Sloppy, Sluggish Shifting
 

ok...as u may know i havbe a 2001 EX with an auto tranny. Lately and for no apparent reason, whenever i got from an idle start my engine takes a while to accelerate....its kinda sluggish....also when i try to accelerate while already moving it seems to struggle a bit....any ideas as to why? its due for service in a few days anyways. Also, my steering control will sometimes jerk a bit when the gearts shift (usually at higher speeds). I think the 01 civics have looser suspesion (how much will honda charge to tighten it?) i dunno tho...plz help anyone!

P.S.- does anyone elses car get pushed around by wind, or is something wrong with my car? its just seems to be out of control when i drive while its windy!

thanx a mill

How many miles? You may want to change the transmission fluid if you haven't already.

Yup change tranny fluid and get an oil cooler as well. My shifts are strong for the most part. Fluid change will still help alot tho.

Change the fluid, and hope your tranny doesn't go, an overhaul will cost you $2,000


drive stick !

Yea, that's normal. It happened to me too when it's really windy. It's a Civic. It's a lightweight car.

When driving in the wind...roll down all of ur windows...I think it'll help u stablize ur car a little bit better. :)

thanx all...by the way, i only have about 17,900 on my car, so do yall still think its my tranny fluid?

YES! I recommend changing the fluid every 15k. The first time, there will be alot of metal pieces stuck to the magnet plug. Be sure to clean that. When you do a drain and refill, you still won't get all of the fluid out of the system. That's why it's good to do it often. I noticed a big difference in shift quality after changing at 18k miles. Just use the honda atf only! :)

15k tranny fluid change is very OFTEN.... Not that I'm going against the recommendation to change it... specially if your having shifting concerns.

but with 18K... you need to take your car to the dealer and have them look at the trans, if something is wrong with the trans, they should fix it under warranty. You're not doing nuetral drops or anything are you? Your trans should still be butter after only 18K. Hell honda manual says to change fluid after 60K or something high.

My fluid was black at 18k, and there were metal shavings all over the magnet plug. Do what you want, but even honda techs have recommended 15k to me. Also get a tranny cooler if you want to be even safer. Easy to install and only costs $50 for a nice one from B&M.

Where is the drain bolt an automatic? Also, where are the inlets/outlets to plumb an trans cooler?

Don't have a pic of the drain bolt, but you need a socket wrench (with no attachment) to loosen it. The wrench will only fit the one bolt. I've done it without even jacking up the car. Just slide under from the front. Tranny oil lines are in plain view, and a good spot for the cooler is between the radiator and condenser. The left oil line is oil coming out to the radiator, and the right line is coming back from radiator to tranny. So you basically just run a hose from the right side radiator, to the cooler, then one from the cooler to the right side tranny oil line. The left hose you don't touch.

http://www.7thgencivic.com/memberrid...8177tcool1.jpg

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