1997 Accord SE Auto Trans problem

Change your fluid (with honda atf) and check the adjustment of the throttle pressure cable.

I guess you are referring to when you slow down considerably,but not come to a complete stop.You attempt to accelerate and it takes a second or two for the revs to come back up?If so,I noticed the same problem(well,assumed problem)I called a service manager here in Halifax and he told me that was normal....a part of the Grade logic technology....something like slowing down to almost a complete stop and attempting to accelerate in second gear,if you were running a manual transmission. Let me know if this sounds like what you are experiencing.

Just to let you know. I signed up with AutoForumz. This is Bruce. My previous post was taken from the newsgroup.

Well, I'll see if I can describe another situation just to see if we're on the same wave length. Let's say I'm slowing down to make a right-hand turn on to a street. I'd have to say that I'd slowing down from about 50kph to about 15kph. Half way through the turn I'll go to accelerate and the revs go up of course because it's changing gears. But then they come down again once it's finished downshifting. My suspicion is that it's completly disengaging from the higher gear and then shifting to the lower.

I used to have a manual transmission. It's like having it in third while giving it gas. Then poping it into first while still giving it gas. I know it's impossible to do that with a manual unless you have three feet But the idea is that the engine has no load on it for a second. That's why the revs would go from say 750rpm (coasting) to say 3500 to say 2000 as it's downshifting.

I can understand a slight hesitation if you're going slow and then give it gas. But I think the revs would simply jump up and stay up after the car has downshifted. But no go way up and then come back down once it's engaged.

The other thing I didn't mention was that to go from Park to Drive, there's about a 3-4 second delay. When I took it into Wininipeg Honda last, they just replaced the ATF for 60 clams to see if it would make a difference. I didn't notice anything.

you may have a weakening transmission. hopefully it won't get too bad. honda transmissions are durable. it could still last another 5-10 years if it's not too bad and you take care of it. if not look for a used one and find somebody to help you mount it for cheap.

---------------------------- Bruce,

You've just described a perfectly normal Honda tranny (of that vintage, anyway). They are not the same as anything out there. I've owned two Odyssey that waited a full second before shifting into drive from Park. When nearly stopped, a Honda tranny will very often clunk into gear with a jolt. Most Honda trannies get indecisive when they're nearly at a dead stop. . . Gunning it will cause it to overrev or slam into whatever gear is handy (my interpretation).

If you're even a tiny bit handy, go buy about seven litres of Honda Z1, and drain your tranny thoroughly (wait a while or run it thru the gears for ten seconds). Refill and drive ten miles or do it again next day / weekend. There's a slight possibility the previous owner may have put non-Honda ATF in it, so it would need to be replaced (I'd do it anyway, just since you don't know the absolute whole story)

'Curly'