Tranny clunks when put in drive
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2004 EL, 128,000KM, 4A Transmission
On very cold days (-15 and lower) I have noticed my transmission will jerk/clunk when I first put it into drive. After this happens, the car will not accellerate for a few seconds despite pushing the gas. It's almost if it is in neutral for those couple seconds. The problem occurs when the car has been left outside for at least 4 hours in the low temperatures. All the gears shift fine, and the problem doesn't happen unless the transmission is COLD.
I've tried letting the car run for a few minutes (at least 5) but the problem still seems to happen.
On very cold days (-15 and lower) I have noticed my transmission will jerk/clunk when I first put it into drive. After this happens, the car will not accellerate for a few seconds despite pushing the gas. It's almost if it is in neutral for those couple seconds. The problem occurs when the car has been left outside for at least 4 hours in the low temperatures. All the gears shift fine, and the problem doesn't happen unless the transmission is COLD.
I've tried letting the car run for a few minutes (at least 5) but the problem still seems to happen.
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I would say probably about 3-4 years back (I don't have the mileage off hand as I am not at home ATM). It was a drain/fill not a flush that must I know. Maybe it's time for new fluid? It's -3 outside right now and I'm parked in the sun. Tranny shifted into drive fine 20 minutes ago. Cold-soaked tranny is my guess for why it behaves poorly. Keep in mind the -15 temperature with the windchill can be like -20 or -25. That's celcius.
#4
Re: Tranny clunks when put in drive
I would say probably about 3-4 years back (I don't have the mileage off hand as I am not at home ATM). It was a drain/fill not a flush that must I know. Maybe it's time for new fluid? It's -3 outside right now and I'm parked in the sun. Tranny shifted into drive fine 20 minutes ago. Cold-soaked tranny is my guess for why it behaves poorly. Keep in mind the -15 temperature with the windchill can be like -20 or -25. That's celcius.
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The clunk/jerk is not normal as I do not experience it when the transmission is warm or when the weather is not very cold. Also of importance is that the CLUNK/jerk happens when I am immediately driving forward after having been parked overnight or for several hours. For example, if I back into my driveway and it's -15 or lower overnight it'll clunk when I shift into D to leave my driveway. If I back out of my driveway and then go into "D" I don't think it happens.
#7
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Re: Tranny clunks when put in drive
I don't want to speculate on what the issue may or may not be...
but I have a question
What does the engine RPM do at this time?
Rev up freely?
Rev a little with great effort, as though there is a heavy load on it?
Not rev up at all?
Could this be an engine performance issue instead of a transmission issue?
Right....I wouldn't want to move either.
Cars and machinery are unaffected by wind chill factor.
Skin and mucous membranes are though.
but I have a question
the car will not accellerate for a few seconds despite pushing the gas. It's almost if it is in neutral for those couple seconds.
Rev up freely?
Rev a little with great effort, as though there is a heavy load on it?
Not rev up at all?
Could this be an engine performance issue instead of a transmission issue?
The problem occurs when the car has been left outside for at least 4 hours in the low temperatures.
with the windchill can be like -20 or -25.
Skin and mucous membranes are though.
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During the few seconds between when I shift and when the car starts to move the engine accelerates normally from what I can tell. Usually I let up on the gas a bit until it starts to move then give it more gas to keep going. It sort of reminds me of driving a manual car while releasing the clutch too slowly. It's almost if the transmission doesn't get engine input for 1-2 seconds.
At home now: last tranny D&F was January 2011 @ 77,000KM using Honda fluid
At home now: last tranny D&F was January 2011 @ 77,000KM using Honda fluid
#9
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Re: Tranny clunks when put in drive
During the few seconds between when I shift and when the car starts to move the engine accelerates normally from what I can tell. Usually I let up on the gas a bit until it starts to move then give it more gas to keep going. It sort of reminds me of driving a manual car while releasing the clutch too slowly. It's almost if the transmission doesn't get engine input for 1-2 seconds.
At home now: last tranny D&F was January 2011 @ 77,000KM
At home now: last tranny D&F was January 2011 @ 77,000KM
Or did I misread something?
I was thinking of converter bleed down when it sits, but you letting it run a few minutes should eliminate that as an issue.
I wonder if fresh fluid would help....DW-1 is the new official Honda fluid. Supposed to be better in the cold than Z-1 was.
Do you park on a slope? If so, maybe your bang has more to do with the park pawl releasing, as opposed to harsh engagement. (Note also, use of incorrect ATF can cause rather unusual trans complaints.)
I know the transmissions can make all sorts of bad sounding noises if you are not at a complete standstill when you select a gear or change directions.
#11
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Re: Tranny clunks when put in drive
Here:
http://www.handa-accessories.com/dw1.pdf
Z-1 was supplied and sold until inventory ran out, now all we use is DW-1.
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You said it will do this even if you let the engine run 5 minutes before you try to drive?
Or did I misread something?
I was thinking of converter bleed down when it sits, but you letting it run a few minutes should eliminate that as an issue.
I wonder if fresh fluid would help....DW-1 is the new official Honda fluid. Supposed to be better in the cold than Z-1 was.
Do you park on a slope? If so, maybe your bang has more to do with the park pawl releasing, as opposed to harsh engagement. (Note also, use of incorrect ATF can cause rather unusual trans complaints.)
I know the transmissions can make all sorts of bad sounding noises if you are not at a complete standstill when you select a gear or change directions.
Or did I misread something?
I was thinking of converter bleed down when it sits, but you letting it run a few minutes should eliminate that as an issue.
I wonder if fresh fluid would help....DW-1 is the new official Honda fluid. Supposed to be better in the cold than Z-1 was.
Do you park on a slope? If so, maybe your bang has more to do with the park pawl releasing, as opposed to harsh engagement. (Note also, use of incorrect ATF can cause rather unusual trans complaints.)
I know the transmissions can make all sorts of bad sounding noises if you are not at a complete standstill when you select a gear or change directions.
I am not shifting into a gear while moving. Like I said, it happens when I put the shifter straight into D from Park. Yes, I have shifted from R to D while moving slightly however I always came to a stop before giving it any gas. Never had any noises the few times I've done this.
Here:
http://www.handa-accessories.com/dw1.pdf
Z-1 was supplied and sold until inventory ran out, now all we use is DW-1.
http://www.handa-accessories.com/dw1.pdf
Z-1 was supplied and sold until inventory ran out, now all we use is DW-1.
#13
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Re: Tranny clunks when put in drive
HandA = H(onda) and A(cura)
There's also H&A - HNAtrans.com I hear they are very good. (I MAY have heard they build the remans for the factory, but I have never been able to verify that.)
----------------
I really have nothing to offer on your trans issue, based on your answers. Try the fluid change and see what happens?
If that's the only issue, fluid didn't solve it, and it works fine otherwise, I'd probably drive it until it drops dead. Your options to repair the problem are pretty limited IMO.
There's also H&A - HNAtrans.com I hear they are very good. (I MAY have heard they build the remans for the factory, but I have never been able to verify that.)
----------------
I really have nothing to offer on your trans issue, based on your answers. Try the fluid change and see what happens?
If that's the only issue, fluid didn't solve it, and it works fine otherwise, I'd probably drive it until it drops dead. Your options to repair the problem are pretty limited IMO.
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I checked the fluid level/colour. Both were normal. The issue is most likely from the cold as everything works perfectly on warmer days and once the tranny is warm. I'm going to leave it alone for now.
#17
Re: Tranny clunks when put in drive
it has been -20 where i live for over a month and this has never happened to my car, my tranny operates the exact same regardless of temperature
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