Ok
Car: 92 Civic DX Automatic
Engine: D15b7
Transmission: unsure mileage automatic being swapped in.
Long story short, I'm ... helping a good friend of mine replace his borked up transmission, I've got the known good one I'm getting ready to swap in tomorrow morning, his old one is out and already collecting dust in the garage, but I'm wondering, what type of preventative maintenance can be done to this heap of metal before putting it in tomorrow.
I'm not too keen on automatics, but like Manuals where you are recommended to replace a couple bearings to prolong the life of your transmission is there anything like that in which we can service before we re-assemble it all?

Also, wtf is the proper flushing procedure for a transmission that likely hasn't been flushed in ... years and is currently sitting empty?

Lastly, for your enjoyment.
On the left is his old dipstick, we're not sure what all shattered to cause it to ... bend like that along with taking notches out of the dipstick, but I'll have pics later for sure.

 

Don't flush an old auto tranny. Just drain the torque converter (TC) and the replacement tranny, and then add new Honda or Honda-recommended ATF. Then install.

After the tranny and TC are installed, drive the car for a week or so, and then drain/refill with ATF again.

 

Is it true if you put the parking brake on before putting the trans into Auto that you relieve stress on the trans?

 

No, other than if you're parked on a hill you should apply the parking brake, take your foot off the brakes and then shift into park so you don't put all the weight of the vehicle on the park pin.

 

They always told me to engage the parking brake when in Neutral when the transmission has no weight against it. I have never seen a transmission fail due to not using the parking brake but it is good to use the parking brake often to keep the cables happy. Flushing any automatic transmission is a bad idea, I prefer the above stated method of draining and refilling. It is so easy to drain a Honda automatic transmission and refill that I don't mind doing it before its required to be changed, its a lot easier than changing the oil, you don't have to worry about a filter and it takes less fluid too, just make sure your using decent fluid, such as Honda ATF. I ran castrol import transmission fluid for a while on other Honda's in the past without any problems but I feel better putting what Honda originally put in it. When you replace the transmission you want to flush the transmission cooler lines because a failed transmission normally leaves debris in the hoses and the cooler, some brake clean and compressed air to blow it out usually will do the trick but if you feel air is restricted than you might have to replace the radiator.

 

it wouldn't hurt to add a transmission oil cooler and bypassing the stock one that runs though the radiator.

 

This is my first rodeo with a torque converter, so thanks for the insight.
There is a drain plug on it, correct? or am I mistaken?

Edit: Me thinks I'm mistaken, is there a proper way to drain it besides either cracking it open, or hanging it an odd angle?

 

Soooo

After I swapped out the transmission, got the car 80% back together (didn't finish putting hubs back together yet, but axles are in), we fired it up for a sanity test so to speak only to be greeted by a VERY loud grinding noise coming from the transmission area (video to come shortly)

This was not the case with the old one :/

Is there a possibility we didn't seat the input shaft properly within the TC? I don't imagine it would have gone back together without much cussing otherwise...

 

Video

Don't mind the lighting, there isn't **** to see...

Transmission has fresh fluid as well, forgot to mention that.

 

Did you replace the TC and the transmission or only the transmission?

 

Only the transmission.
These lovely noises were not around before the transmission was replaced.

 

The solenoid ontop of the transmission is apart of a lockout assembly, correct? If I had repinned that connector improperly could it have caused these fits?
Alternately, the shift cable, if not installed / calibrated properly as well?

I'm running over everything we did in my kind trying to find potential failure points...

 

What do you know about the replacement transmission?

Did you follow to a tee the service manual instructions on removal and installation of the transmission?

 

TC was correctly installed on the input shaft and rotated until it dropped in before the trans was installed?

 

I think I see the fault, off of your two replies.

TC needs to be installed on the transmission before bolting the transmission to the block.

And Ron, I think its obvious I didn't at this point.

 

Also, the replacement trans was pulled known working from a guy locally I've done business with in the past numerous times.

 

fyi...

 

Thanks Ron,

I didn't remove the torque converter with the Transmission and it's likely not mated properly at this point.
Everything else is gravy.

Well, back to square one today

 

That would be your problem for sure. Hopefully it didn't damage the spline on the TC and input shaft on the trans.

 

I'm praying for that as well.

Is there a way to test the TC to see if it's internally damaged?

 

Not without having a transmission shop cutting it open and then welding it back together.

 

Not worth it.
I had a feeling that was it though.

Thanks guys for all the input, I'll have more to update once I get it all back together.

 

major bummppp!!!

any updates on this? im just curious

 

What are you trying to find out from bumping a couple month old thread? When i did my auto tranny swap it wasn't that hard. I unbolted everything, including the torque convertor from the flex plate, and then lowered the tranny down, yes I LOWERED IT DOWN. Not at an angle. Its easier to unbolt the torque convertor from the flex plate so for all you who are new to dropping an auto please keep that in mind.

 

I didnt bump it for you so dont worry about it..

I want to know if the OP fixed the issue because he never reported back and if he did, I wish to know what it was...