Fixing a Honda Odyssey Automatic Sliding Door

by Michael Sheehan on January 17, 2007

in Family, General

I’m going a bit away from my usual tech talk on this one but still, it points to how truly information packed, the Internet is. We had a deep freeze last night, rain and then below freezing temperatures. Most of the Country is experiencing that now…but here in California, it is a bit rare to go below freezing (especially in my area). Anyway, as my wife was trying to get the kids off to school, she discovered that our 2001 Honda Odyssey (the “mommy mobile”) power sliding doors decided not to work anymore. The “door” light was lit, indicating an error of some sort.

Armed once again with the power of Google (as well as “unrelatedly” telling my kids that on the Internet, “you can find out anything about anything”), I searched for “2001 honda odyssey doors won’t open” and the first hit had the answer. Here is what fixed it, and I will quote (with a little editing):

1.) Disable the power door switch on the left dashboard.
2.) Remove fuse #13 for 30 seconds or more from the passenger side fusebox. This will reset the door and the clock. Fuse box is located under the front passenger leg area.
3.) Manually open and close both sliding doors.
4.) Restore the power door fuses located under the front passenger leg area.
5.) Enable the power door switch on the left dashboard.
6.) Try opening the sliding doors.

I must admit that I did skip step #3 (which I think is just there for you to do something while you wait the 30 seconds. Anyway it works flawlessly! I probably saved myself a couple hundred $$$ at the dealer for a “diagnostics.” But more importantly, I saved my wife a lot of inconvenience and got the school drop-off routine back to norm.

For those interested, the thread where I found the fix is here.

If this tip saved you some money, I would really appreciate a minor donation to offset some of my hosting expenses. Thanks!

HTD says: There is always a fix out there, you just have to find it and share it with others!

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Tagged as: door_switch, Family, fuse, General, google, honda_odyssey, sliding_doors

Newer Comments →
  • dennis

    I took my 2001 Odessey to two mechanics neither of which could fix my automatic door. One was going to remove the door and drop the ceiling curtain to check wiring! I fixed my door with this tip!!!!!!!!! Thanks!!!

  • dennis

    I took my 2001 Odessey to two mechanics neither of which could fix my automatic door. One was going to remove the door and drop the ceiling curtain to check wiring! I fixed my door with this tip!!!!!!!!! Thanks!!!

  • Akinjide

    Mike,

    I just repaired my sliding doors out in the freezing cold tonight in NY. I am estatic. This trick really works.

    THANKS

    Akin

  • Akinjide

    Mike,

    I just repaired my sliding doors out in the freezing cold tonight in NY. I am estatic. This trick really works.

    THANKS

    Akin

  • http://www.hightechdad.com Michael

    @ Akinjide,

    Thanks for the comment and I’m glad it worked! I actually had to use the method again as well just a few weeks ago. Good thing I had my own blog post to refer to!
    Please DIGG this post if you can.
    Thanks,
    HTD

  • http://www.hightechdad.com hightechdad

    @ Akinjide,

    Thanks for the comment and I’m glad it worked! I actually had to use the method again as well just a few weeks ago. Good thing I had my own blog post to refer to!
    Please DIGG this post if you can.
    Thanks,
    HTD

  • Jack Mcc

    This post saved me a lot of time, money, and aggravation on Christmas Eve. I was in Christmas Eve service when my doors froze up and stopped working. This tip got them working on Christmas Day. Thanks a ton!

  • Jack Mcc

    This post saved me a lot of time, money, and aggravation on Christmas Eve. I was in Christmas Eve service when my doors froze up and stopped working. This tip got them working on Christmas Day. Thanks a ton!

  • Kevin Nordyke

    You are a genius! From everyone else's comments, it sounds like this has something to do with the cold. It has been below freezing here in Portland, OR for a week and a half now. Last night one of the sliding doors all of a sudden quit working. Your tip worked PERFECTLY! Thank you so much. Who knows how much time and headache this would have caused me?

  • Kevin Nordyke

    You are a genius! From everyone else's comments, it sounds like this has something to do with the cold. It has been below freezing here in Portland, OR for a week and a half now. Last night one of the sliding doors all of a sudden quit working. Your tip worked PERFECTLY! Thank you so much. Who knows how much time and headache this would have caused me?

  • Mamma Minivan

    Thank you for the tip. It saved me soooo much money!!

  • Mamma Minivan

    Thank you for the tip. It saved me soooo much money!!

  • http://mylocalgasprices.info Nicholas Ward

    Worked Thanks.
    Step 5B (mentioned in owner's manual) Press and hold the door close button to trigger the locking mechanism and reset the motor position.
    You can probably skip this step if you skipped step 5.

  • http://mylocalgasprices.info Nicholas Ward

    Worked Thanks.
    Step 5B (mentioned in owner's manual) Press and hold the door close button to trigger the locking mechanism and reset the motor position.
    You can probably skip this step if you skipped step 5.

  • http://orlandogasprice.com Nicholas Ward

    I mean if you skipped step 3 like mike did. I already had my door open.

  • http://orlandogasprice.com Nicholas Ward

    I mean if you skipped step 3 like mike did. I already had my door open.

  • http://www.hightechdad.com hightechdad

    Glad that it worked. It has saved lots of people some time and money! Wish that Honda was a bit more forward about providing solutions like this!Thanks for the additional info.-HTD

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/hightechdad hightechdad

    Glad that it worked. It has saved lots of people some time and money! Wish that Honda was a bit more forward about providing solutions like this!

    Thanks for the additional info.

    -HTD

  • ARP

    It worked! Thanks! You just saved me $$ and time.

  • ARP

    It worked! Thanks! You just saved me $$ and time.

  • http://www.hightechdad.com hightechdad

    @ARP,Glad that it worked! I have used it twice now on my Odyssey. Be sure to spread the word.Thanks,-HTD

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/hightechdad hightechdad

    @ARP,

    Glad that it worked! I have used it twice now on my Odyssey. Be sure to spread the word.

    Thanks,
    -HTD

  • chris

    Just fixed my passenger side door with this method, the driver side had been working fine. Thank you!!

  • chris

    Just fixed my passenger side door with this method, the driver side had been working fine. Thank you!!

  • http://www.itechstreet.com manu

    Thanks a lot Michael for posting the detailed steps. It worked great like magic for me on Honda Odyssey 2000

  • http://www.itechstreet.com manu

    Thanks a lot Michael for posting the detailed steps. It worked great like magic for me on Honda Odyssey 2000

  • Skyriader86

    Mike, I was a bit uncertain about trying this (feeling that I might have fallen prey to being duped), so I did it late at night when everyone was asleep! I cannot tell you how thankful I was when I tried the driver's side door which has been in the "do not use" state for well over a month and it worked! I like to follow all instructions, so I added the step of opening both doors in case I was the owner of the ONE HONDA that needed that step. I cannot imagine what the dealer would have charged me; and now the wife thinks I brilliant (ok, at least not STUPID)..

    THANKS SO MUCH

  • Skyriader86

    Mike, I was a bit uncertain about trying this (feeling that I might have fallen prey to being duped), so I did it late at night when everyone was asleep! I cannot tell you how thankful I was when I tried the driver's side door which has been in the "do not use" state for well over a month and it worked! I like to follow all instructions, so I added the step of opening both doors in case I was the owner of the ONE HONDA that needed that step. I cannot imagine what the dealer would have charged me; and now the wife thinks I brilliant (ok, at least not STUPID)..

    THANKS SO MUCH

  • http://www.hightechdad.com hightechdad

    I'm so glad I made you the family hero (grin)! Yeah, I was amazed how easy the fix actually was. Glad it worked!-HTD

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/hightechdad hightechdad

    I'm so glad I made you the family hero (grin)! Yeah, I was amazed how easy the fix actually was. Glad it worked!

    -HTD

  • Les

    Mike I tried on my 2008 odyssey touring but did not work…still get "check left side sliding door". I took the fuse out & checked it. It looked ok. well at least by flashlight. I even tried to swap the next 20 amp fuse out & put it in to slot #13 but it still didn't work. I guess to the dealer….thanks anyway….

  • Les

    Mike I tried on my 2008 odyssey touring but did not work…still get "check left side sliding door". I took the fuse out & checked it. It looked ok. well at least by flashlight. I even tried to swap the next 20 amp fuse out & put it in to slot #13 but it still didn't work. I guess to the dealer….thanks anyway….

  • http://www.hightechdad.com hightechdad

    Les,I have an older Odyssey. I'm wondering if the fuse arrangements are different in the newer ones. You might want to check your manual to see the fuse locations. I'm sure that they changed some things around.Try that before you go to the dealer…dealers cost a lot!-HTD

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/hightechdad hightechdad

    Les,

    I have an older Odyssey. I'm wondering if the fuse arrangements are different in the newer ones. You might want to check your manual to see the fuse locations. I'm sure that they changed some things around.

    Try that before you go to the dealer…dealers cost a lot!

    -HTD

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/ian_brown ian_brown

    Mike I have a 2008 Odyssey. I have tried your solution with out success i have also found that there is an additional fuse on the drivers side. I repleted your solution on it as well with no help. do you have any other ideas.

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/ian_brown ian_brown

    Mike I have a 2008 Odyssey. I have tried your solution with out success i have also found that there is an additional fuse on the drivers side. I repleted your solution on it as well with no help. do you have any other ideas.

  • http://www.hightechdad.com hightechdad

    Hmm, that is a tough one. So that is what the owners manual fuse schematic said? That there were two fuses? If so, and I have no guarantee that this will work, you could try taking them both out at the same time. I believe the point is to completely reset that circuit. Try that out. Worst case, you could try disconnecting the battery, but that will mean that you will need to reset your radio security code (among other things) and there is no guarantee that will work.Let me know what you end up trying.-HTD

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/hightechdad hightechdad

    Hmm, that is a tough one. So that is what the owners manual fuse schematic said? That there were two fuses? If so, and I have no guarantee that this will work, you could try taking them both out at the same time. I believe the point is to completely reset that circuit. Try that out. Worst case, you could try disconnecting the battery, but that will mean that you will need to reset your radio security code (among other things) and there is no guarantee that will work.

    Let me know what you end up trying.

    -HTD

  • Mia Mia

    Thanks for the tip guys. I fixed too. I saved $80 bugs that the Honda delar was going to charge for diagozing this problem. I just did myself and fixed it.

  • Mia Mia

    Thanks for the tip guys. I fixed too. I saved $80 bugs that the Honda delar was going to charge for diagozing this problem. I just did myself and fixed it.

  • John in Minnesota

    Thanks for the info. In defense of our dealer they gave us this information over the phone when it happened a few years ago but this time I needed the fix on a Saturday night and it was too late to call them.
    We have a 2000 Odyssey. My wife remembered the fix involved pulling a fuse but apparently she didn't leave it out long enough or the fix involves two fuses. They are numbered differently in a 2000. I pulled # 5 and # 13. One is 7.5 amp (clock and backup lights) the other is 20 amp (door closer). I pulled both, waited 30 sec and reinstalled. Works great.

  • John in Minnesota

    Thanks for the info. In defense of our dealer they gave us this information over the phone when it happened a few years ago but this time I needed the fix on a Saturday night and it was too late to call them.
    We have a 2000 Odyssey. My wife remembered the fix involved pulling a fuse but apparently she didn't leave it out long enough or the fix involves two fuses. They are numbered differently in a 2000. I pulled # 5 and # 13. One is 7.5 amp (clock and backup lights) the other is 20 amp (door closer). I pulled both, waited 30 sec and reinstalled. Works great.

  • Jan

    My door has been broke for two weeks since taking a trip to Idaho in a blizzard. Thank you so much for saving us $$. Today, you are my good samaritan.

  • Jan

    My door has been broke for two weeks since taking a trip to Idaho in a blizzard. Thank you so much for saving us $$. Today, you are my good samaritan.

  • http://www.hightechdad.com hightechdad

    I'm glad it worked for you! Now if I could just figure out a trick to make my car new again!

  • http://intensedebate.com/people/hightechdad hightechdad

    I'm glad it worked for you! Now if I could just figure out a trick to make my car new again!

  • DEF

    I found this out independantly on my own – I was just checking the fuses by removing them (I have a factory shop manual) I remember removing the clock fuse and heard a click. After I was done the inoperable door worked fine. So it saved me a great deal of money at the 'stealer' who would have replaced parts without fixing the problem.

  • DEF

    I found this out independantly on my own – I was just checking the fuses by removing them (I have a factory shop manual) I remember removing the clock fuse and heard a click. After I was done the inoperable door worked fine. So it saved me a great deal of money at the 'stealer' who would have replaced parts without fixing the problem.

  • cobraman

    Awesome fix. Just fixed mine from Illinois after kids playing stopped the door. Thank you for saving me money.

  • Happy Chappy

    Just tried all this to no avail. Found the answer to my problems here http://www.fixya.com/cars/t956567-sliding_door_…

    turns out the door will lock itself if the fuel cap isn't closed correctly. Genius.

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