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I’ve got a 1997 Honda Civic sedan, EX trim (Canadian trim level), 1.6L non-VTEC engine (D16Y8, I believe), 4-speed automatic transmission, all with 286,000 KM and change on the odometer. (I bought the old girl a year ago at around 275,450 KM, give or take.) Looks like crap on the outside, but mostly mechanically sound except for brakes and CV axles (DIYs in progress on those) a lightly leaking cooling system (in which everything’s been replaced except the radiator proper and the coolant temp sensor), and… transmission quirks that I’ve never seen before, even in Civics of the same generation. The transmission quirks are what I’m inquiring about; to avoid being utterly pedantic, I’ll keep this as short as I can.
Transmission shifts just fine between gears two through four; shifts into reverse well enough as well. First gear, though… unless I’m real gentle with the gas pedal for the first several feet of acceleration (I’m talking “walking on eggshells” here) the transmission just… spins, is the best way I can describe it. Creates a mighty ruckus and causes the whole car to shake if I’m not careful, but it does not supply forward momentum with average gas pedal use from a dead stop. At operating temperature (not from cold start, thank heavens) it also takes a few seconds for first gear to even catch at all when shifting from park; a light grinding can be occasionally heard at that point until first gear does catch. CEL is also active; diagnostics show codes P0700 and P0715, despite replacement of transmission solenoids. Transmission fluid is pristine, having been changed by the original owner around the time I bought the car; color remains unchanged from pink even now.
While I have learned to compensate for this issue with very careful acceleration and reduced time spent behind the wheel, I would love to know the underlying cause – that way I can determine what repairs are needed, as well as if it’s worth keeping the car at all versus finding a replacement.Thank you in advance for your time and suggestions; any help I can get is greatly appreciated.
Daha3350
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Someone has a video on removing & replacing frozen bleeder valves ?
Might do a Google search ?
Best of luck on the transmission . If you had that many cuttings drain out , I would not keep expectations too high .
God bless
Wyr[quote=”WyrTwister” post=188109]Someone has a video on removing & replacing frozen bleeder valves ?
Might do a Google search ?
Best of luck on the transmission . If you had that many cuttings drain out , I would not keep expectations too high .
[/quote]
Both calipers have a thick layer of rust covering them even without the bleeder valve issue; they function well enough, but between the clear signs of age, the bleeder valves and the brake wear issue on the passenger side I’m better off just replacing both outright. May as well flush brake fluid while I’m there.
I’ve got four sources outside ETCG for all things car-related, and they all recommend that same thing for one simple reason; bleeder valves seized in on calipers that old (can’t say for certain, but all evidence suggests these are the originals from 20 years ago) almost always snap off inside the caliper.Thank you, Wyr, for the luck on the transmission… I’m presuming such a drastic volume of cuttings from the old fluid (coupled with the obscene amount of effort I had to go through just to crack the plug) is down to either the age of the transmission, the age of the transmission fluid, or some combination of both. Initial fluid change went on at 289750 KM; I’m changing the fluid at 290550 KM, 800 KM (500 miles) from the original change. If there’s a drastic amount of cuttings on the plug during that second change, then I’ll know the car’s on borrowed time (I’d sooner track down another Civic than replace the transmission in this one; easier on finances); for now, though, given the performance improvements to date I am rather optimistic this car will live a little longer.
To all who have commented on this thread so far, thank you for your assistance; when the car hits the proper mileage, I’ll change the fluid again and post regarding the results. Until then.
[quote=”Daha3350″ post=188108]Also, mckrishes, I presume you’ve read the thread’s posts to date; if you have, refer to posts made here by timinglight. He did the exact same process in his ’99 Civic as I’m doing in my ’97, and waited 500 miles (about 800 KM, give or take) before changing the fluid again. I intend to follow that example (seems the old transmission needed that new fluid and probably needs what’s to come; she’s driving better every day!) whether I use the Lucas additive on the fluid change to come will depend on my budget at the time.
The Lucas additive – at least the strong stuff; what Eric threw into his Subaru way back when – is pretty thick, yes. Not quite molasses, but not too far off; I had to wait five minutes to let the stuff flow down my funnel and into the transmission system. Thank goodness I poured that first; the DW-1 afterwards helped wash the excess off and get it where it needed to be.[/quote]I did see those posts. He assumed the incorrect fluid was used. Was that your case? Anyway, glad it’s improving and if worse comes to worse, you can always swap it out. I did it and it was real easy. In fact I just helped my nephew swap his engine out and it was pretty easy too. That manual I sent you early is very useful. Best of luck to you.
[quote=”mckrishes” post=188130]
I did see those posts. He assumed the incorrect fluid was used. Was that your case? Anyway, glad it’s improving and if worse comes to worse, you can always swap it out. I did it and it was real easy. In fact I just helped my nephew swap his engine out and it was pretty easy too. That manual I sent you early is very useful. Best of luck to you.[/quote]I was honestly unable to tell for certain if it was the case – but based on the scent of the old fluid at fresh point when I bought the car (VS the DW-1 out of the bottle, which smelled totally different), the longevity of the old fluid (less than 30,000 KM before the changeover I did; stuff’s supposed to last 48,000 KM, AKA 30,000 miles), and its final condition upon removal, all the evidence points in that direction.
That was you who sent…? (skims old posts) Oh – it was. My bad; I’d completely forgotten just who had sent me that manual. 😳
It’s sitting in my car files on an external HDD now, but has been a freakin’ godsend for the theory side of many things outside the transmission. Thank you so much, mckrishes. 🙂Update to those interested: transmission on the Civic screwed the pooch ten days ago or so, before I could save for a full repair/replacement. Oddly enough, the engine misfired twice on Doomsday as well…
In any event, the car is no longer driveable; I have purchased an Acura EL of identical vintage which has its own troubles, to be discussed in a later post.Thank you to those who have posted in this thread; your assistance has proven most kind and beneficial. See you down the road.
Daha3350
Sorry about the transmission. Go find a 2003 to 2006 honda element or CRV very reliable vehcles.
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