hi guys im new to this honda tech, ive mostly been on preludezone until my 94 prelude was stolen 2 months ago but anyway when my wife and i got married her parents bought us a nice 89 civic sedan lx automatic with 130k on it woot!

but one huge problem is the transmission, 1st and 2nd gear litterally BONK when they shift and the whole car shakes! and when im in park and i shift into reverse it bonks really hard too. also when i slow down form 35 to 18 mph it stutters when it shifts down, then again at 5 mph to a stop. now for a while i have been driving carefully as not to make it shift hard but the latest problem im having is when im driving on the freeway at 60 mph and i start going up hill the check engine light pops on and the engine revs higher as if the torque converter is unlocking. it changes from 2700 rpm to 3000 rpm, but stays in 4th gear. the check engine light doesnt come back when i restart the car.

so long story short the transmission is doomed, ive replaced the fluid soon after i bought it so im probably going to start looking for a new one. i know rebuilding the tranny is expensive as crap so i might just want to swap in another. any suggestions or advice is apreciated thanks!

 

How are the motor mounts? That could be part of your problem if they are broken and worn out. You engine is not sitting in the proper position if the rubber mounts have cracked apart.

 

ok so my front engine mount is broken so im going to replace that today, i checked the tranny fluid its full and clean. i was wondering how much it labor would be just to replace the transmission at a shop. this car seems fairly easy to work with theres no ac or clutter in the bay.

maybe it would be better to buy a new engine and transmission and swap it all out, i have 130 on the engine it might need to be rebuilt soon anyway.

also this is my only car at the moment so hopefully a shop could do it in 2 days