HELP! So I followed Eric the Car Guy's video (www.youtube.com/watch?v=GeddYKKorsY) for doing my front valve cover on my 04 Honda Odyssey (278K). I replaced the gasket, cleaned up the intake manifold cover since there was heavy carbon buildup, and reassembled everything. Time-consuming, but no problem. I went to start the engine and it struggled to turnover. It did, but not well. I got it to start once and the engine was not right – it almost sounded as if only half the pistons were firing. I double-checked the ignition coils and connectors to ensure they were on – no issue.
What did I do wrong? Where should I be looking for a mistake? Unfortunately, no engine codes were triggered to give me an indication of what it might be.
Quick Bump/Additional Info:
The Intake Manifold cover on the 04 Odyssey also has EGR passages. I was specifically cleaning those out due to the carbon buildup
Well first did you use all new gaskets if you didn't that could be the problem could be leaking. But so many things can go wrong doing that big job and I'd V6 engine start with my video fixing the car that cranks but doesn't start up Scotty
In doing some additional research this morning, is it possible the EGR can get so clogged that it causes misfires or prevents air from getting into the engine, which is why when it started it sounded as if only some of the pistons were firing?
While I was working on cleaning the manifold cover/EGR passageways, I'm wondering if some of that carbon debris clogged passaged. I have a (blurred) image of those passages on the Odyssey manifold: https://ibb.co/hdQP8xF
I used new gaskets (Mahle) for the valve cover, the grommets, and the spark plug seal tubes. I didn't touch the gasket for the intake manifold or the intake manifold cover/EGR passageway (which on the Odyssey are metal gaskets). FWIW, I didn't have the car run for more then 2 seconds the one time it did start, but I didn't perceive a vacuum link.
I'll look for your video and see if there's anything actionable from there.
You will have to go back over everything you did in order and in detail to find the mistake.
I just completed this (after spending a lot of time cleaning out the EGR system) completely. I went all the way down and removed the valve cover, and don't see anything amiss. I put the valve cover back on, reassembled the intake manifold and throttle bottom components, and there's still no difference. I'm at a loss.
Here's a video link of where I'm at after working on this today.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/TdjNS9nFs7txGY3r5 . (And yes, I realize the intake hose is not attached presently).
I got it to start temporarily - it may have held 250 RPMs for 3 seconds before dying.