1995 Honda Accord LX 2.2L L4 SOHC 16V

A Few days ago my transmission started acting up, taking a few seconds to engage in drive when the gear shift was moved. The next day, While making a U Turn, after I came through the turn and gave it some gas, the tachometer shot up, and the card did not respond accordingly (ie:go). My brother checked and added transmission fluid (which he said was low), and things seemed fine.

This morning while driving on the highway to work, in what I think was 3rd gear, I took my foot off the gas to slow in traffic and the tachometer went nuts, revving up to 4 and then shooting back down down to .5. I managed to coast off the highway safely. I shut it off, waited a few minutes and started her up again. I made it the rest of the 15 minutes to my exit, stopped at a gas station and found what appears to be oil (Tranny fluid is red right?) sprayed all over the right rear of the engine compartment. I checked the Tranny fluid, and lo and behold it's dry. Any ideas? or Suggestions? I just want to have a better understanding of what's going on before I leave it with a mechanic who tells me I need a new transmission and gives me a bill for $3000.

Here are some photos of the Oil? spray I found when I opened the hood. http://imgur.com/a/sJqyr

 

the first pic looks like oil on the brake fluid res. but if ur trans fluid is old and brown then it could look similar. it sounds like a hose is leaking. not too many ways trans leaks. and if it is empty then this is likely. check ur engine oil level to verify.

DO NOT DRIVE WITH LOW TRANS FLUID. this will kill ur trans for sure and u will need a Used/Junkyard trans or rebuild plus install

 

I just checked the oil after having been sittign for 4.5 hours, it's good. I'm going to re-check the trans fluid when I leave work after warming it up. I spoke to my brother (who is now across the country) he says he only added 1qt, and if it was a slow leak or drip, he may not have added enough. So i'm going to re-assess after work, and add at least another qt.

 

If the differential axle seals are blown parking up hill, accelerating, or making a turn can exacerbate the leak.

Look at where the axles attach to the transmission.

 

So I added 2 qts of trans fluid and it was back to normal. I drove 2 miles and then found this. http://m.imgur.com/BbeANXW

Now I just need to figure figure out if it's the tranny cooler or a hose.

 

i think the trans is cooled by the radiator. not 100% sure tho

 

^This car doesn't have a transmission cooler as stated above. The transmission fluid cools with the help of the radiator. At the bottom of the radiator you will see two ports, one on the passenger side and one on the driver side. Take a look under there and see if it is leaking. In front of the condenser is the power steering cooling mechanism, as seen in your last pic (shaped like a sideways "U". Follow those hoses and make sure its not leaking power steering fluid. Did you happen to dip your finger in the fluid on the last pic or smell that fluid. You would know if its transmission fluid by the smell, also since transmission fluid was added it could be brownish-pink. Let us know.

 

This would explain why I was having such a hard time finding the cooler. I'll check those two ports, I would put money on it being the drivers side one, because it's definitely transmission fluid that's leaking. The car is parked at home now, so i'll check them when I get home from work and report back.

Thanks for the insight.