mgazer

Has anyone else experienced a slipping automatic tranny on their 98 Civic EX??? When I accelerate and the tranny shifts from 1st to 2nd, it feels as if the gears are slipping before it engages into 2nd... As the tranny shifts out of first, the engine races, the RPMs jump and then the car settles into 2nd..


Any help would be appreciated.
mgazer1@yahoo.com

imported_v33k

That's the Torque Converter doing it's job.

mgazer

can you explain???? does doing it's job mean having my tranny sound like a piece of crap!!!

imported_v33k

There is something called lock-up torque converter on most honda AT. What it does is reduce the the RPM by somewhere about 10% on certain speed. It acts like an extra gear and it feels like slipping.

imported_MY SiR

I haven't personally, experinced this on a Civic, but my 01 3.2 TL does the same thing from 3rd to 4th. The torque converter was replaced with no change. Now I know it's a 3rd gear clutch problem. Since it is still under warranty and the warranty will be extended on the 5 ATs, I'm not too worried.

I don't think it is normal for your car to be doing that. It could be a torque converter issue but it also could be an internal transmission issue. I would look into first having the ATF flushed (this should be done 3 times) to see if there are any contaminants. If it is okay after flushing, you are lucky. If there are no contaminants, it could be the toque converter. If there are contaminants and you still have the symptoms, you will likely be looking at replacing linear solenoids or replacing the tranny with a re-built one. Honda dealers do not fix internals of their automatic trannys. I hate to say it but I think you should go to a Honda dealer.

By the way, were you hard on your car? That could have had a factor.

mgazer

thanks for the help...as for if I drove the car hard..let's put it this way...it's my wife's car and it has 66,000km on it after 5 years....hardly driven like an F1 car!!!

The 5-yr warranty is up in Jan/03 so I want to take it in to the dealer for a check-up prior to it expiring....My concern is that they will take it for a few days and find nothing... any thoughts on how t get them to thoroughly check it out???

Also, I am still using the original tranny fluid...

imported_v33k

Mind you that TL tranny is different. Way more complicated
And TL tranny is faulty


And yes, if you are under warranty, go to the dealer and bitch. If they said they don't find anything, go there everyday and tell them it happens everyday.

EL_Sport

I recommend you take it in to the dealer ASAP as well. Seeing as how you have never changed the tranny fluid, that might be the cause of some, if not all of your problems. Likely, the dealer will recommend a fluid change as well. Change the fluid, and then see what happens, if the problem is still there after the fluid change, then get back to the dealer before your warranty is up.

Good luck.

imported_MY SiR

I agree the TL tranny is different but believe it or not, I wouldn't say it is way more complicated. My point was that it wasn't the torque converter that was the problem.

Of course a slipping torque converter would have the same symptoms but then it should be in all gears.

I wasn't sure if the car was under warranty but seeing as it is, yes, take it to the dealer ASAP. I also don't think 66.000 km on the originaly ATF is such a bad thing. If you need a remanufactured tranny, plan on leaving the car at the dealer for a couple of days.

Whiplash

sounds like a clutch pack to me, either clutches or a seal passing...maybe even the band.........not torque converter
and there's no lock-up in 2nd, usually just 3rd and 4th..
def. take it in..

also, what's the fluid level like??
low fluid will cause it too..as the pressure needed to apply the plates isn't being met due to low atf..
or since you've never changed the fluid there's a possibility the filter could be plugged up with plate material or brass...