Hey whats up everyone.
There's a little problem with my car that you guys can help me on.

For my first car, I purchased a 1990 Acura Integra GS Hatchback with 170000 miles on it for $1500 knowing that it had a small transmission problem. What this problem is, is that when the engine is cold (for example, when I park the car overnight and start it up again in the morning), the transmission (it's automatic), won't shift up to second gear until the car's been warmed up for about ten minutes. Also, when the transmission starts to shift up, it won't come down to the first gear. For example, lets say I'm cruising down a street and I hit a stoplight and when the light turns back to green and I step on the gas, it feels like the car's starting at 2nd gear. In another words, acceleration becomes very weak.

Also when I'm driving on the freeway going about 80mph, the engine runs at 4000 RPM. Is this normal? or is it too high?

Anyways, all the problems I listed above are not major problems but it's really really annoying and I really would love to get it fixed if it won't cost too much. If you have the slightest idea of what this problem is, your response will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

 

well the last part, about it staying at 4K rpm when you are going 80 may be right if you do not have overdrive..... the other part sounds like your transmission is slipping. My friend had an integra just like yours , automatic and everything. When it was cold he had the same problems. When it gets warm the fluid in the transmission would warm up and it would work a little bit better. What you should do is pull the dipstick to the transmission and smell the oil, if it smells burnt then you need to rebuild/replace your tranny, lemme know what happens

 

I've checked the transmission oil dip stick yesterday and it did seem like it was somewhat low on oil but I didn't catch any burnt type of a smell. I'm going to town to replace my transmission oil right now and I'll see what happens afterwards.

BTW, how much would it be to get my transmission rebuilt? And is it worth it to rebuild my tranny? cuz i did buy this car for just $1500 and its a cheap old car afterall..

 

I just had Jiffy Lube so the auto transmission service on my 96 prelude today. They drain about 30-50% of the fluid and replace the filter/screen and replace the gasket too. Of course fill it back up with fresh oil too.

Mine works smoother now when shifting and feels a little more "peppy". It was only like $35 for it too, not bad. I bought the car used, they didn't have all the records for what services had been done... so I don't know if/when it was ever changed.

 

I'll give you my opinion but you have to remeber i'm only going off of what you told me i haven't driven your car. The fact that your car won't shift till it warms up tells me that you have a stuck valve in your valve body, most likely the govonor valve. The reason it shifts when it warms up is either one your low and tranny fluid and your never getting the proper fluid to build enough pressure (this is less likely) or two you got too much contamination in your fluid which is sticking the valve and once the tranny warms up everything expands enough to allow that stuck valve to move again. The reason it feels like it's taking off like it's in 2nd is because it is taking off in 2nd if you have a sticking govonor valve it will make your car take off in 2nd gear, also prelude99 is right you don't seem like your getting it to shift to overdrive. You can tinker with it as much as you want, but bottom line is until you rebuild it, it will never work properly. My shop rebuilds those trannies for 1095 plus hard parts shops like ammco are going to want more like 1600to 2500 to do a rebuild. I would expect to pay around 2,000 to get it fixed properly unless you want to risk it and try a used one but that's a huge risk.

Also clickwir... unless honda's have changed their tranny design they don't have a pan gasket or a replacable filter on the service. On all honda's i've done 1994 civic was the newest the filter is the last thing you remove from their trannies, don't ask my why they do it that way but you don't question it, it works somehow. Just making you aware in case they charged you for a filter and pan gasket. If so look into that, all though $35 is dirt cheap cuz honda fluid is 5 bucks a quart.

 

This happened to me in my old 92 Celica. It wouldnt shift into 5th gear until warm at first. I didnt think anything of it and finally ended when it wouldnt shift into 5th at all. Might be time for a new tranny, take it to a good tranny place, maybe they can rebuild yours or what not.

 

highlife, yurs is a 5th speed though so the problem you probably had was the 5th gear synchro right? his is an auto and its not shifting......

 

i would just make it a 5 spd tranny a lot cheaper and better in the long run:thumbup:

 

No my celica was auto...dont ask i bought it cheap.

The problem turned out to be some my transmission. I needed a rebuild. I had 175k miles on the car and never once did i have to mess with it. I guess after a while you just need to get it done.

 

Hmmm I didn't know that a 92 Celica came with a 5 speed automatic......