So daughter complained of wonky shifting. I confirmed, found fluid low, filled and is better. But occasionally shifts a little funny. So I'm sure could use service but I also see it looks like the little screens in the shift solenoids are good to clean.

I know there's one straight in front that looks easily accessible but there are some hard lines over it that don't move and I can't see how I could get the top bolt out and remove it.

I know there's another under the battery and that one looks even easier but if I can't get out the first, not sure I'll tackle & just let a mech do it.

Suggestions???

 

It's tedious, but not hard to get to and remove. Remove battery, then remove the battery tray, that opens it up pretty much to access the solenoids. They simply unbolt with an 8 or 10 mm socket and unclip from the wire. That's it. You don't need to take it to someone else. I also labeled mine with an "a" for one of them and a "b" for the other with the same letter written on the block near where I removed the solenoids in case one is worried about mixing them up (I don't think you can really do that, but hey it doesn't hurt).

 

I can understand under the battery set but the one I have circled above....in the upper-right portion of the red circle, that metal tab is holding the hard lines for coolant send/return and they're attached. Then under that is the top bolt (of 3) to remove that solenoid housing completely, but I just can't see how to either remove that tab so I can get to the top bolt or get any kind of small open end wrench in there to remove it.

 

Yeah, I remember that part, you can bend the lines/bracket a little, and a small wrench and socket will get in there. I remember loosening other items until I could get a decent wrench grip on there. You just have to wiggle witih it a little, but it's really not too hard. Slow, tedious, but not that hard at the end of the day.

 

Done and done. The biggest help was probably removing the 17mm headed bolt for the return coolant line. If I did it again,however I would only loosen it as it was a bit of a pita to get back in. Here’s pics for visual pleasure......

 

Nice work. So that fixed everything?

 

Definitely improved!! I also drained and refilled trans fluid (I drained about 4 quarts which is at least a quart too much that should've come out)....... so while my "adding" helped the shifting I'm glad I got that excess out. I'm going to do the spill/fill a couple more times over the next few weeks til I get nice clean fluid showing. And trans related codes stopped throwing so also good there. Next up.....it's now throwing code P0420.

 

I would think that's an o2 sensor needing replacement. But old plugs, wires, etc can also cause it.

 

Ok so after a couple weeks of beautiful driving, daughter complained of wonky shifting again! (ugh) Car was running so good too. Smooth running, smooth shifting.

One thing I'm wondering.....and only because it helped in my original check was......I had overfilled trans by a half to 3/4 of a quart originally, thinking it was a little low. Well that definitely solved it initially.

I have her right at the full mark on the stick now. Wonder if I should try to overfill a little? (Also....it's intermittent as she drove it today and said it drove fine). I'm going for a test spin now.

 

It could be possible that when the fluid was low, it created excess heat and started to bake the clutch packs. I wouldn't add any more fluid as long the level is within spec.

 

Thanks! (Love the umbrella corp)

I took it for a spin tonight and it drove beautifully. Who knows. I did notice it was about halfway up the hatch marks so I added a half quart. Will be keeping an eye on her. I also checked for codes but no codes so that's good. She's just running so good right now I don't want anything to be wrong with her.

 

What type of fluid are you using? Cuz Hondas are very picky about their ATF fluid

 

I'm trying to think of other things to cause "wonkiness".

1-Could the mounts holding the transmission be loose or broken, causing something to catch?
2-could the shifter be loose underneath at the transmission
3-could the coolant lines be blocked in some ways and the trans is overheating?

I'm totally throwing out some thoughts to inspect and see if anything outside the transmission is not right.