I'm not sure if my tranny is exactly "slipping." What's happening is when I reversed out and then put my car in D, it wouldn't go. I sat there for 5-10 seconds and lightly gassed it. The car still didn't move but also there was no sudden shifting into gear. I would explain it like my car is stuck in neutral. Since then, it's just sitting in my driveway. I've tried doing some searching for this issue but I wasn't able to find anything. I'd appreciate any input and if there is another thread with this issue, please link me!

 

Check ATF level?
Fluid fresh and pink?

Might it be due to icey cold conditions...?

 

Clogged Solenoids could be your issue.. Or range switch.
Unless your ATF looks like water.

 

Levels are good but it's not exactly "pink" or reddish. It's a little brown, I went and got some ATF from Acura but it's been too cold to work on it. Hopefully I can get it drained this weekend when it warms up a little more.

 

Sounds bad have you tried putting the gear selector in 1 or 2 to see if it moves forward?
Do you have a Check engine light on ? Might give some clues
As Skirmich mentioned the solenoids could be clogged.

 

There's no CEL but I haven't tried using the D1 D2 method. I'm scared that if I try to drive it again it'll potentially damage the tranny even more. I've been searching for where the solenoid is so I can try to clean it but I'm only seeing pictures for the 99 tranny. Car has 175k on it with the orig tranny. I bought it at 80k and haven't done a fluid exchange (planning on it sometime this week).

 

^ Going into drive or not isnt related to the trans problem. Its when the trans start to slip gear when you have a big F* issue..

 

Honestly it wont hurt it. Now fluid that has been neglected that long does. Give it a shot but if I were you just clean the solenoids first, if the screens are clogged then you might just have a chance at reviving the trans. Just one drain and fill to slowly introduce new fluid then a week or 2 and do it again if you'd like.

 

Hey MrChanh, it's hardly a matter of your tranny slipping if it's not even engaging into a gear to begin with. As these guys suggested, check the fluid's level and condition, try another gear, check the gear range selector mechanism, etc.

It appears as though at 175k on the original tranny with no known fluid changes, this definitely could be a reason for the present problems. IDK.....but try a drain and fill using Honda DW1 fluid. Ya may also wanna replace the spin on tranny filter along with cleaning the solenoids if the issue persists.

Is this the first sign of tranny problems or have ya been experiencing previous episodes of slipping or anything else strange recently ???

 

so, I don't know if I'm not looking hard enough but where are the solenoids? i purchased the trans fluid but it's been too cold to work on it. hopefull it'll warm up in a few days to where it's bearable.

second time in a month. the first time was on the freeway when i was cruising and then had to gas it on the flats a little. i tapped the gas and VROOOM, it just revved but once it went back to idle (around 800) it went back to D5 or something because i tapped it again and it started going. i had been driving it for about 30 min already.

 

Oh dear...

 

MrChanh, these could be possible bad omens of future tranny misfortune !

 

Have to agree, based on the second symptom identified.

I've had the first symptom occur during cold weather, even immediately following my transmission rebuild (the filter wasn't replaced). Based on what I've seen in other cars (2 Chrylser product minivans), the trans filter may be the culprit. Replacing the fluid/filter cured the exact problem in my minivans. Once it warms up a little here, I'll be replacing the filture in my Acura. Haven't had the chance to do that yet. Once warmed up, everything works just fine.

 

UPDATE: I attempted to take it around the block. Reverse worked perfectly fine. As soon as I drop it in D5, I hear it moving but when I let go of the brakes, nothing. NOTHING. So I slap it into D1, I hear it clunk and step on the gas. There it goes, moving. I can then slap it into D5 and it starts moving. I know this is kind of hard to diagnose over the internets but I certainly appreciate all of this input!

this car's exterior is in such nice condition and i cant afford a new car. i should've read up on possible issues with this car first.

I've got some fluid and I'm waiting for it to warm up as well. This should give me some time to buy the filter, did you use OEM or aftermarket?

oh dear indeed

 

^ You got Range switch screaming all over the place...

 

If I hook up an OBD scanner without any CELs on, will it still give any codes? I'll take a look into the part # for the range switch, so far I'm only showing the part # for an 04+.

 

Yes sometimes codes are stored and no light shows up, hook up a scanner and see what it tells you, it may or may not help.

 

Yes, sometimes a scanner will display faults even though there is no CEL.

As for the part number, call any Honda or Acura dealership parts department and ask them. The call is free and they'll be able to pull the number up right away.

 

UPDATE: OBD Scanner shows no codes. I got the chance to drain and fill 3 quarts but no time to drive around in it yet. The trans fluid in there was a chocolaty color which was quite a contrast from the new fluid. I have my fingers crossed and the towing company's number on speed dial this weekend.

 

Skirmich: Could you elaborate about this? Is it an adjustment to make, or...?

 

I believe he's talking about this.

 

The range switch tells the ECU where you are in the gear selection = P R N D5 D4 D3 2 1 once you move the gear into D5 the RANGE Sensor tells the ECU its time to move and make shifts and etc.


When the Range doesn't work you can engage drive because physically you are moving the fork which engages drive with the gear knob but if the ECU doesn't know it is in drive mode the trans wont shift out of 1st gear. Thus why I believe when you select directly (1) and then go to (D5) the range sensor has some kind of short which then enable the car to go..


^^ That video is good info about it.

 

is there anyway to diagnose the switch itself if i take it off? the reason why is, it's a near $200 part and i'd rather diagnose it before i purchase it. maybe it is the switch though, i went for a drive this morning. R worked perfect, I then put it in D5 and it didn't move. Switched it to D1, back to D5, transmission goes into D and starts going. It happened twice.

 

I'm having the same problem. I found that if I go straight to D, then it just revs like I'm in neutral. But I can start off in D2 every time. Only happens when going from a very slow roll or a complete stop and trying to move again. So what I've been doing is… starting off, put it in D2, then once I'm moving I can put it into D5 and it'll go thru the gears just fine. When I have to stop (red light or stop sign), as I roll to the stop, I drop it back down into 2. Doesn't slip, no hesitating going into gear… just can't start moving from a stop unless I'm in D2.
I've tried replacing the tranny fluid, to no avail. Fluid wasn't that brown when I changed it. I'm pushing 200k miles, and everything else works fine.

I'll have to take a gander at that range sensor/switch.

 

Hey Gonzo_03_TL, you're on borrowed time, IMO.
Have ya tried replacing the spin-on filter or cleaning the solenoid valve screens yet ?

 

^borrowed time for sure. Ran perfect this weekend. On my way to work and bam! 3 exits away and im waiting for a tow truck. What a way to start a monday!

 

Is your check engine light on?

 

Then its the feared symptoms pre-trains failure... The clutch packs worn out to the point they started to drop heavy debris which clogged the solenoids. Its funny I never ran to this issue my trans just directly started to slip... But your isn't the first case.

 

I started having the same issue today. Mine's a 2001 Acura 3.2 TL.

Gears are not engaging although I'm able to shift to all positions and of course, the car's not moving forward or reverse. I so hear gears grinding when I shift from Reverse to Park. Additional info: 180K miles, first-time incident.

So far I've seen the following solutions:
1. Replace transmission fluid (recently replaced)
2. Replace the spin-on filter
3. Clean the solenoid valve screens
4. Replace Range Switch

Any particular order I should try?
Thanks

 

Transmission is done... Source a used 2006-2007 Honda Accord V6 non-hybrid transmission and get it installed. Here is the thread: https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-tl-1999-2003-98/06-07-accord-trans-swap-858165/

 

Welcome to Acurazine!


First. Is your check engine light on?
Second. Everything you mentioned below will assist your tranny to work better. Your tranny sounds ill.


More info plz.

 

Make sure both your axles are fully seated into the trans, and make sure you don't have a cv joint that's broken. Occasionally, you'll see the inner joint moving, but not the cv shaft. Or the inner joint and shaft moving, but not the outer cv joint.

 

No, the check engine light is not on.

 

How do I make sure that both axles are fully seated into the trans? Can you point me to a youtube video or an instructions manual? thanks

 

Hey Rajarino, did this problem just suddenly occur.....or have ya been having tranny related issues for awhile ? Other than changing the tranny fluid, have ya done anything else ?

Try to give us some more details of what may have been happening previously before this present situation.

 

Never have had tranny problems before - happened suddenly. It actually happened in this sequence - I got out of my garage in reverse and then shifted to Drive when I heard a grinding noise. I switched to N and then to Drive - no grinding noise but the vehicle wasn't moving. It's as if all gear positions are in Neutral.

And other than a recent transmission fluid replacement (before the incident), I haven't done anything else.

 

If ya have a floor jack, jack up the front, secure jackstands & chock wheels, look for leaks underneath where the axles fit into the tranny, grab ahold of each shaft one at a time and check for any play, looseness, or slop when moving it.

 

The first thing the mechanic did when he looked at my car was smell the trans fluid. He said if it smells like roasted peanuts, which it did, it's probably a mechanical failure. Let's see what he says when he opens it!...

 

First, sorry to jack your thread, Mr Chanh…

I havent replaced the spin-on filter or cleaning the solenoid valve screens yet. I can give that a try. Also, no engine lights on.

It seems to me to be a sort of sensor/switch problem since I don't get any slipping or grinding gears. Its only a problem when I come to a stop and try to move again. Its also like its ONLY in neutral, it doesn't ever engage, just revs. I had a 98 Accord a while back that had tranny issues. That one would slip like crazy… would be in gear and it would rev & rev and eventually catch. Once this one is engaged, there's no problem, moves thru all the gears just fine.

 

haha, no worries. your symptoms were similar. One thing my mechanic mentioned was that if you here a whining sound, it may be a clogged filter somewhere or a solenoid issue.