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2005 civic ex automatic.
206,000+ miles
Sometimes on the highway approaching traffic I will downshift to third to slow down. I while back I noticed that shift was becoming less smooth
(the movement of the shifter, not the performance of the transmission or engine).
So, I just stopped doing it.
Now, recently, all movement, out of park into drive or reverse, is slow and stubborn.

I checked my transmission fluid on the dipstick and resevoir. The dipstick does appear to be on the low end.

At 206k, and not having a tranny flush since I've had it (138k), I'm under the impression that a flush would do more harm than good.

Can/should I just add fluid? Would that effect the physical movement of the shifter?

 
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Found a thread on here suggesting its a spilled drink or a clutch cable.

I don't think it's a spilled drink.

Still curious if the low tranny fluid could have anything to do with it

 
Rep Power: 517

It can't be a clutch cable either, you don't have a clutch.

If nothing was ever spilled in the shifter or console areas, then a bad (binding) shifter cable is the next most likely culprit.
No, but are you checking the trans fluid correctly? Check trans fluid with the engine OFF.

If it is truly low, find and fix the leak.
It may need a new dipstick if it fits loose, a new one is like $11-13.


Never ever flush with chemicals and machine (JizzyLube style).

Simple fluid drain and fill is perfectly safe, using the correct Honda fluid (ATF DW-1). Make SURE you have a clean funnel that will reach the hole before you drain the fluid out.

We recommend trans fluid drain and fill every 30k, and if you've not done it in forever I'd suggest do a trans drain and fill with each of your next couple or few oil changes.

 
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AT shift cable*, I meant. From Tide55's thread.

 
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Awesome news.

I brought the car to a transmission shop, they put it up on a lift, took some cover off exposing the shifter cable that attaches to the bottom of the shifter in the car?

He said the tranny seems good, and said the very end of the shifter cable that should pivot as the shifter moves, had stiffened up.

He sprayed it with penetrating lube, and worked it back and forth a while, charged me $25, and now it shifts like the day I got the car, 70k ago.

 
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This cover they removed to inspect was from the bottom of the car or around the shifter inside the car?

 
Rep Power: 517

Bottom, at trans.