I am having a few issues with my 98 accord v6 coupe, need some opinions... and help! I am so frustrated and stressed out ever since I got this damn car!!!

1. Suddenly my cruise control on the car is not working... when I turn on the cruise control from the left, than push the decel on the steering wheel, the cruise control light comes ON the dash, it does not cruise, the speed just keeps dropping.

Recent things done to the car:

- Full brake pads/rotors replacement
- Engine Tune up (spark plugs, wires, pcv vavle, engine mounts, air filter, distributor cap & rotor) all genuine Honda parts, nothing after market.
- Engine Wash 2 times.

2. There is a engine oil leak, it is from the front pump seal according a mechanic who put it up on the hoist and checked. I was told by him that the transmission is at fault to fix it transmission needs to be taken apart. I went to AAMCO because I have warranty with them, told them that front pump seal is broken and my car is leaking engine oil, they said thats not possible it should be leaking transmission fluid. If it's not the transmission fluid than the front pump seal cannot be broken.

3. Again my transmission is acting up aswell, when I put the car into D4 from R, theres a huge jerk after 2-3 seconds. This occurs randomly, does not happen all the time. Could there be something wrong with the FLUID? Fluid is pinkish, so I know its honda ATF at least I hope. I just had it rebuilt from AAMCO about 5 months ago.

4. Recently my gas mileage dropped drastically, apparently driving 47 km (29 miles) on the highway ate about 1/8th of the gas tank, I filled up and got on the highway right after. Doesn't seem right, after the tune up and I was expecting much better mileage not worst???

Any help is greatly appreciated, I am so lost and frustrated. Stealership wants $92/hour to diagnose the cruise control issue, and no clue how many hours it would take them.

 

Go to the dealership and have them PRINT and DOCUMENT what's wrong with the car.
Take that to AAMCO and have them "fix*" the problem.

If they refuse, take them to small claims court and plea your case to a judge.
Did AAMCO even put the damn thing on a lift to look at it? Should also address the issue of "reverse slam." Google "reverse slam" or "transmission failure + Honda", common with saturns, and many accord v6 and acura TL trannies. Also, you are probably out of the warranty, but there was a TSB on that tranny too.

(* Denotes a temporary band-aid as that's what they seem to do best, do a google search.)

 

Thanks alot for the response, so you would recommend going to the dealership first to diagnose the leaking issue and print it out?

I have an appointment on monday morning with AAMCO, I guess I'll take it to the dealership before going there.

I had the transmission rebuilt from AAMCO 5 months ago.

The AAMCO mechanic didn't put the car up on the hoist, just told me straight up that if the front pump seal is broken than it has to be transmission fluid leaking not engine oil... but the engine oil is leaking and my local mechanic who did put it up on the hoist and checked underneath the car said front pump seal is broken no doubt and thats why the engine oil is leaking.

I know I am way out of warranty with Honda, but I do have a 3 yr warranty with AAMCO since I just got the rebuilt from them which is the biggest mistake of my life

 

Is the mechanic you brought it to certified?
Was it at a Dealership?
Go to whomever gave you the initial inspection, and ask them for a print out.

Smaller mechanic shops will sometimes tell you that this or that is wrong, knowing it's another easy fix, but they work it up to make extra money. I'm not saying the guy you went to do that, but if he refuses to give you a print out of his findings/determination as a mechanic, maybe he's not reputable.

Obviously a dealership will know what's happening, because a lot porter won't be doing a mechanic's job. But many other garages you don't need to be certified in anything, you just need to be able to turn a wrench and follow directions.

It's not worth paying the 90/hr labor rate if you've already got it done elsewhere. An easy way out of getting the inspection done is to find a dealer that does a complimentary inspection when changing your oil as well. Many of them do this, in hopes of getting you to change out that brake fluid, replace that fuel filter, repair that line, this or that....But If they find a big problem, I'm sure they'll report it in hopes of getting your business...

If not, just go into aamco telling them about the transmission hesitation or an "off-and-on" problem, even if it's made up...they have to look into it atleast, that would require putting it on the lift.

YOU ARE THE CUSTOMER! Stand up now, or the 5 year warranty means jack.

 

It was a certified mechanic at Canadian Tire, he looked at the car as a courtesy as he was leaving while it was up on the Hoist. Told me why and where its leaking from because the typical common places weren't wet with oil.

I'll just take it to the dealership early in the morning before heading off to AAMCO to get a print out. And also tell AAMCO about the reverse jerks that happen randomly.

Can you tell me exactly what I should tell them, these guys are big ******** and I am sure they would try to hustle me because I won't be paying them but getting work done under warranty.

 

I just read that cleaning the throttle body can cause seals to break and sensor seals to break as well... if you clean it with some harsh chemical or something.

Well the mechanic that did my tune up, cleaned my throttle body as well... could that be the reason for the oil leak? It could've possibly broken the seals.... If so what else could it have damaged?

 

Any other help?

 

So I went to AAMCO today in the morning, told them to check the leak. The manager was there himself, put the car up on the hoist and checked it. After checking it thoroughly for 10-15 minutes of inspection, they told me that theres nothing leaking from the transmission and its not the transmission fluid.

Told me that it is most likely the rear main seal that's worn out and causing the leak and could not be repaired under warranty because thats engine oil leak and if i want they could repair it for $700 because they have to take out the transmission to get to the seal.

I can't afford $700 to replace a seal thats $10...

Any ideas on how I can get them to replace the seal under warranty??

 

what did they say about your reverse slam. i used to work at a transmission shop and they are the first ones to screw u over. my boss did it all the time and if u said something to him he would say, " the average consumer goes to a transmission shop one time in a lifetime and for that reasoning u can charge high labor rates and ridiculous parts cost b/c their isn't that much repeat buisness." so pretty much u are gonna have to make the transmission go out for them to fix that seal and u will prob. still have to pay them a little for it.

 

About the reverse slam, the guy said I should replace my transmission mounts if I haven't done so. First he told me its most likely my front engine mount but when I told him I had all engine mounts replaced already, he asked if I replaced the transmission mounts and if not I should do so.

So frustrated.

 

Would using something like http://www.barsproducts.com/1050.htm

Or lucas stabilizer help stop the leak??

 

stuff like that is only a band aid. the only true way to fix your leak is gonna be to pull the trans and replace the seal. Did they not offer to do the seal while they had the trans out, b/c 99% of the time they will always offer that at a transmission shop to try and get every extra penny out of you.

 

No they didn't offer that but they should have replaced it. I am talking with customer relations trying to get them to have this replaced under warranty.