97 civic - auto tranny shift hesitation from 2nd to 3rd
 

Rolled the dice at an auction the other night and bought a 97 hatchback automatic with 113k miles. We were not allowed to test drive but they did start them so at least you knew they ran. I got it home did a tune up changed plugs, wires, dizzy cap, rotor, flushed radiator. Went to take it for a spin around the block and noticed it hesitates when shifting from 2nd to 3rd. Rpms just jump up for a fraction of a second. Rest of the gears shift fine. Consistently does this going from 2nd to 3rd even after changing tranny fluid.

So, I think I may have lost my dice roll on the tranny but the car runs great other wise. Any way to keep the slipping from getting worse or maybe some kind of tranny treatment that might help? Is it slipping or could it be like something on the control side of the transmission thanks for help.

Re: 97 civic tranny issue
 

check your shift solenoid's

Re: 97 civic tranny issue
 

Buy another tranny if worse comes to worse, theyre on Craigslist all day for $200-250

Re: 97 civic tranny issue
 

How would you test them? Take them off and put 12 volts on them and see if they click? Also do you know which one controls 2-3 shift or do I have to remove all of them.

Re: 97 civic tranny issue
 

Less than half of the ATF is removed when you drain the transmission. Drain and refill with Honda ATF (or a Honda-recommended ATF) three times with some driving in between.

Re: 97 civic tranny issue
 

I'm going to give this a try. I was planning on doing that anyways maybe it will clear up after 3. I've got bigger problems at the moment. Went to change the valve cover gasket today and two out of five bolts broke off while removing them. Fragile little boogers. Had to go pull bolts at the junk yard in the rain got home and my bolt extracter broke off in the first one. So I'm just going to have it towed to my local repair shop Tuesday and get those bolts the hell out of there. Towing is free and labor rate is 45 can't be that bad can it?

Re: 97 civic tranny issue
 

When you can tell those bolts are going to snap (you can generally tell, they'll be quite springy) hit the heads with a hammer (use common sense here) and try again.

/has broken 0 valve cover bolts.

Re: 97 civic - auto tranny shift hesitation from 2nd to 3rd
 

As an update, I'm all sealed up now runs great. Drained and filled the tranny fluid 3 times now. Looks brand new on dipstick and this seems to have cleared up my problem. Thanks for replys.