96HAEXC

So I have a 96 Honda Accord EX Coupe F22B1 2.2L i4 SOHC VTEC with an automatic transmission and I went to do an transmission fluid change and after I changed the fluid out I lost all the gears except reverse and then reverse eventually went out and I don't know what to do at this point.

Any ideas on how to resolve this?

angrysmileyface

Is the screen plugged up?

r_kage

96HAEXC --you drained, not flushed? Did you use Honda ATF? I hope you can find a fix. Finally, how long was it from the fluid change until this point?

I wish I could help. Instead, I'm hoping to learn from this thread. People debate all the time, is it OK or not to change transmission fluid in a high miles car, especially if the fluid is old. Some say it's fine as long as you don't flush, and some say never do it because the new ATF can dissolve sludge and clog things up, but you know if you don't ever change it, the contaminants can cause damage and overheating. So what's the best practice for preventing problems in old cars? Can you drain and fill, then repeat a week later? My car has been on jackstands for a year. Can I drain and fill and repeat before running? Is it possible that while it's sitting it can dissolve everything and send it downward? Or should I wait until, say, if I pull the engine next year, then clean the whole thing out?

96HAEXC

It had about 187000 miles on it when I drained it and I did that because it had too much in it to begin with and the transmission was overheating, and no I did not use Honda ATF Fluid and I don't think it had ever been changed but one of the 2 previous owners added double the amount in the transmission when I drained it.

r_kage

What transmission fluid did you use? I'm just throwing this out there--the wrong transmission fluid can cause problems. Maybe there's some incompatibility between the fluid you used and the fluid the previous owner used, considering that when you drain the fluid much is left behind, and maybe, too they used the wrong fluid contributing to the overheating in the first place. You haven't been able to drive it since changing it, so maybe no further damage has been down. I am very curious if you can change out fluids a few times and get it working again, and maybe someone will weigh in. When you drained the fluid, did you happen to notice if there were any metallic flakes in the fluid?

Angrysmileyface How hard is it to check that screen?

19Accord97

Drain fluid.
Replace with Honda ATF. Make sure it's the correct amount.
Drive 30-50 miles and repeat twice more.

Aradin

Honda automatics 101: Never use any fluid other than Genuine Honda ATF if you like your transmission.

Mykizism

How did you know the transmission was overheating?

MAD_MIKE

Did you verify the correct amount is in the transmission?
On older transmissions when changing the fluid it can leak down more than the 2.5Qts that may be specified in the book, but it can leak down more than that.
Recheck fluid level. Start up engine engage all gears for a few seconds, put back into park and pull dipstick, wipe, reinsert, pull out to check.
It's probably low, fill it to the hash mark

Dexron II/III or Honda ATF are fine to use, don't use the multi-works for everything fluids.

r_kage

I'd love to hear if you get it working again.

Fitz Williams

iTrader: (1)

If you are running an external cooler, it is probably mounted higher than the original one in the bottom of the radiator. It seems that some of that fluid would drain back into the trans when the motor is cut off and show the fluid lever as higher than it really is. Would it be a good thing to check the fluid with the motor running? (This is the way I always checked the level in my Jeep Cherokee.)

bloomin

I don't have anything to add other than like others have said I'm subscribed to this thread and hope you follow up and have good news for us, that you got it working again.

96HAEXC

Okay so, update time:

After letting it idle til operating temperature I decided to empty out all the current ATF fluid in the vehicle into a pan, mixed in some ATF repair fluid and poured it back in. (Since the current ATF fluid hadn't seen any mileage) I then started the Accord back up and it will click into gear but it will not move under it's own power.

(For example, me and my friend put it in D4, D3, 2, and 1 and couldn't push it backwards, same thing with putting it into R and pushing it forward)