96 Accord EX Automatic Tranny Dead?
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Joined: Sep 2004
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96 Accord EX Automatic Tranny Dead?
Hello,
I've been reading many postings about different accord AT problems.
I have a 96 Accord Ex with 133k miles on it.
Recently I drained the transmission fluid about 3 times replacing it with Dexron III, and found that the transmission would shift real hard. After reading some postings, drained the transmission again 2 times and this time used Honda ATF-Z1 to refill. Right away it started shifting real nice and smooth.
A couple of days ago while driving on the highway and I put the car on cruise control, after I came to a stop turned off the car. Turned the car back ON, the transmission started shifting really weak, then started slipping as I tried try to accelerate. I let the car sit overnight and next day started it up and it drove just fine. A day later it started slipping again, but this time it would not cure itself, a check engine light came on and D4 light was flashing no matter if it was in P or D3 or R.
I have a feeling that its an electrical/control problem. Does anyone know where to get the "Codes" for the ATC messages? I think that maybe its one of the solenoids that went bad. Also which solenoid is the most likely one to cause slipping problems (lock up or shift?), also not being able to catch any gear, basically its like in neutral all the time.
Thank you,
allinone
I've been reading many postings about different accord AT problems.
I have a 96 Accord Ex with 133k miles on it.
Recently I drained the transmission fluid about 3 times replacing it with Dexron III, and found that the transmission would shift real hard. After reading some postings, drained the transmission again 2 times and this time used Honda ATF-Z1 to refill. Right away it started shifting real nice and smooth.
A couple of days ago while driving on the highway and I put the car on cruise control, after I came to a stop turned off the car. Turned the car back ON, the transmission started shifting really weak, then started slipping as I tried try to accelerate. I let the car sit overnight and next day started it up and it drove just fine. A day later it started slipping again, but this time it would not cure itself, a check engine light came on and D4 light was flashing no matter if it was in P or D3 or R.
I have a feeling that its an electrical/control problem. Does anyone know where to get the "Codes" for the ATC messages? I think that maybe its one of the solenoids that went bad. Also which solenoid is the most likely one to cause slipping problems (lock up or shift?), also not being able to catch any gear, basically its like in neutral all the time.
Thank you,
allinone
Senior Member
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,073
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From: SoCal
i doubt its ecu or tcu related. honda auto trannies are garbage. mine did exactly what yours did, slipping intermitently, d4 flashing, then one day it just took a shit and wouldnt move/shift no matter what i did. i took out the tranny and took it apart and found out that the clutch packs were all ****ed up after the 2-3yrs of nitrous usage and the filter screen was clogged to death and not allowing enough aft pressure run through the tranny. i decided to convert to a 5spd and im loving it. the process of doing the conversion is a pain in the ass with the engine still in the bay but its all worth it now.
dumping the my exedy cerametallic racing clutch + nitrous launching out of the hole is awesome now i just need some traction.
dumping the my exedy cerametallic racing clutch + nitrous launching out of the hole is awesome now i just need some traction.
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Tranny Slipping???
Hey "bonestock",
Thank you for your response.
I found out that those TCU codes meant, and here is a list of them:
************************************************
CODE LIST:
1. Lock-up solenoid 'A' circuit open or shorted.
2. Lock-up solenoid 'B' circuit open or shorted.
3. Throttle Position Sensor circuit open or shorted.
4. Vehicle Speed Sensor open or shorted - No signal from speedometer.
5. Shift Lever Position Switch circuit shorted.
6. Shift Lever Position Switch circuit open.
7. Shift Solenoid 'A' circuit open or shorted.
8. Shift Solenoid 'B' circuit open or shorted.
9. Counter shaft or transmission speed pulse generator open or shorted.
10. Coolant Temperature Sensor open or shorted.
11. Engine RPM (Ignition coil signal) open or shorted.
12. (No code 12 used)
13. Main shaft speed pulse generator open or shorted.
14. Linear (line pressure control) solenoid open or shorted.
15. Kick down switch circuit shorted.
************************************************** *****
So I had two bad/stock solenoid problems, and kickdown switch problem.
I took the solenoids off, applied +12V to them and worked them. The lower solenoid had some gunk stuff in its path, so I used a tire air pump to blow out anything that's stuck in there. I put those solenoids back on the tranny, it started driving with no check engine light and no transmission error light, but it still had a wheezling sound and would slip if tried to drive harder. So I did the TCU diagnostics and it had no error messages.
I could not locate a kick down switch, but since no error messages, means that maybe those solenoids were causing that third error.
Do you think that my tranny is starting to die regardless of any electronics that I would check/replace?
Has anyone had similar year Accord with a similar simptoms?
Thanx,
allinone
Thank you for your response.
I found out that those TCU codes meant, and here is a list of them:
************************************************
CODE LIST:
1. Lock-up solenoid 'A' circuit open or shorted.
2. Lock-up solenoid 'B' circuit open or shorted.
3. Throttle Position Sensor circuit open or shorted.
4. Vehicle Speed Sensor open or shorted - No signal from speedometer.
5. Shift Lever Position Switch circuit shorted.
6. Shift Lever Position Switch circuit open.
7. Shift Solenoid 'A' circuit open or shorted.
8. Shift Solenoid 'B' circuit open or shorted.
9. Counter shaft or transmission speed pulse generator open or shorted.
10. Coolant Temperature Sensor open or shorted.
11. Engine RPM (Ignition coil signal) open or shorted.
12. (No code 12 used)
13. Main shaft speed pulse generator open or shorted.
14. Linear (line pressure control) solenoid open or shorted.
15. Kick down switch circuit shorted.
************************************************** *****
So I had two bad/stock solenoid problems, and kickdown switch problem.
I took the solenoids off, applied +12V to them and worked them. The lower solenoid had some gunk stuff in its path, so I used a tire air pump to blow out anything that's stuck in there. I put those solenoids back on the tranny, it started driving with no check engine light and no transmission error light, but it still had a wheezling sound and would slip if tried to drive harder. So I did the TCU diagnostics and it had no error messages.
I could not locate a kick down switch, but since no error messages, means that maybe those solenoids were causing that third error.
Do you think that my tranny is starting to die regardless of any electronics that I would check/replace?
Has anyone had similar year Accord with a similar simptoms?
Thanx,
allinone
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 3,339
Likes: 1
From: new york city
well it all depends how ur car has been driving. 133k driving hard = new tranny and usually flashing D4 is u better have $2000 ready. my friend got a car with 100k miles and the dude that had the car didnt take care of it so within a yr after buying it his tranny die. hope is something simple