Hi!
My mom has an old 2001 Honda Civic with an automatic transmission (160,000 km) that has begun to jerk when accelerating from a standstill. It does it in both drive and reverse. But once it's rolling, it shifts fine.
Transmission doesn't slip. I checked the codes and there aren't any that concern the transmission (or maybe my old code reader doesn't show them?)
I checked the oil levels and all is fine. I even asked a mechanic I have know for decades (he's just as honest as Scotty) and je doesn't see anything obvious as it doesn't do the problem reliably.
Now, I'd like to find a way to either fix this or at least patch-it-up so that it works reliably as she doesn't put a lot of KM's on it (it's mostly a grocery getter).
Any ideas?
Thanks
SOLVED!
Well, I wasn't expecting this one!
I took the car to a transmission place this morning (one that was recommended to me), they scanned the codes and nothing.
They re-checked everything: nothing.
They put the car on the lift and checked the engine mounts... that was the issue.
I never would have expected it.
Very good, thanks for letting us know! With that kind of luck - both in an old Honda still having a good trans and finding an honest trans shop - you should be buying lottery tickets!
The guys were recommended by my good mechanic, so that was already a good start.
What I really liked is that they plugged the scan tool and then showed me the scan results. Since the car has an evap tank leak, I instantly knew that they were showing me the real scan.
They also let me in the garage and showed me the issue. I really appreciated that.
Transmission doesn't slip. I checked the codes and there aren't any that concern the transmission (or maybe my old code reader doesn't show them?)
There are many transmission problems possible aside from noticeable slipping. Most inexpensive code readers won't read transmission codes, depending on the vehicle.
Does the transmission have sufficient fluid? What is its condition?
Now, I'd like to find a way to either fix this or at least patch-it-up so that it works reliably
After 23 years it's not unlikely the transmission is wearing out. Hondas of that era are known for weak transmissions.
https://www.carcomplaints.com/Honda/Accord/2001/
https://www.carcomplaints.com/Honda/Accord/2001/transmission/
You would need a transmission expert with a professional-grade scan tool to verify that. If the transmission is wearing out the only way to fix it would be replacement, which is obviously not economically feasible. In that case it's a matter of taking it easy with the car and just driving it until it dies.
I must admit that it's old...
My mom would really like me to fix it, especially when we consider the price of used cars these days.
I know that the oil level is fine and that the car never pulled any excessive loads (no trailer hitch).
I must admit that it's the first time I have to deal with an old car with a possibly going transmission. Usually it's the rest that goes first.
I'm wondering, could a sticking solenoid or a blocked trans filter cause an issue like that?
@build-0-matic - Possibly. Like I said though you need an advanced scan tool that can read what the transmission is doing internally to determine that. Given the history of failure on those though it's probably amazing it lasted this long.