Hi,

5 years ago I got this Accord 97 EXR 4 cil, 2.2lt, automatic. When I got it, the previous owner told me he had just changed the transmission (at about 120,000 kms / 74,560 miles); he showed me the Honda invoice (US $1,700 for a new tranny). Everything was ok... was a good cared car. I liked it to run as fast as 190 kms/h (120 mph) and felt very good in every sense; good mpg, etc.
I just purchased a Grand Cherokee 2002 recently because I like to go to mountain, yet I was not sure if I wanted to sell the Accord, since for the city mpg was ok, and for running at highway was fun.
When I was about deciding to sell it, I noticed the "D" signal of the transmission was flashing, and the driving response was different. I noticed, specially on highway that when I pushed the gas pedal to full, rpm went up to 5,000 and then no more, and did not changed the speed... and at those rpm, I noticed lack of power... was kind of sluggish. If I released a bit the pedal, transmission shifted to the next speed. Yet was not certainly normal, since it used to go up to 6,500 or 7,000 rpm and then automatically did the change... and you could feel the power at those high rpms.
If I could ran this car at 120 mph, now it goes no further than 80 which feels frustrating.

I took it to the Honda Dealer and they told that the problem might be the speed sensor in the transmission that had to be changed; it cost me about US $300. The "D" flashing was solved ... yet the lack of power still was there at 5000 rpm
I took the car back to the Honda workshop... they had it there for 3 weeks and told me the transmission had a problem because natural use and time. I told them it was just changed by the previous owner, and I ran it about 40,000 miles since it was changed... so it was wired. To have it fixed they had to take off the whole transmission and check what precisely the problem was... and that was too pricey, considering I was about to sell the car. Their theory was then, the transmission had something wrong and motor was perfect.
I took the car to a transmission specialist shop. I told them the story and they told me, the transmission was perfect... and it was something else in the motor.... If they would had to check if the transmission oil filter was dirty or clogged, they would have to take all the transmission down, as Hondas transmission filter was within the system and not as most brands, that is located out of the transmission and could be changed easily.

I checked catalytic converter, and even though it seems it has never been changed sin 1997... the mechanic told me didn't look bad.

Could it be really the transmission? this 97 car in Mexico costs now about US $3,000 dollars... and if the fix is expensive I rather sell it ... If it was running just fine before this, for 5 years. I felt faster and more powerful thatn some old V6 cars. If the fix is not pricey, I'd keep it for a while... just for the fun of running as it did before, and fuel economy....

What is your recommendation, tips? is it really the transmission, or could be something else or more simple?

Thank you

 

Could have something to do with you running it up past red line (+6200rpm) on a daily basis. If the dealership says that it's the trans, then it could very well be just that. Running a car above it's red line continuously will drastically reduce the life of the engine and all the parts connected to it.

I suggest that you do compression and leak down tests on the engine. That way you can see how healthy the cylinders are. If the cylinders are still good you could probably put in a used transmission for a couple hundred. You don't need a 100% new $1700 trans from the dealership. However if you continue to run the car as you have stated. I would consider doing a 5 speed manual swap. It might be able to handle running in the higher rpms a bit longer.

 

Certainly is not on a daily basis... Maybe I exagerated saying 7,000 rpms; the Transmission automatically perform a speed change if rpms touch the red zone of the indicator, so running the car you will never stay in the red zone.

Diagnosis submited by the shop: its an internal damage of the Transmission. Its pieces of an internal part (they call it "pastas"), maybe are already in the fluid tubes, obstructing and causing loss of pressure / power. US $1,300 to fix it... Maybe I'll sell the car... that cost is almost 50% of its current market value, yet its sad since the motor, interiors, suspension are just fine !

What would you do?

 

You admit to abusing the car and then wonder why the transmission has gone bad? This is a joke right?
The fritction plates are worn, you have done damage to the transmission, probably overheated it a few times which does permanent damage.
The pastas, is the friction material that has been worn off the clutch plates.
Not drive like a asno.

Slow down, your vehicles will last longer.
The 90-97 automatics will last you 250K miles under normal driving and maintenance.