- This topic has 17 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 12 years, 1 month ago by
.
-
Topic
-
I have a 1995 Honda Accord LX with a standard transmission and about 220,000 miles. Recently the transmission has started getting difficult. It doesn’t like going into first or reverse as much as it used to. There’s nothing broken yet so far as I can tell but I think it’s beginning to wear out. I was tossing around the idea of getting the transmission rebuilt before something actually breaks but I wanted to get others suggestions and advice. I’m in college and I use the car for delivering pizzas part time. It’s a fun job but rough on the vehicle. Because of this I really can’t afford a new car but I do have some emergency funds set aside in case I need a major repair. I guess my main questions are:
Would rebuilding the transmission on an Accord with this many years/miles be worth it, or is it just a matter of time before something else expensive and mission critical breaks?
If I should do it, where would you recommend getting it rebuilt? Could my mechanic handle the job or should I go to a transmission specialist?
If I shouldn’t do it, what alternatives would you suggest?
-
Replies
-
Probably need to go to a tranny shop. In my experience, shops charge between 1500 and 2000 to rebuild automatic trannys. You need to decide if that is worth it to you. Just dont go to Aamco.
You could try a salvage yard. being a 1995 I don’t know how much mileage that will have. thats a tough one.
as suggested call a couple tranny shops. You could try changing the trnny oil and see if it gets better.also if you
go the oil change route. You can look at the magnet and look for any abnormal pieces. good luck C8-)Quoted From Six6vetteguy:
Probably need to go to a tranny shop. In my experience, shops charge between 1500 and 2000 to rebuild automatic trannys. You need to decide if that is worth it to you. Just dont go to Aamco.
It’s a 5-speed, is there a big difference between an automatic and a manual job?
It depends on what exactly is wrong with the transmission.
For Honda transmissions, if you decide to have it rebuilt, i would recommend in making sure the shop that will rebuild it specialize’s in Honda transmissions.
I would look at your clutch first, and try and eliminate that as the issue. There isn’t alot to rebuilding manual transmissions, and they don’t fail nearly as often as automatics. Here’s a video on diagnosing whether or not you have a clutch issue:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7JJ_g2UuBI
Here’s Eric’s video on replacing Honda clutch hydraulics, and he goes over a bit of checking for leaks, and shows how to bleed the system. Air in the lines could cause issues as well:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-m5F0zEvyo
Good luck bud.
Agreed with the others above, fix the leak first then bleed the system out.
Change the transmission fluid as well, but I recommend using GM synchromesh friction modified. Only GM dealers carry that fluid and call around first! Yes, that sounds crazy to use that in a Honda, but that fluid seems to do really well in helping with smooth gear changes and helping worn out synchros last just a bit longer.
In my 91 5spd (pretty much the same transmission), I first changed it using Honda MTF, but felt no difference. After doing some researching I tried the GM stuff and what a world of difference! Remember, GM synchromesh WITH FRICTION MODIFIED, not the regular synchromesh.
Quoted From maxbiker99:
Agreed with the others above, fix the leak first then bleed the system out.
Change the transmission fluid as well, but I recommend using GM synchromesh friction modified. Only GM dealers carry that fluid and call around first! Yes, that sounds crazy to use that in a Honda, but that fluid seems to do really well in helping with smooth gear changes and helping worn out synchros last just a bit longer.
In my 91 5spd (pretty much the same transmission), I first changed it using Honda MTF, but felt no difference. After doing some researching I tried the GM stuff and what a world of difference! Remember, GM synchromesh WITH FRICTION MODIFIED, not the regular synchromesh.
I have to disagree with using non-Honda trans fluid. At best, you would be masking any real problems in the vehicle, as Hondas are very specific about their fluids.
I know I have a leak in the hydraulic system somewhere, likely either the master or slave cylinder, but it is extremely slow, like it will drain the reservoir over the course of one to two years. Because of this I have felt air in the line before and at the time I thought it was my clutch plate going but after I bled the line and added new brake fluid the clutch felt fine. My clutch also holds under stress tests, so although I can’t say 100% that it’s not a clutch issue it doesn’t feel like when I had air in the line or like the clutch is slipping. It just feels like it’s getting tougher to find gears, particularly first and reverse. In Top Gear speak it’s beginning to feel like I’m “stirring coal”. IDK if a hydraulic/clutch issue would cause this malady though. If it does then I’ll just swap the master/slave cylinders (I’ve just been lazy).
I would fix the leak first. This could be the problem. If the clutch is leaking fluid than your not creating the full
hydraulic pressure needed to disengage the clutch. This can cause hard shifting. I would suggest that you
address the leak first.C8-)Quoted From Beefy:
I have to disagree with using non-Honda trans fluid. At best, you would be masking any real problems in the vehicle, as Hondas are very specific about their fluids.
For the automatics yes, most definitely! For the MTF though, supposedly Honda reformulated the fluid in the past few years causing an increase in notchiness and poor shifter feel, particularly on the older transmissions. People have great success using the GM fluid and with a high mileage transmission you might get a few more miles out of it.
I guess fixing what’s known to be broken should have been the first thing done, I didn’t even think to check the leak. Knowing this car though it’s likely somewhere stupid, like in an extremely inconveniently located section of the tubing, just like my door light wiring breaking inside the door hinge and my backup lights breaking inside the transmission housing. Either way I’ll report back after I find/fix the problem whether or not it solved the shifting issue.
Yea I agree look to the clutch and the hydraulics first it may just be that simple. I’d also like to add that it’s very important that you only use Honda transmission fluid in that transmission, using other fluid is the most common cause of a manual trans failure in my experience. I have had some luck with syncromesh fluid in Honda transmissions however but I would fix the hydraulics first.
The master cylinder is what was leaking so I went ahead and replaced it. I adjusted my clutch too. Not sure which part of that affected the shifting issue but the transmission does shift smoother now *and* my clutch feels better. I didn’t even know it was acting up. I think we can call this:
Thanks so much for the help, everyone.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.