I have a 96 Accord LX 1.8 4 cyl auto
When my car shifts at times there is a sudden noticeable jerk in the car almost like the car is struggling. What is interesting though is it varies. Sometimes it is a stronger jerk and other times it barely even does it at all. What I have noticed that the weather has an effect on this- during the cooler nighttime the car barely does it and runs great but when it is hot or humid it is noticeable. Tranny fluid is fine but thats all ive checked. Any other ideas?

 

I too have the same problem with my 1995 Accord EX Auto. If I revv it high, the jerks are not that noticeable but I still know it is shifting (ofcourse its 12 yr old) but at lower revs the jerks are very noticeable and irritating. Also it doesn't downshift to the lower gears fast enough so when I slow down at a turn, I cannot accelerate quickly. Basically it gets stuck in a higher gear and flooring the throttle only revs the engine but the car doesn't go anywhere. Any ideas what the problem might be? I got a transmission fluid flush but it didn't help and the mechanic didnt know any better.

 

That is the death of your tranny. My car did that, until it got so bad that I got it inspected by 3 parties and they all said it was the tranny dying. In the end I rebuilt the tranny for $1500. Supposedly if you know it's dying you can still "save it". Better go get it looked at guys.

O yeah maybe you can try tranny fluid, but that's just desperate. I don't know **** bout cars but I can share my experience.

 

Well I think all 5th gen Auto shift hard. Mine shift really hard. But I like it. If you're at higher RPM You dont feel it. This is normal, I THINK. Plus did you hear. 5th Gen auto tranny are bullet proof. As long you change you fluid and take care of it, it'll last.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by brolsy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">...Tranny fluid is fine but thats all ive checked...</TD></TR></TABLE>
What do you mean, it's "fine"? Do you mean the level is good, or that the quality is also good?

When is the last time you've flushed out your transmission fluid? I don't mean dropping the pan and getting a couple quarts out, I'm talking about flushing the system, taking the old stuff out through a hose hooked up to your radiator (where the ATF comes out) while adding fresh fluid in through the dipstick tube? I just did this a couple days ago on my '95 Camry and it's running much, much better now. My accord is a 5-speed so I haven't done this on it of course.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by brolsy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I have a 96 Accord LX 1.8 4 cyl auto
When my car shifts at times there is a sudden noticeable jerk in the car almost like the car is struggling. What is interesting though is it varies. Sometimes it is a stronger jerk and other times it barely even does it at all. What I have noticed that the weather has an effect on this- during the cooler nighttime the car barely does it and runs great but when it is hot or humid it is noticeable. Tranny fluid is fine but thats all ive checked. Any other ideas?</TD></TR></TABLE>

where are you from that you have a 1.8? Unless you meant 2.2

when you "checked" the fluid, did it smell burnt or anything? how many miles are on the car and tranny?
And, 5 gen auto's are known to be a little rough and have a delay inbetween shifting. Mine does it with 122k on the clock, it does it when its cold, and once it warms up its fine. It's done it since i got it at 40k and i've changed the fluid a bunch of times and flushed it.

 

The tranny fluid can tell lots of things. First when you drain the tranny fluid, get a sample from the used fluid and smell it for burns. Anything that doesn't smell like tranny fluid. and second, feel with your fingers for any metal particles. If you find chunks, your tranny has problems. &lt;----
All these for your info, incase if you don't know... =P

Change your fluid pretty often. I like changing it every year or so. Tranny fluid is not that expensive. I think the normal is every 30,000 miles.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Heat &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
What do you mean, it's "fine"? Do you mean the level is good, or that the quality is also good?

When is the last time you've flushed out your transmission fluid? I don't mean dropping the pan and getting a couple quarts out, I'm talking about flushing the system, taking the old stuff out through a hose hooked up to your radiator (where the ATF comes out) while adding fresh fluid in through the dipstick tube? I just did this a couple days ago on my '95 Camry and it's running much, much better now. My accord is a 5-speed so I haven't done this on it of course.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

alot of people don't recommend flushing the tranny with a machine, but rather changing the fluid 3 times.. ( change, drive 10-20 mins, change again, drive again, and change).

I personally just changed it the way i said, and now i just change it over every year. As long as its not burnt smelling, still pinkish, and not leaking, you'll be fine.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by The-Kid &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">The tranny fluid can tell lots of things. First when you drain the tranny fluid, get a sample from the used fluid and smell it for burns. Anything that doesn't smell like tranny fluid. and second, feel with your fingers for any metal particles. If you find chunks, your tranny has problems. &lt;----
All these for your info, incase if you don't know... =P

Change your fluid pretty often. I like changing it every year or so. Tranny fluid is not that expensive. I think the normal is every 30,000 miles.</TD></TR></TABLE>

uh, theres a magnetic plug for the particles. Which reminds me, when you pull out the plug, make sure you wipe off the particles, because they will be there and theres nothing wrong with that as long as it isn't some thing huge or a chunk. You're tranny is a typical 5 gen. I'd bet anything your tranny takes a second or 2 to get into drive or reverse from park

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sony224422 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

uh, theres a magnetic plug for the particles. Which reminds me, when you pull out the plug, make sure you wipe off the particles, because they will be there and theres nothing wrong with that as long as it isn't some thing huge or a chunk. You're tranny is a typical 5 gen. I'd bet anything your tranny takes a second or 2 to get into drive or reverse from park</TD></TR></TABLE>

True. It does have a magnet. But just incase if that magnet fails or it just has too much metal on it and it couldn't pick up anymore. Just to be on safeside.

 

the reason the 5th gens shift like this is because honda didnt retard the timing/fuel during the shift therefore it shifts hard at times...mine is the same way, your tranny isnt going to go out unless you havent changed the tranny fluid in a decade..check the tranny fluid if its starting to turn brown and smell burnt..or pretty much like *** then your tranny is dieing..also if its slipping really bad thats another sign..thats how I knew mine was going out when it did..due to the dumbass before me...just make sure you tranny fluid is ok and doesnt smell bad..should be a light red color...also as someone said before the best way to do a good tranny flush is to drain...fill..drive around for a while...drain fill...driver around...drain and then fill with honda ATF and maybe some lucas to help slips and stuff...another way you can do it is set the whole front end of the car up on jack stands...take both wheels off..drain the fluid and start your car..run it through all the gears...Park..rev it...reverse..rev it..neutral..rev it...d4.rev it...d3..rev it..2..rev it..1 rev it and then go back up..do this a couple of times and most of it should come out...fill it up and then do it again..ive done this many times and it works just fine

 

aaaahaa! I noticed only yesterday evening that it doesn't jerk that much in the evenings and in the morning it is very noticeable. I live in phoenix and park my car in the sun so by evening it gets real hot.

Anyway, thanks for all the replies.

 

the first time i start my 1998 v6 in the morning its very jerky, but after that, the rest of the day is fine; however when i say jerky, i mean really jerky, it will chirp the tires when i m accerating n going round corner at same time; is that what u guys are seeing??
fluid is red, no burn smell, just normal, i ll try adding lucas and see if it helps,

rd

 

Don't add any additives to the fluid just use hondas atf

 

ok, thanks, will do,

Rab