Dear Scotty,
We have a 2005 Honda Pilot with 240,000 miles and has been owned by us since it had 20,000 miles. We have performed maintenance according to the manual for fluid and filter changes including the transmission fluid. The transmission fluid has always been changed at a Honda dealer.
When the car is first started in the morning, the engine revs a lot (~2500rpm) before the car starts to move. This happens in forward and reverse. Current ambient temps in the morning are 60*F.
Is there something we can pour into the transmission to help it?
Do we just let it warm up and drive it?
How long do you think the transmission has left to live?
'The Missing Link'
Scotty says your transmission is wearing out at 6:15
https://youtu.be/heffN7MfRRc?si=W59NsvIOtVeF4yuM
It seems your question is important
https://youtu.be/LgUPqlJKijs?t=419
@g-t Definitely if he answered it in multiple videos!
Is there something we can pour into the transmission to help it?
There's nothing you can pour in that will fix a faulty transmission. Honda transmissions are particularly sensitive to the fluids used in them.
Do we just let it warm up and drive it?
It would be better to have a transmission expert analyze what's going on using a fancy scan tool. If you're very lucky it may just be something like a 19-year-old shift solenoid hanging up when cold.
How long do you think the transmission has left to live?
No way to tell. It's already gone 19 years and nearly 1/4 million miles so even if the transmission cratered completely tomorrow it would have lasted a good long time, particularly since that model is prone to transmission problems.
https://www.carcomplaints.com/Honda/Pilot/2005/
On a visit to my kid, we drained 1 qt of trans fluid and added 1 qt of the Lucas Stop Slip. It actually goes into gear quickly now, although it still slips in 1st gear. My daughter's method of driving has been to let it warm up in the morning while eating breakfast in the car, then 'getting the car into second gear' quickly. Hmmm, sounds like 'flooring it' to me but, well, it has been doing this for several months now.
It is dying, for sure but the car is a Wisconsin car and its new life along the Florida coast isn't helping its skin and bone cancer. We will likely be having a funeral for the car soon. She wants to take it to the beach and drop a brick on the gas pedal to give it a burial at sea!
It served us well and took us literally all over the country in the last 17 years! I like it so much I want to get a Ridgeline for my next light duty truck.
Pete 'The Missing Link'
Yes, I understand that it will never be like new. I want to get just a bit out of it like another 10,000miles over the next 2 years, all city driving and in Florida - where it doesn't get all that cold.
Looking for it to get my kid through her last two years between school and work!
'The Missing Link'
Could it be simply be low on fluid? My 2007 Lexus ES350 slipped every few months, espeically when it was cold, until i got the CV shaft seals replaced.
Good question, we checked the fluid and it is in the mid-range area for full when hot.
On a visit to my kid, we drained 1 qt of trans fluid and added 1 qt of the Lucas Stop Slip. It actually goes into gear quickly now, although it still slips in 1st gear. My daughter's method of driving has been to let it warm up in the morning while eating breakfast in the car, then 'getting the car into second gear' quickly. Hmmm, sounds like 'flooring it' to me but, well, it has been doing this for several months now.
It is dying, for sure but the car is a Wisconsin car and its new life along the Florida coast isn't helping its skin and bone cancer. We will likely be having a funeral for the car soon. She wants to take it to the beach and drop a brick on the gas pedal to give it a burial at sea!
It served us well and took us literally all over the country in the last 17 years! I like it so much I want to get a Ridgeline for my next light duty truck.
Pete 'The Missing Link'