****FAQ/USEFUL THREADS****Updated 13 August 05

[SiReal]

1998 - 2002 Accord AUTO Transmission Issues:

Problems mainly occur on the V6 variant, however i4s aren't exempt as well. Much like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get. In this case, it may or may not happen to you.


FAQ from v6performance.net, user Eurotrash. Please note, there will be US terms in this.
http://www.v6performance.net/forums/...ead.php?t=9664


Transmission FAQ

This is a rough draft that I have made using information collected from the forum. My 98 AV6 has 56,000 miles on its original transmission, so all this info is based on what people have posted. So if anybody out there sees something wrong or would like me to add something, post it and I'll edit it.

I've got a few questions for those out there who know more about this than me...


How long will the tranny last when the jerking and missed gears start?
Is the warranty on the new Honda tranny the same as the rebuilt one?
My car has those symptoms, how long will my tranny last?
Can I bring it in to Honda when these symptoms show?
If I catch this problem early enough, can I get it fixed instead of completely replacing the transmission?



This FAQ covers the faulty OEM Honda automatic tranmissions on 98-01 Honda Accords.

Which Accords does it affect and what has Honda done so far to fix the situation:
1998 - 2001 models
2002 models have the bearing problem for the transmissions fixed, which supposedly fixes the tranny problem

even though your model may not be covered by warranty, it's possible that Honda can pay for all or a fraction of the cost, see the cost of fixing it section

When will the transmission fail?
It's unpredictable, some people report 100,000 miles on their transmission with no signs of slowing down, other's have had to replace it at 33,000 miles. Some are stock, some have the B&M supercooler. It's totally random.

How can I prevent it?
Install a transmission fluid/oil cooler and external filter for the transmission. Try carparts.com. But there is no definite guarantee that this will prevent the tranny from breaking down.

Since the transmission is very fragile to begin with, if you drastically increase hp on your car, such as adding on a supercharger, this will only shorten the lifespan of your transmission

Symptoms:
- erratic shifting
- the car jerks, esp. when you blip the throttle
- the car shifts roughly from 1st to 2nd
- when shifting to D from P, R, or N- it takes longer than usual and jerks harder than normal
- tranny holds a gear for an unusually long time, followed by the some slippage when going into the next gear
- D4 light blinks randomly

The tranmission is officially dead when it stops catching gears, the D4 light starts blinking, and the CEL light comes on.

What is slippage?
Transmission slipage is when the engine is reving up while in gear, and there is no direct vehicle speed increase.

Like if you're taking off lightly from a stop and the engine revs to say 4,000 rpm and you're barely moving. Or if you're cruising at 50mph and lay down on the accelerator, the engine revs but there's no acceleration. That's when your transmission is slipping.

Cost of fixing it:
The cost of replacing the transmission is about $4000 for a new Honda tranny or $2000 for a rebuilt one. Right now, there is no official Honda policy to deal with this situation, so some people have to pay for everything, others get everything for free, and some just have to pay a fraction of the cost. If your dealership is playing hardball, contact Honda of America directly. Honda may first replace the speed sensor and the solenoid on the tranmission and then wait and see what happens. There have been a few members on this board who have had to replace their tranny more than once.

Warranty on OEM Honda replacement tranny:
A warranty of 3 years from date of purchase