I'm wondering if my transmission isn't actually going bad, but rather the crapped-up fluid I bought the car with has clogged up my lockup and shift solenoids.
Here are my behaviors:
On the highway, the car doesn't completely lock up. At around 2600 at 68, if I press on the gas, the RPM goes up a little and then down, indicating it's only partially locked and adding throttle makes it lock up completely.
Also, the car doesn't slip, but it seems to fall asleep in between shifts sometimes. Shifts are positive, but sometimes the car just seems to release one clutch and then forgets to engage the next gear. I.e., the engine will freewheel by 100-1200rpm (yes, 100 to 1200, not 1000 to 1200) depending on how cold it is or just by random chance until the next gear engages. And when the next gear engages, it doesn't slide back down slowly, it almost immediately drops. This indicates to be that the clutches are still strong (this is just speculation of course)

Could it be that my solenoid screens are all gunked up, or that my solenoids themselves are? Is it safe to remove them to inspect and clean them and reuse the same screen/gasket? I can't find just the gasket-screen by itself for sale anywhere.

 

no lockup can also be caused by the ECU not seeing the engine at proper operating temp.

the second problem indicates that the trans will most likely die soon......

 

You can remove the solenoids and check them for crap in the screens and reinstall them. Just make sure there's no crap on the outside of the solenoid that could fall in while you're reinstalling them.
If you want to clean them while they're out, carefully remove the gasket from the solenoid before you use any cleaner on them. If you do ruin the gasket, you can get them from the dealer.

Mine does the same thing, my solenoid screens were perfectly clean and tested fine using the proceedures (without line pressure on them though). Still does it after 3 or 4 Honda ATF drain and refills too. Hopefully you have better results.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by YeuEmMaiMai &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">no lockup can also be caused by the ECU not seeing the engine at proper operating temp.

the second problem indicates that the trans will most likely die soon......</TD></TR></TABLE>

I've thought that and everyone else says that, I got it a year and a half ago with 165,000 miles and I'm running over 182,500 now. If it's going to die it's taking its sweet time

 

Here's some more detail, maybe this points to something:

Holding the throttle in one position while I'm going up to freeway speeds, I get up to just around 60 and then the transmission pops out of full lockup. It's in full lock before then, but then after passing a certain speed the RPM jumps up about maybe a needle's-width or two higher. Again, I'm keeping the throttle in the same position, it'll be in the 50s going past 2000, then it pops up a little bit to 2500 when it should be turning over maybe 2400. Then I have the behavior where if I give it more gas, it goes up and then down like it's locking up fully again.

 

Sounds like its time for a rebuild.

See https://honda-tech.com/zerothread/2224651

 

I would try and change the fluid first to the honda fluid. I believe its zfr-1 just drain and refill a couple of times. DO NOT flush it. That may be the problem is some one tried to flush it thinking that would help it but in turn on hondas you should never do this. If there is no change after performing this then The transmissin is just worn out. The auto's in the accords esp. the 98-02 are horrible.