I'm still getting used to a "new" 92 EX AT that I've owned for about 6 months alternating driving it with my old 92 EX MT.

Notwithstanding that I now realize I'll never buy an AT again, I would like to understand what's going on with what I've got.


Here's the symptom:

As I said I've been alternating driving it (week on/week off) and it ended up sitting a little longer than usual over the holidays.

Twice I noticed that when it had been sitting for over a week in my garage (NC - Probably 50 degrees in the garage), when I went to put it in Reverse to leave, it seemed to be slipping and wouldn't back up at idle like it ordinarily would. Going to Park or Drive and then back to Reverse seemed to get things back in order ... or it would eventually get ok if I just left it. Otherwise, after backing out everything otherwise seemed back to normal.

The sitting and the Park/Drive thing remind me of procedure you are supposed to go through after changing the AT fluid (cycling through the gears).


Is this something to be worried about pointing to impending problems -or- is something like this to be expected after being idle for an extended period of time?

Thanks.

 

It sounds like you're dealing with oxidized tranny fluid. Some of the spool valves may be sticking when cold.
Does it do this if you let it fully warm up before you put it in reverse?
Some would recommend the multi-cycle fluid change.
I would also suggest having the Tranny power flushed (low pressure)
In both cases, I recommend Honda ATF exclusively.

P

 

I haven't had enough times where it sat for extended period to try the "full warm up".

Have been planning the multi-cycle change with Honda ATF since it's just got whatever the yahoo that last change the ATF put in it.

But I was a little uncertain whether or not to go the full multi-cycle change or Honda ATF based on the kind of mongrel history of this Tranny. The maintenance records (ridiculously complete) shows the history below.


08/24/01 83K miles
AAMCO reconditioned transmission service with an exchange rebuilt torque converter and $484 of "hard parts" in addition to the Torque Converter and the Reconditioning.

07/08/05 121K miles
AT Service with Qty 4 Dexron ATF + Qty 1 ATF Conditioner (missing page #1 so I don't know if flushed) at a garage

10/09/07 148K miles
"VPS Auto Trans Service" for $109 with Castrol MultiVehicle ATF at a "Fast Lube Plus".

01/06/09 164K miles
Current Mileage

 

Two transmission flushes with 20k of each other, both using mongrel ATF.
Again:
Some would recommend the multi-cycle fluid change.
I would also suggest having the Tranny power flushed (low pressure)
In both cases, I recommend Honda ATF exclusively.

P

 

AAMCO recond torq converter, plus 80k miles plus 8 years. My guess is yeah you are getting limited lock up when cold. since it looks like the fluids have been somewhat properly maintained its more then likely some oxidized garbage in the trans body.

a flush will probably get you at least another 30 to 40k miles trouble free all things considered if the trans is shifting properly at speed holding gear etc.