Hello everyone.

I have the opportunity to pick up a 1994 Accord Ex 2-door with 117k miles on the engine for rather cheap, but it has a bad automatic transmission. After talking to the guy for a bit he told me that all the forward gears work but that reverse doesn't. He said that something definitely broke, whether it be teeth on the gear or something.

What could be my options with this car in regards to the transmission? I'm mechanically inclined and most things are an option in regards to time and work. I'd like to use it as my daily driver. I will most likely never turbo it, at least not in the next five years. I enjoy manual transmissions, but automatics are also fine.

Would swapping another automatic in it be more cost effective than fixing what might be broken inside. If so what transmission would be best suited for a balance of my very spirited driving with frequent highway driving (65 mph) and the occasional interstate trip (80 mph)? Or which manual transmission might suit me?

Thanks for any replies. I was going to just rebuild it but, after reading that coming by the parts for possible broken metal bits might be harder now, I've opened my options and need some advice.

 

Any story or reason for Reverse not working?
Check the fluid level with the car on a flat level ground. Even without regular fluid changes the transmission would last longer than 100Kmiles, unless abused.

If all forward gears work without any problems or noise it is most likely that the reverse idler gear and reverse gears may have broken teeth. But you will need to verify this. Drive the car in D3, get it up to ~40MPH, and shift into D4. If the transmission shifts into 4th with no problems then it is most likely the idler gear has broken. If it 'shifts' into 4th but you loose power then it is most likely their is a failure in the hydraulic system.

Reverse uses the D4 clutch pack along with the engagement of the reverse idler gear to perform reverse.

However, the work and cost to fix may be more involved than simply purchasing and installing a JDM low mileage transmission.

 

Replacing the transmission would be cheaper. I see accord trannies on craigslist all the time for around 200 and you could do it yourself. A rebuild on one of these would cost at least 1k depending on your location. I had to get mine rebuilt in high school on a 95 Accord and as I look back, I shouldve just replaced it for at least half that price. Rebuidling it is just not worth it.


-Bam