With all the tranny issues on Hondas/Acuras, how can someone tell if a transmission is going bad?

Is there a noise, if so, what does it sound like?

Is there a smell? or will the car feel different while driving?

Beside fluid changes -any other thing I can do to make my 5AT last longer?

 

The most common would be gears slipping (jerky feel or gap between gears) and possibly grinding. When my truck trans went out it was just like I put the truck in neutral, it wasn't going anywhere.

 

Mine went bad at 6,000 miles... was making a whining noice and getting louder. They didn't crack it open (had to send it back to Honda) but they thought a bearing went bad. Shifted just fine, however when they found it, they said they did not want me to drive it so I got a loaner even while they ordered the new trans.

 

I plan on keeping this car for at least 10 years (6 more yrs to go). I've already flushed/drained the ATF once a couple months ago at 34,000 miles and plan on doing the same at least once a year or every 10k miles. My driving style is not very agressive - have 2 kids in the back most of the time, but I do a lot of short trips.

I love this car - especially now that it's paid for.

Will this preventive maintenance be enough to keep the AT in shape?

 

At times, I'm rough with my AT but it shifts just as well as it did when I picked it up from the dealership 35,000 miles ago.

 

I'd do it once every 2 years, but if you are willing to do it once a year, that's as much preventative maintenance that you can do on your side.

 

the k series engines dont really seem to have a problem with messed up trannies whereas the j series v6's (notably the 6th gen accord and 2nd gen TL) have had massive documented transmission failures

 

That's great news - but keep in mind that there are more Accord and TL on the road than the TSX. More cars = greater chance of AT issues.

Sounds like I just need to keep the preventive maintenance and periodic fluid check-up I had planned and hope for the best.

BTW - the preventive maintenance I mentioned above is just the "fill/drain once" process - should I do the 3X process?

 

My 2004 Accord's V6 transmission went bad at 105k. The day before it broke for good it had start to hesitate and change a little harder than normal. I had changed the oil at 40k & 80k!. I feel a lot more comfortable with my 06 5AT TSX's transmission it just feels stronger (I know I have no proof of that but it just feels better). Good luck

 

There are far more 4 cylinder Accords sold than 6's. I can't ever recall hearing about tranny problems on those.

 

So does our TSX have the same tranny as the V6 accord?

 

Not sure. I'm pretty sure the tranny is virtually the same on the 4 cylinder Accord and they are pretty much problem free, I think.