Anyone know of a reliable supplier of refurb'd trannies? I can get them from the dealer for approx. $1700-2000 or from AutoZone for around $15XX after the return of the core.

I need to do the rear main seal but it seems pointless without going ahead and doing the tranny since 3rd is starting to slip some. Or should I risk paying the labor twice and see if a good tranny fluid change will smooth it out again?

I appreciate everyone's input so far.

As of right now, I'm planning on the oil pan gasket, the oil pan drain plug, the power steering leak, the inner and outer tie rods, and then probably the rear main seal depending on the consensus of what to do about the tranny.

Thanks again.

 

Don't put too much money in it. I mean a rebuilt transmission. You better get
a used one and put extra money towards your new one.
Replace tranny for a used one and do a seal at the same time. Fluid change won't help your transmission. There is going to be a problem with a used tranny. They are going to be with lots of miles on these 11-12 year old transmissions. I would check if it is possible to fit a 6 gen transmission in 5 gen.

 

I dunno. I might rather have a 5th gen auto than a 6th with the splendid reliability issues the 6th's have. :ugh:

 

So the consensus is to go used and not rebuilt??? I can get a 3 yr warrantied from the dealer and even AutoZone... What about that as an option? It's not a cheap option but it's better than no warranty or only a 1 yr warranty that some places offer....

 

yo I got the exact same car but a 1996. my tranny went out and I got a new tranny with 2-3 yr warranty and free car rental until i got my car back for $2000 or $2500 but is totally worth it.
I got it from this place http://reliabletransmissionsltd.com/ is too bad I dont think they have a shop in ur area. this ppl all they do is tranny 24/7 from cheese bus to all gov and to my honda
oh I also had a problem with the oil leak by the tranny. it wasnt really leaking but were able to see some dark oil between the tranny and engine. they took care that when they replace the tranny.

 

Here's a follow up....

Things I did that weren't a "fix" but just maintenance I opted to have done while it was in anyway:
- Coolant change
- Valve adjustment (usually do this myself, but this time...)
- Tranny fluid change
- Fuel filter replaced

Things that needed to be FIXED:
- Suction hose on power steering reservoir replaced (this fixed a pretty bad leak of power steering fluid)
- Outer tie rod ENDS replaced and inner and outer tie rod boots replaced
- Alignment (which feel out of the above...)
- Oil pan gasket replaced
- Oil pan replaced too (had 4 mm crack right near the drain plug hole)
- Left axle seal replaced (This was the source of my major leaking. I thought it was oil from the rear main. Nope. Tranny from the axle seal. Glad I had this caught and fixed. Subsequently, 3rd gear doesn't seem to be slipping anymore now that I had the tranny fluid changed and topped off.)
- Oil and filter change (This just happened because of the oil pan/gasket replacement. I ALWAYS change it myself usually.)

At a dealer = $1379 ... Not good and I don't feel great about it... but my car is fixed (for now at least), major issues are no more (which takes the stress I had about everything away), and it beats a new car payment too.

Even though I thought I knew what needed to be done, I backed up and asked them to check and advise prior to the work being done. I had a gut feeling about a couple of things but asked that they check instead of just asking them to fix what I *thought* was wrong. This saved me a couple of bullets and some money too. Plus, I was able to fix the real issues, like the left axle seal instead of them going in after the rear main because that's what I told them to do. Anyway, let that be a lesson for whatever it's worth...

 

That's definelty better than a new car payment! I do have a question though. What color was the tranny fluid? Sorry for not knowing this yet (recent purchase-other projects first), but doesn't the tranny use ATF (red)?

It must not, since you thought it was motor oil.

I'm sure they put a new valve cover gasket set on there too, right?

 

You are correct. Tranny fluid is and was supposed to be red. However, mine was old and way overdue to be changed, so that's why it was brown and hence, why it was initially hard for me to tell what it was. It was brown and smelled like oil. In hindsight, I should have known that it was tranny fluid.

And yes, a valve cover gasket goes along with the valve job and was done.

 

Still have tranny leak after all... Replaced left axle seal but now they are saying that it may be my diff. as the axle is moving way to much in there. This of course happens after I hear a couple of loud pops in a row while taking a left on the way BACK to the dealer the next day after discovering that I still had a tranny leak.

They are ordering in a new CV axle to try to see if that fixes the issue but otherwise it looks like the diff from what they are now saying, which does not make me happy.

BTW, just as a friendly note. My dealer's policy is to suggest a new VTEC solenoid when they start leaking. That part alone is around $342 plus around $143 in labor to put it in. However, come to find out, that they can just do the gasket which is a $12 part but the labor remains the same. Engine light may come on at some point if the solenoid is messing with, aka gasket is replaced, but this is certainly a cheaper option than a new solenoid.

 

They swapped out the left CV axle and tried it. Seemed fine. Replaced the left axle seal AGAIN and put my other CV axle back in. Still has some play in the axle but there seems to be absolutely no signs of any leakage now. The Service Manager seems to think it was installation issue as they could not see or find anything else that could have been wrong. I would guess the seal got cut or pinched the first time in. They supposedly drove it for 38 test miles or so and I drove it again this evening for a bit. No more leaks of any sort as of right now....