Locating Cylinder 3 on a 2011 Honda Odyssey

Cylinder 3 on a 2011 Honda Odyssey (3.5L V6) is on the rear bank of the engine—closest to the firewall—at the driver-side end of that bank. On Honda’s J35 V6 layout, cylinders 1–2–3 run across the rear (firewall) bank from passenger to driver, and cylinders 4–5–6 run across the front (radiator) bank from passenger to driver, which puts cylinder 3 at the rear-left position when viewed from the front of the vehicle. This orientation matters for diagnosing misfires (such as code P0303), replacing ignition coils, or changing spark plugs.

How Honda Numbers the Cylinders on the J35 V6

Understanding the factory numbering scheme helps you identify the correct ignition coil and spark plug without guesswork. The Odyssey’s 3.5L J-series V6 is mounted transversely, with two cylinder banks: one near the firewall (rear) and one near the radiator (front).

• Rear bank (firewall side, Bank 1): cylinders 1 (passenger/right), 2 (center), 3 (driver/left)
• Front bank (radiator side, Bank 2): cylinders 4 (passenger/right), 5 (center), 6 (driver/left)
• Firing order: 1–4–2–5–3–6 (for reference during diagnostics)
• Left/right references assume a North American, left-hand-drive Odyssey viewed from the front bumper

This mapping confirms that cylinder 3 is the rear-bank coil and plug closest to the driver’s side strut tower, tucked under the cowl near the firewall.

Step-by-Step: Finding Cylinder 3 Under the Hood

The rear bank can be harder to access because it sits beneath the cowl near the windshield. These steps will help you positively identify cylinder 3 before you service a coil or plug.

1. Open the hood and locate the two cylinder banks: the front bank is near the radiator; the rear bank is near the firewall/windshield.
2. Focus on the rear bank (Bank 1). You’ll see three individual ignition coils lined up from passenger to driver side.
3. Count the rear-bank coils from the passenger side to the driver side: 1 (passenger), 2 (middle), 3 (driver).
4. Identify cylinder 3 as the rear-bank coil/plug at the driver-side end—closest to the brake master cylinder area.
5. If diagnosing a misfire (e.g., P0303), you can swap the cylinder 3 coil with another cylinder to see if the misfire follows the coil, helping isolate the fault.

With this approach, you can confidently locate and service cylinder 3 without mixing up coil positions or banks.

Common Reasons You Might Need Cylinder 3

When a check-engine light or drivability symptom points to a specific cylinder, knowing its exact location speeds up repair decisions.

• P0303 trouble code: indicates a misfire detected on cylinder 3 (rear bank, driver side).
• Rough idle, hesitation, or flashing MIL: often tied to a failing ignition coil, worn spark plug, or a vacuum/fuel issue affecting that cylinder.
• Maintenance: spark plugs on the J35 are long-life iridium but can require replacement around 100,000–105,000 miles; coils can fail intermittently.

Targeted diagnostics on cylinder 3—starting with coil and plug checks—can save time and avoid unnecessary parts replacement.

Practical Tips and Cautions

Rear-bank access is tighter and hotter; a few simple precautions make the job safer and faster.

• Work on a cool engine; the rear bank retains heat near the firewall.
• Remove the plastic engine cover for better visibility; a small mirror and light help on the rear bank.
• Use a 5/8-inch (16 mm) spark plug socket with an extension; ignition coil retaining bolts are typically 10 mm.
• If replacing plugs, set proper torque (about 13 lb-ft/17 N·m); avoid cross-threading the aluminum head.
• Label coil connectors if you unplug several at once to prevent mix-ups.

Following these tips minimizes damage risk and ensures a clean, accurate service on the correct cylinder.

Summary

Cylinder 3 on a 2011 Honda Odyssey is the rear-bank (firewall side) cylinder on the driver’s side—counting 1-2-3 across the rear bank from passenger to driver. This places it under the cowl near the windshield, making access tighter than the front bank but straightforward once you know Honda’s numbering layout.

Where is the cylinder 3 on a Honda Odyssey?

On the Honda Odyssey 3.5L V6 engine, cylinder #3 is located on the front side of the engine, closest to the radiator, on the driver’s side. When facing the engine from the front of the vehicle, it’s the third cylinder from the left in the bank closest to the radiator. 
Here’s a more detailed breakdown:

• Engine Orientation: The 3.5L V6 engine in the Honda Odyssey has two banks of cylinders (a bank is a row of cylinders). 
• Cylinder Arrangement: The cylinders are numbered 1, 2, and 3 in the bank closest to the firewall (rear of the engine), and 4, 5, and 6 in the bank closest to the radiator (front of the engine). 
• Bank Identification: The bank with cylinders 1, 2, and 3 is often referred to as bank one, and the bank with cylinders 4, 5, and 6 is called bank two. 
• Cylinder 3 Location: Therefore, cylinder #3 is the third cylinder from the left in bank two, meaning it’s the third cylinder from the left when you’re looking at the engine from the front of the vehicle. 

For troubleshooting purposes, it can be helpful to know that a P0303 trouble code indicates a misfire in cylinder #3. When diagnosing a P0303 code, the spark plug, ignition coil, and fuel injector for cylinder #3 should be inspected.

What is the order of cylinders on a 2012 Honda Odyssey?

The 2012 Honda Odyssey 3.5L V6 engine has cylinders numbered 1-3 on the front bank and 4-6 on the rear.

Which cylinder is cylinder 3?

In an inline engine, cylinder 3 is the third cylinder from the front of the engine. In a V-engine, cylinder 3 is the third cylinder in the firing order, which is usually the third cylinder in the bank that is closest to the front of the engine. For example, in a Ford V8, the cylinders are numbered 1-2-3-4 on the passenger side and 5-6-7-8 on the driver’s side. So, cylinder 3 would be the third cylinder on the passenger side. 
This video demonstrates the cylinder order for a Ford 3.5L V6 engine, including the location of cylinder 3: 36sYoshimoshiYouTube · Apr 14, 2021

What is the code P0303 on a 2011 Honda Odyssey?

2011 Honda Odyssey P0303 Code: Cylinder 3 Misfire Explained. Odyssey often faces ignition coil failure and spark plug wear causing cylinder misfires under acceleration. A P0303 code indicates a misfire in cylinder 3, often caused by faulty ignition coils, spark plugs, or fuel injectors.