malcolm2

Auto Trans is slipping on my son's car. Between 2nd and 3rd and between 3rd and 4th. It gives me the feeling that it is low on fluid, high revs then it shifts. But the fluid actually looks like there is too much in there. very difficult to see the level. I am the only one doing service on this car. I have not messed with the tranny in about a year.

By the time I got it home on the test drive, it did not want to shift at all. Would not go in reverse. Then would not move with the lever in D, 3 or 2. While stuck in the street I turned the car off. A minute or two later I started it and was able to drive into the driveway.

Anyone seen this before? Any ideas on a DIY remedy? Do these cars have tranny filters?

I am searching the forums, but figured I would get my specific issue on the board while I look.


Thanks,

Clark

"later that same day..." I found this link that mentions the torque converter failures.

http://www.hondaproblems.com/problem...-failure.shtml

malcolm2

all day and I got 100 readers, but no one wants to comment on my tranny problems?

toyomatt84

iTrader: (1)

Pageviews do not matter these days. Between the several sites out there that cache websites, there are tons of automated web "bots" that take screenshots of webpages many times in a day. These correspond with "pageviews" on web-based forums. In reality, only about 5-15% of the views you notice... were actually performed by a human.

The automatic transmissions are known to be weak in the 2001-2005 Civic. So, its not unlikely that there is excessive wear on either the torque converter or the gearing itself.

malcolm2

My research has shown that. What do people do to correct it?

Do rebuild ATs have the same flaws? Certainly not something you would want to get from a low mileage Junk Yard car, even one with low mileage.

What years are compatible? Could I get a 2000 AT and install?

toyomatt84

iTrader: (1)

This has been covered several times in this forum, due to how common a problem it is. Ideally, picking up an '03-'05 transmission from a reputable salvage yard with lower mileage would yield good results. However, it needs to be a transmission from the same model (EX, LX, DX, etc...) in order for the car to work properly without requiring additional components. The year model 2000 transmission does not work with this generation vehicle (entirely different drivetrain), and your only options are 2001 - 2005. Check car-part.com.

malcolm2

Thanks for the info.... I have very little experience with transmissions and even less with AT. I'll keep searching, but many forums are impossible to search for specific info. And there are, what, 15 types of Hondas represented here. An all day affair, if I am lucky.

JJ291

Your issue sounds different than what I had - the dreaded P0740 code (torque converter). But if you decide to change it out I would recommend looking into a Syncrotech tranny. I bought one and I have 20K on it and it seems to be doing well. A little squirrely between 2-3 but never seemed to cause a problem.

They will ship it in a nice crate, and if you are willing to pick it up from a UPS distribution center instead of having it shipped directly the shipping is pretty cheap. If I remember I paid about $950 and then another $150 or something for shipping. Took a couple days to swap out but in the end I think the whole thing cost me $1500 bucks and I replaced engine mounts, radiator, timing belt, etc.

If you decide to go that route I can provide some other tips as can many on this forum.

toyomatt84

iTrader: (1)

You can search by specific forum. You don't need to be concerned with how many other models are represented here.

malcolm2

Thanks, I have the P0740 code too. Plus a couple others, that are not tranny related.

I am researching some vendors now. Did you install it yourself? I am sure I can do it, but always feel more confident when I have some DIY directions.

So let me ask: the 2001 civic AT is known to be crap. How about the rebuilt ones? Are the parts better now or something?

bravo79

Enjoy reading

http://www.civicforums.com/forums/36...n-updated.html

JJ291

malcolm2. I apologize for the late reply - holidays, work, life. Anyway, I'm no expert but here is a post I did a ways back that has some tips and my pics. Not the best but it should help. I have some additional tips that I will post if I hear back from you on this thread.

https://honda-tech.com/forums/showth...ighlight=JJ291

JJ291

Talk to Syncrotech. If I remember right the 2001 and 2002 had a little o-ring in the torque converter that would crap out - I believe there were a few other issues. Do they fix those things...dunno but it's a great question. However, my last one made it 145K and I think I will have a different car by 300K (whonose tho so I didn't really ask. Plus I didn't know about the fixes when I bought it.

One more tip - ship the crate to a UPS distribution center instead of your house and you will save like $150. It is not that heavy and I picked it up in a minivan.

malcolm2

Thanks for the link. I understand that the tranny can be removed from under the car and the engine remain in the car. True? Why did you go this route and remove the engine too? I did not read the whole post, sorry if you explain it there.

JJ291

I think you can go either way - there's pros and cons to each but from what I've read it turns into more of a "taste great, less filling" episode. It's been over a year but here's what I remember (and there are posts where I debated this and sought advice).

A shop crane was like $170 at Harbor Freight. A tranny jack was like $130 on Amazon. So I figured in the end the crane would be more useful because I could also get the engine out if I ever needed to (which I am doing in about 3 months btw).

You have to remove the sub-frame and I didn't want to invite new problems from that - plus it looked like PIA for one man job. It is dang tight underneath there also...extra work trying to get all the bolts and wiring harnesses to the engine off laying on my back.

I needed to do the timing belt. I spent a few hundred dollars extra and did the timing belt, thermostat, front and rear seal, engine mounts, radiator and a few other things that I can't remember.

IMO, taking it out the top was pretty easy...I did it by myself and I'm not bragging...I'm no super mechanic.

On the flip side, you have to detach a bunch of stuff from the engine but - if I remember correctly and I probably don't - I think the shop manual calls for the entire engine to come out the bottom to do the transmission. The benefit there is they tell you everything that needs to be detached but if you go out the top you don't have to do the subframe.