Acts like its in neutral
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Acts like its in neutral
Hey all,
I have a 2001 honda civic with about 300k on it. I'm always good with changing fluids and changed the transmission fluid a few weeks ago. Yesterday I was at a red light and when i went to accelerate the car jerked there was a sort of grinding noise and it felt like i had hit something but the car went forward. As i drove i felt like the car could not decide weather to stay in drive or go into neutral. I had to press on the accelerator much more than i should have to to get it up to speed then it just totally went into neutral. I used the movement that i had to pull into a parking lot and stopped. when i tried going the engine revved but did not move an inch, it would not move into drive two or three either. I called a tow truck and about a half hour later they got there, i turned it back on and shifted it into reverse and it worked then drive and it worked. The driver said that something like a rock must have gotten kicked up into the gears and it was out now. but when I was driving it home it did the same thing. Now it will go for about 2-3 blocks no problem then it will go into neutral and i have to turn it of for a few min for it to start working again for a short while.
There was no real warning preceding these events and my check engine light was on but the diagnostics tool indicated a cad problem not a trans issue, most likely an O2 censor. the fluid looks fine and full and no belts that i can see are broken. No smells, and for the most part when i drive it purrs like a kitten. and the trans flush that was performed was manual not the one with the thing that puts pressure in the trans.
If any more info is needed just let me know and I greatly appreciate any and all input.
thanks.
There was no real warning preceding these events and my check engine light was on but the diagnostics tool indicated a cad problem not a trans issue, most likely an O2 censor. the fluid looks fine and full and no belts that i can see are broken. No smells, and for the most part when i drive it purrs like a kitten. and the trans flush that was performed was manual not the one with the thing that puts pressure in the trans.
If any more info is needed just let me know and I greatly appreciate any and all input.
thanks.
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
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Re: Acts like its in neutral
When it stops moving, I bet there is a squealing/whining noise coming from the trans. The internal filter is full of friction material debris, and the pump is starved of fluid. Once this happens, there is not enough hydraulic pressure to keep the converter full nor the clutches engaged. All movement ceases. When you shut the engine off, the debris falls away from the filter to the bottom.
Restart the engine, and the debris is slowly sucked up again until fluid flow is blocked off again.
Repeat ad nauseam.
The problem is inside the transmission.
Where I work, it would get the transmission replaced with a factory reman.
Restart the engine, and the debris is slowly sucked up again until fluid flow is blocked off again.
Repeat ad nauseam.
The problem is inside the transmission.
Where I work, it would get the transmission replaced with a factory reman.
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When it stops moving, I bet there is a squealing/whining noise coming from the trans. The internal filter is full of friction material debris, and the pump is starved of fluid. Once this happens, there is not enough hydraulic pressure to keep the converter full nor the clutches engaged. All movement ceases. When you shut the engine off, the debris falls away from the filter to the bottom.
Restart the engine, and the debris is slowly sucked up again until fluid flow is blocked off again.
Repeat ad nauseam.
The problem is inside the transmission.
Where I work, it would get the transmission replaced with a factory reman.
Restart the engine, and the debris is slowly sucked up again until fluid flow is blocked off again.
Repeat ad nauseam.
The problem is inside the transmission.
Where I work, it would get the transmission replaced with a factory reman.
Mo
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 32,017
Likes: 256
From: Midwest. Aiming about mid-chest
Rep Power: 518 Re: Acts like its in neutral
You say there are no transmission codes..... but you said this: "and my check engine light was on but the diagnostics tool indicated a cad problem not a trans issue, most likely an O2 censor."
You mean CAT, right? FYI As long as there are no exhaust leaks, P0420 is a worn out cat, not an O2 sensor. Everyone wants to hope it is an O2 sensor--either because they don't understand how it all works, or because it is far cheaper than a cat.
Noise or not, the scenario I posted earlier is what is most likely happening, assuming that the fluid is full. 300k is past ripe for a trans replacement.
Did you check the trans fluid? Is it full? Does it smell cooked?
You mean CAT, right? FYI As long as there are no exhaust leaks, P0420 is a worn out cat, not an O2 sensor. Everyone wants to hope it is an O2 sensor--either because they don't understand how it all works, or because it is far cheaper than a cat.
Noise or not, the scenario I posted earlier is what is most likely happening, assuming that the fluid is full. 300k is past ripe for a trans replacement.
Did you check the trans fluid? Is it full? Does it smell cooked?
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From: Langley, BC
Rep Power: 285 Re: Acts like its in neutral
When it stops moving, I bet there is a squealing/whining noise coming from the trans. The internal filter is full of friction material debris, and the pump is starved of fluid. Once this happens, there is not enough hydraulic pressure to keep the converter full nor the clutches engaged. All movement ceases. When you shut the engine off, the debris falls away from the filter to the bottom.
Restart the engine, and the debris is slowly sucked up again until fluid flow is blocked off again.
Repeat ad nauseam.
The problem is inside the transmission.
Where I work, it would get the transmission replaced with a factory reman.
Restart the engine, and the debris is slowly sucked up again until fluid flow is blocked off again.
Repeat ad nauseam.
The problem is inside the transmission.
Where I work, it would get the transmission replaced with a factory reman.
Those are the exact symptoms that have been experienced time and time again by members of this forum when a transmission eventually gives out.
The only suggestion I could give is that if you're on a budget with the expensive christmas season approaching, you could save a bit by swapping in a used transmission. If you do choose to go the used route, generally speaking, the transmissions were worst in 2001 and somewhat improved in 2004-2005. When you do the swap consider using Valvoline Maxlife ATF, it's quite popular among owners of Hondas with weak transmissions from the era your car was built.
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