Dear Scotty you are a hero of the deplorables I am a single woman that has too big of a heart therefore gets the shaft alot..
without going into blah blah blah......I have a Honda 2003 Civic bought used with over 250 K I call it a sewing machine because it keeps going and going...
Recently I noticed Engine Light on but also the Drive indicator on the gear shaft is flashing.....so i tried to look up on google....not trusting every answer....like google drs and lawyers....i immediately got confused but nonetheless i checked the transmission fluid....which has never been changed and it wasnt low...
i have a brother who was a mechanic for A Honda Dealership etc....but as life goes as a result my mother passed away and their was serious animosity because her estate...
i think he told me once you shouldnt have to add this fluid.......
Ok so i have another brother who is a stuff shirt.....who told me to take it to a dealership then i saw your video about not doing that...
Anyways they told me it would cost over 2800 dollars and it was a selenoid Problem .i dont know if sic.....i dont have any diagnostic tools ...i am going to ask you please because i know you are a good man .....please dont laugh anychance it would be a fuse causing those symbols to show .....ive had a lot of used cars Hondas but i have lost faith in being bamboozled by mechanics who see i have no idea .
To conclude I dont hear clunk when i put into reverse...but i do find to get the car to move initially..its like going up a hill sort of ....no ooomph....sort of prodding a horse to move along..
I love this car and i realize its old but Ive been told it was a great year for Honda I think you said so ........Please bear with me and tell me your opinion
So the 1st thing to decide is if putting $2,800 into repairing a vehicle that's 18 years old with 250K miles and has a KBB resale value of $2,600 is even worth considering.
(It isn't)
If the Honda dealer gave you a written estimate the transmission code(s) might be on that document and you may want to post them for discussion.
Anyway, before we "write-off" "ol' betsy" we want a second opinion of the dealer's diagnosis.
Why not take it to a local independent transmission shop? Don't "tip your hand" by telling them that you've been to the dealer or what the dealer said, and see if their diagnosis is the same?
Find one that belongs to the Better Business Bureau and also check online reviews of the shop.
If you decide on a 2nd opinion. make sure they tell you which code(s) they've pulled from the transmission along with their estimate.
Meanwhile, since it seems you like Civics, start looking at what newer, used Civics are selling for.
I just checked on my local craigslist and found a few Civics, with 100,000 miles less than yours with asking prices of around $3,500.
In the case of transmission issues, most people don't have a clue and have to rely on the experts.
You need information. What will it cost to replace the Civic with a newer, lower mileage Civic and is this a better option than investing the repair cost into the high-mileage Civic you own?
Like I said, in the case of transmission issues the best you can do is to get a 2nd or even a 3rd opinion. But if all the "experts" concur then you have to accept their conclusions and make your decision
Sounds like your transmission is getting tired and worn out. You shouldn't HAVE to top it up. But if it's low, then you need to top it up.
Go to your nearest Autozone or similar, and they might scan your check engine code for free.
With that many miles, the tranny fluid has never been changed? I'm sure it has been at some point, how many miles did it have when you got it, and how many does it have now?
Well, … considering your inquiry - and the background you provided, I would do the following, if I were you:
- check on your local Honda dealer, check on their reputation. Talk to a couple folks who use them. Go to their service reception area and act friendly, … talk to those who are either waiting to get their cars back, … or just dropping their cars off.
- if that checks out, make an appointment to diagnose your car, … no repairs! All you want to know is what’s wrong, can they fix it, and how much? All in writing, …
This should not cost more than a couple of hundred dollars, … or less.
Once you know the cost, … than you will be in position of deciding:
Problem could be just fluid drain, refill, minor clean up and that’s it! Not too much cost, … you could ask them at that point to apply the cost of diagnosis against this service. Most of dealers in my end of the woods do such without asking.
Of course, problem could be that switch, sensor, or a solenoid is faulty, … or wiring disconnected to it or such as, … and that would most likely be reasonably priced, and worth fixing.
Finally, … diagnosis could be that your transmission had it, … and that’s that! And that would mean, … you pay for diagnosis, … say, ~$200, … you take your car home and work on disposal of it.
There is not much point of spending more than north of $ 1,000 on the car, … that is ‘03 vintage and logged already 250,000 miles!
F.S.
