Help me connect the dots: Automatic Trans

[GeoffM]

Lately my trans has been scaring me. Symptoms:
1. When it's cold I start my car, without much of a pause I put it in drive. An audible brief screech emanates from the trans side of the engine.
2. When shifting between gears, it's always taken a second or so to shift. When it does, it does so with a jolt. Lately (especially when problem number 1 occurs) it won't immediately shift. I think a clutch won't disengage.
3. When driving away and still in first, I hear the sound of cans rattling.
4. Early on, maybe 10k miles ago, the car would randomly vibrate around 45 mph.
5. I think I'm having torque converter issues. Around 45 to 50 I'll randomly get bursts of speed. This has only been happening the past few days, whereas the others have been occurring most of the winter.

No codes. Other then the above it runs fine. My friend rode in it today, he wasn't able to feel number 5, so it's kinda subtle.
I changed the fluid last spring. I have OEM fluid behind me. Gonna do that sometime this month.
Anything to worry about? Or should I start looking for a 5 speed?

[daovangphotos]

Check your transmission fluid level.

And when you fill your case, do you run the transmission through all the gears (leaving the shifter in every gear per 10 seconds) and checking your transmissiouon level after that?

PS, you can only check an auto transmission fluid right after you drive the car (operating temperature) Like, right after you shut off ignition, you check the fluid, and make sure car is on level surface.

[visualpoet]

Check your transmission fluid level.

And when you fill your case, do you run the transmission through all the gears (leaving the shifter in every gear per 10 seconds) and checking your transmissiouon level after that?

PS, you can only check an auto transmission fluid right after you drive the car (operating temperature) Like, right after you shut off ignition, you check the fluid, and make sure car is on level surface.

Last time I checked an auto's fluid level, it had to be running in park and warmed up from driving. Honda might be different, I'm not sure, but it would literally be the first car I've ever seen that you checked the tranny fluid with the car shut off.

Geoff, Did you use Honda fluid the last time you changed it? If not, that may be the problem completely. From what I've learned about the Honda autos, they hate anything but their own juices.
I'm afraid that it does sound like you should start looking for that 5 speed though.

[GhostAccord]

Honda's are different, becuase when you check them it's with the trans up to operating temp, parked on level ground and the engine off. Civic, Accord & Prelude manuals all have this same fluid level check procedure.

[GeoffM]

Check your transmission fluid level.

And when you fill your case, do you run the transmission through all the gears (leaving the shifter in every gear per 10 seconds) and checking your transmissiouon level after that?

PS, you can only check an auto transmission fluid right after you drive the car (operating temperature) Like, right after you shut off ignition, you check the fluid, and make sure car is on level surface.

I last checked it about a month ago, seemed fine. And yes, Idk if it was exactly 10 seconds though. But I cycle it through the gears. I knew that about the trans, scared me at first b/c I thought I was way low. End up just being cold.

Last time I checked an auto's fluid level, it had to be running in park and warmed up from driving. Honda might be different, I'm not sure, but it would literally be the first car I've ever seen that you checked the tranny fluid with the car shut off.

Geoff, Did you use Honda fluid the last time you changed it? If not, that may be the problem completely. From what I've learned about the Honda autos, they hate anything but their own juices.
I'm afraid that it does sound like you should start looking for that 5 speed though.

Level surface, car off. Car off, because it seems like if you opened it while it was running, you'd get a face full of fluid.

I did it with Castrol branded fluid. I didn't know.
It was from reading on here that I found out. Now I've got the OEM fluid. Hopefully it'll make a difference.

[visualpoet]

Honda's are different, becuase when you check them it's with the trans up to operating temp, parked on level ground and the engine off. Civic, Accord & Prelude manuals all have this same fluid level check procedure.

No shit? Learn something new everyday. Good thing I'm driving a stick! lol

Level surface, car off. Car off, because it seems like if you opened it while it was running, you'd get a face full of fluid.

I'll have to look under the hood of an auto to see why it would spray you in the face, I'm used to seeing autos with long fill/dipstick tubes. This is the first time I've heard of checking the fluid in an auto with the car off.

[AgentZero]

No shit? Learn something new everyday. Good thing I'm driving a stick! lol



I'll have to look under the hood of an auto to see why it would spray you in the face, I'm used to seeing autos with long fill/dipstick tubes. This is the first time I've heard of checking the fluid in an auto with the car off.

theres no tube for the tranny dip stick its more of a open hole its not deep at all

[GeoffM]

Open hole with a 3 inch long stick. Then there's just fluid.

[Accrdwgnguy]

Could be issue when you cold start it and slam it in gear right away. You gotta let that fluid circulate a bit. Would you redline your cold engine on a zero degree day?

[visualpoet]

theres no tube for the tranny dip stick its more of a open hole its not deep at all

Open hole with a 3 inch long stick. Then there's just fluid.

I heard that's what she said! Thanks for the info!