Okay, I've done a search and I came up with was automatics relating to turbochargers... As I read these threads, all I see is that Automatics suck.... I posted this in the Civic forum with no response... I've autocrossed a 94 Civic EX with 90K+ on the tranny, no problems what so ever.. My girlfriend has a 98 and she's terrified because she thinks her tranny is gonna go. Could someone please tell me the problems with Honda Auto's. Like, reliability, durability and so on...

 

when is the last time you have watched a road race
from the POV of a driver with an automatic tranny
and a driver not having full control of the drivertrain?

manual:
full control of shift points
more connected to the powerplant
more whp/tq transfer to ground
more MPG opportunity
easier to fix when breaks
clutches are fun
downshifting is a joy on a VTEC engine
more engine breaking/more control of suspension
breaking takes less effort when in the right gear
easier to transition on/off throttle power into corners

automatic:
less engine/drivetrain breaking = more brake wear
bands (clutch mechanism) begin to slip and slow when wearing
less whp/tq transfer to the wheels = need to mod more to get
what you could from a 5 or 6 speed
engine tends to drive in lower rpm bands disconnecting the
drivetrain from the steering feel = less controllability of the car
it also just generally stinks!

auto is DEFINATELY not my cup of tea.

a friend of mine who is an acura tech tells me that typically
honda auto trannys are not made to handle more than the
car currently has and develops all kinds of issues when
driven hard. if you choose to mod a car, do it on one that
is a manual drive. you will get more out of your enjoyment
per your time, effort and dollars invested.


[Modified by MikeSarr_GSR, 8:40 AM 6/22/2002]

 

Also, many autos are detuned

 

automatics do not require clutch replacement every so often. Autos usually outlast the engine if well maintained......there are pros

1. no need to shift in traffic (great during that rush hour traffic jam)

2. Compared to most domestic auto's honda has better feel/shift quality

3. Engine braking is still present and works very well

4. Autos absorb load shock very well

5. impossible to lug an engine if the tranny is setup and working correctly

fuel ecomomy difference between accord manual and auto for base 4 cyl is 30/29

in my car i get 25mpg in city driving on a auto with the ac on........ 34 on the highway at 70mph

 

I can't agree with this. First, there isn't much to maintain in an auto tranny. Replace the fluid and keep it topped off.

Second, I really don't hear about many auto trannies that last 300k miles with out a rebuild.

 

i have had only 1 car where the auto tranny failed before the engine did and that was a 84 olds 98. was on 3rd tranny at 150,000

All my other cars the tranny was still running when the engine quit

82 chrysler 380,000 engine block cracked
86 sable 90,000 when it was sold
89 sable 196,000 engine blew a head gasket
92 sable 143,000 when totaled
92 sable 127,000 still running
94 accord 89,000 still running

 

well changing fluid and filter on a auto tranny is maintaining it now isn't it?

 

I understand all of your points. I thank you for the responses. I was beginning to think that something was wrong with Honda Automatics, like they don't last or whatever. I understand that you don't have control, my 97 civic is a manual. I'm glad to hear that an automatic will last just like a manual will. What about autocrossing an Auto... Any comments on that? Are they durable enough?

 

I almost died a couple times because my automatic can't make up it's mind as to what gear to choose when I get into traffic . If you don't come to a complete stop at a stop sign AND wait at least three seconds, the car will attempt to get going in overdrive. It's actually quite comical, but gets old really fast.

I downshift manually now. Say I want to pass a car, I throw it into third or lower, wait a couple seconds for the automatic to realize what I want, and then I can pass. Otherwise, I would die.

Also, I've been falling asleep at the wheel, been a danger on the road, and been unaware of how a trip occured ever since I started driving this automatic Galant.

If I continue to do this, I will either run into something and die, run into someone and kill them, or just kill myself on purpose because driving an automatic is the most mind-numbing experience that I refuse to deal with for much longer.

This is why automatics suck.

 

jeez you really love sables 4 God damn

 

I would get a oil to air cooler in addition to the oil to water cooler. you might want to look into getting a performance rebuild with heavy duty parts.

heat will kill an auto faster than just about anything else (except for low tranny fluid level)

 

yeah

1. they are cheap (avoid 1991 as those trannys use an aluminum forward clutch piston and those thing crak real easy)

2. parts are a dime a dozen (thank you FORD TAURUS)

3. they really are descent cars once you fix the weaknesses

a. subframe bolts (gives you turn in right now)
b. strut bearing plates (rear)
c. engine mounts (3.8L and SHO engines- FORD did a recall on the 3.8L)
d. front brakes (really needs upgrade to 10.7in rotors from 10.1in )

4. the 3.8L eats head gaskets (you need to "Flow" the head water ports to resolve this issue perminately) and install a dual core radiator. Otherwise the 3.8L is an excellent engine to bolt a supercharger on to (yeah baby 255HP at the front wheels)

Ford did a number when the shoehorned the 3.8L in there. They should have made that the base engine and ditched the 2.5L and 3.0L as they are both doggie motors). the nose on the 3.8L should be 3" longer

 

No matter what, Honda is as smart as a monkeys butt when building a tranny. A huge to there motor work, but I'm on my third tranny. The motor has around 210k on it and runs damn strong.


[Modified by buster13, 3:51 AM 6/23/2002]

 

that's kinda odd, since most of the long term reviews of the accord indicate no major tranny problems. My Friend had a '90 accord and the tranny lasted 189,000 miles and the only reason it dies was she never checked the fluid and it all leaked out...........

 

Exactly!

 

Your auto tranny will be perfectly fine if it's not abused and the power isn't increased substanially over stock. Remember the stock trannies aren't designed to handle lots of torque and if you turbo your car it'll be much more torquey.

Tracking an auto, you stand a good chance of overheating your tranny. A guy in a rental sentra cooked his torque converter and the tranny wouldn't shift. He let it cool down and it was okay.

As for control, it's not just being able to choose which gear, it's throttle response. On an auto, notice how if you let off the gas, the car doesn't immediately respond, and if you get on the gas it's sluggish to respond too. That's why they call it a slush box. On a manual, throttle inputs are instaneous and that allows you to shift the weight of the car around much more easily.

 

Just look in the june 2002 edition of sport compact car in the technobabble section.
Dave Coleman does a superb job of telling us just why automatic transmissions suck.
quote" they usuall launch slowly, absorb valuable horsepower, or insist on changing gears when you dont want them to."

 

if you could change the filter on a Honda tranny!!!!!

The are NON servicable. Also when you "change" the fluid you don't even get 1/2 of it out!

Change the fluid (what you can!) every 12k-15k miles.

 

yeah I know that is why I use a Wynns tranny machine. It goes inline with the tranny cooler lines and will do 100% fluid replacement. I do this about every 100K and change the tranny fluid the old way every 30K or once a year.

 

They have taller gears.

 

Auto-trannys die when they have no fluid... other than that ... they last a LONG time...


I guarantee that if you dump all the fluid out of a manual tranny.. it'll die too

 

The biggest down side to the Honda auto tranny IMO is the torque converter... you can't launch with the stock one... it bogs (which it's supposed to) Just get an upgraded torque converter and you'll be happy with the tranny's performance. There are a few turbo guys on here w/ auto.... don't know how well it's holding up... but some have it.

X2

 

Usually the only cause to ruin an auto tranny(besides too much power), is too much heat. Don't drive too hard and keep up with it, and it'll be fine. As a daily driver it will last, but not as a racer. And torque converters suck about 15% engine power?-anyone?

 

yeah that sounds about right although once the tq converter locks up there is no slippage and this means increased efficiency

 

Great stuff guys... I called honda for my 94 Civic EX and they said that a transmission cooler from a prelude will work just fine. So, this is what I did, it cost me about 125 dollars for the fluid change and the cooler install. As far as the torque converter.... What about a shift kit? Would that help beef up the drivetrain? I know a lot about honda engines, just not about honda transmissions. A shame I know but thanks for the information..