Chriser0

SO before i throw a new trany in this car (99 civic auto D16Y7) I want to get your input on what wrong Thanks

apexi_rsx

first problem is that its the Tragic auto and they always normally go bad at about 130k if fluid was never flushed. when its making that grinding noise does the car still accelerate? does it still accelerate in 4th gear? if not it may be only slipping in 4th gear. usually autos will start to slip in one gear only before they go. My auto before i swapped 5 speed would slip into 3rd gear and grab and drive normal. when u let off the gas when it grinds then hit the gas does it shift into 4th and go away? if so your trans is slipping in 4th is about to go eventually. i got about a year out of my trans before it completely went out. but if u wait that long its going to leave u stranded one day because its a wet clutch system once 4th goes all the gears go out and you wont go no where except fred flintstone power. I put that lucus auto trans stop slip in and it helpped alil bit, but it will eventually go out on you. You can not reverse the damage thats allready there it can only get worse from here on out.

Chriser0

It only does it when your foot is compleatly off the pedal. i can accelerate as hard as i want in the car. ive had it up to 60 ish for 3 miles and it stayed right in gear. it only does that when i let it coast in fourth.

apexi_rsx

is the trans overfilled causing the TQ converter to lock up earlier and alil between gear? I know with my buddys mustang if you leave the fluid low it stalls higher then if the trans is full. very strange issue not too sure i can help u out with that one or will many others as most swap the auto for 5 speeds. it definately doesnt sound healthy. ive only taken manual transmissions apart never a an auto. so even if u give it light throttle it goes away?

Chriser0

I really dont know if its over filled or not. my dad (ase certified mechanic) said its not and im checking it wrong. he says it should be running when i check it and he didnt think it was over filled enough to cause a problem. i think that it is over filled. checked with car off but it wasnt up to temp yet. here is a picture when i checked.
If i give it any throttle once it starts it will go away and i can come to a stop. if you dont completely let up when stopping it wont do it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriser0/8547052564/

PeRK82

Your father is correct. you have to check it while its running. If it is overfilled, drain it and refill. You will need a really thin funnel, you fill it in the dip stick. ( where your checking your the trans level )

apexi_rsx

that fluid definately looks cooked... its brown does it smell burnt like? and yes you can check it yourself with the E-Brake on and the car in neutral

strategy400

My auto trans has 310k and going strong. Most important things are fluid level and quality with an auto trans. Helm manual has a good tranny troubleshooting section that'll tell you whats wrong.

strategy400

Mine you're supposed to check it within 1 minute of turning off the engine. Overfilling is worse than underfilling with these things.

Chriser0

It doesnt smell bad. (but i havent stuck my nose right to the dip stick). I just looked at the service manual for it and it says with the car off but up to temp. i just tried with it running and it was way over the fill line and up on the shaft. like it was splashing around and makeing it unreadable. I got the car for free and i found a trans with 71k miles on it for $350. would it even be worth trying to mess with this one. Warm weather this weekend so maybe my dad can help me drain and refill it.

strategy400

Maybe its just the torque converter or a bolt came loose on the torque plate. Open the inspection cover and have a look and poke around in there.

Chriser0

Whats the chances that if some one put regular dexron ATF in it that it would cause this problem? Apparently when i got the car (my dads friend) said he put regular dexron in it. I didnt hear that till tonight. I guess that went in one of my ears and out the other.

PeRK82

Its possible that it could cause slippage but for the most part. All trans fluid is the same. The only difference is that diff. companies use additives with their trans.

I know Honda is very specific but so is Chevy and anyone for that matter.

Drain it and fill back up with HONDA Trans fluid or equivalent.

strategy400

Draining only replaces ~3-4 quarts. I'd flush it (requires about 11-12 quarts to do it yourself).
Dexron III is ok for TEMPORARY use. Use Honda genuine fluid.

Chriser0

How much does the fluid cost for a quart? and is it just honda ATF or is there a certain kind. im to the point now if i flush it and it doesnt fix it im out that money and i still have to buy a trans. im not sure that this car is worth throwing a bunch of money at it.

Ertavarez

94EG8

You cannot check a Honda transmission with the engine running. The engine needs to be warmed up and the fluid checked within about a minute of shutting the engine off. If you check it with the engine running it will show crazy high on the dipstick.

PeRK82

Why would it read high. Think about it, when the engine is running the Trans is circulating.

94EG8

The fluid sloshes around all over the place, look in the hole with the dipstick out and the engine running. Honda automatics are not built like conventional automatics. They don't use a planetary arrangement or a pan. Most of the things that typically apply to automatic transmissions don't apply here.

Chriser0

So we did a drain refill cycle and nothing improved. Dad told me to drive it till the transmission completely went. well it finally did. I think that grinding was the trans trying to go into reverse when coasting. Reverse is now gone and the noise has a diffrent tone to it so i think the gear is gone. Glad he was with me to push it off the hill i was parked on. once we swap it ill open it up and see the carnage

tlarimer

iTrader: (3)

Wow, when you swap it out, make sure to use Honda ATF DW-1, I am at 270,100 miles on mine and have only used Honda fluid changed at 60k mile intervals and I would not hesitate to take it across the country.

Chriser0

when will refilled it we used valvoline import ATF. said for use in hondas that take Z1 fluid. maybe that was wrong too. every thing i read said z1 was the same as DW1.

tlarimer

iTrader: (3)

There are a few things that I would only trust genuine Honda fluid to and the transmission is one of them, especially being a AT.

belairbrian

Do they snuggle with you afterwards?

http://www.bernardiparts.com/Honda-T...RANSFLUID.aspx

Chriser0

I didnt think it was worth putting true honda ATF in a trans that was shot anyway. and after some reasearch i think that valvoline import ATF is a decent enough to put in the next one.