I've searched older threads and found a lot of info and found them helpful but I have just a few more questions. I Have a 99 Civic sedan and due to a gimp knee, it's painful to drive drive standard day to day. I can't afford two cars and I want to do lapping next season so that doesn't leave me with too many options. From what I have seen on other threads the general consensus was to go for it, especially for a first timer. I was just wondering if adding a trans cooler is recommended and if any one has had any experience tracking the auto trany in this car. Just trying to take all the precautions as its my transportation to school and work.

 

I did lapping days with auto cars before. While it is not as fun as manual car it is still driving on track and driving fast. In other word, it is still very fun. I don't think trans cooler is needed for just lapping days.

 

I've never tracked with an auto so out of curiosity what happens when you spin and are going backwards? Throw it into neutral real fast or will it kick itself into neutral?

 

The car just stalls.

Just make sure to throw it back into park before trying to restart it.

 

there is a local guy who tracks an auto RSX with full hand controls. dude is FAST too.

i'd put in the biggest trans cooler you can, just for safety. heat=dead transmission with hondas. coolers are as easy as a bit of hose work and some mounting.

 

That's what I was thinking...thanks for all the input guys!

 

I have known of a few people in the past with auto's, and problems with their legs which was the cause for the setup. You should be fine, and with the tranny cooler, I would avoid one of the cheapo 20 dollar ones, just think of how much it costs for a new trans and base your purchase around that

 

This is my friend's car,( it is in my garage right now) we run a trans cooler on it. We are going to put a bigger cooler on it as we have had some external electronics on the trans fail, most likely due to heat. This may not be an issue for you though if you are just starting, because as redcz said, he pushes his car pretty hard, to the point most people do not realize that is an automatic.

There is also a company called Level Ten ( http://www.levelten.com/ ) that builds auto transmissions to stand up to road course driving. This is what the RSX is equipped with.

I would still say go for it, track driving with any car is still totally worth it!

 

Not as easy as you will have to run a pump.

I really doubt that you need cooler. While I have never log a temp on automatic, on manual, you don't see over 220 F in 30 minutes session.

I do run cooler, but I don't even turn the pump on for 30 minutes session. I only sees the need if I run over 30 minutes at a time.

 

automatics already have coolers (usually part of the factory radiator-at least on older honda automatics).....just put a better cooler in place of that.

 

So there would be lines running to the cooler in the rad? So just hook the existing lines up to a larger external unit?

 

yeah,that what i've always seen..

 

Exactly, just circumvent the original pattern and hook up your cooler in place, and possibly somewhere where more air could be placed toward it, think brake duct vent, but pointed toward your aftermarket transmission cooler. Just have to be creative and make sure the mounting you decide on is sturdy and can take a beating and you're golden

 

One thing is that if you really start to have fun tracking the car I wouldn't put much if any money into it. It will never be that great with the stock auto box, and there are soo many great cheap twin clutch cars out now...