Rep Power: 317

I was planning on selling some of my car audio in order to get a turbo for my 02 EX Auto, but I think my tranny might have problems already. I am just wondering if its good to go, or if a turbo will rip it shreds. BTW, I was also planning on doing the TCI Master Overhaul Kit.
Reasons why I think the tranny has an issue, 1) the shift from 1st to 2nd is wierd, the car kind of lunges forward during the shift. Kind of hard to explain, its like the shift is taking too long or something. Happens during hot weather, not all the time though, its kind of random. 2) A lot of the time, the shift from 3rd to 4th won't occur unless I take my foot off the gas. I was stuck in 3rd at just over 4k rpms, it wasn't shifting, so I let off the gas, and after a couple seconds, it shifted. I don't know if its the extremely hot weather or what, but I feel its an issue I should address before jumping into the turbo.
BTW, my car has 53k miles on it.

 
Rep Power: 251

If it is an auto your talking about.

My auto tranny was doing the same thing around 60K miles, and it eventually blew. If I were you I would get adress your problem before you turbo. I got my tranny rebuilt and the car is running fin now, and im going turbo in a couple weeks.

 
Rep Power: 317

What did you do in order to get your tranny rebuilt? Did you take it to a shop and have them check it out? How much did it cost?
Turbo or not, if my tranny has issues they need to be addressed now.

Also, did you rebuild it with a turbo in mind, meaning, is it now meant to handle the extra power that a turbo will provide?

 
Rep Power: 251

To be honest I have do idea. My dad is a mechanic so he has alot of hookups, so he took my tranny and had a friend of his rebuild it. I don't know if he charged him or not, so I couldn't realy tell you how much it was. Definitely adress your tranny problem now. Right now it will probably be an easy fix. If you wait till it blows you might have to spend more money to fix it. I wanted to buy the overhaul kit and have my dads friend install it. but it wouldn't come in time. I may be wrong but the overhaul kit consists of stonger bolts and seals, so I am guessing when the guy rebuilt it he used stronger bolts, o-rings, and gaskets. I am just going to boost the car and see if the tranny holds up. You might be fine with running 5-7psi with a tranny cooler.

Have you checked you tanny fluid

 
Rep Power: 317

No, haven't checked the tranny fluid, I was going to do a flush this week, see what kind of difference that makes.
Definately going to do a tranny cooler, and a only planning on running 5-6psi since this is a daily driver.
Guess I need to find a reputable shop that can take a look at the tranny for me.
Thanks for the help, and be sure to post up some impressions of the turbo when you get it, since you will have yours before I do.

 
Rep Power: 403

my tranny blew at 61k, right out of warreentee

 
Rep Power: 413

tranny is going. A flush will prolong it. It does it when it's hot because that's usually when trouble spots show up (hot fluid breaks down the internal clutch bands).

Do the TCI Master Overhaul with a big tranny cooler and you'll be fine. A few other people have with good luck...

 
Rep Power: 317

Should I use Honda tranny fluid or get something different when I do the flush?
Going to order the TCI Master Overhaul Kit and tranny cooler tomorrow, now to find a place to do the install.

 
Rep Power: 293

Use Honda Tranny fluid.

 
Rep Power: 317

K, just making sure before I go through the trouble. Still trying to find a place that can install the overhaul kit.

 
Rep Power: 396

I don't believe that doing the overhaul is going to fix your problem. I'm sure you've lost something, perhaps some teeth and have metal shavings going around in there.

 
Rep Power: 811

not always true. heat kills tranny, normally, but that is not the problem with ours. we have weak clutch pack and internal filter that causes them to blow. i've had a tranny cooler for quite a while and mine still on its way out. for now it only slips when cold. once everything warms up it drives fine. and ya, the tranny parts are so crappy, all the mechanics i've asked wont even rebuild one. they said it wouldn't last long and waste of time. they only will swap with new one.

 
Rep Power: 251

^^^^ True I really regret not doing a manual tranny swap. It would have costed about 1k, but I think that it is worth the money.

An auto tranny swap will be like 400-600 (i think)

 
Rep Power: 396

Well usually you can find one for sale for like 200.

 
Rep Power: 811

if you can find a shop that does manual tranny swap for decent price do it. im still looking. most say its too much custom work or some crap or they dont do it.

 
Rep Power: 413

I would hope that any competant mechanic would take the time to check the hardware while he is putting in the overhaul kit...


True, I've had autos slip when both hot under load and cold in the winter. Depends on what's dying in the tranny...

 
Rep Power: 811

if anyone gets a new auto tranny, i would strongly recommend picking up a cooler and also an oem (yes, oem) external filter kit labeled for 01-05 civic. usually only $25 on ebay. seems honda forgot to put it on at the factory, because it really is required for the tranny to operate properly. i know its a given by now, but only use the honda fluid.

 
Rep Power: 259

ill keep it kinda on topic...but i also would like to turbo my auto...what all extra do u need? like how much a tranny cooler cost and is it nessecary?

 
Rep Power: 317

Still looking for a place to check out the tranny/do the overhaul kit, I might have a place that can help me out this week.

But the manual tranny swap has me intrigued, would it really cost me $1k to do it, or is that just for the tranny? I wouldn't mind doing the swap, I see boosted manuals putting down good numbers, but are manual trannies built that much better than the auto's? What about things like a clutch, is that a common issue with manuals, more money needed to be spent here?

All I want to run is 5psi from the Dezod kit. I have 53k miles, so its not like I am a heavy driver, but I do live in a very hot climate during the summer. Is the tranny going to be a HUGE issue for me?

 
Rep Power: 811

i paid $50 for my cooler and here is a diy if anyones interested.

http://gearbox.shmikx.net/Transdiy.htm

 
Rep Power: 346

Yea, it costs a lot to rebuild a tranny. Mines blew at 50k miles and it costed me $2300 to rebuild which i dont think its worth it but I had no choice cuz the car has been down for a month and I didnt know it was that serious till I had it towed there and they took it apart!!! If I would've known it costed that much I wouldve done a k20a2 swapped right away. So now the $2300 is down the drain cuz Im swapping. Dont know how much I should sell the whole set up for.


One more thing about swappin to manual, its a lot of work and its almost the same as just swapping the motor in. You will need manual subframe, ecu, shifter cables, shifter box, clutch master, clutch pedals, clutch line, axles, manual cluster, manual engine harness, etc etc etc.........

 
Rep Power: 317

^^^
What is your estimated total cost for the manual swap, parts and labor both? Trying to get an idea of what it costs.
I think I will just stick with the auto for now. Do the cooler and overhaul kit and run with it. Save money in the mean time, if it goes out, I'll do the manual swap. Gotta know how much I need to save up for the swap though Thanks for the help.

 
Rep Power: 320

it might be cheaper just to buy a used tranny on ebay. Preferably a 04-05 one. I've seen whole d17 engines go for $700. You can probably buy the tranny for $300. I'm sure they can drop it in for you for a few hundred. I found a shop that would do a k20 swap for $500 so i figure a d17 tranny swap would be less.

 
Rep Power: 346

I didnt swap to manual gonna swap to manual k20a2