Rep Power: 321

I've searched about this topic and got a bit of info on the subject, but I had more questions that weren't answered.

Well, so today my automatic transmission starts to jerk/slip on the 2nd to 3rd upshift.
Later that day, I was stuck in traffic (damn the 5!!!) and I noticed the car started to slip more and more. It was probably the same 2-3 upshift but since I was in slow moving traffic I couldn't tell if it was the same gears. Eventually traffic dissolved a bit but I couldn't get past 20mph. I could rev all I want and it wouldn't go any faster. Pretty soon the CEL came on and my car started to slow. I got off the freeway and parked. I tried to put it in all of the gears (R,D, D2) and pushed the gas a bit but car wasn't goign nowhere. AAA time!
BTW, I have the 100,000mile extended warranty and it was ~48,000miles when my tranny went bye bye. I have never neutral dropped or slipped it into D3 or 2 while driving or anything like that. The only thing I'm guilty of is a bit of hard driving once in a while. And I mean once in a while!!!

My quesions are:
1. The transmission fluid was changed at ~25,000miles with Mobil Synthetic ATF. What do you think are the chances are that the dealership will blame this as cause of damage and disregard the warranty? I know taking it to the dealer will yield an accurate answer but Honda charges a fee just so they can look at your car =(

2. I've read that some of you had the transmission rebuilt and some of you got brand new ones. Do I have a say as to what I want even though its going to be fixed for free through warranty? I'd rather have a new one =)

3. Do I get a rental from Honda free of charge?

I'm looking for my warranty papers as i speak =)
Thanks for all your help.

 
Rep Power: 812

That's messed up. I'm always worried when mine's gonna go. You should be good under warranty because you got that tranny fluid change. The fluid type shouldn't matter, as long as it's equal or better than stock fluid (mobil 1 is better). And the dealer doesn't know you have non-honda fluid in there anyway. Just take it in and tell them to fix it.

 
Rep Power: 305

^^^ that not true. this subject has been covered before. whenever you are dealing with a Honda transmission, you want to use Honda Brand tranny fluid. their fluid has some additives or something like that. everyone thinks taht putting synthetic is all good and stuff but not necessairly true for our hondas. believe me, i put mobile 1 synthetic in my old accord and then 3 months later the tranny died out on me aswell, hence my civic now. i think Honda will fix your car under warranty for free. i dont think they're hardcore enough to test the tranny fluid.

 
Rep Power: 321

Woohoo!!!
HondaCare approved the warranty work and I'll be getting a brand new auto transmission. =) Too bad I'm gonna be stuck wiith a rental beater til then =(

I never thought I would say this but...the EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS WORTH IT!!!

 
Rep Power: 0

damn..i keep hearing about these tranny problems..im scared

 
Rep Power: 323

Daily1 - I had our 98 Civic's tranny fluid changed just before 35k miles with non honda fluid - it's got almost 64k now and runs very well. (knocks on wood.......)

 
Rep Power: 0

my 02 auto civics tranny took a **** at 55,000 miles and i never drove it hard except one drunken night on a back road runnin away but even then it was one time and all i did was take some corners a lil bit fast i changed the fluid at 35000 WITH HONDA TRANNY FLUID and one day i was driving and my speedo went from 75 to 0 in about 1 sec and figured something wasnt right so pulled over popped the hood and theres my speedo sensor blown out of the tranny shell and tranny fluid everywhere. the car shifted in and out of gear no problem and wasnt slipping or nething so i drove it to the nearest shop(about 2 miles with no problems except for not knowing how fast i was going) the guy at the shop said it was prolly from pressure buildup in my tranny but i was driving on the interstate with cruise control and it just goes all of a sudden, wouldnt pressure buildup be from accelarating and red lining both of which i wasnt doing at all, neways in the end he said that the pin that holds your speedo sensor in place came loose or somethin and got sent thru my gears stripping every one as it went and fryed my clutch so yea $$$$$$$$3,059 later i got a new tranny and all i gotta say is **** HONDA AND THEIR WARRANTYS i hate this ****en car WRX STI ALL THE WAY BABY!!!!!!!!!