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Hi, I am researching as much as I can to hopefully save myself some $$. My 2002 EX with 145,000 miles all of a sudden stopped in the road almost as if I shifted the gear into neutral, but this is an automatic. The engine just revs and eventually it will not move forward at all. I had it towed, and had to pick it up and drove it 6 miles back to my house. At first it was driving somewhat okay, could feel major slipping, but then it got to the point where I could not go any faster than 20mph or it would just stop. I turned the car off, started it again and it drove, but only if i barely, barely accelerated. It will go into Reverse, I tried driving in D2 and 3, but no difference. I borrowed a diagnostic tester and got the code DTCFR2RF P0730.
Transmission fluid isn't red, but it isn't burnt. It is a light pinkish brown color. I know the control arm bushings need replacing, I doubt that has anything to do with this problem though.
I'm a female and this is my first try at delving into the world of transmissions, but it sounds like it could be a problem with a soleniod. On the other hand, the engine sounds awful.. humming noise which i'm reading torque converter.
Do you have any advice on what I should do first? Of course this happens right before Christmas and it's just me and my 5 month old. Am I just going to be out a car now? Why does everyone say, "Honda's run forever" if mine has just died under 150K? I've gotten the oil changed in a timely manner and I've had the timing belt replaced, camshaft sensor and another belt just in the past year or so. Is there hope? Is it possible for someone inexperienced to replace a soleniod?
I really appreciate any guidance you can offer me. Thanks so much! Hope to hear from someone soon.
Laura
Last edited by JonesL4; Nov 18, 2014 at 12:50 PM.
Reason: additional details
Yeah needs a transmission for sure. Doing that job in a garage by yourself is easier said than done. Its a huge job. Like ezone said your best bet is to bite the bullet and go to the dealer for this one.
So you both say new transmission. No chance it could be something a little more minor or cheaper? Isn't this the point where people say, "the car isn't worth as much as i would have to put into it."
This is awful. Thanks for responding though! Even if its not what I was hoping to hear.
You can try cleaning the linear and shift solenoid screen. Also, you can change the transmission fluid, check the ground wires and do an ECU relearn. If that fails, you need to do a rebuild make sure to get a new torque converter.
Same thing happened to my 02 Civic EX and I had to get the transmission replaced. When I spoke to Honda and did a little more research I found it was a known issue with this year.
2nd gear pack is toast, the filter is plugged.
When it sits and cools it lets enough through that it'll run for a bit. Ask how I know this? I rebuilt mine in my garage for the exact symptoms.
It can be done diy for under 500 bucks, but yes. It is not for the faint of heart and you will need a driver and it isn't something for a mom of an infant or anyone who isn't great with a wrench and has a large box of tools. In short if you are anything short of a gearhead don't attempt. So long story short, it isn't worth it. Yes a Honda does run forever. Just a couple models don't drive forever
2nd gear pack is toast, the filter is plugged.
When it sits and cools it lets enough through that it'll run for a bit. Ask how I know this? I rebuilt mine in my garage for the exact symptoms.
It can be done diy for under 500 bucks, but yes. It is not for the faint of heart and you will need a driver and it isn't something for a mom of an infant or anyone who isn't great with a wrench and has a large box of tools. In short if you are anything short of a gearhead don't attempt. So long story short, it isn't worth it. Yes a Honda does run forever. Just a couple models don't drive forever
I have an 02 civic EX, four door-First Civic, ever. Transmission has similar symptoms as described above; it started to slip and after while, it would not move, either forward nor backwards. Waited about an hour and I was able to drive it to safety. Now that it's cold, it still slips a bit when moving forward but runs fine. Would this be signs of a bad transmission or is it the "2nd gear pack is toast, the filter is plugged"?
I have an 02 civic EX, four door-First Civic, ever. Transmission has similar symptoms as described above; it started to slip and after while, it would not move, either forward nor backwards. Waited about an hour and I was able to drive it to safety. Now that it's cold, it still slips a bit when moving forward but runs fine. Would this be signs of a bad transmission or is it the "2nd gear pack is toast, the filter is plugged"?
Do you have P0730? That is the "death code" for the transmissions.
Do you have P0730? That is the "death code" for the transmissions.
Checked codes and yes, p0730 is one found, along with p0740. The all refer to solenoids being plugged up. I have very little experience with auto trans so I am confused as once the car cools down, it runs. Can it still mean the trans is DEAD?
Thanks
Thanks for your valuable info. I have only had the car for about two months, got it cheap and now know why, but still like it as its previous owner replaced the head gasket recently, and I am thinking about replacing the trans with a remanufactured one, or switch it with a 5 sp manual. Would love to hear your thought on this.
Thanks, again
there are less reports of failed trans on the 04-05 cars.01-02 have the most, some 03
Okay. I am thinking if I get another transmission, it will likely break down on me again. Right? I am surprised that Honda did not recall all these cars based on a bad transmissions and repaired them for free. I do know that once Honda sold to Renault company, transmissions became trash, but I thought it was only on cars newer than 01...
Any recommendations on how to fix my car? Are there good 02 Civic transmissions out there?
Thank you
Thanks. This being my first Civic, I know very little about their transmissions issues. I did see some videos where they clean the solenoid filters and get them to run again but I thinking that's not a permanent solutions. Am I right?
Solenoid filters can be accessed without tearing the trans apart but the main internal ATF filter is inside the trans and is the main issue, so correct not a permanent solution.
Thank you. I believe I will try to get a remanufactured replacement transmission, if not found, I will sell the car and get another with a manual transmission.
I appreciate your feedback.
AM
Do you have P0730? That is the "death code" for the transmissions.
Hey FRSam,
I am having weird issues with my trans an I'm not having any codes... I tested an cleaned my linear solenoid, replaced shift solenoid just because it was relatively affordable and TCC solenoid because it was stuck, checked an cleaned all grounds an wires an connectors.. Especially the notorious G201.. but my trans issue i swear is electrical because i have no slipping, but after i put in gear it drives perfect then it is like it goes into neutral an will just rev.. I can put car in park cut it off an back on crank it no wait time an put it in gear an it goes into gear smooth pulls good then repeat.. I did a drain an refill 2 times so far.. an 1st time was just as clean an red as the 2nd.. no debris magnet was pretty well clean.. even all the screens on all the solenoids were clean.. fluid does not smell burnt..
im ADHD really bad an my hyper focus has me 6days digging an checking an im just curious of what else electrical could cause this... i know tcm/ecu is all tied together.. an i had a random knock sensor code P0325 pop up but i may have caused it cause i was gently bumping throttle to get it to engage into gear b4 cutting car off..
You can see the brass on my old TCC solenoid an the new one was not showing... the old was more of a spark tick with a buzzing where it was locked up an new was a nice solenoid click sound... so any ideas what im dealing with.
That sounds mechanical to me. I'm not sure what your mileage is but it just sounds symptomatic of your clutch pack beginning to fail.
Car has 206k, trans pull good no slip then it does that.. I took video of it.. it's definitely weird, because I can do it over an over an by cutting car off then back on its like it it resets what ever it is electrical.. an I'm getting NO codes so I'm lost on it.
Car has 206k, trans pull good no slip then it does that.. I took video of it.. it's definitely weird, because I can do it over an over an by cutting car off then back on its like it it resets what ever it is electrical.. an I'm getting NO codes so I'm lost on it.
Yeah, I'm guessing your transmission is just toast. The lack of codes is what's telling me it's not electrical. It's almost certainly an internal mechanical failure. I'm not sure how long you've owned the car either but it certainly sounds like someone previously has tried fixing it.
Transmission Failure in 02 Ex 
Thanks for responding though! Even if its not what I was hoping to hear. 
