Hi all,

First of all thank you for your work, very good explanations on your site.
Here is my problem with my2001 Honda Civic; car revs up when shifting between 2nd and 3rd gear, no trouble code, no blinking lights on dash, it only revs up about 500 rpm when shifting only from 2nd to 3rd, and seems to be little bit worse when the engine is hot. I think the O-rings filter screen from shift solenoid are clogged, I want to remove the shift solenoid but I need to know if the oil from transmission must be drained first, because the location of this solenoid is very low and i think all oil will come out?
On the other hand, everybody on the internet says to use only Honda OEM oil, I have now in my tranny Castrol wich meets Honda Z1 requirements, I'm thinking to switch to Valvoline Max Life, it will be better?
Thank you.

 

Castrol ATF for imports is fine. Stay with it. Try 3 consecutive ATF drain-refill cycles rather than messing with the solenoids.

 

Meanwhile I had a big problem with the car, after I drove it 30 km in a sunny Saturday and reached to a hill in a mountain area the car won't be able to drive, it is stopped in the midle of the way, the transmission slips in all gears, after 15 minutes of cool down the engine, I was able to drive it back home only in D2 with 50km/h. Oil level is fine, colour is bright red. Next day the car drives normal. Seems to be only when is hot tranny slips. Maybe the tranny must be rebuilded. I've changed the oil with Valvoline Max Life but no change, car drives the same. It worth the effort to remove the shift solenoid for checking or not?

 

 

Can you explain me please, how technically can, 3 consecutive drain-refill oil could solve this problem? This tranny it's a used one with new oil in it. I change the oil after 800 km with new Valvoline Max Life ATF, about 2.9 liters. No change at all, are you shore that if I will do another 2 drain-refill cycle will solve the problem? The oil was clean and red. I really don't want to waste money for nothing. I forgot to say I have also a whining noise in Park and Neutral position.

 

When you drain the ATF, you only remove about 2/3 of the ATF in the transmission. To do a near complete ATF change, you need to do at least 3 drain-refill cycles. I can't guarantee that this will fix your transmission issue, but it the first thing you should try as it's relatively inexpensive and it solves many Civic transmission issues.

 

The problem right now is I cannot find any Valvoline oil in my area, I have only 2 litres from a jug of 5, somebody told me to try some additive "Lucas transmission fix" or "RiSlone 2 step automatic transmission repair", this things are really working? Or it will ruin the tranny? Can anybody say why the tranny slips only when is hot? I didn't drive it more than 10 km every day and the car works fine, only hesitation from 2 to 3 persist but no slipping.

 

Use Castrol ATF for Imports.

 

I did another oil change one hour ago, nothing changed , I doubt the third drain will change something, I guess is waste of time and money. I also removed the shift solenoid, is clean inside and fully functional. I have now the odor of that tranny oil on my skin, is disgusting. Still hesitate between 2nd and 3rd. I'm desperate. I really don't have $2000 for rebuild.

 

Buy a replacement transmission or do another drain-refill. It's up to you.

And forget a rebuild. Just shop for known good replacement. Check the local salvage yards.