mpompey

Hey guys, this is a pretty great site. I've learned alot in the last couple of days. My transmission seems to on its way to failure, and I was wondering if anybody can recommend a good shop in Philadelphia.

I have a 97 Prelude Auto. In the morning upon first start the car shifts pretty hard in gear 1st or R with a definable jolt before moving. Once the car warms up everything is usually fine.

Last week after driving the car all day, it stopped moving on me while on the road. The engine was fine and everything was in gear but the engine just reved and the transmission transferred no power to the tires (slipped). I had it towed to a local repair place. Once we got to the repair shop the car started and moved fine. The owner of the shop has driven it around and not had the issue happened to him.

He said he called a transmission shop that said the issue is because of the Transmission heating up and de-laminating? He said it was a common problem and that I need to have the transmission rebuilt (approx $2000) much of the info on this site says that I'm better off replacing the tranny with a rebuilt one from JDM or Howard Engineering. However, it looks like they sell directly to repair places and not end consumers.

Any info, perspectives, or suggestions will be appreciated.

pIERCE

I used to get pretty in depth, but after doing that multiple times a week for a couple years, you get a little drained.

Simply put: Your transmission will fail again if you rebuild it. They were flawed from the factory.
If you like the car, swap to a manual, or sell it and buy a manual version. If it is indifferent, sell your car and buy a new one.


You're shooting yourself in the foot if you rebuild your current transmission.

mpompey

Pierce, thanks for taking the time to reply. What about a replacement auto transmission? My thoughts are to get it back to running reliably so I can save some scratch and get another car.

A replacement transmission isn't the same as rebuilding is it? Sorry for such a newb question, my auto skills stops at changing spark plugs.

pIERCE

No, that' won't work. Any and every auto tranny put on a 5th gen prelude is susceptible to failure. No matter what.

If I were you I'd try and find someone with a "good" trans and get it cheap, swap it and offload the car ASAP. However I understand that is much easier said than done, so you may also want to take one of the least profitable, but also the resistance: get rid of the car RIGHT NOW. Put it on cragslist, any free ads you know of in town. Tell your friends, family(just don't sell it to them....), get that window spray and spray "for sale" on all of your windows. Anything for you to get the car off your hands as fast as possible.

Once again you'll take a financial hit, but you also will in any other case, and if you swap transmissions for more money, you're taking a risk you won't get the money spent back anyways....

I really don't know what to tell people in your shoes because it's a bad place to be and taking advice on how to make the best of your situation when you're already on a sinking ship is sort of tough and almost moot.

minilogoguy18

I'd see if it's still under warranty at the dealer before doing anything, Honda extended it. If not see how much they want to put one that they have rebuild in it, if it's close to that trans shop I'd go with the dealer, the warranty on the work would be much better.

__________________
New Formula Red 93 BB2: JDM OBD1 H22a/T2W4 Accord Euro R transmission

bouckarooo

You know peirce you are not necessarly correct with your assumption that the auto trans will fail again after they are rebuilt. You talk like the failure will occur instanly after teh rebuild but the truth of the matter is this: all transmissions will fail eventually regardless of auto or manual, its called wear and tear. If you take an auto trans and rebuild it correctly with solid craftsmenship then that auto trans will hold up for as long as the torque converter can. Really it all comes down to the parts and the craftsmenship. Just cuz the autos were doomed from the factory doesnt mean they cant be rebuilt and operate in good function.

pIERCE

I agree, I should have said premature failure due to flawed design. And probably will after a rebuild.

You claim that your friend here can make a bulletproof SS, but until we have multiple people that have put their trans(rebuilt by this builder) through 120-150k honest miles and no problems, I can't say his are any better. Words don't go as far as actions, and so far there are no proven solid SS transmissions. Some last longer than others, most don't last as long as the should(be a relative statement).

You need proof to back up a statement, and currently there is more proof to back up that 99.9% of SS's are flawed and will fail prematurely under normal and "designated tolerable" conditions. There is currently little to no solid statistical information of ANY builders product that undoes the flaw of the SS.

Simply put, I understand what you're saying, however I'm coming from a more safe point of view: the direction that most statistics points to.

bouckarooo

ok man you need to talk to someone who rebuidl these thigns for a living. Daniel jonhson57, is where i get my info. this man rebuilds auto transmissions and they run awesome. perhaps you shoudl message him and ask him to explain to you why teh auto trans fail and how to go abotu fixing them so they are in good function.

I never said you could make them bulletproof, as nothign is bullet proof. I said that with correct parts and good craftsmenship these autos can be refurbished to run well and last a long time. Way longer than the stockers could ever dream too.

pIERCE

For some reason I have a feeling you are taking this as if I am personally bashing his skill as a builder.

I think you need to understand EXACTLY what I'm saying: Until there are people coming onto forums--multiple people--to testify and say his or anyone elses transmissions are built to far exceed the strength, durability, and overall life of the trans................ until then it is just words.

Words don't count with mechanical failures. So I am erring on the side of caution and saying to not have it rebuilt and to not trust a rebuild since there is no public or statistical reputation for rebuilt SS transmissions.

It has nothing to do with his or anyone elses skill or job, or my inexperience with transmissions. It is simply me being cautious of something with a terrible reputation of failure and basically no reputation of durable rebuild-ability.


Do you or he have any real customers of his that have bought an SS rebuilt by him that have used them for an abnormal amount of time--such as over 100k-150k miles(abnormal for the typical SS to go that far issue-free)? If so, he or you should herd them over here to review and vouch.

Success stories and personal experience talks; supposed word of mouth walks.

bouckarooo

lol no im not taking like you are attacking me, i just am trying to make people realise that these trans arn't doomed forever. They just need to be rebuilt by a good craftsmen. And i actually know a girl who has a prelude with a rebuilt auto that has paddle shift in it. And its turbo and puts down about 350whp at 8psi. That thing hauls ass.

What im trying to say i guess, is that you shouldn't just say that the autos are garbage no matter what. There are ways to fix them and to just tell people " error on the side of caution" or" sell it and by a manual" and even the " swap it to stick" comments. There are other alternatives for people who would like to keep the auto. Thats all, i think it is unjust that you jsut crack off at the mouth knocking these transmissions when there are perfectly good ways to rebuild them successfully. Thats all.

Now as for my building skills, well i can rebuild a manual, would never touch an auto with a tenfoot pole, nor would i ever buy an auto lude but that is just cuz i like stickshfit driving as it is really driving.(well dogboxes are really really driving but thats a nother topic).
And on the same note, there have been many who rebuilt manuals trans and had them fail due to shtty craftsmenship. Thses thigns go both ways i think.

pIERCE

Understood.
I think it'd be nice for the few people who physically can't drive sticks to have a long lasting auto in a prelude, so you are right, it is not all lost or worth giving up.