Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
You can try the old "cheap tricks" such as pouring in some TransX or Seafoam, running 50 miles & then changing your fluid & filter. Or perhaps add some Lucas Stops Slip. Who knows, you might just loosen/clean a sticking valve. However, it's a long-shot.
Unfortunately, they had a lot of trouble with that F23A transmission. Moreso with the V6, yes - because the additional power tore them out sooner. But they weren't much better with the 4-cylinder.
Equally unfortunate is the fact that a lot of shops - even transmission shops - don't know enough about fixing these transmissions correctly. We'll the the install, but we never touch the guts of these ones. So be very careful about where you take the car!
My mother owns a 98 Accord V6, and had to get the tranny rebuilt 2 years ago. These transmissions just suck IMO. It never shifts right and they are very touchy.
Even when accelerating from a dead stop, the engine will rev all of the way up 3,000 RPM's until it shifts to 2nd gear making the car shift harshly and slowly, it's not quick at all. I found that if you feather the throttle, the trans will shift sooner, at around 2,400-2,500 RPMs which feels much better and you get up to speed faster. But who likes touchy throttles? One shouldn't have to worry about being careful when accelerating since it becomes more of a chore than enjoyment.
It sounds like the trans is slipping, my recommendation which helped extend the life of my mothers honda before the trans finally died, is to drain the tranny fluid (3 quarts), and replace it with 2 quarts of Redline Synthetic ATF, and the new Honda Fluid. The full synthetic Redline ATF is able to withstand higher temps than the Honda ATF, and is very resilient to extreme heat and oxidation.
This will help the shift points, and stop the herky jerky shifting, including the rough downshifts that can occur from 2nd to 1st gear for awhile. The very hard (violent) downshifts is a sign that the tranny is slowly going on it's way out unfortunately.
The problem is, the fluid overheats, which wears outs it's protective properties, and breaks down on these transmissions especially when they're behind the 3.0 V6. The transmission is too weak to handle the extra torque on these cars with the V6, that were designed to originally run on a 4 cylinder engine, so they get overly stressed beyond it's original design, that is why you hear so many people having trans problems with the 98-02 Accords V6's before 100,000 miles.
tiny Metal shavings that isn't picked up by the trans pan magnet also partial clog the lines inside the valve body when the fluid hasn't been changed in years that goes to the 2nd and 3rd gear clutch packs, these were too thin and narrow from factory thus starving the clutches from receiving fluid is what I was told before the rebuild process, so the shop makes these particular lines larger by drilling them out to increase the fluid flow when the miles accumulate over time. It also doesn't help that the transmission filter isn't able to be changed unless you remove the entire tranny.
Drain and refill the trans fluid every 6 months or 4,000 miles to hopefully make it last a little longer, and perform better. I know that sounds crazy, but these transmissions were problematic from the get go, and overheated the ATF easily, so it's just a precautionary method specifically pertained to these models. Most reliable transmissions, you would never have to go this far, but on ones that are known for problems like the 98-02 Accords, it will help.
You can try the old "cheap tricks" such as pouring in some TransX or Seafoam, running 50 miles & then changing your fluid & filter. Or perhaps add some Lucas Stops Slip. Who knows, you might just loosen/clean a sticking valve. However, it's a long-shot.
Unfortunately, they had a lot of trouble with that F23A transmission. Moreso with the V6, yes - because the additional power tore them out sooner. But they weren't much better with the 4-cylinder.
Equally unfortunate is the fact that a lot of shops - even transmission shops - don't know enough about fixing these transmissions correctly. We'll the the install, but we never touch the guts of these ones. So be very careful about where you take the car!
Good luck!
Wow, Wow.. It's not Seafoam. It's TransTune made by Seafoam corporation. It will only clean sludge inside. And 50 miles not going to do it. And entire ATF will need to be replaced.
1. prolly already said, but when was last time ATF was changed? You need to change ENTIRE ATF it it was not done within reasonable period of time.
2. I had very good success with slipping Honda trannie and Lucas additive. Basically, was driving on it. But, eventually, that trannie needed to have bands tightened, what was done, and she's still around. I gave her to one of my patients 3 years ago and she's still around driving him.
Wow, Wow.. It's not Seafoam. It's TransTune made by Seafoam corporation. It will only clean sludge inside. And 50 miles not going to do it. And entire ATF will need to be replaced.
1. prolly already said, but when was last time ATF was changed? You need to change ENTIRE ATF it it was not done within reasonable period of time.
2. I had very good success with slipping Honda trannie and Lucas additive. Basically, was driving on it. But, eventually, that trannie needed to have bands tightened, what was done, and she's still around. I gave her to one of my patients 3 years ago and she's still around driving him.
Thank you for the replies. I think we'll try draining and filling new fluid to see if it helps. The car itself is in good shape otherwise so we're not excited to get rid of it but if we have to we'll get another car. Hopefully a fluid change will get a good bit more life out of it since aside from this specific issue, the transmission otherwise shifts just fine.
Wife has a '03 Accord V6 but only 85K. I have been watching it as far a slipping and so far, no troubles. So many other things on this car have not lasted like other Accords. Really questioning whether to buy another one.
Wife has a '03 Accord V6 but only 85K. I have been watching it as far a slipping and so far, no troubles. So many other things on this car have not lasted like other Accords. Really questioning whether to buy another one.
The '03 had a better transmission in it. I hope yours does you right!
Actually, RIGHT. Seafoam is not used for transmissions, as you said in your post. TransTune is MADE BY Seafoam and is used IN transmissions. Slow down and try to understand what people say. Seafoam is used for engines and fuel systems. No one was questioning TransX or whatever.
Your post clearly says right there: add TransX OR Seafoam to transmission.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
