2004 Honda Odyssey Cupholder Tray Mod

The stock cupholder tray between the front seats of the Honda Odyssey is a well-known spill hazard.
It is possible to modify the stock cupholders to make them less prone to spill.

This instructable gives you step-by-step instructions on how to do it.

Please note that this modification is designed to accommodate medium sized cups (16 - 20 oz) with tapered sides, and straight sided 12 - 16 oz bottles. It does not work well with small cups. You need to determine for yourself whether thhis modification will meet your beverage needs.

The cupholder tray base is attached to the front passenger's seat. 

Gently pull the bottom of the plastic cover to remove.
The cover is held in by 4 plastic push connectors.

The plastic cover and push connectors removed from the cupholder tray base.

Three 12mm nuts, indicated by the yellow arrows, hold the tray to the passenger seat. 

Using a 12 mm socket or wrench, remove the mounting nuts that hold the cupholder tray to the passenger's seat.

Carefully remove the tray from the mounting bolts on the passenger seat.

Place the cupholder tray upside down on a soft surface.

Remove the 7 small screws (flat-head Philips) indicated by the yellow arrows.

Gently lift the plastic cover to separate it from the tray arm.
Gently remove the cover from the tray hinges. 

Remove the 2 screws where indicated.
This makes a total of 9 screws removed so far.

The front plastic part of the cupholder assembly will now come apart from the metal tray.
The rear plastic part of the cupholder is still attached.

Flip the whole thing over and remove the front plastic part gently.

The front plastic section is removed from the metal base.

Remove the 2 screws indicated (pan head Philips).

Please note that these screws are different from the screws removed previously.
Don't mix them up! 

Note the difference between the 2 front screws and the nine removed previously.

It should come right off after removing the 2 screws.

Push gently where indicated to remove the plastic ring that holds the rubber flaps.

Remove plastic ring and flaps.

Do this for all four cupholders.

Using a saw with medium to fine teeth, cut off the bottom part of all the cupholders.

Cut carefully so that you only remove the bottom part of the cupholder.

Bottoms removed from all four cupholders.

You may choose to only remove some of them, and leave some as they were.

Smooth any rough edges with some sandpaper.

If you only use tapered coffee mugs/cups in your vehicle, you can stop here.
Put everything back together, and enjoy your no-spill cupholders.

However, if you like the occasional iced tea or bottled water, read on.

Cut 2 pieces of 1 inch nylon webbing about 13 1/2 inches long.
Sew them together in the middle at about a 60 degree angle.

Fold over each end and sew it to make the end fatter than the webbing.

Use the plastic ring to attach the webbing to the cupholder as shown in the picture.

Push the ring down until it snaps into place.
You should be able to slide the nylon webbing to make some last minute adjustments.

The fat sewn end of the nylon webbing keep it from pulling out past the plastic ring.
When the plastic cupholder is attached to the metal tray, everything is held even more tightly.

The webbing in place, and the ring snapped on.

Close up

Repeat for all cupholders

Finished product

Product demo

Reverse all the previous steps to re-assemble the cupholder tray and re-install it in the van.

Here's what it looks like when it is done.

After a few weeks of use, one of the cupholders developed a crack, shown in the picture.
This crack is purely cosmetic, not functional.
The metal base underneath provides all the strength needed.

Enjoy!