Transmission won’t shift out of 2nd gear
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Transmission won’t shift out of 2nd gear
I have a 99 Honda Accord EX V6 Coupe. I recently had changed my transmission fluid, drain and refill as I have done many times before and after it ran fine for 2 days, not even 50 miles later when went to shift from 2nd to 3rd and the RPM’s just shot up and it wouldn’t make the shift between gears. It’s acted almost as if it was put into neutral. The only CEL I had prior was code P1457 which is for the evap charcoal canister which I replaced with a brand new canister the same day I changed the fluid. My D4 light is NOT flashing and I now don’t have any CEL at all. I’m completely at a loss for what it could be. Any direction on where to start would be helpful.
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From: West by God Virginia!
Re: Transmission won’t shift out of 2nd gear
Someone with more info will likely chime in but I'd like to ask, how many miles on this transmission?
1998 to 2002 Honda automatic transmissions are know to wear out. I'm assuming you bought this car used. If so, how hard was the previous owner on it? Did he/she like to shift into drive while still rolling backwards? (My sister is very bad for that and her cars wear out quickly). Did the person like to slam the gas to the floor often? How often did the previous owner change the tranny fluid?
My guess is your tranny is worn out. Here is an article on it.
https://www.samarins.com/reviews/accord.html
What to look for when buying a used Honda Accord: Watch out for a blue smoke or loud engine rattle when the engine is started. During the test drive, pay particular attention to the way the automatic transmission works, especially on V6 models. If you notice any transmission issues like harsh shifts, jerks, delays, slipping between gears, noises, avoid the car. A clunk or strong jolt when shifting into Reverse is an early sign of a worn-out transmission.
Hopefully I am wrong and it's just a minor thing.
Again, someone else will chime in.
1998 to 2002 Honda automatic transmissions are know to wear out. I'm assuming you bought this car used. If so, how hard was the previous owner on it? Did he/she like to shift into drive while still rolling backwards? (My sister is very bad for that and her cars wear out quickly). Did the person like to slam the gas to the floor often? How often did the previous owner change the tranny fluid?
My guess is your tranny is worn out. Here is an article on it.
https://www.samarins.com/reviews/accord.html
What to look for when buying a used Honda Accord: Watch out for a blue smoke or loud engine rattle when the engine is started. During the test drive, pay particular attention to the way the automatic transmission works, especially on V6 models. If you notice any transmission issues like harsh shifts, jerks, delays, slipping between gears, noises, avoid the car. A clunk or strong jolt when shifting into Reverse is an early sign of a worn-out transmission.
Hopefully I am wrong and it's just a minor thing.
Again, someone else will chime in.
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Re: Transmission won’t shift out of 2nd gear
yes I bought the car used, refurbished title actually. I am the 3rd owner of the vehicle. I bought it at 161,000 miles and as far as I know it is the original transmission, and now it currently has about 192,000. To my knowledge the fluid was changed pretty regularly and when I bought it I had a transmission flush done on it as well knowing the previous problems this generation of Honda’s have with the automatic transmissions.
I just find it extremely odd bc this problem started right after I changed the fluid and it previously had no problem shifting besides the usual slip here and there.
I just find it extremely odd bc this problem started right after I changed the fluid and it previously had no problem shifting besides the usual slip here and there.
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Joined: Oct 2018
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From: West by God Virginia!
Re: Transmission won’t shift out of 2nd gear
Macey,
I see a couple of problems right off. "Refurbished title" is a nice way of saying "salvage title" or "vehicle was totaled." Now "totaled" only means "damaged beyond what insurance was willing to fix." For an older vehicle, that may not really be that much in terms of dollars and may not be as bad as many would think so when it became a "refurbished title" is what matters and when in terms of "how old" and "how many miles."
"Transmission flush" bothers me much more, based on what a rather well-known mechanic had to say about such processes. In your case, that is when your problems began. Here is his video on that, plus the title issue if I can find it.
*Be sure to watch the whole video as he won't mention "flush" until near the end.
Quick search, nothing on the "refurbished title" but that probably means it's not in a Scotty Kilmer video title but mentioned elsewhere in the video.
I see a couple of problems right off. "Refurbished title" is a nice way of saying "salvage title" or "vehicle was totaled." Now "totaled" only means "damaged beyond what insurance was willing to fix." For an older vehicle, that may not really be that much in terms of dollars and may not be as bad as many would think so when it became a "refurbished title" is what matters and when in terms of "how old" and "how many miles."
"Transmission flush" bothers me much more, based on what a rather well-known mechanic had to say about such processes. In your case, that is when your problems began. Here is his video on that, plus the title issue if I can find it.
Quick search, nothing on the "refurbished title" but that probably means it's not in a Scotty Kilmer video title but mentioned elsewhere in the video.
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Re: Transmission won’t shift out of 2nd gear
I am aware of what buying a refurbished title entails, it was totaled at around 65,000 miles. My problems did not begin after I flushed it, I did that when I first purchased the vehicle over a year ago and had no problems until just recently when I went to just change the fluid. Drain and refill
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From: West by God Virginia!
Re: Transmission won’t shift out of 2nd gear
Macey,
Well then you are better informed than I am since just a few months ago didn't know what a "refurbished title" was. I had to ask someone.
Did you watch the video? About 2/3 the way in "flushing" is covered. I might would have gone for a flush too if I hadn't of seen that video first.
My suspicions are you need a new transmission. If the car is in good-enough shape, it might be worth it. I think used transmissions go for around 2 to 4 grand. I hate it for you, if that is the case.
I'll keeping my eyes open for an manual tranny Accord ('98 to '02) but I'm not ready to bite just yet. I want to get more miles out of my car but if I came across a good enough deal, I'd have to bite since if one waits, one might miss out for good.
Well then you are better informed than I am since just a few months ago didn't know what a "refurbished title" was. I had to ask someone.
Did you watch the video? About 2/3 the way in "flushing" is covered. I might would have gone for a flush too if I hadn't of seen that video first.
My suspicions are you need a new transmission. If the car is in good-enough shape, it might be worth it. I think used transmissions go for around 2 to 4 grand. I hate it for you, if that is the case.
I'll keeping my eyes open for an manual tranny Accord ('98 to '02) but I'm not ready to bite just yet. I want to get more miles out of my car but if I came across a good enough deal, I'd have to bite since if one waits, one might miss out for good.
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Re: Transmission won’t shift out of 2nd gear
After driving it for a couple days I have been able to figure out the trick to making it shift. If I am on level ground I’ll start out, it’ll shift fine to 2nd as it normally does, then as I watch the rpm’s and right as it’s about to shift if I let my foot off the gas slightly and then it’ll shift. If I don’t let up slightly and just hold the throttle down as you normally would, it’ll act as if it’s being thrown into neutral and the rpm’s will just shoot up. I’ve began to notice as I’m watching the live data on my obd2 scanner the short and long term fuel trim numbers aren’t fluctuating as they have before in the past. The long term usually stays stagnant at 0.8 and the short term only goes from about -5.0 to about +3.5. to my knowledge those numbers are suppose to flucuats between -10 and +10.
Also I’ve come to notice that I cannot get it to shift going uphill at all usually. If I get a good enough head start and the hill isn’t thats steep I’m okay but even if I do get that head start if it’s a very steep hill sometimes halfway up it’ll kick it into neutral again. But if I don’t get a head start I have to put it down into 2 low to make it up the hill.
Now it’s the exact opposite when I am going down hill, shift completely fine through all the gears if I’m going down a hill.
Now my theory is that it is a fuel issue of some sort. Correct me if this sounds wrong but when I’m going uphill the gas in the tank would be towards the rear of the vehicle farthest from the engine so it’s almost as if it’s not getting the gas it needs to shift gears considering every time it shifts it requires more fuel. And when I’m going downhill the fuel in the tank is towards the front of the car closer to the engine.
these are my theories based on the information I know and the data I’ve looked at and I’m looking for any information or opinions
Also I’ve come to notice that I cannot get it to shift going uphill at all usually. If I get a good enough head start and the hill isn’t thats steep I’m okay but even if I do get that head start if it’s a very steep hill sometimes halfway up it’ll kick it into neutral again. But if I don’t get a head start I have to put it down into 2 low to make it up the hill.
Now it’s the exact opposite when I am going down hill, shift completely fine through all the gears if I’m going down a hill.
Now my theory is that it is a fuel issue of some sort. Correct me if this sounds wrong but when I’m going uphill the gas in the tank would be towards the rear of the vehicle farthest from the engine so it’s almost as if it’s not getting the gas it needs to shift gears considering every time it shifts it requires more fuel. And when I’m going downhill the fuel in the tank is towards the front of the car closer to the engine.
these are my theories based on the information I know and the data I’ve looked at and I’m looking for any information or opinions
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From: NoVA
Re: Transmission won’t shift out of 2nd gear
Did the shop change the fluid (i.e. take the drain plug out and replace what drains out) or do a flush?
Did you check the fluid level on the dip stick with the car on level ground?
Did the shop change the brand or type of fluid?
What color is the fluid when wiped on a white paper towel?
Does the fluid smell burned?
Did you check the fluid level on the dip stick with the car on level ground?
Did the shop change the brand or type of fluid?
What color is the fluid when wiped on a white paper towel?
Does the fluid smell burned?
MM Gruppe B
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 7,016
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From: 94577/Gaillimh
Re: Transmission won’t shift out of 2nd gear
You will need to verify that you do not have any codes via a quality OBDII scanner/code reader. Some of the cheaper code readers are in capable of scanning or retrieving all codes.
Also post the actual code P07## or P17## if it is transmission related. Do not post a description.
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Re: Transmission won’t shift out of 2nd gear
Have a similar problem with 2004 v6 AT accord. Shifting is completely fine when you're driving around normally in D but as soon as you fully put your foot down the car shifts down into 2nd if you're around 40kmph. But the problem is that limiter kicks in around 5.6k rpm and does not shift past 2nd gear. As soon as I let go of the throttle even a little bit the transmission shifts into 3rd and then normal operation. What could be causing this?
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