Rep Power: 0

I recently bought a 2002 Honda Civic Lx, my stratus ate **** on me and this car gets better gas mileage. I have driven sticks all my life, so when this new car was an automatic I kind of fraund upon it but I desperately needed a car. Now when I test drove it, it was wierd when I was accelerating from second to third, the engine reved up a little bit for like a sec before it went into third. I thought something was wrong but the guy said honda automatics do that. Any truth to that statement???????? Or is something wrong with the tranny and/or engine??? Starting to think something is wrong because its starting to kind of do it from first to second. I want to know if this is ok?? Couple honda guys said its ok, but I want to know from others as well. Please help!

 
Rep Power: 811

its the defective clutch pack in the 01-02 auto trans. very well known problem, eventually it will break and youll need a new or rebuilt trans. but what you described is called "slipping" of the gears and happens when the clutches get worn out and its harder to grab the next gear. i have an 02 also and it does the same thing. started at 50k miles and im at 88k so at least it hasnt gotten any worse. you may be able to drive a few more years before anything even happens. so having already bought the car you are stuck with it obviously, but i wouldnt worry too much about it breaking. you should still be able to get some more use out of it. definately not normal tho.

 
Rep Power: 0

Ya mine has 140,000 and is doing it. Check engine light came on yesterday too, go figure ****ing buying used cars! But I had it hooked up and its some stupid emissions problem it said. So anything from bad gas cap to loose vaccume hose. So I need to figure out where vaccume lines are and make sure they are good to go. Or replace cap. Any other things I should watch out for with this 02??

 
Rep Power: 811

i havent really had that many problems, just the usual maint items like brakes, tires, shocks, may want to check the front lower control arm (compliance) bushings as they are prolly torn on yours by now just being rubber. i would also suggest getting new gas cap, radiator cap, maybe oil cap, and checking all fluids. im not sure how well the owner took care of it but you may want to check at least the obvious like air filter, plugs, cabin filters, battery, etc. might need to flush some fluids like coolant and brake fluid. maybe drain and refill the trans fluid too and it may shift a bit better.