lostforawhile

I started having shifting problems with my 98 civic lx, it acts like the tranny is slipping, it doesn't do it all the time, only sometimes, it also doesn't want to accelerate smoothly, but wants to be jerky, could this possibly be a TPS sensor? i know the tranny gets it's into from the same sensor, also do these cars have a separate tranny computer,or is it all one computer? i figure it wouldn't hurt to change the fluid also, drain plug? or do i have to drop the pan? and what is the drain and refill capacity? I know older honda's like the back of my hand, but i don't know a lot about the fuel injected ones. and I hate slushboxes. Converting to a manual is out of the question,since my wife can only drive an auto.

civic_r87111

So I guess the car is an auto since u ref that at the last part of ur post and the best way to change the fluid on an auto tranny is to have it fulshed at a service station. The auto trannys do have a trans ecu, well I know the accords do so I would assume the civic's do as well.

lostforawhile

the only time i let anyone even touch my car is if i need tires, far too many idiots out there. I know about the accord tranny ecu, a lot of people have gotten good deals on good trannys due to computer problems, it makes it sound like the tranny has an internal problem. This car is ful of electrical problems. It makes sense that these would have the same type of ecu problems.

Corksil

convert to manual. **** the wifey.... honda love or her love?

civic_r87111

U could take it to jiffy lube and watch them do it if u wanted and to flush it properly u need a tranny flush machine. (Gotta luv those auto's)

lostforawhile

my wife has a disability and can't push the clutch, i have the manual in my 86, sucks about the tranny flush, do they design anything you can actually fix anymore? everything breaks on this POS. i've been working on Honda's since i was a kid, and never had one with so many problems.

civic_r87111

There is always a lemon in there somewhere, lol.. Honda didn't want ppl f!*k'n with the auto trans I guess, pretty much everything else u can DIY.

hondamark35

you don't need a machine... drain and refill with 2qts and 4 oz of ATF-Z1. honda autos utilize a drain plug, they don't have pans to drop.

be sure to inspect the old fluid before draining. make sure it's filled to the correct level, check for any burnt smell and you want to see the color of cranberry juice- brown or real dark isn't "fresh."

i hope you see some improvement from fresh fluid, but i don't expect it. if you plan to keep the car and continue working on it yourself, seriously consider buying the Helms factory service manual. it has specific, detailed descriptions and instructions on every aspect of your car. the price (compared to the other manuals available..) is high, but you get what you pay for! the transmission chapter is very good.

civic_r87111

U don't need a machine to drain and fill but if u want to do it properly and change the fluid in the entire trans then u do need the machine. A drain and fill is a halfa$$ way of doing it, like changing half of ur engine oil and just adding new to the old.

lostforawhile

are these cars prone to the same computer issues as the accords,as far as the transmission computer? as far as the TPS if it's failing wouldn't it cause the combination of acceleration problems and strange shift problems?