JDMTEG98

I have a used 1996 Honda Accord LX 2.2 Non Vtech Auto Transmission that I purchased for a commuter car. The car hard shifts in the first 3 gears when in street (Non Highway traffic). I had the Transmission flushed by a local lube place and replaced. I had them add some Lucus Auto Transmission Fix (Half a bottle). After driving for several days pretty much same result. The shop did not use Honda Transmission Fluid. They used Castrol. I had the car recently serviced and asked a Mechanic about it. He highly recommended replacing it with Honda Transmission Fluid to make shifting smoother. My question is should I add any additives? Will Honda Transmission Fluid make a difference?
Should I just drain and refill the transmission fluid with Honda Transmission fluid ?
What type of Honda Transmission fluid should I use ?

Please advise, looking for recommendations!


Modified by JDMTEG98 at 8:55 AM 9/22/2007

m735is

I'm going through A/T tranny problems now-same car. In my searching and messing around for fixes, I adjusted the throttle cable and that helped with the slow speed gear changes. I did read that some adjustment can be made to the cable that runs to the tranny. It said that a slack cable will shift harsher, so if you adjust it, do so in small increments.
That being said, I have no idea what the lever that the cable is attached to even does (I assume kickdown??).

I would definetly slowly drain and refill the tranny about 3 times using Honda ATF only with no additives-at least that seems to be the way the posts lead!

Any check engine light for yours?

guymontag

Honda fluid, and honda fluid only.

The-Kid

5th gen Accords.... (94-97) always had the hard shifting automatic tranny. Well more like you can feel it shift. It is normal

I did heard from multiple people, using Honda ATF will help reduce those hard shifting.

How hard was the shifting? Was it like moving the whole car or...???

JDMTEG98

No check engine lights showing.

Shifts hard enough to be moderately annoying and noticeable. Nothing to crazy. The car does hesitate to move it into the next gear sometimes... very strange. The mechanic that put my C/V Axles in mentioned he changed some ladies Accord from some other fluid to Honda ATF and she said it felt like a new car.
I didn't know about the Honda Fluid when the getting my tranny flushed so they used Castrol

Let me know what I can try. Where is the drain for the Auto Transmission Fluid (i.e how can I drain it ?) I have this pump from Auto Zone that can suck fluid out by pump...will that work ?

If I am getting high feedback on seeing a difference I will try the Honda ATF.
Is there a special part number for this ? or special type of fluid (Not sure if there are different ones for different model Honda's)?

The-Kid

Ummm its called Honda ATF-Z1. Ummmmm the drain and refill x2 works well well, i heard. Ummm the drain bolt is in the passenger side wheel. It is shaped as a square bolt. Just use your 1/4? The most common size rachet...

Good luck. Let us know how it feels.

JDMTEG98

So should I drain the fluid, then fill it and wait what period of time ? do I start the engine and drive it then drain it again? or is it a straight drain, refill then drain refill ?

freezerman

When I did mine I drained and refilled every other day. My 03 ody's owners manual says it should be driven between changes. It makes sense to mix the old with the new.

guymontag

I drove mine about a mile before I did the second change. The reason you have to do this in the first place is because you can only drain about half the total capacity from the transmission. So on the first change you have 50% new, 50% old, on the second you have 75% new, 25% old. I forget whether I bothered with a third change. Anyway, I switched from non-honda to honda ATF, and the shifting definitely improved and the car hesitates to shift much less.

Get the ATF at a dealer, they'll have it right out in front, and they'll know what you want the instant you ask for it. It's not too terribly pricey.

JDMTEG98

I just bought the car and checked the tranny fluid and it was reddish still. I noticed the hesitation and hard shifting. I got the tranny flushed at a local lube place. The stated that they use some T-tech machine and it does 100% of the fluid replacement. I had them add half of bottle of the Lucas Transmission Fix ...hoping it would fix the hard shifts. Shifting is still the same today. I began searching our beloved HT forum and began reading that Honda ATF had great feedback for people. I also had a mechanic recommend it for the tranny after experiencing similar results with a customers Honda Tranny after replacing it with Honda ATF.

The bottom line I think I am going to give it a try. I guess all that can hurt is $5 to $10 for the fluid and some time on a weekend.

I will post feedback once I've done it. If anyone has any more tips of pictures where the drain plug is on the 1996 Accord LX models that would be great.

Thanks for the help

YeuEmMaiMai

drain and fill and use honda atf and lubeguard for imports. If trans fluid has not been changed in a long time, use a trans flush machine that uses the transmission's internal pump to change the fluid out and add 1 can of lube guard. works like a champ as these units are KNOWN for harsh shifting when the milage gets up there

guymontag

It's not that Honda ATF is better than the others, it's just that it's matched to the transmissions. The right viscosity or something.

YeuEmMaiMai

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by guymontag &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">It's not that Honda ATF is better than the others, it's just that it's matched to the transmissions. The right viscosity or something.</TD></TR></TABLE>

wrong answer, try again

Honda ATF IS better than most other stuff. Even MOBIL 1 recommends the use of Honda ATF in HONDA automatic transmissions. it flows better at cold temps than any of the dextron/mercon based fluids do.