m3doc

I have a 2001 Honda Accord EX 6 cyl, automatic, with 104,000 miles on it that has the usual transmission problems that the forums document. On cold start it bangs into gear, slips or starts out in 3rd or 4th gear. It doesn’t down shift at a stop so when you take off again it barely crawls, however if I start out in 1st and keep it in first for 2 or 3 miles and let it warm up to operation temperature it shifts flawlessly. As long as the transmission is running at normal operating temps it runs like a Swiss watch. When I reset the CE and TCS lights, it still shows codes P0730 and P0780. The general consensus is that I need a rebuild, but why does it run perfectly when hot? If it shifts normally when hot and slips when cold does this mean irreversible damage is present and a rebuild is imminent? Best price on a very basic rebuild starts at about $1K with the caveat that once they get in there the price could and probably will increase depending on the extent of the damage. Am I wasting my time flushing and cleaning the filters or should I just go ahead and let the shop rebuild it and hope it stays under $2K?

Thanks,

lee19k

Hey m3doc,

1st, let me say welcome to the Honda Transmission woes community!

When was the last time the fluid was changed? If I were you, I would drain it to see the color of what comes out and/or metal flakes, sludge etc... Refill it and see what if any changes occur in how it operates. I have done this several times and added a cleanser each time and I can now drive my car.

I will say though, if I could afford a transmission I would buy it yesterday. So it really depends on what you want. Nurse it along or get one with a warranty. Then again maybe changing the fluid will fix your problem.

Sorry to hear you have trans problems... Good luck.

m3doc

Hey,thanks a lot for the reply. I'm new to Honda, I just bought the car 2 weeks ago and don't have any maintenance records, but I'm guessin' he never changed the fluid. Having said that, it appears that there's two kinds of Honda transmissions, those have already failed and those that are going to fail. Takes me back to when Honda first started selling cars in the US. I'd like to think a good drain, flush and refill with Honda ATF would be the answer, but based on the history seen on the forum I might as well bite the bullet and do a rebuild. I don't have a major problem with doing a rebuild it's just that I feel so vulnerable when the tranny guy tells me, "Oh, it's only $970 to do the basic overhaul kit.....however we're not clairvoyant so it could need some other parts $$$." So it appears that I'd be lucky to get it back for $2K, but whatcha' gonna do right?

Thanks for the help.

el crapitan

BEFORE RESORTING TO A COSTLY REBUILD, EXHAUST ALL AVENUES FIRST.
a rebuild should be your very last resort.
i did some digging for a friend who owns a 99 cl (same engine/transmission) and there's actually a recall on these transmissions for the 2-3rd gear clutch pack.
sounds like that may be the issue you're dealing with. possibly.
you can bring your car into honda, they will check the vin and see if the correction has ever been performed. try that first.
if that doesn't pan out, i would try a service with honda atf and a bottle of lucas transmission fluid stabilizer. i am the last person to believe in snake oil remedies in a bottle, but i have tried this stuff and it worked like magic.
my 94 vw golf was slipping and shifting all over the place. performed a service and added a bottle of lucas, the thing shifted like brand new. it's cheap enough to try, when looking at the alternative.
so in conclusion, check your honda dealer for the recall first (they may not be pleased to help you here, so be diligent). if that absolutely doesn't pan out, try the lucas. i swear by it. and finally, if that doesn't help, rebuild.

Steve Z

Doc,

Or, another alternative (versus rebuilding the trans) is to buy a reman tranny with warrentee and install or have it installed. Sounds like it might be about the same cost wise. I have a 95LX with 172k and mine has been excellent. I know it's not same generation and not as many problems as the later ones, but good maint really does help. I just read an article about a guy here in Maine that turned over 1 million miles in his 1990 Accord. Got a parade and a new one!
http://www.washingtonpost.com/nation...HCM_story.html

m3doc

Thanks Guys, good advice. Here's a status report. I've decided that I'm going to sell the car, but first I have to have the tranny fixed. I've decided to let a local Speedy Transmission rebuild it for me. I know, I know, I'm setting myself up, but based on my conversation when I drilled the guy as to what's the BEST and WORST case scenarios I figure I'm gonna' have to cough up around $2K when's said and done. The basic "rebuild pack" plus labor starts at around $1K. I'm hoping that there's no big surprises. It does have a broken trans mount (is that the same thing as an engine mount?) so that's another $130. As you can see the cost is already creeping up. Even if I drained, flushed, put in additives, etc., I still wouldn't sell the car to someone w/o fixing the transmission first. Having said all this, any suggestions on how to let the re-builder know that I know what's wrong so he won't try to sell me a new "Johnson Rod" for my horribly damaged tranny :-)? It comes with a 1 yr. 12K warranty which the new owner should find comforting. Me...not so much.

Once again thanks for everyone's input. You guys are much more responsive than the other car forums I've subscribed to.

m3doc

gto454man

Hey there m3doc,.............. I'm having the exact same issues with a 2000 Accord EX V6. I'm a fairly experienced honda mechanic and even have some knowledge about how trannys work. I watched a guy rebuild one like we have(had) and feel confident enough to do it. I'm curious to know what your guy found when he opened up your unit. I have muddled through several winters with mine, drain and fill every 10k, finding minimal debris. When weather gets cold this unit wants to start in 3rd gear. Even when beginning by manually shifting 1-2-3-4, it can find 1st but when shifted to 2nd wants to stay in 1st. So at 15-20 mph I shift it 1-3-4 and it's willing to operate like that eventually shifting properly when hot. Long story short, ... I suspect(hope) I have a solenoid problem that can be repaired without taking this unit out. Is there anyone on this thread that knows? This thing runs and shifts perfectly in summer and when warm. I hate to squish this car but it's age(18yo) and miles (158k) make rebuilding it (at least in the winter) a real toss-up. .... Much love and thanks to all honda lovers on this forum.

Maybe it's time for a new RDX if I can't make this go another season. I would love the new V6 in that model.

Scott Burtz

[QUOTE=m3doc;46226953]I have a 2001 Honda Accord EX 6 cyl, automatic, with 104,000 miles on it that has the usual transmission problems that the forums document. On cold start it bangs into gear, slips or starts out in 3rd or 4th gear. It doesn’t down shift at a stop so when you take off again it barely crawls, however if I start out in 1st and keep it in first for 2 or 3 miles and let it warm up to operation temperature it shifts flawlessly. As long as the transmission is running at normal operating temps it runs like a Swiss watch. When I reset the CE and TCS lights, it still shows codes P0730 and P0780. The general consensus is that I need a rebuild, but why does it run perfectly when hot? If it shifts normally when hot and slips when cold does this mean irreversible damage is present and a rebuild is imminent? Best price on a very basic rebuild starts at about $1K with the caveat that once they get in there the price could and probably will increase depending on the extent of the damage. Am I wasting my time flushing and cleaning the filters or should I just go ahead and let the shop rebuild it and hope it stays under $2K?

Thanks,[/QUOT