Clunking from Auto tranny

[BiLL|z0r]

Just wondering if anyone else with an auto Euro has heard clucking from their transmission? It mainly occurs when going into reverse but for the first time yesterday I heard it on a down shift. The gear was in D (not manual +/-) so it was an ECU controlled downshift as I approached a red light.
I have red lined it a few times by mistake when using manual shifting and vtec'ing my ass off :). I hope I haven't damaged my tranny.

[SiReal]

how are your tranny fuild levels? maybe check to see if its nice and clean and up on the mark.

[EuroDude]

Replace the tranny fluid with Honda ATF and see how that goes

[BiLL|z0r]

Shall do. It was only serviced 2500km's ago (20K service) so they should be ok but I'll check. Thanks

[Spec83]

No matter how many times u hit the limiter you should never break the auto tranny - a manual maybe if your are flat shifting but not the auto.... Take it back to honda for a look see and get it checked under warranty but it might be a good idea to wait untill it does it a little more often so the problem is repeatable... It doesn't sound like too much of a problem as all of the falcons i have driven (including a BA XR6 Turbo) had clunky slushboxes... I have never encounted the problem my auto euro thou.

The limiter is there for a reason :)

[jamchen]

clucking auto tranny is common in honda cars...
both our euro and MDX... it only happens when u shift into reverse or from,...
but there's nothing to worry about..

[BiLL|z0r]

I cheked my fluid levels today and they are about 70% between the high and low range. The manual says it should be between but is it better to be 100% full?

[EuroDude]

Yes you would want the oil to be at the MAX level. But be sure to keep the car level on the ground rather than jacked up, since jacking up the car can cause an incorrect Max level reading.

[BiLL|z0r]

Any1 know what Honda FEO Oil and Transmission fluid is worth to buy over the counter?

[jamchen]

honda is actually quite strict on the ATF u put...
use honda ATF to avoid possible failures... or if u do... u would get some back up..
i've heard somewhere else that the design of honda trannys is a bit different and that's why some aftermarket tranny oil companies don't provide ATF for honda cars...

[aaronng]

^^ I agree.

BTW, call around the various dealers for prices.

[BiLL|z0r]

Shall do. Both Honda dealers on the Gold Coast are owned by the 1 company so I'll just go to the closest as I'd imagine the price would be the same :)

[jamchen]

if you are not in hurry and dun mind wait them to be sea-freighted from the us... go to US ebay and fine the ebayer call aofescondido... a lot of OH members have dealt with this ebayer for genuine honda parts...
i purchased 6 oil filters, 6 quaters of ATF, brake pads and rear diff fluid...all added up including freight cost.. i still managed to save over 60 bux to what u normally pay to buy them...

[SiReal]

I tell you what though,

I was once foolish enough to let my mechanic use non Honda ATF. was fine-ish for a bit, then i got clunking, the gearbox seamed hesitant and was generally quite sh1thouse. then i changed back to Honda ATF and it is an absolute dream. I cannot recommend it enough. It really does do wonders.

[BiLL|z0r]

I'll just go pick some up, cbf ordering from o/s. I just need some FEO oil and Honda ATF. We're moving in a week so I'll wit till then + we're moving closer to the dealer anyway :) (and no, that's not why we're moving there to be closer my Honda dealer, lol)

[SecaBoy]

my euro has only done 2,700kms and ive had a cluncking since i bought it... only happens when i reverse and then put it into drive.

[integraz]

it also happens in the base auto dc5, and i heard its normal, on clubrsx, they said it was the brake calipers, and on closer inspection i reckon it is as well, because when going from reverse to drive, u step on the brakes, and it usually happens before u put it into gear.

[jamchen]

integraz, u r talking another clucking sound which is also normal for some of the honda cars...
that sound from brakes is due to the space between rotor and the calipers... there's already a solution for that sound which is to install a shim between them...

[vtek]

With automatic transmissions the car actually learns how you drive and adjust the gear changes accordingly. If you have previously reved the shit out of it, its not uncommon for it to clunck. do not change the fluids until you drive it normally for a while and then see how it goes.

[Omotesando]

The clunk when you shift from reverse to D is quite normal enough, because the driveshaft is changing direction and it needs to move up or down a bit within its tolerance space!

However, if it happens when shifting gears within the D or Manual Shift mode, it could indicate that the drivetrain or driveshaft is mis-aligned. It seems to intensify if some people can't wait for the car to stop reversing then slam it into Drive too quickly too many times, because the forces actually act in opposite direction and it will only push the individual components further away.

It is an easy fix provided its not terminal, but there is a lot of manual labour fix to put everything into the right spot again - but has to be done because I believe it can get worse gradually :(

That is what I believe for now anyway :O

[unity]

Is this a temperature related problem? The mornings in Melbourne have been fairly cool recently and I've noticed the clunking more recently when moving gear stick to/from REVERSE (with foot on brake and hand brake disengaged)