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Recently, I had the auto transmission replaced in my ’01, 2.3L Accord by an independent transmission shop. I know for a fact they have a lot of experience with Odyssey transmission replacements, however, Accords? Maybe not so much. The trans is performing flawlessly, however the shop has managed to instill an annoying vibration somewhere in the drivetrain or suspension which changes with road speed. Thanks to Eric’s videos, I’ve now seen first hand how the axles “should†be removed and reinstalled. While I’ve never done this particular operation-yet-it looks straightforward enough.
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Take it back to the shop and have them make it right. If it wasn’t there to begin with, it shouldn’t be there now.
Something is probably loose, or maybe a mount did get damaged. It could probably be lots of things, but I would start with bringing it back to the shop.
+1 on taking it back to the shop that performed the work.
Do you have the vibration through all driving speeds or at one particular speed?
The vibration is at all road speeds and seems to increase in severity with speed. I had the front wheels checked for balance and they were ok.
I fully intend to return it to the shop. The problem being it’s a 100 mile (my bad) round trip and a pita. Unfortunately, there are no local shops beyond the so-called Honda dealer around here, so, I’m trying to gather ideas for the possible cause(s) of this kind of vibration before I make the trip. All input is appreciated!
The ‘vibration’ you describe is a classic tire or wheel problem, what gives it away is the low speed part. I would rotate your tires to see if the problem changes or goes away. BTW balance would have nothing to do with a tire issue like the one I believe you have as if you have a tire balance problem it will normally show up at speeds of 55-60. Try rotating your tires and see what happens.
+1 on rotating tires. I bet if they took the tires off the prob didn’t put them back on where they originaly were. reason i say this is cause i had my moms tires rotated and after that it had a vibration/road noise big time…So i had them put the tires b
Ive found if the vibration is felt in the steering wheel, then its in the front tires, and if its felt in the drivers seat,then its in the rear tires.
Let’s not forget my experience with engine imbalance. Rough running engines (compression loss causing imbalance) can cause vibration and in my case isn’t physically noticeable if you put your hand on the engine. Not that it’s likely in this case but just want to say that in case this comes up in a forum search for someone.
OK. So the tires have been rotated and checked for out-of-round. This is the third time I’ve been through this excercise and feel confident it’s not a tire or wheel issure. However, the rotatoinal vibration remains firmly planted somewhere in the front end. Interestingly, I was under the hood, with the engine at idle looking for “anything” the trans shop may have not gotten hooked back up or tightened down correctly. I layed my hand on the valve cover and the engine is so vibration free I could hardly tell it was running. However the intake manifold is a different story. It’s vibrating like crazy at idle. I checked all the intake fasteners and they are all tight, all hoses are connected. In my simple mind, if one part of the engine is vibrating, shouldn’t any other part of engine?
Another test drive and I noticed the vibration can be felt through the accelerator and floorboard as bad as or worse than through the steering wheel.
So what’s been done to this car in the last 6 months:
New Honda pads all the way around (Great video, Eric)
Flushed brake fluid
A couple of oil & filter changes
One trans drain and fill (pre surgury transmission)
Tires rotated, balanced and checked for out of round 3 times
RF wheel bearing replaced (Dealer ripoff trying to diagnose the original carrier bearing failure)
Transmission swap
Front end goes to hellThe car has only 53K miles on it, so it’s not exactly a high mileage grinder. Tires are 1 year old Goodyear Assurance Triple Tread with less than 6K miles on them. Exept for the transmission, everything else is stock OEM.
Since it sounds like the vibration started ” after ” the trans work I would suspect something to do with said work. check for loose mounts by putting a load on the motor ( p-brake on, wheels chock blocked for safety ) have some one watch to see if the trans /motor moves excessivley. prob could possibly be loose t-convertor bolts / flex plate bolts. either way you should definantely take it back to the shop that did the work and have them make it right. keep us posted.
Perhaps I didn’t understand your discription of the problem correctly then as a ‘vibration’ at low speeds is pretty much always a tire or wheel problem but given that you have elaborated on your description perhaps there is an engine performace issue or an issue with the transmission itself which is what might I suspect at this point. The only other thing it might be is an axle issue, if an axle was damaged in the process of the transmission R&R this could also cause a vibration under acceleration. Remember things that rotate cause vibrations.
+1 on taking it back to the trans shop before your warranty runs out, perhaps a problem with the trans internal parts, I have replace a lot of honda automatic trans for leaky inner axle seal caused by worn out carrier bearings. Just a thought
If the vibration is coming from the transmission the most common culprit is the torque converter. If it’s the engine then perhaps imbalance as I stated earlier. It’s fairly cheap to get a compression test done or DIY. Compression testers cost about $30-$40 and the tool is yours for life. In a shop maybe $50-$100 depending on where you get the test done. Torque converter failure should throw a code but in my case for example the cylinder compression loss did not give me any code.
Your issue started when you had the transmission serviced. Obviously take it back and have them take a look. They didn’t test drive the vehicle?
Last summer, probably less than 3k miles ago, I did a wet/dry compression test as part of my annual service. I don’t have my service notes in front of me, but as I recall, all 4 cylinders were within 2-3 lbs of each other wet or dry. I don’t have a leak down tester so that may be a good test to have done. Like I said, sitting at idle, the engine is nice and quiet with no rocking around no thrown codes. And, when I really stand it, power delivery is more than ample and smooth.
I’m beginning to think I have two unrelated problems. One, the trans shop somehow damaged the axles thus causing the rotational vibration which varies with road speed. And, two, the transmission may be the source of the vibration I’m feeling through the accelerator and floor board when stopped at a stop light. Be that as it may, the car goes back to the trans shop next Tuesday. Today, I took the shop owner for a ride and he agrees “there is something not right”. Well, duh. Interestingly, the service writer told me 3 different people took it for a test drive, including the owner, prior to delivery back to me. Life goes on, we’ll see what Tuesday brings……
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