transmission question

[Pandemic]

ok, I've got an auto. I know there are 4 gears. I can get into 4th gear and it still fluxuates. it'll do like a mini-shift down and up depending on whats going on. WTF is that?! RPMS change and everything... is it overdrive maybe?

[Leung]

when did you last have your transmission fluid changed/flushed?

maybe clean the two solenoids on your transmission housing?

[Losiracer2]

yeah depending on how dirty the fluid is, it might have an affect on the shifting ability. every 2 yrs or 30K is the rec. fluid change interval

[owequitit]

Also, ONLY use Honda OEM fluid. Everything else WILL adversely affect the durability/shift quality of your transmission.

[Pandemic]

yeah I'm not using honda atf at the moment. I'll give that a shot. Its weird, they're like soft shifts... strange :P

[foamypirate]

Chances are it is your torque converting locking and unlocking, based on the amount of throttle applied.

[Pandemic]

Chances are it is your torque converting locking and unlocking, based on the amount of throttle applied.

I was thinking about that on the way back to school tonight. At 65mph my tach is at about 2,500. going up hill with cruise control on (happens w/o CC too). Going up hill at constant speed, the revs will kick from 2,500ish to 2,650ish. it's not a shift, that is clear. I was thinking about the torque converter. Makes sense that it needs more torque to go up hills.

THOUGH, I am going to order some honda ATF. What's it, 2.5qt for the tranny? Think so, will look that up.

Any problems with letting the torque converter do what it's doing?
Thanks

[foamypirate]

Nope, it's normal behavior.

[benji]

Nope, it's normal behavior.

Yeah, it's just regular torque converter lock. It does that so you get good gas mileage when you are cruising at a constant speed. Essentially, it gives you two extra gears (converter lock in 3rd and 4th).

[Pandemic]

Yeah, I've often noticed this 'mini gear' and was wondering what it was. Pretty sweet :P So... any idea how exactly it works?

[benji]

Yeah, I've often noticed this 'mini gear' and was wondering what it was. Pretty sweet :P So... any idea how exactly it works?

This explains it better than I can: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/torque-converter.htm

How stuff works is usually where I end up when I have to refresh myself on basic transmissions.

[Pandemic]

Gotchya, just read thru that article... but... our torque converters are 2 little cylinoids, i think... arent they?

[benji]

Gotchya, just read thru that article... but... our torque converters are 2 little cylinoids, i think... arent they?

No, the solenoids are just part of how the TCU controls the shifting. Depending on what solenoid is activated when, the TCU can control where the fluid goes, thus control what band is activated when. There is an actual converter in there; every automatic has one.

If you didn't read the howstuffworks on auto trannys, you might go back and read that too.