Acura 2.3CL Shifts Terribly After Engine Replacement? Desperately need HELP?

NICKSTERLINGTEK

MEMBER
1999 ACURA CL
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
95,000 MILES

We bought a used 1999 Acura 2.3CL in October, which just got its engine replaced (No PA lemon laws). Unfortunately, the repair person took so long to replace the engine that the car has been sitting in a lot for 3 months. When I drove it yesterday, it took forever to shift gears -- nearly got in accident 3x. It upshifts far worse than it downshifts. Just before it upshifts, it first goes into "neutral" and the RPMs go to about 7200.

The worst part is that before I found out that the engine block was cracked, I had a "soft rebuild" done on the transmission (in November). It shifted fine at the time when I drove it to the repair shop for the engine replacement. Has sitting for 3 months caused my transmission to go bad again, or did the guy screw up when replacing the engine? What could the problem possibly be? Do you think that the engine replacement will void the transmission rebuild warranty?

Thank you a ton, in advance.

1 Reply

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
108,179 POSTS

If the trans shifted good before the engine, something isn't properly connected or not connected at all or the trans fluid is really low. The transmission shifts are determined by the PCM, trans control module and the shift solenoids. I recommend having the person that replaced the engine double check his work. Sitting for 3 months would not hurt the transmission. Someting isn't connected properly or when a connection was made one of the pins in a plug was pushed in and not making connection. Keep in mind, when replacing an engine, they could have (by accident) pinched a wire between things causing a short.