Misfire
,
1
including a limited warranty extension and reimbursement of Out-
Of-Pocket Expenses for Engine Misfire-related repairs:
•
2008-2012 Honda Accord;
•
2008-2013 Honda Odyssey;
•
2009-2013 Honda Pilot;
•
2010-2011 Honda Accord Crosstour; or 2012 Honda Crosstour
http://www.autonews.com/assets/PDF/CA913971022.PDF
"2009 Honda Accord 4dr Sedan
271-horsepower 3.5L V6 5-speed automatic FWD
68000 mi Fouled spark plugs. Burning oil. Related to Honda VCM lawsuit for V6 engines.
70000 mi Accord will randomly start running very rough (sounds like it is running on 5 cylinders, check-engine light comes on, but there is no code on ODB port.
78300 mi Excessive oil burning (1 qt every 1,000 miles) and scored cylinders. Replaced entire short block.
51300 mi Engine cylinder / spark plug failure
99300 mi
US $250 Plugs misfiring
66000 mi Engine was replaced at 61K miles for cylinder damage after 7+ instances of the engine light coming on when two of the cylinders shut off and stayed off. Now I am getting a shutter/vibration that reverbrates in cabin
70000 mi
US $350 Severe misfire. Dealer found low oil, said this was the cause, installed a software update and charged me four hours of labor. I later found a TSB about this issue. Dealer said TSBs are not warranty issues, no refund.
81700 mi
US $150 Severe misfire. Dealer said #3 plug fouled. Replaced plug, problem solved.
120300 mi After denying for 3 years that there was a problem with V6's misfiring badly Honda, after being sued, disassembled the engine and replaced 3 front piston ring sets w/2 pages of other parts. $3000. + easily. No charge. Justice, finally.
16000 mi moderate - severe engine shake / stumble at idle. after a 30 mile drive.
15000 mi White smoke came out of the tail pipe when starting the morning before. They found that the engine is burning oil. They have a bulletin that says they have seen this problem with the V6 engines and do not have a fix for it yet.
33000 mi The computer had to be reprogrammed because the old program caused excessive oil consumption and fauled the plugs. Plugs were replaced.
72000 mi
US $127 Engine was misfiring causing the check engine light and VSA lights to come on. Dealer replaced the #3 cylindar spark plug.
96000 mi
US $750 Dealer replaced the piston rings on the 1st thru 3rd cylinders due to the spark plugs failing for the 3rd time and allowing oil to by pass the rings and burning the oil. Adjusted valves since they were a bit off and because engine was already apart due to the piston ring repair. "
http://www.truedelta.com/2009-Honda-Accord/engine-problems-108