I have a 1994 Accord with about 181,000 miles on it. I've had it for about 5 years now and through all of the cold winters I've endured with this car I can't say I've noticed it being so temperamental while it shifts through the first few gears as it has been lately. I just noticed it the last few days that it's been really cold out....but I always let my car warm up really good before I go anywhere and yesterday even took it to the dealership to make sure something wasn't wrong with the transmission. They found nothing. Basically...I have to be real easy on the gas (I never hammer on it) or it will rev up and it seems like it takes longer than usual to shift. I know something is different and was wondering if it's just something that has to do with the cold or could it possibly be something else? The people at the dealership drove it, and thought nothing seemed wrong....but I know how my car usually drives and it's not driving normal right now. Any ideas or am I just being a worry-wart? One other thing that's started since it's been cold...when I shift from Park to Drive, it takes about 3 seconds for it to actually go into drive....is that weird???

 

Have you ever changed the fluid in the trans? What kind of fluid is in it now?

 

We give the same advice where I work: If it drives normal when it's warm, let it warm up a bit before driving it. You can try changing the fluid with honda atf, might help a little.

 

I'm not sure when it was changed last...I'd have to look at the records when I get home. The dealership checked the fluid and said it was full and looked clean. I'm at a loss.

 

Thats just it...it doesn't seem to change when it's warmed up. At least not in my opinion. I am really hoping the weather warms up a little more in the next few days so I can see if it's just a cold weather thing or what.

 

You've got varnish and oxidation build-up from protracted periods between trans fluid changes. What's happening is the spool valves in both the primary and secondary valve bodies stick in their bores when cold b'cuz of this crud build up.

I wouldn't have believed it myself, but my '88 made a believer out of me. How?
Wouldn't upshift at all cold, until it fully warmed up. As I continued to drive it; first second range would return, then third and finally 4th od. It would operate fine all day after, until the next cold morning where we had to go thru the whole thing again.

It took two change-outs, but it was fixed. still runs to this day.

P

 

The last time my tranny fluid was changed was August of 2002.

Also...the strange thing about mine is that since it's started doing this it's never returned to "normal." However, I'm wondering if my 5 minute warm-up and 8 mile drive isn't enough or something. If it is that build-up....what needs to be done to fix it?

And one more thing...this morning when I'd come to a red light and stop completely I tried shifting it down to 2nd and almost treat it like a manual as I accelerated. It ran like normal doing that....it's really the first 3 gears that are catching like this. If you still think it's the build-up I'd love to know what I need to do to fix it, how much it might cost and also if I should change my transmission fluid again even though the dealership said it looks clean.

Thanks everyone...I really, really appreciate the help!