Cyrus951

Long-time reader, first-time poster.

So I'm looking at a '94 Del Sol, but the seller describes the car as follows:

"Automatic TRANSMISSION is busted! The car will drive forward and Backwards, but for some reason the transmission slips out after a mile or 2miles."

Any ideas based off this extremely vague description? Think I can get by with a rebuild or does an all-out replacement sound necessary?

Former User

You would have to assume that the transmission will have to be replaced. Before buying, you should inspect the car and test drive it to see whether there are additional problems.

Jockone

Expect the worst and hope for the best.
Check the rest of the car out and see what other problems it has if any and then make an offer based on what you find if you still want the car.
Price a rebuild and then check junkyards for a replacement,www.car-parts.com is a great site to check for used parts.
Sounds like a good time to convert to five speed.

Cyrus951

150k miles on the clock
Clear title
Could use a paint job...

Clean interior, but no real maintenance records.

What do you guys suggest I offer? I have no idea what a tranny will cost to replace for this model.

95EG2

Honda Automatic trans(from year 2000 and down not familar with new honda Auto trans) Are Crap Doesnt Matter What Motor It Came Off There Are Crap That Why I Only Owned One Auto Honda and never own another.... a rebuild in my area is well over 1k
do a auto to manual swap :-)

NotAJDMFanBoy

Where are you located? Try putting an ad on craigslist saying you're looking for an automatic. I have one chilling still hooked up to my blown motor I pulled from my sedan. I know other people have them sitting around and nobody ever charges much. Maybe $200 max.

Your other option is the auto-manual swap. That's what I did since I just don't like automatics.

95EG2

to rebuild a auto trans is alot of money it not cheap yes it probably easier to get a auto trans online but think of this... if someone selling a auto trans it is more then likely just as bad as the one he has

94EG8

Most of the '92 - '00 D-series automatics were pretty tough, especially the '92 - '95s, they almost never went bad. Honda automatics really didn't start to get bad until '01 for the civics.

For that car you can find good used transmissions for next to nothing, although if it was mine I'd seriously consider swapping in a manual, especially for something that's supposed to be a fun car.

appelsos

guaranteed you can find an auto trans for dirt cheap, and they are all over the place. wouldnt be surprised if someone let one go for sub 100 bucks around where i live.

i would go with the consensus of the rest of the thread, which is to swap in the manual if you buy the car. depending on how much youre paying, it may be worth it to just wait on the sol until you can find one with a working manual trans.

GL!

NotAJDMFanBoy

Applesos, I find one issue with waiting for a manual Del Sol. Most of the manual Civics I've seen have been beat on. They were likely owned by teenage guys who thought they knew how to do wiring or liked body kits, aftermarket eBay lights, etc. Getting an automatic and converting to manual was the only way for me to get an unmolested Civic around here. I have no regrets in doing this though