Transmission slips?

Tiny
TRAYSPRINCESS
  • MEMBER
  • 1995 HONDA ACCORD
  • AUTOMATIC
I am looking at buying a '95 Honda Accord and the only that's wrong with it is, there is a transmission slip/stop. The person has had slip/stop leak put it in. That's all I know. Please help
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Saturday, May 31st, 2014 AT 1:11 PM

35 Replies

Tiny
CARADIODOC
  • MECHANIC
  • 33,689 POSTS
Chemicals, (aka "mechanic in a can"), rarely solve problems. They aren't going to repair a mechanical problem. Slippage in a transmission is almost always caused by worn clutch plates, and it needs to be rebuilt to solve that. If you really want to buy a car with problems, get a quote for a worst-case cost from a transmission specialty shop, then deduct that amount from the value of the car to determine what it's worth. If this would be an easy fix, the current owner would have done it before selling the car or instead of selling it.

This guide can help us fix the problem

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/automatic-transmission-problems

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Saturday, May 31st, 2014 AT 11:14 PM
Tiny
PYRON21
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1994 HONDA ACCORD
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 185,000 MILES
When I drive my car anywhere when I accelerate the rpm's go up just over 3k before the transmission shifts gears and sometimes after a lot of stop and go the car goes into limp mode and wont shift out of first gear is it the transmission going out or something else?

David
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Tuesday, July 7th, 2020 AT 2:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Hi David,

Does the D4 light blinks while driving?
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Tuesday, July 7th, 2020 AT 2:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PYRON21
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  • 4 POSTS
The d4 light isn't blinking but when I short the diag connector it blinks a code of 1
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Tuesday, July 7th, 2020 AT 2:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Code 1 = Defective Lock-up Control Valve or its wiring circuit.

It should not be related to the non shifting and is more likely to be an after effect.

Is it a quick or prolonged link? 1 and 10 are different problems.

The other possibility is a faulty TCM.
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Tuesday, July 7th, 2020 AT 2:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PYRON21
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  • 4 POSTS
The light blinks quickly and always the same I'm not sure if it's a code of one or not.
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Tuesday, July 7th, 2020 AT 2:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
That means a code 1.

A fault with the lock up clutch system.

One of the common fault for the problem would be a faulty TPS which does not show any code.

Another possible cause would be the TCM
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Tuesday, July 7th, 2020 AT 2:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RJBLANK
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1994 HONDA ACCORD
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
The transmission in this car slips when put into drive, but when you shift to first (1), it seems to engage first gear better. It upshifts at the same road speed regardless of throttle position. It will also not kick-down into passing gear.

I replaced the transmission and TCM with a known good one (verified by test drive) from another Accord, but the same problems persist. I have verified that the wire connections between the TCM and the solenoids on the transmission are fine. What other options are there to look at?
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Tuesday, July 7th, 2020 AT 2:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Hi rjblank,

If the trans throttle pressure cable is faulty or incorrectly adjusted, it would either shift too early and slip under load or it would shift late and shifts harshly.

A faulty Throttle Position Sensor would cause erratic shifting as well.
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Tuesday, July 7th, 2020 AT 2:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
PYRON21
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  • 4 POSTS
How do I find out specifically whats causing the issue without being able to plug into the computer and use a scan tool?
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Tuesday, July 7th, 2020 AT 2:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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If you are able to use a DVOM, you can test the TPS voltage either at the ECU or the TPS sensor. To test via the TPS sensor you would need to make an adapter or extend the wires to be able to test the voltage.

If the ECU is used for testing the voltage, you can use the DVOM to back probe the terminals but you would need an assistant to operate the accelerator.
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Tuesday, July 7th, 2020 AT 2:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARLJRUS
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1994 HONDA ACCORD
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 255,000 MILES
I have a 94 Honda Accord with 255,000 miles. I was told there is a manual adjustment that could be done if the car was shifting a little hard. I am pretty good with cars just never got into any transmissions. Thanks for all the help.
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Tuesday, July 7th, 2020 AT 2:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Hi carljrus,

At the throttle body there are 2 cables, one for the accelerator and the other leading to the transmission, just below the lower radiator hose.

This is known as the throttle pressure cable and it controls the transmission line pressure.

The throttle lever at transmission side should start opening as soon as the throttle starts to open. If the cable is adjusted too short, there would be excessive line pressure resulting in harsh shifting.

If the cable is too long, pressure would be low resulting is slipping or flaring at moment of upshift and downshift would be delayed with lack of accelerating power.

At the throttle side, note if there is any slack in the trans throttle cable. If none, release the lock nut at transmission end and adjust until there is only minimal slack. Slowly turn the throttle opener and note the movement of the trans throttle cable.

Trans lever should start moving nly when the throttle plate starts opening, not before or after. Some testing and readjustment might be required to get the correct setting.
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Tuesday, July 7th, 2020 AT 2:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CARLJRUS
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Thanks for the reply for the transmission adjustment. Is there anything else that there could be? If not how hard is it to rebuild a transmission.

I also have a 4l60E transmission from a 00 GMC Sonoma that needs a complete rebuild.
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Tuesday, July 7th, 2020 AT 2:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
Apart from throttle cable out of adjustment, fluid condition, engine mounts, throttle position sensor and trans internal faults can cause harsh shifting.

If harsh shifting only occurs for specific speeds, then it is the clutch concerned that is faulty.

I would say rebuilding is not a DIY job in terms of difficulty. Special tools would be required.
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Tuesday, July 7th, 2020 AT 2:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
FIVEKCAR
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1994 HONDA ACCORD
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 65,800 MILES
Hi,

My car seems to slip(On the tachometer it will go from in between 1 and 2, and jump up over 2) when I'm slowing down to make a turn, and then I accelerate. I notice it will only happen if my car slows down under 20 mph, so somewere between 1st and 2nd gear; It never does it from a complete stop.
I took it to a transmission shop recently, and the mechanic said he didn't feel like anything was wrong with the car. He took it for a test drive and said he couldn't reproduce the problem.
I flushed my transmission and replaced the fluid with Honda fluid; I also added Lubeguard, but the problem persists. My car also shifts hard.
Any input would be great!
Thanks for reading!
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Tuesday, July 7th, 2020 AT 2:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
Hi fivekcar,

Thank you for the donation.

You are not experiencing clutch slippage, rather it is a case of idling surging. Check for vacumn leakages.

Since the trans is shifting hard, check the trans throttle pressure cable adjustment. It might have been adjusted too short resulting in too high pressure when upshifting.

Check the engine mounts too.
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Tuesday, July 7th, 2020 AT 2:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
BR5499WILLIAMS
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 1994 HONDA ACCORD
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 200,000 MILES
What does it mean when the d4 light flashes? The tranny slips every now and then, especially when its cold.
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Tuesday, July 7th, 2020 AT 2:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,815 POSTS
Hi br5499williams,

When the D4 light blinks, it means an error has been detected by the TCM. You need to retrieve the DTC to find out what is causing it.


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/192750_SCS95Accord_5.jpg



Count the flashes of the D4 light with ignition switch ON and let me know.
Prolonged flashes = 10
Short quick flash = 1
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Tuesday, July 7th, 2020 AT 2:23 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MY2DRACCORD
  • MEMBER
  • 16 POSTS
  • 1994 HONDA ACCORD
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 187,000 MILES
I went to the transmission shop the they said I need to rebuilded it then I went to an shop and they said there was nothing wrong with my transmission. When I turn on my car an drive it fine but long drives, I hit the gas and it feel like its slipping, like it cant pick up speed.
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Tuesday, July 7th, 2020 AT 2:23 PM (Merged)

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