ThunderRaven

Greetings Y'all. I've been checking out this site for the past few weeks before deciding if I really wanted to buy a Honda....well I bought a civic yesterday. YAY! ...anyway.... Awesome car hands down though my long legs are a little cramped but flyin down the highway and the gas needle not movin took ALOT of the pain away. So here's the problem, I noticed the rpm's seemed a little high before the gear shifted and it felt a little rough when it did, Ex.- 1st gear 3200 rpm, 2nd gear almost to 4000 rpm, 3rd 2100 rpm, 4th 2100rpm????? or something like that, but just different results while still on the streets. Highway driving felt sluggish at first then VAWHOOOSH!!! then sluggish , then vroom, then it pretty much coasted for about 30 miles with ease. ....sooo what the heck is it? Could it be it needs a major tune up, is the Trans going out? Is this common with this car? I tried searching to see if I could find something similiar to this but from what I read here I'm thinking I need to buy high priced gasoline for this this car. OK Guru's out there give a brotha a break here, I appreciate the feed back.

apexi_rsx

why not call or ask the person you bought it from... you obviously bought a POS and the prior owner did not fill u in on the bad.. Your Text of Sound effects dont tell one Nothing about what happen and your description is HORRIBLE... is the CEL on? does the motor run? we dont even know wtf kind of honda it is .... as much as i think u know its an accord and ur posting in a civic forum... they are seperate for a reason...

lostforawhile

does it seem to rev up a lot before it shifts, especially when hot? those cars have major transmission issues, what happens is the shift solenoids get clogged with debris over time, usually the screens, then the hydraulic pressure to the clutch band solenoids drops,causing them to start to slip and fail, this puts even more debris in the system, Honda didnt help this by putting the dam filter INSIDE the transmission, the bean counters decided an external filter was too expensive. That generation is known to have major issues with the autos due to this mess. I got rid of one due to the same thing, I couldn't find a used transmission that was any good, I inquired into getting it fixed, but the local transmission shop said to just save my money, he said by the time they get to that point they are pretty much fucked inside and not worth even repairing

ThunderRaven

lostforawhile- thanks for an intelligent explanation of the transmission in the automatics.
It does EXACTLY the way you put it revs high before the shift at about 3000+ rpm. So I pretty much need to take this car back to the dealer and tell him off, huh?
Oh an apexi rsx you need to read you douche. I am in the 1992-2000 civic/ del sol forum and I stated that I have a CIVIC. But thanks anyway for responding...

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

Lemon.

Former User

This forum requires that you provide detailed car information. CIVIC is insufficient. What Civic? Is it the 97 Civic in your Garage? If so, please say so.

ThunderRaven

yes it seems to be a lemon, but a lemon better than my 89 jeep cherokee on gas.
yes its in my garage. 1997 civic EX coupe, auto trans, pwr everything, sunroof, etc. Sorry for bein snippy folks but I work nights, have a two kids and a wife, wake up at 6am come home at 2am the next morning. I wrote the post after coming home lastnight and have a shot of tequila...Indians shouldn't drink and type at the same time.

Former User

No problem.

Any CEL codes? For example, a misbehaving TPS sensor can cause auto transmissions to shift erratically. Click the Codes link in my signature.

Also, whenever Civic auto transmissions behave as you describe, I always recommend to start by doing three ATF drain and refill cycles with a short drive between each cycle. Use Honda ATF, or at least an ATF recommended for Hondas.

ThunderRaven

don't have codes as of yet...looks like a trip down to autozone. Thanks for the flush idea I'll do that as soon as I get paid again. If the filter is in the trans is there a way to get in there and replace it or am I pretty much stuck with it and the trans?

Former User

No easy way to replace internal filter of the transmission.

Don't do a formal flush as this can destroy old Civic transmissions. Drain and refill is the only way to go.

When purchasing a used Civic, it's also a good idea to give the engine an ignition system tune up - plugs, wires, cap, rotor, ignition timing.

Good luck.

ThunderRaven

THANKYOU RonJ!!! and everybody, really EVERYBODY else who helped. The code came back P0705 short in trans range switch circuit. Now all I need is help to find if I can replace this myself, where its located and what I'll need to get the job done... Unfortunately its past my time to be on the road to work. Talk to y'all tomorrow. Good GOD I love PROJECTS

Former User

Double check the code -- did you mean P0715 or P1705?

Also check whether the original transmission has been replaced. You want to check whether the tranny number is a match for a 97 Civic EX. Post the tranny and engine numbers that you find.

Also enter the VIN in your engine bay into the VIN decoder. Does the VIN decoder say your car should have an auto transmission? Does the VIN in the engine bay match the VIN on the engine block, and with the car you think you have?

lostforawhile

if you want to keep the car, and you are mechanically inclined, do the manual swap, mine was a four door and beat to hell, and I didnt feel like screwing with a swap. Mine started out like yours, then eventually the car would stop moving no matter how much gas you gave it, let it sit for 30 minutes, would move for a while, then do it again, eventually it came home on a tow truck. I tried the drain and fill three times deal, it didnt do any good, once the bands in the wet clutches start to fail, it's too late, If I had known about all this crap when I bought the car, I would have installed a remote oil filter in the cooler lines going to the radiator. There are some external solenoids on the transmission, before you condemn it, check those, maby you will get lucky and there is debris in the screens under the solenoids

lostforawhile

other post was before mine, you got lucky

ThunderRaven

Wow, I don't mind doin a swap in fact someone not too far from my house is selling their auto trans for 100 bucks (sounds sketchy but still worth a call).
The printout says P0705 -- short in transmission range switch circuit. Don't know where that is. Looked up your tags and didn't see it either.

I have not the slightest idea what you are talking about doing...nor how to accomplish this. So sounds good, let's get started by friday.

Ok, wow GrumbleMarc said it best..... but I will not be defeated!!! I don't mind this chance to work on a Honda, it being my first Honda ever I am definately gonna get some foreign car help. Yet it looks rather simplistic and easy to work on. And if I break it... well back to the jeep or my ford pickup. I shudder at the thought of going back to those. That being said WTF is a trans range switch circuit and whereTF is it?

ThunderRaven

ok not a bad idea remote oil filter link http://www.streetsideauto.com/p/tran...Fcc-MgodBwsAlA I see where you're going with that now. not bad at all.

NOW about the solenoids maybe having debris where are they located at on the trans? Clean them with what?
Ok Mr. Moderator I'm glad you said that, I believe this car is a salvage. I could tell it had been in a wreck (bondo, bad paint job, uneven headlights) but I don't know the extent but I will look into this tomorrow.

Thanks for everybody help once again, I can't say it enough. Awesome forum.

Former User

P0705 is not a recognizable code for our Civics. Pull the CEL and D4 codes yourself - Click the Codes sticky in my signature.

lostforawhile

in typical Honda fashion, they recalled the transmissions of the generation right after yours, even though the previous generation has the same problems, they found "ten bad transmissions" which is complete bullshit, apparently even after Honda is fixing them, they are failing again, they dont like to admit the extent of the problem, and it's gone on for generations http://www.hondaproblems.com/problem...-failure.shtml

ThunderRaven

great.. now the passenger door latch I ordered seems to be the wrong one too (damn partstrain.com) This thing is already piling on problems I'm just gonna take this thing back this weekendand say the hell with it. I know a nice stick shift down the road for sale.

chrysler kid

Never heard of that website, always use rockauto.com

The manual cars are better all around, extra gas mileage and make a gutless commuter fun to drive because you can better control the power you want to give it. If it is covered in bondo and you bought it from a dealer there is no way they would take it back. You buy all used cars as is no refunds especially if it's from a no name corner lot

delsolintegra

I've seen older high mileage hondas (180K miles) with auto transmissions come back to life with a couple of drain and fills with Honda ATF.

It's hard to believe and you would swear the tranny is totally shot but they come back.

The Honda ATF is a little expensive, get it at the dealer, enough for 2 drain and fills but you might get lucky.

fonkernuckle

iTrader: (5)

auto transmissions are not that hard to find for a good price, around 200 to 300 just be patient and look for crashed cars that are being parted out locally in CList.
Nix nix to the idea of getting the trans repaired at a shop- a close family member of mine took his to a...co (trans specialists) and it lasted a year and cost 2k--yeah yeah foolish but he's a college kid.

ThunderRaven

Ok after having a buyer's remorse moment, I feel better about the chances of this poor little car. It was SOOOO neglected by the PO that it shows and I kinda want to see the thing an awesome DD. Yeah I wish I held out and bought the manual trans but I couldn't see spending $60 every three days with my jeep anymore. Plus I think this is kismet with car. I'll try the drain/fill method as soon as I get a paycheck. Has anyone tried Redline Oil? I was going to try it on my jeep but gave up the idea on wasting money on something I was going to junk for money soon. Also, other than RockAuto.com are there any other "perfect fit" places for parts? Complete NOOB on Honda cars...bikes are a different story.

ThunderRaven

I checked out RockAuto, prolly should have went through them first I'm sending Autopartstrain their part back. I have favorited the nearest Honda dealership to get the ATF fluid, and while on RockAuto I got curious... maybe the code that came up was for the neutral safety switch? had a similar prob on my truck. anyone's guess?

lostforawhile

if the neutral safety switch was bad the car wouldn't crank