ZachTaylor

Gents--any advice on this? Kinda strange: When I'm going along 45-55 mph on side roads, but then slow down to about 30 or even high 20mph's, the car remains in 4th gear. If I ease on the pedal, the car wil go along in 4th, shudder a little bit, and stay in 4th gear.

If I hit the pedal moderately to speed up, the car downshifts to the proper gear, no prob.

Not sure if I'm imagining a problem or what...just live in constant fear (as we all do) that there's a bigger problem looming that I could possibly nip in the bud.

Any/all thoughts appreciated!

--Zach

beekermartin

When is the last time you changed the tranny fluid? How many miles on the car?

ZachTaylor

Sorry...should have included that. It's a 2008. 65K miles. All dealer-maintained so can't remember when the transmission fluid was changed but whenever they recommended it so maybe at 50K.

swake457

My 05 has done this twice, and both times a total fluid swap (well, as near to total as can be) did the trick. No more shudder. Once the fluid breaks down I'm assuming it just can't move through the transmission properly, and so you get the shudder. If you're up for a DIY 3x3 flush, that will do it. Or the dealer can do it for you. I hear they may charge between 200 and 300 for it though. A simple drain and fill likely won't eliminate the shudder.

I've been using Valvoline Max-Life synthetic trans fluid since my last change. It's been working smooth since.

beekermartin

Double check your records and make sure it has been changed. If it hasn't then I would start with that. A shudder sounds like the torque converter. Sometimes fresh fluid might help the problem.

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

Fluid change

rlerman

+1 on Potential torque converter issue. Had mine replaced under warranty.

oo7spy

1st interval is 60k miles and 30k after for extreme conditions. It likely hasn't been changed.

FWIW, I disagree with going that long on the first interval. When I read that, I changed mine at the next oil change around 40k.

Blues Legend

Me too. For the cost of the ATF, it's a bloody stupid idea.

Smoother changes afterwards.

NBP04TL4ME

+2 - We had our TC replaced twice on our 07 MDX under warranty for exactly the symptoms the OP described. Go ahead and try the fluid first. I know there is a software update for the TC as well but found this adjusted the shift points for us and didn't necessarily "fix" the issue.

ZachTaylor

Rut-row, Shaggy...here's to hoping it's NOT the torque converter. I'm guessing that's going to be more $$$ than a fluid change. Most of the problem happens at right around 30mph. Upon more tinkering today, twice I got it to rattle for a second, as if slipping, when i touched the accelerator at 30mph.

Of course, it's an 2008 and while I'm below the 70K mile powertrain warranty, I think the car's in-service date was May 2008, so I am probably 4-5 months out of the 6-year warranty. Crap!

Anyone want to tell me the bad news about how much a new torque converter costs?

Thanks for everyone's input...much appreciated

-Zach

Wh1t3r0b

30 second idle relearn could help?