Ok so I bought a 99 prelude automatic. I know I know its has the craptonic tranny. The tranny seems to shift fine and even in manual mode it seems to shift fine also. The problem is with reverse. When I put the car in reverse and the car hasn't heated up yet, it works great. When the car is at normal driving temperature, and you put it in reverse it only goes for like a second or two and starts lagging. It's like you are stepping on the gas but the car ain't going nowhere the engine just revs. I drained the fluid and the little magnetic drain plug had the normal real real fine metallic looking color that all other cars I drained before have. I've been using just ATF Dexron III, and even had it flushed recently but no difference. I wanted to know if people who have been using the ATF Z1 or ATF DW1 have seen any changes? Or is my tranny another victim of the craptonic issue these preludes were well known for?

Any ideas or suggestions?

 

5 speed swap.....

 

Doesnt necessarily mean "time for a 5 spd swap," but ATF Dex III is way too thick for our transmissions. I say "our" because I have a 2000 Prelude with the tiptronic auto trans, and mine is still going strong with 233k on it. I would very quickly, soon, drain and flush the dex III and replace with B&M Trick shift synthetic trans fluid... this enough and works great. Doesnt break down like standard fluid and being a synthetic it stays cooler.. Just my 2 cents