1990's Honda Accord 2.3 VTEC Auto Trans. Shifting Problems...and how to solve them!

If you have shifting problems in your 1998-ish Honda Accord with the 2.3 four cylinder and the automatic transmission, then this video is for you. It is not a permanent fix but there is a good chance it will get you some more life out of the little unit!
Here is the video on how to replace the transmission when it does go out! • Replacing the automati...

[@hotrod4d]

Thank you for all the views, please subscribe! If your transmission does go out, the video link of how to replace it is in the description!

[@jayporter5846]

Thank you! Bought a 98 honda accord that wouldn't shift. Did the trick.

[@gfriedman99]

The other thing you must check on these cars is the front motor mount. Those almost always are broken. When that happens the engine is going to eventually snap the passenger half axle due to excess movement under torque. Oh wait, and also check the top of the front subframe. It's usually rotted out cause they decided it was a good idea to drain the AC condensate right over it.

[@hotrod4d]

Yes! Both very good things to keep an eye on

[@Michaelsmercedes]

Thanks so much

[@jdmtechllc6589]

7:00 that ratchet sitting so close to the positive battery terminal was giving me anxiety 😦

[@hotrod4d]

Haha no worries, I never jumped a terminal on accident yet! Thanks for watching!

[@johnc7431]

A lot of good information. I haven't looked to see if you change the transmission out or not I would like to watch that one

[@hotrod4d]

Yup, sure did! Here's the link kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2rSgHlvd7-JnKssi=qHeVTEPzQMemoMaC

[@hotrod4d]

Thanks for watching and leaving a comment!

[@prcvideopro6339]

great gonna try on my 2002 4cyl this weekend- rough shift 1-2

[@hotrod4d]

It'd worth a shot! It gave me another 10k miles of life out of the old Trans before I had to swap it

[@wesayyestogunstv7644]

I think you should show us what the car doing so we will know if it’s we have the same problem on what our car doing

[@Jaak77]

Thank you

[@hotrod4d]

Thanks for watching and commenting!

[@nathancoachman5314]

Just clean solenoids and replace the filter in trans works every time if you haven’t revved the engine high and bombed out the gears 😂

[@hotrod4d]

Good idea in part, except you have remove the transmission and crack the case to change the filter in these

[@We_sayyestoguntv]

I have a question when you smelling Burnt transmission fluid (82000 miles on car ) do start a problem with your car driving

[@hotrod4d]

​@@We_sayyestoguntv it could, if it smells burnt, changing it is always a food idea in that situation

[@mandybaker8544]

​@@hotrod4dhow do you do that? Do you gotta video?

[@studousdesign]

The third item you had in your hand is not call a solenoid its call a speed sensor for the countershaft and main shaft

[@hotrod4d]

Thanks for the info! Who knew I never went to school for this lol 😆

[@brianhenry2134]

Actually that is a shift solenoid B & C and here is their part numbers 28400-P6H-003 28400-P6H-013. Had the same problem with my transmission and replaced it and still had the jerky shifts. I will try cleaning the solenoids next. Also when your transmission fluid is that black it causes more problems cause you drained all the clutch material out of it. The torque converters are also known to slip causing even more clutch material inside those screens and inside the internal filter to get gummed up. I installed a in-line filter on the hose next to the lock up solenoid so that will help as well. Use the 2.4L. element/accord transmission filter.

[@hotrod4d]

​@@brianhenry2134 great idea with the inline filter!

[@gloriacolpitts5134]

Thanks am having same issue too

[@hotrod4d]

Hopefully this helps! It got me another 10k miles and time to get a used transmission to swap in

[@gloriacolpitts5134]

@@hotrod4d yes it helps 💯💙 thanks

[@lukasscott2970]

Super helpful video! Quick question: You mention the mechanic at the transmission shop talking about the clutch degrading. What did you ask or have him check to find that out? Is that a generic transmission shop diagnosis and they find that out? (Have never had to go to a transmission shop *knock on wood* so not sure what to ask in order to look for that) Thanks in advance!

[@hotrod4d]

Thank you! When I described the symptoms to the guy and how I had cleaned so much material out of the solenoids each time he said that was what most commonly happened on those models if the fluid isn't kept changed.

[@lukasscott2970]

@@hotrod4d Awesome, thank you again so much! This will be next up on the to-do list

[@dleebox2268]

I have a 2001 accord 2.3l vtec, same car, the tranny shifts very violently in reverse, upon moving 4ward, it slips between 1rst & 2nd gears then gradually slams in to gear, i got a P1750 code, can this be the the 2nd gear clutch pressure switch?

[@hotrod4d]

Yeah that's probably the correct term for what I'm just calling "shift solenoids" in the video

[@mohamedamami2779]

i have a question, i have a 4 speed automatic transmission, same car as the video, when it shifts to 2nd gear it automatically reshifts back to first gear.

[@hotrod4d]

Sounds like your shift solenoids could be clogging up. I have a video on how to fix that and a video on how to replace the transmission

[@cuznskeet6571]

Thank you sir, I’m having same issues in my 01, I don’t know why my first thought was torque converter… it revs high from a stand still but when it hits about 3rd gear or so it levels out… took it to a part store and had them hook it up to computer and they said solenoid but couldn’t tell me which one

[@hotrod4d]

Thanks for stopping by my channel, subscribe while you're here! Hopefully this video helps and if your transmission goes out completely, I have a video for that too!

[@Michaelsmercedes]

Why would you think torque converter? Are you sure you should be working on this?

[@arksrandom5968]

I've got a 96 sohc l4 accord that has been sitting for about half a year because the transmission was slipping, where did you find the replacement transmission? Im not sure where to look for one

[@hotrod4d]

I live in Colorado and picked mine up at Best Foreign Auto out of Colorado Springs. Also try car-part.com to search salvage yards in your area. Thanks for watching, please subscribe!

[@hotrod4d]

Also, if you end up replacing it, I have a video on my channel of how to do that

[@pokemonquartz04]

Does mine need rebuilding now cause mine won’t shift to 2nd gear anymore and sometimes it won’t even go to 1st at all do you think this would help ?

[@hotrod4d]

it would probably help solve them temporarily until you can get a new trans lined up

[@Mgh101590]

My car was fine showed little to no signs of trans issues once in a while would rev up shifting from 3 to 4th gear codes p0700 and p0740 came up I replaced the Torque converter clutch solenoid within days of the codes showing up. Now none of my gears will engage after replacing the torque converter clutch solenoid. Now code p0730 has shown up after solenoid replacement and trans fluid change. I put my old transmission clutch solenoid back on and took off the new one i had installed. Could replacing the other sensors help with my issue or do you think my trans is gone.

[@hotrod4d]

Sounds like your trans might be going unfortunately, if you're finding clutch material in the fluid and filters your bands are probably toast

[@Mgh101590]

@@hotrod4d thank you for the reply . The trans fluid was dirty but no metal attached to the plug . The transmission was actually installed exactly last November. I'm probably in denial lol I just can't believe that overnight my trans went out

[@hotrod4d]

@@Mgh101590 of course, I appreciate the comments. It won't look so much like metal shavings just a silvery sludge that accumulates in your shift solenoids and makes it start slipping like crazy. Unfortunately these transmissions don't have an easily accessible filter to help extend their life

[@82Devilz]

(?)”What size is that bolt that takes the aluminum crush washer’s ? “Thank you

[@hotrod4d]

17mm I believe

[@vaREss33]

I hope this is what’s wrong with my Honda, it starts off very very slow and shifts a lil hard then speeds up(but still very slow) and then if I’m going up a hill( and it could be a small one) the acceleration drops dramatically. someone told me the alternator but I didn’t believe that. This sounds very very close to my problem 😅 so I really hope this works

[@hotrod4d]

Yeah it feels like the car will grab the gear, accelerate weakly then drop the gear. You'll know when you pull the filters and you find all the clutch material

[@Michaelsmercedes]

Don't ever take advice from anyone who says alternator. All that does is keep the car running(essentially). If it isn't shutting off on you it isn't the alternator. Slap that idiot

[@gavilangaragellc]

Could've shown the before and after view on the filters.

[@hotrod4d]

Good point, they were filthy with clutch material!

[@tonygSDWR]

Did cleaning the solenoids help your shifting problem?

[@hotrod4d]

Yes it gave me about another 10k miles of life and enough time to find another good used trans before it finally died. So, it works to get you a few more miles, but the trans will eventually let go

[@LeStatLioncourte-lb7pz]

what kind of transmission fluid did u refill it with

[@hotrod4d]

Honda brand atf straight from the dealership

[@rubinlopez3747]

Where did u find ur transmission

[@hotrod4d]

It was a place called Best Foreign Used Parts in Colorado springs. It had about 160k on it and cost me $450+

[@gemeinschaftsgeful]

2.6 Quarts.

[@gemeinschaftsgeful]

My 1999 Accord calls for 2.6 quarts refill.

[@hotrod4d]

Thanks for the info!

[@rosalindaabaoag2786]

My problem to my Honda Accord is releasing when you drive it sel

[@hotrod4d]

Yes mine would do this as well, like it would go in the gear for a minute then drop it again

[@dallasleyva8310]

My car won’t start now. Sweet

[@hotrod4d]

Did you just do the process I talked about?

[@debabrate69]

Ah theres a 1998 ex v6 with 160k on it for 5k should i pull the trigger

[@hotrod4d]

Maybe see if you can talk them down on the price a bit but the v6 models are still great cars. I only prefer the 4-cylinders for ease of maintenance

[@debabrate69]

Wow thanks for quick reply ah I forgot to say I'm in Canada lol here everything overpriced buy will definitely try to do that but in your opinion daily driving her smart idea ?

[@hotrod4d]

@@debabrate69 of course, totally makes sense about the price now so not a bad deal if everything is in good shape! It will definitely make a good reliable daily driver, other than the transmission, I've only put in basic maintenance work for the last 60k miles into mine. Be sure to check that transmission fluid though, if it's automatic

[@davidsolloway9349]

like 485 !

[@hotrod4d]

Nice!

[@l-chopo-2004]

Pààplk miss

[@CrunkyOMan83]

Too bad this isn’t permanent fix

[@hotrod4d]

Yeah unfortunately it isn't, but I did a decent video of how to swap the transmission when it goes out