Ugh. Dead tranny.

[speedracer120]

Well it happened yesterday morning on the way to school. I should've known when I saw the tach rocket towards 5000 whenever it hit 2500. I thought maybe the electronic throttle was messed up and decided I'd pull over when I exited the highway and restart the car. Only at the bottom of the off-ramp, the car wouldn't move even though it was in gear. To make a long story short, I restarted the car about 3 or 4 times, almost got stuck in an intersection as the light turned red, the car barely moved past 20 mph, but I still got it into the school's garage because there was no way in hell I was leaving my car, disabled or not in the middle of Girard in Philadelphia.

I'm just glad this didn't happen the morning before yesterday. I had a memo due which had a very harsh penalty if it wasn't time stamped before 9am.

I bought the extended warranty with the car, because being from SoCal, I drive, a lot. Probably averaged around 75 miles a day. So having bought the car in Feb. 19, 2004, it's at around 36,700 or so. Which means I'm 700 miles over the the point where Honda's warranty dies (I believe it's 3years/36,000miles), but the extended warranty covers up to 5 year/100,000miles.

I have a rented Mazda 3 that's fugly but is fun to drive. It reminds me of the good old days, when I had a Civic and didn't care what the hell happened to it. I just hope I won't be in the Mazda too long.

Anyone else hear of '04 Accord V6s having probs with the tranny? I'm thinking of suing Honda if they don't cover it under their warranty, plus I think I got a seperate power train warranty anyways. I should've pulled out the owner's manual before handing the keys over.

I've had the Check Engine Light blink at me several times throughout, but the service techs at Norm Reeves Honda and Honda themselves couldn't find "any" problems. The fourth time I went in, and got the same answer, I gave them a dirty look, and they told me the very next time it happens, they'd tear the car apart to find the problem. Now this happens almost 5 months later. BS!

[psycho-]

'04 accords don't have DBW systems. It was only '05 onward that had it. Honda's V6 transmissions have been sorta flaky dependent on country of origin. If you look at your window sticker, you can tell if you have a US or Japanese made transmission. It's been said some of the US made trannys were problematic. THey will actually replace the transmission out w/ another one.

It should be covered under warranty.

[speedracer120]

DBW? Drive by wire? That's not what the salesman told me, maybe I should look at the sticker, if I remember where I stashed it.

The thing is, I don't want a rebuilt tranny, if this happened in one year, what the hell's gonna happen next year?

[psycho-]

Actually. You shouldn't worry too much after a new tranny is installed, even if it's rebuilt. Trannies for some reason, either fail really early; or fail much later.

I talked with a Honda Master tech who doesn't trust Honda Aisin Warner trannies as much (esp. the last gen 4 speed V6 autos); and recommended flushing and inspecting Honda trannies every 15k miles.

My issue right now for me is the brakes. It's shuddering at the pedal level slightly after some hard driving today (one of the few rare times in my new car), and I'm hoping it's just heat expansion and brake fade rather than a warping rotor. honda do have rotor issues.

Also, your issue is making me consider an extended warranty, since I don't trust Honda trannies either.

[speedracer120]

Yeah, I'm thinking the extended warranty I bought was the smartest $1310 I've ever spent. Though when I got it, I was seriously having buyer's remorse.

[psycho-]

For the CEL, you know most cars these days either run on CAN-BUS http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canbus or MOST http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MOST architecture, and can be problematic. It could be one of many issues. BTW, a loose gascap can set off the CEL

[speedracer120]

Yeah, I knew about the loose gas cap, but I experienced a momentary loss of power while going 80 mph on the 405 near Seal Beach. No fun.

I've had the same thing happen going 67 mph. I've had it happen on an incline on the 15 going to AZ. I've had it go off too many times. I should've pressed the issue then. Dammit.

[psycho-]

An interesting thread

http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/showthread.php?t=3129


Read the posts....which might explain why the 2006 trannies are coming from Japan (which mine did)

[bachviet]

I don't know about the 7gen (03+) Accord V6 trannies problems but the 6gen (98-02) Accord V6 has problems with the trannies. Honda extends my tranny warranty to 7yr/100K miles (00 Accord V6).

[speedracer120]

I just saw how much none of the techs want to replace the trannys. They left me a voicemail a couple of hours back which I didn't get until I got out of class. I called them, and the told me the speed sensor was bad. The replaced it, took it out for test drive and said everything was fine. BULL****.

I went to the dealership. Showed the tech my service records which thankfuly I keep. He saw the error codes that were stored previously and recorded by techs at Norm Reeves. Anyways, I decide not to change my brake fluid this time around and decide to be happy with paying for an oil change and take my car and go. But I would be remiss if I didn't ask them about the metallic noise while was driving. Anywho, they decide they're gonna prove to me that the car is fine with a test drive with me in the car.

I tell the tech, floor it if you want. Car runs smooth, I'm impressed. We hang a u towards the dealership. He floors it again, and there we go, another slip. Tech goes, "yup transmission is bad." I'm thinking I told you so, but didn't say it. I got some stuff out of the car. And the car wouldn't move when he tried to pull it around back.

At least they're paying for the rental. The service rep. told me it would be done at the latest by Tuesday.

I hope I can say that this is the last of my troubles.

[attgig]

man. hate mechanics. always try to rip you off

except mechmike

[ShawnLee]

Hmm, even though I knew you were having these problems with your car. I STILL had to do a double-take just to make sure you didn't end up with a dead male-prostitute in Philly.

I was thinking of good things to say in case the news came here.
"My brother, what can you say? He has a bad day with his car, picks up a hooker, and finds out it's a dude. Wouldn't you go crazy?"

[speedracer120]

Yeah, just kill the thread why don't you.

Anyways, I realized I need to call them and make sure they'll put in a new transmission rather than a rebuilt and ask for some kind of extendeded warranty for at least the transmission if not the whole power train. Shoot, the freaking tech was redlining my car. I've never ever ever redlined. Good thing the engine management is good though. Anyways......

[speedracer120]

A friend of mine just sent me these two links.

http://world.honda.com/news/2004/c040630.html
http://www.internetautoguide.com/aut...nda/accord/lx/

Why in the world was I not notified?

[ufcrusher]

Out of curiousity, which Honda dealership did you take it to?

[speedracer120]

I bought it from Norm Reeves in Huntington Beach, they did all the services that were done in California.

I had my car towed to Sloane Honda along Busttleton Rd. cause it was between school and home.

[ufcrusher]

I bought it from Norm Reeves in Huntington Beach, they did all the services that were done in California.

I had my car towed to Sloane Honda along Busttleton Rd. cause it was between school and home.

Isnt it Busselton pike? Of course I could be wrong on that one, its been a while since I have been back to Philly.

I know that the Honda dealership in Ardmore had pretty good service and a good reputation. Then again, when you are basically serving the main line, you had better have good service.

[speedracer120]

Pike, road, all the same crap to me. It's the one near the Northeast Philly Airport, which is only about 10 minutes away from my place.

[speedracer120]

Seeing as how it snowed today and will snow tommorow, I'm glad my car is in the shop, while I let the rental slip and slide as I get used to driving in the snow and I don't much care for the salt that sprays all over the cars on the road either.

[ufcrusher]

Snow? Whats that. I havent seen that since.....well I guess since the last time I was in Oregon.

As a funny aside, my wife is from Oregon and was back home with me in Philly a few years ago. Now I had thought it was really odd how little snow they received everytime we were in Oregon as well as how it wasnt quite as cold. My wife could not belive how cold it was in Philly, how much snow there was, how high the banks were piled or that people owned their own plows for their trucks. Ever since then she constantly jokes about which one of us had the worst weather growing up and tells me I cant complain when we go up to Oregon.

[mechmike0034]

Hmm, even though I knew you were having these problems with your car. I STILL had to do a double-take just to make sure you didn't end up with a dead male-prostitute in Philly.

I was thinking of good things to say in case the news came here.
"My brother, what can you say? He has a bad day with his car, picks up a hooker, and finds out it's a dude. Wouldn't you go crazy?"

I was thinking kind of the same thing...

[mechmike0034]

Anyways, I realized I need to call them and make sure they'll put in a new transmission rather than a rebuilt and ask for some kind of extendeded warranty for at least the transmission if not the whole power train. Shoot, the freaking tech was redlining my car. I've never ever ever redlined. Good thing the engine management is good though. Anyways......

Lets talk about this a little...

You will not get a brand-new trans. Most manufacturers use their own factory remans for service replacement under warranty. I can't speak for Honda, but I know GM does. This is a good thing. The quality has to be there because these rebuilts are being installed to fix warranty issues. Many times a reman has upgrades/improvements and can be a stronger or longer lasting part than the original.

I bought a '96 Olds with a SRTA (Service Replacement Transmission Assembly - these are GM's factory rebuilt units) a year ago - to me it was a plus because the SRTA was likely better than the trans it left the factory with. Another plus - somebody that didn't know what they were doing had not been inside it.

Computer manufacturers do this as well - there have been threads about it here. Warranty replacement can be performed using reman components. It is a common scenario in today's orld and nothing to be concerned about.

Redlining the car (necessary to see if the trans slips under high load) is all part of the process and won't hurt anything as well. If you ran it at high RPM constantly there would be engine life concerns, but don't be afraid to buzz it now and again. Hitting the redline now and again can actually be good for the car as it helps keep the combustion chambers and valves clear of carbon.

Lugging an engine (low RPM with high load) is a helluva lot more destructive than an occasional journey to the redline or rev limiter.

It is funny you mention this. Mrs. mechmike used to have a 1989 Saab 900, which had a 16-valve four-cylinder engine and automatic. She refuses to drive stick, but that's another story. She never ran the car hard at all. These engines are known for performance problems caused by carbon buildup on the intake valves over time. About once a year, she'd come home and complain of an intermittent miss or loss of power. My cure for this was a bottle of Techron followed by a fill-up of name-brand premium fuel followed by a late-night blast down the interstate. I'd basically floor it from a standing start, let it redline in each gear, and not let off until the speedometer touched 100 MPH. This cured it every time.

[speedracer120]

Hehehe. Good to know. Yeah, they only have remanufactured transmissions.

I actually use to redline my Civic quite a lot, but have refrained from doing so on my Accord because of gas prices and the kickback from the torque when I floor it.

But honestly, something just don't feel right about redlining my car. Maybe I'm being too anal about my car.

While I'm at it, how much damage will the salt that they spray all over the road do to my car? I asked about getting the car waxed and service manager told me to hold off because it'd be a waste of money. I'm guessing that's right, but I thought wax was supposed to be able to withstand those kinds of things.

[ufcrusher]

You just need to wash off the bottom of your car after the weather and corresponding road salt is gone. Years and years and years of exposure to the salt can cause some corrosion, but lets put it this way, none of our cars ever developed any damage from road salt. Even an 80 Volvo that was driven in that weather constantly never had any problems (gone in 94) My 84 jimmy which was always out in the snow/slush/ice never developed anything and I beat the hell out of it. (sold in 96) 90 Previa - still in operation, no problems. 90 Mercedes SL300 - although this one was hardly driven in bad weather as my father would take my Jimmy.....never had any problems.

I mentioned a bunch of older cars to illustrate that even after all that time and exposure to the stuff, there was little problem with the salt. Honestly, just wash off the bottom of your car the best you can and then go cross a ford. ( For those who dont understand, I am not talking about a car, there are many drive through fords in the Philly region where you drive your car through the water...although it should never touch the bottom of your car)

[mechmike0034]

But honestly, something just don't feel right about redlining my car. Maybe I'm being too anal about my car.

I personally would like to see you err towards the "too anal" side of things as opposed to the "dilligaf" (does it look like i give a f**k) side. I am very particular about my own machinery so I understand.

While I'm at it, how much damage will the salt that they spray all over the road do to my car? I asked about getting the car waxed and service manager told me to hold off because it'd be a waste of money. I'm guessing that's right, but I thought wax was supposed to be able to withstand those kinds of things.

You silly Cali folks...

Salt spray will eat the car up in short order IF it comes into contact with bare metal. Wax will help by providing an extra external barrier, but get in the habit of weekly quickie spray-off carwashes and undercarriage washes to try to keep the salt off. The big problem is accumulation of salt deposits (and the resulting corrosion) in all the nooks and crannies you CAN'T see on the underside and in the fenderwells. Touch up rock chips and/or any damaged paint as quickly as you can as that's also where rust can get a foothold.

"The tinworm" is kind of inevitable where you are. Like Neil Young said - Rust Never Sleeps... You can slow it down, but you can't completely eliminate it.

[speedracer120]

Hopefully I won't be here long enough for there to be a critical mass of "tinworms" to find a place settle in and consume my car.

[speedracer120]

Well I got it back and noticed it was a bit sluggish. My friend told me I probably need to break the new trans in, is this true? How long? Another 1,000 miles?

[mechmike0034]

Well I got it back and noticed it was a bit sluggish. My friend told me I probably need to break the new trans in, is this true? How long? Another 1,000 miles?

The transmission is computer-controlled. It'll take a few miles for the controller's adaptive strategy to adjust to both the new trans and your driving style. Probably not a thousand miles, but the more you drive, the more "normal" the shift speeds and shift firmness will begin to feel.