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rough shifting on a 96 accord (auto)


s_frost

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96 accord, 4 cylinder auto, 162k miles

 

A few months ago, before I faced a slew of repairs, I never noticed anything unusual about how my car was shifting. After all these repairs (and I don't know how they would have affecting anything...), I realize that my accord shifts rough when driving. It shifts at the right times and all that, but the jerk is distinguishable. Plus, when I keep my foot on the brakes and switch between the gears, it also shifts rough, especially from anything to reverse, which actually makes a loud click.

 

Is something wrong with my transmission? If I didn't have a leaking rear main seal and a timing belt due in the next 10k miles, I wouldn't care about some rough shifting, but I've had this thing less than a year and already had to put a few thousand into it, so I'm suspicious that I should get out from under it while I can...

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96 accord, 4 cylinder auto, 162k miles

 

A few months ago, before I faced a slew of repairs, I never noticed anything unusual about how my car was shifting. After all these repairs (and I don't know how they would have affecting anything...), I realize that my accord shifts rough when driving. It shifts at the right times and all that, but the jerk is distinguishable. Plus, when I keep my foot on the brakes and switch between the gears, it also shifts rough, especially from anything to reverse, which actually makes a loud click.

 

Is something wrong with my transmission? If I didn't have a leaking rear main seal and a timing belt due in the next 10k miles, I wouldn't care about some rough shifting, but I've had this thing less than a year and already had to put a few thousand into it, so I'm suspicious that I should get out from under it while I can...

 

Most likely it is unrelated to the other stuff you had done and most likely it is nothing major. This is a common issue with this gen accord's auto tranny's my 97 lx 4cyl did that and my current 96 EX V6 did that when I got it. All you really need to do is a series of tranny fluid changes. Get Honda ATF-Z1 fluid (you'll probably end up needing about 9 quarts total). Drain it (make sure car is lowered back level when draining to get the most fluid out), then refill...this is usually about 3 quarts. Then drive the car for about 500 miles, drain and refill. Drive another 500 or so miles, drain and refill a third and final time. You will notice an improvement the first time. You should notice a big change after the second change. You might not notice it as much the third time, but still important to do.

 

Side Note: Never have yo0ur transmission flushed. All you want to do is normal drain and refills. Flushing a honda tranny can cause problems and stir crap up that is currently trapped in the filter inside. Give it a try...hope it helps.

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Most likely it is unrelated to the other stuff you had done and most likely it is nothing major. This is a common issue with this gen accord's auto tranny's my 97 lx 4cyl did that and my current 96 EX V6 did that when I got it. All you really need to do is a series of tranny fluid changes. Get Honda ATF-Z1 fluid (you'll probably end up needing about 9 quarts total). Drain it (make sure car is lowered back level when draining to get the most fluid out), then refill...this is usually about 3 quarts. Then drive the car for about 500 miles, drain and refill. Drive another 500 or so miles, drain and refill a third and final time. You will notice an improvement the first time. You should notice a big change after the second change. You might not notice it as much the third time, but still important to do.

 

Side Note: Never have yo0ur transmission flushed. All you want to do is normal drain and refills. Flushing a honda tranny can cause problems and stir crap up that is currently trapped in the filter inside. Give it a try...hope it helps.

 

That...is fantastic. people at the shop have said the transmission is fine, but I've been screwed by various places too many times to outright trust them, and I keep reading that rough shifting of the gears at a stop spells trouble. But if that's normal and can be eased with honda trans fluid, that is a very good thing. Thanks for the info. I'll try to get to it before too long

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That...is fantastic. people at the shop have said the transmission is fine, but I've been screwed by various places too many times to outright trust them, and I keep reading that rough shifting of the gears at a stop spells trouble. But if that's normal and can be eased with honda trans fluid, that is a very good thing. Thanks for the info. I'll try to get to it before too long

 

No problem. Post back with results if it helps. Like I said, both accords I have had shifted hard and the 2-3 tranny change fixed it both times. Good luck.

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Is your speedometer working? you didn't mention it, but I thought I would ask. And, does the D4 light flash when the transmission is shifting rough?

 

yeah, speedometer hasn't given me any problems. no lights flash, at least I certainly haven't noticed them flashing...

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