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We got this car over the summer because we were in an accident and our other car was totaled. Denver's population has been growing so fast with people moving here, that used cars are hard to find anyway, and the insurance was running out, so we had to grab this one without a mechanic seeing it, or start renting a car ourselves, which is expensive.

So it's had a few problems but has generally been decent. But then this past week, the weather went from the 30-60 range, which was gorgeous, to pretty cold. Like 10-30 degrees. And suddenly the transmission started acting up. At first it was just slipping between gear shifts, until the engine warmed up. But then today ( 24 degrees ) it started not working very well at all. We dove a couple of blocks with the engine cold and tried going up a hill, and the transmission was barely engaging, so I had to get it back into the driveway and we took the other car.

Does anyone know what might cause this? Is it possible that they used a really thick oil in it, and it's freezing up and not working when it gets colder?

I'm at the point where I wish we could just sell this car for the Vtec engine, which is wonderful and gets 32-38 MPG, but we overpaid for the car ( $4200 with 131k miles on it ) because we were in a hurry and didn't have a mechanic check it, and I don't think we could even sell it for anywhere near that now.

 
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What type of transmission? That's the starting point. As for oil, did you change the transmission fluid or do an oil change on the engine?

 
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Automatic, and my mechanic drain & filled it in September, after we bought the car. An oil change was done too.

 
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It's one of the famous civic issues

 
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Any famous solution? I'm curious about this one.

 
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nothing other than rebuild or replace...

 
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https://www.civicforums.com/forums/3...stigation.html

 
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https://www.civicforums.com/forums/3...n-updated.html

 
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Yes. I talked to someone who rebuilt his transmission b/f I decided to buy this car. The rebuild kit comes with a completely different filter/strainer than the original.

That is what I am planning on doing if mine goes out - rebuild, using a better filter.

 
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So we're royally screwed now, and it will cost thousands to fix this?

 
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If you know someone mechanical they could pull your transmission out within a day.

Then you could have it rebuilt at a transmission shop.

Then reinstall.

That is most likely the most cost/time efficient route.

 
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No you're not, and no it should not cost thousands.

You only overpaid by a few hundred $. Dealers price these cars pretty high, and regardless of what the rest of us think, they are the ones who set the market price, and we just discount from that when we buy from a private owner.

If you do not want to go the rebuild route, used transmissions are around $700 with 100K miles, on car-part.com. If you don't mind the shipping, then there are a couple really good deals, an almost new one from a rollover, and a rebuilt one with a few thousand miles on it.

I would call some local salvage yards, some will even put it in for you, or recommend someone who will do it for a reasonable price. Besides, a transmission that is slipping is worth money to someone who knows how to rebuild it.

 
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these auto trannys HATE aftermarket type fluids

the only thing you should ever use is OEM HONDA fluid,

so, the million dollar question is......

what type of fluid did "your mechanic" re-fill it with?

also, did he only drain and fill the tranny? or did he flush it? because flushing is also not recommended

 
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I wonder if a 2003 or later transmission will just bolt up to our cars with no other hassle. 2001-2002 transmissions have a bad reputation, and supposedly made by Mitsubishi (?) for Honda. Compared to 2003 or later, there are about 10~20x the number of complaints about the 2001/02 models for transmission problems.

 
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I think I am answering my own question, but here is an example, from a company in Chicago, listed on Ebay:

01 05 Honda Civic DX EX LX 1.7L SOHC FWD Automatic Transmission SLXA JDM D17A

Basically imported from Japan, used, automatic transmission, probably less than 100K miles (have to call them and ask to make really certain it fits your car), for $298 plus freight. I like to get parts from Chicago b/c it is close to me and i can sometimes just pick them up, but good chance there is a closer to you alternative.

 
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I don't know, but he didn't flush it.

 
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And as far as doing any of this myself, I'm not a mechanic. I can change my own spark plugs and very basic stuff like that. I'm not sure if I should sell the car for parts now, or what.

We also had the trans fluid changed on our 2000 Civic that we got after that, by the same mechanic. Is it likely to fail too?

 
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It's certainly possible. It would probably be worth your money, now and for the future, to go to Honda and have them drain it out and add Honda fluid. While there you could always ask them how much it would cost to have the other transmission replaced. If that's too much $$$, you could ask your mechanic to see if he could source one and how much he would charge for everything. A good mechanic should have enough connections to get it done. Some, if you bring them the supplies will only charge labor, i.e. transmission fluid from Honda.

 
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My mechanic says he used OEM fluid. He says it could be some kind of clutch packs, that they're made of some kind of fiber and they don't last long on these models? He's calling a trans shop that he refers to.

 
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Well that's certainly a start.

 
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Yes, that is correct. The wear fibers from the clutch packs clog the internal filter, this leads to low fluid pressure/volume, and that causes the transmission to slip, or just not shift. He is on the right track.

 
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here, PMI's conclusions from reading the first thread i linked - he is going into similar process now.

his thread:

https://www.civicforums.com/forums/3...e-02-auto.html

 
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previous members did, not sure of the details. unsure how much better they are, though

 
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Someone told me years ago, that sometimes used transmissions don't match well to your engine?

Is that even something a complete novice like myself could hope to do myself?

 
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It's really quite involved...

If you really committed and follow a good guide/teacher directions, one could dismantle and put it back together. But usually, not recommended and quite time consuming.

About the matching, don't think so, maybe waaay back ones.

 
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The guy worked on Subarus.

Well I don't have a rack or tools, so I'd better try and sell the car to someone who wants to work on it. The Vtec engine is top notch, was astounding on the emissions test and was getting 32-37 MPG just in mixed city/hwy driving around town here!

 
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If the car is in good shape, with no suspension issues, and minimal body rust, then u will get more for it if you pay your mechanic to put in a used transmission, and sell it when repaired.

Someone who is buying a car with a bad motor or trans, must end up with something worth much more than the purchase price, plus the retail value of the transmission, plus the value of the labor. On the other hand, if your mechanic can fix this for a reasonable price, that difference will stay in your pocket.

 
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Mechanics around here don't do transmissions, there are several transmission shops that specialize in them. But it's a good question to ask them, I suppose. Thanks.

It just seems like throwing good money after bad. We paid $4200 for the car and put about $400 into repairs, and $300 into window tint ( for the UV protection only ).

Plus, we were told by the previous owner - a liar - that the left front was hit by an elk when they were driving it in the mountains. The driver's front fender was supposedly replaced by him, but appears to be a pretty bad looking junk yard part that's dented and has bad paint, and there's no wheel cover on that corner. AND the car vibrates when accelerating, before it's warmed up, so I suspect other problems but don't know enough about it. ( just guessing that the previous owner may have been in a more serious accident and didn't want a dirty title so he did the minimum work required to cover it up, then sold it. )

AND the previous owners ruined the old window tint by apparently using cleaner with ammonia and melted it into the back windshield, so they had to scrape it off, destroying the heater wires in the process, to put new tint in. But it's no fun driving in the winter with the rear windshield frosted over, so that's $300 to replace, plus new tint.

Plus something about that accident apparently made it where the driver's window won't go down all the way and that needs fixing.

Plus the two rear door lock actuators need replacing. One barely works and the other doesn't at all.

So we have to be careful not to be tempted to throw good money after bad and wind up with $8000 in a car that's worth maybe $3500 fixed, AND still vibrates when accelerating cold, and we don't know why.

It's a shame that we were in a bind with the insurance car rental about to expire and had to make a last second decision to buy this car without a mechanic seeing it first, but it looks like we should cut our losses. ( now that you too know the full picture )

 
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Caveat Emptor, Mama. Sucks though... and most of us have been burned buying cars at some point in our lives.

Since your transmission sounds pretty screwed it probably wouldn't hurt to try a "miracle" in a bottle like Lucus Stop Slip. Add at your own discretion and if it does help .. most likely just temporary results.

 
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Well, I paid less than $3000 for an EX coupe where the owner was at pains to point out that little or no maintenance was done, but otherwise in good shape. So I knew that I had to put around $1K into it, including some DIY and some shop time.

Most decent mechanics know how to drop a transmission and replace it with a used one (which is what I would do). Rebuilding one is whole 'nother level of effort. If you can get a used trans for $300-$700 plus installation, a rebuild only makes sense if your time is cheap, in the Midwest anyway.

At that point, you have a car that is worth $3~4k, depending on body damage, suspension, tires. Now, maybe $1000 as you describe it.

And btw, yeah, we have all bought out share of lemons, your experience is no worse than mine (I just don't admit to it most of the time )