Hello,
This is really just a curiosity/what am I in for question since I've already taken my car to the shop.
I drive a 1999 Honda Civic LX(automatic) with 137,000 miles. Yesterday I was driving around and it downshifted on me from 3rd into second, causing the engine to rev, it lurched real bad on me then shifted back into 3rd and kept going. It did this to me a couple of more times on my way home. When I get in I checked the transmission fluid and it was pretty much dry, I ran out to the auto parts store(different car) and picked up some ATF and drove it around the block, it did fine for that stretch and then was fine also when I took it in to the shop this morning. At this point I'm just waiting on a call back from them to see what the diagnosis is. Is it possible this was just low fluid and won't be much to fix or am I probably looking at a bigger problem?
Thanks

 

well, first and foremost, what kind of fluid did you put in it? ek's have to have dexron 3, and really it should be Honda gen ATF---although in a pinch...whatever, just as long as its also dexron 3.

Trans fluid usually doesnt just disappear, so your looking at either a leak somewhere, or its just broken down to the point that its gone---

Have you ever changed the fluid? original fluid at 137k probably wouldnt be that great, however I just recently changed 165k fluid that was original and it was all there....but burnt horribly.

You could have possibly just gotten low on fluid....however I heard a little joke about honda (speaking of their engines) only way to kill them is run em hot, or low on oil.
I think the Trans would also fit into this category.

In the future, try to make it a habit of once every 2 weeks checking off the fluids. It can save a lot of money in the long run. It takes seconds to pull the oil stick/trans stick/and give a glance at the p/s fluid and brake fluid etc.

Back in the day, when you got gas---they would have guys come out and check your car out, top off the fluids etc....thats why gas stations were called at the time....service stations.

anyhow, to determine what the diagnosis is.....obv it's just a shot in the dark for any of us to make. I would guesstimate that your transmission was damaged in someway by having low fluid.

I got a buddy with a 95 civic ex automatic that had 200k on its original trans fluid,when we finally changed it. That was 3+ years ago. Yea the car shifts rough....but it has never left him stranded....he puts a bottle of lucas trans in it once every 6 months, and it just keeps goin....and going and going. Hes a broke *** student so he just gets by with it. Is it perfect? not in anyway...it gets him to school/work/home etc etc.

I used to work in a shop....Id say from that perspective...your probably going to be hearing they want to flush the fluid---and possibly rebuild it. (depends on how crooked your shop is)

 

I did put dexron 3 in it, and no I'd never changed the fluid myself.
Thanks for the advice