I have a 96 EX, V6 auto with only 65k on it. I bought it about 8 months ago and it is in excellent condition throught. Just recently though I feel like the transmission is maybe rough swithching gears, not all the time just at slow speeds. What are some tell tale signs that the tranny might be going bad?

 

Honda's earlier autos have always shifted more on the firm side, however try having the tranny fluid changed. You will most likely feel a change in the overall feel of the shift quality.

Honda's older autos are very easy to "confuse" at low speeds as well, such as slowing down for a light but having the light change, when you get back on the gas the transmission seems to have trouble finding the right gear. It's not a problem just an imperfection. I don't remember hearing that the 96 v-6 auto's being a particularily troublesome transmission.

 

"such as slowing down for a light but having the light change, when you get back on the gas the transmission seems to have trouble finding the right gear"

you just hit the nail on the head with that description, so I guess I should be ok?

 

I'll put it this way, my cousin has a 96 Accord 4 cylinder auto, she's now got 210,000 miles on it and the tranny is starting to show it's age, however it's done that shifting thing since the day she got it new.

My mom has a 98 Accord Ex V-6 Auto and she has 115,000 miles on hers, and she's done a LOT more city driving she's a visiting Nurse in Philly so a lot more wear and tear on the car. Anyhow her's has the same issues but her car now has a kick down issue at this point so I'd say that her Transmission is on it's last legs.

Anyhow I say try having the fluid changed, if you do it yourself just remember that you don't change it ALL when you drain it and refill it, only 3 quarts come out and there is more than that in the whole transmission. Basically if you want to change it you'd need to change it several times or hook it up to a machine that can actually draw out all the fluid and replace it. Anyhow that's all the advice I have.

 

i used to have an 95 accord, changed tranny twice.. the first time, i cracked it. damn car was too damn low.. second time, when the tranny fluid gets hot enough, the shifting will lag, like it revs a little too high, i changed the fluid, same problem, you can tell if its bad, the gears will not catch that quickly. i say check your fluid change it, and see if that solves your problem, its better spending couple bucks buying the fluid then spending hundreds getting another tranny.

 

had the tranny fluid changed today and I can't even begin to tell you what a huge difference that it made, its like night and day, wow

thanks guys