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Automatic gearbox problems

kpanchev

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Location
Farnborough, Hants
Car
Acord 2.4 iVTEC EX
Hi everyone,
I recently got my new Accord, this time an automatic (my first automatic, so don't know much) and with my luck after a couple of weeks the box started playing up.
Got it through the usual ATF change, honda diagnostics, etc and was told that I am looking at box strip and rebuild or a replacement.
I have found a second hand box, but it looks it is from a cl9 k34a3, which is the 7th gen Accord. The seller is trying to convince me they are the same boxes as mine, which is cu2 k24z3, but I somehow don't believe him.
So can anybody shed some light on this? Are the boxes the same?
 
OK, I just found out the seller got mixed up in the description, the box is from the same model like mine, so should not be an issue...
Still I can't believe that I got this problem, it is a Honda after all, it should be bullet proof... for the moment I am just driving it in S mode and switching gears manually, avoiding going into first where the problem seems to be... every other gear is fine.
 
What fluid have you used in the gearbox?

Using non genuine Honda fluid will result in poor shifting.
 
Only honda original ATF... I suspect though that the previous owner was not using genuine honda, when I changed it my mechanic told me it was very dirty. I suspect the solenoid for first gear is blocked...
 
You can remove the solenoids and clean them, it’s quite common to do. Also before changing the box I would recommend a full fluid change which is circa 7-8 litres. When you do a regular change you are only changing a part quantity.

best way to do it via the trainscooler pipes, remove them both and hook them up to some hose pipes insert into a bucket to allow the old fluid to drain. Crank the engine a few turns and as you do the fluid will pump out. At the same time ensure you are refilling fresh new fluid via the fill hole.

Once the old fluid coming out turns nice fresh red you know most of the old fluid is out. Did this on my idtec auto which has the same box as the petrol (different ratios) and it worked a charm.
 
Does my k20 have the same gearbox too? If so same procedure and is it worth removing solenoids and cleaning them on a healthy box...as an extended service?
 
I’m pretty sure Hondas of this era all have the same box, including the Legend. They just have different ratios.
 
@F6HAD thanks for the info man, I was thinking of cleaning the solenoids, but as I have never done any work on an automatic, I don't feel confident doing it myself. I spoke to my local Honda dealership, they said cleaning the solenoids is a complete strip of the gearbox (don't know if they bullshit me), also asked my trusted local mechanic, who said he is also not feeling confident as he is not an auto transmission specialist... so currently at a dilemma...
 
I’ll drop you a line, I know a guy down south who’s good with these boxes, talk to him.
 
So thanks to Fahad and the mechanic he recommended - Otto, my car is fixed. The problem was the previous owners had a leaky (completely rotten) gearbox oil radiator and instead of replacing it, they just disconnected it and bypassed it... which lead to the oil overheating and cooking the gearbox completely. So one replaced gearbox and a new radiator later, my car drives as new. Thanks again Fahad and Otto - anyone in need of gearbox work, Otto is in the Hertford area.

Pictures of the old and new radiator:
 

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You have found the car to be defective within a short time and proven the - cause of the - fault was apparent when you bought it. Even if it had failed four, sixor ten months down the line the cause would still have been the same, just waiting to happen.

A word with the previous owner and those bills from Otto should convince they sold a pup.
 
You have found the car to be defective within a short time and proven the - cause of the - fault was apparent when you bought it. Even if it had failed four, sixor ten months down the line the cause would still have been the same, just waiting to happen.

A word with the previous owner and those bills from Otto should convince they sold a pup.
Yep, but I don't see how this is going to help me... I don't have the time and nerves to go through the hassle of taking him through the institutions, I had a few conversations with him and he does not answer my calls now... and he is too far away for me to go and set his shoddy dealership on fire... so to speak.

Anyway, I am happy with the result, at least I know the car is as it should be and I won't have any more problems (knock on wood)
 
Otto called me over the weekend to tell me what was going on with your car and shared the pictures. It’s unbelievable what some people will do to just pass a problem on to someone else.

I’m glad it’s finally fixed, Otto’s a lovely chap and very honest.
 
To reiterate I had a problem with limp and all sorts of fixes getting thrown up, took it up to Leeds and THE MAN, removed a few bits, went good for a while but then threw up the gearbox faulty again, a few words with you know who, " CHANGE THE FLUID" did that and then again now running better than ever. I am told that the schedule needs to be adhered to, Oh and give the motor a good kicking now and again.
 
Unfortunately in this case a simple fluid change wouldn’t have solved it. The removal of the transcooler by the previous owner meant that the fluid wasn’t able to do its job and caused irreparable damage to the box.
 
A bit of an aftermath for this, a few thousand miles later I have a broken drive plate... most likely micro cracks caused from the cooked torque converter of the previous gearbox, only a matter of time before it failed... pitty though that it (almost) never fails, so Honda main dealers don't have this in stock... currently waiting for delivery from Japan... so I am car-less for more than a month...
 
Oh man that’s really bad news!!
 
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