BiggNick

Hey all...new to these forums, usually hang out over at Tamparacing.com, so hello!


I have a "problem" with my 1995 Accord EX automatic. It's the 4-cylinder 2.2L v-tec engine (F22B1).


The car has just under 172k natural miles on it, with NO modifications done to it at all, the car is BONE STOCK. It runs absolutely beautiful, and shifts with NO problems, VERY reliable.


I got the car about 12K miles ago (I drive a lot for work), and ever since I and the previous owner can remember, the transmission makes sort of a whining noise. It doesn't happen in Park or Neutral obviously, just when the car is in gear. It's a definate whining noise (lower pitched), and as the RPM's get higher, the whining dissapears (from what humans can hear as I'm sure the noise is still present). It's DEFINATELY coming from the tranny and NOT the engine, already had all of that checked out.


I checked the fluid, and the color is fine. There is NO burning smell when I checked the fluid while the car was in gear, and there are NO metal shards/pieces. Like I said previously, the car drives and shifts through all gears wonderfully...but this whining noise is driving me nuts!


My next step is to change the tranny filter/fluid with genuine Honda ATF and see if that helps. I've been told that a Power Flush with a high-mileage tranny is BAD, so I'm skipping that. I've heard other brands of cars (Ford's, Chevy's, and Toyota's) as they drive by, and some have also had this tranny whine.


I would assume if it were the torque converter or something of the like I would be experiencing some slippage, metal sharding, problems of SOME kind, but honestly the car runs great. Any ideas here?!?

P_Adams

You are correct in your presumption that the condition involves the Torque Converter.
The converter utilizes a component called a stator (in effect a plate mounted reversed pitch fan which rides on a one way bearing). This unit is essential for torque multiplication for it's job is to redirect flow within the Torque Converter. More than likely, what you're hearing is the stator blades rubbing against the turbine blades.
The reason you don't hear it at high speeds / D4 range is that above 45MPH, the transmission is in Overdrive / Lockup. There is absolutely no relative movement between the Stator and the Turbine.

P

ricebike

ps: there's no filter on the tranny; basically a drain old fluid, refill, bring to operating temp & shift it thru all the gears, repeat until fluid is clear... most do this tranny oil change @ least 2x

then, see if it improves...