Car Issues ?

earlybird

earlybird

Active Member
Recently in the last month my car hasn't been shifting very smoothly.
2000 Acura TL automatic with 130,000 miles. When the car shifts from 1st to 2nd gear it's a rough shift and "jolts" a little bit. From 2nd to 3rd it's similar but not as rough.
Is it a transmission issue? I haven't changed my transmission fluid in a long time. Acceleration and handeling seem the same. Thanks I know very little about cars and motors.
 
rylan1

rylan1

Active Member
Could be a variety of things with Tranny....could be cracked or just going bad... you may need a new or rebuilt one...
That's worst case...
I had a similar problem with my car that is up there in miles...
What I did was I had a transmission flush and refill and its been good since... no problems and I did this 6 mos ago.
Your transmission fluid is probably the original fluid that came with the car.
 
earlybird

earlybird

Active Member
Shoot I hope so. I can't remember when I had the fluid changed. I just have no way of knowing and don't know if my mechanic is honest or not? I'll bring it in. I have been putting off my transmission fluid change for a long time.
 
rylan1

rylan1

Active Member
Originally Posted by earlybird
Shoot I hope so. I can't remember when I had the fluid changed. I just have no way of knowing and don't know if my mechanic is honest or not? I'll bring it in. I have been putting off my transmission fluid change for a long time.
You could also go to a Lube Stop or a place that does oil changes... Should cost less than $100. which is alot cheaper than a new tranny at $1000-$1200+
 
earlybird

earlybird

Active Member
Ok. Called around and transmissiong flush is 29.95 at jiffy lube and 109 at firestone. Firestone said that jiffy is probably just draining the pan and only putting in 4 quarts where they flush and put in the full 14 quarts (I think). The lube alone is about 30 bucks.
He also said that he might not recommend a flush if I'm having shifting issues b/c it can make them worse. Assuming it could possibly be a clutch problem the flush would do somehting with the mixing of the fluids... or something which can be bad. I have no clue.
 
digitydash

digitydash

Active Member
Originally Posted by earlybird
Ok. Called around and transmissiong flush is 29.95 at jiffy lube and 109 at firestone. Firestone said that jiffy is probably just draining the pan and only putting in 4 quarts where they flush and put in the full 14 quarts (I think). The lube alone is about 30 bucks.
He also said that he might not recommend a flush if I'm having shifting issues b/c it can make them worse. Assuming it could possibly be a clutch problem the flush would do somehting with the mixing of the fluids... or something which can be bad. I have no clue.
Check to see if you can get 100% tranny flush it also disects metals and stuff out of your tranny it cost about $79.95 @ jiffey lube.A regular flush does not get all the fluid out like fire stone sayed.Also my girlfriend did the same thing keep puting a tranny fluild change and ended up being like $1500 to fix it so ended up trading the car in for a new one.It is better to bite the bullet and do it because it will save you alot in the long run since normally it only has to be done like every 30K.If you got a amaco transmission by you they do free diagnostics for you car might be a option for you to.
 
reefraff

reefraff

Active Member
Jiffy lube will do the full flush but watch them do it. There were several JL's caught in a sting last year where they wouldn't even hook up their flush machine but charge people for it just the same. They hook your cooling lines from the transmission up to a machine and run the engine for a minute or two so it pumps out the old fluid and replaces it with new.
If you don't have a trusted mechanic take the thing to a dealership. There are so many electronic gadgets that could cause the problem it isn't even funny. They can plug the thing into a computer and tell if it is a sensor or something. It might cost you a little more for a diagnosis but at least you will know for sure it really needs a transmisson. Once you know for sure then you can shop around for the best deal on a rebuild.
 
digitydash

digitydash

Active Member
Originally Posted by earlybird
Thanks. Good call on Amaco.
Hopefully it just a sensor or need to be serviced.It a cheap way to find out though.
 
reefforbrains

reefforbrains

Active Member
I vote on a tear in the Dry disk plate for the clutch.
When you are just taking off and slowly releasing the clutch pedal, like when the clutch is out just enough to begin making contact with the flywheel, is it smooth or chunky feeling? If you feel chunks, then it is your dry disk.
Cheap part but pain to get to if this is what it is.
 
jovial

jovial

Member
This is common with Honda/Acura automatic transmissions, usually it is just more of an annoyance and will rarely leave you stranded. A simple change of the trans fluid fixed mine, the magnetic drain plug looked like a christmas tree so there was probably some kind of clotting due to metal particulate matter within the transmission fluid channels. Most transmission drain plugs are magnetic and you will notice a metallic paste covering them from the wearing of the gears. Over time this will thicken the trans fluid and can cause blockage within the smaller channels, really no different than blood vessels within the heart. clogged by fat. New fluid purged this out and now it runs fine, my trans doesnt have a filter so regular fluid replacement is especially important.
 
socal57che

socal57che

Active Member
I rebuilt transmissions for a living at two Chrysler dealers. Slippage or chatter during a shift is an indication of worn clutches or loss of fluid pressure due to one or more conditions. They may include a weak pump, leaking seals, clogged filter or an internal crack in the case or valve body. Sometimes a flush will kill the transmission at this point, but you aren't losing anything, except the cost of a flush, by trying. If it is a plugged filter then this will help, but I recommend replacing the filter as part of the flush. (which does not get changed when places like Jiffylube do a flush)
Typically a filter that is plugged enough to cause driveability issues will whine as RPM increases, but not always.
Best bet is to have a transmission shop do a preliminary check and suggest a plan of attack. Most of the kids at jiffylube type places are not qualified to diagnose a transmission problem.
ps....it's aamco, not amaco
 
miaheatlvr

miaheatlvr

Active Member
Usually when you experience transmission or clutch slippage unfortunately it is the beginning of the end and the simple procedures such as flushing and replacing fluids is ususally justs prolongs the inevitable conclusion that it needs to be replaced sometime sooner or later, I think that consistent maintenence is the absolute KEY by following manufactures guidelines! anybody else agree?
 
socal57che

socal57che

Active Member
Originally Posted by MiaHeatLvr
Usually when you experience transmission or clutch slippage unfortunately it is the beginning of the end and the simple procedures such as flushing and replacing fluids is ususally justs prolongs the inevitable conclusion that it needs to be replaced sometime sooner or later, I think that consistent maintenence is the absolute KEY by following manufactures guidelines! anybody else agree?
I suggest a fluid and filter change every 30K miles.
 
digitydash

digitydash

Active Member
I dont care how you spell it was just giving him info to help out.I trade my truck in when it gets close to going out of waranty so I never have to deal with stuff like this
 
jovial

jovial

Member
If its a mechanical problem that is causing the slipping changing the fluid wont matter. If the trans only slips on occasion then it's probably not due to a hard failure of a part but rather an intermitten symptom, i.e clog. In this case a clean filter an fluid may rinse out any junk. I would start by changing the fluid and filter if yours has one, it's cheap and might correct the problem. If the problem still persists then the trans may need surgery.
Some shops recommend against flushing the trans, they say that flushing may dislodge particles which may later cause a clog elsewhere in the trans. If the transmission fluid was changed on a on a regular basis flushing is unnecessary because the fluid remained clean enough to keep the junk in suspension. If flushing was performed on a regular basis it is also unlikely that there is any junk to dislodge.
 
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