ok.. so are you saying that the symptoms that you described in your very first post in this thread are 99% confirmed to be directly related to transmission failure?
'cause I just want to make sure.. and so what should I do when I take my car into the dealership this weekend? should I simply tell the service advisor that I think its the transmission? or should I let them figure it out?
also, not that I don't trust you spoon_805, but is there anyone else on this board who've had similar experiences (see the very first post) and want to share it? I would just like a second or even a third opinion.
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Originally posted by spoon_805 I hate it when people give me this advice... so don't get mad when I write this:
Sell it.
The vehicle will burn through your wallet, especially without an extended warranty. I'm going to be out of the country soon for a long period, but when I get back...selling this car will be one of my priorities.
Don't get me wrong. I love this prelude... good memories for 5 years and what not. And if i truly believed level ten products would solve my problems I would definitely spend the money to install/purchase those parts.
I say all this because... I believe that the transmission in these cars are all to fragile. One mess up here and there in the manner in which you drive can throw it into a mechnical failure. And since we all make mistakes, chances are that it will break again.
Are you experienceing any gears slipping or VERY jerky shifts? If you are...this and the noise that occurs at Park or Neutral should be enough evidence that it is your transmission.
If you are not experiencing gear slippage or jerky shifts? Try some belt dressing or fuel cleaner. If that does not help, then I would be confident that it has to do with your tranny. (However, if it is a ticking sound, you might have to realign you valves.)
I would not suggest you pointing out that the tranny is at fault to the dealer. I would let them find out on there own. My dealer first thought it was a tensioner that was the problem, and replaced my entire belt assembly. Of course, that did not fix it, but i didn't have to pay for new belts and those parts.
Just let the dealer know of the symptoms that you know of. They should have enough to go on to pinpoint the tranny. Honestly, I don't think they ever take in consideration the diagnoses of the customer.
but I'm confused because since you've gotten two "remanufactured Honda transmissions" in the past, wouldn't you have recognized the symptoms this third time around?
All 3 times my car has gone to the shop for transmission failure, there have been different symptoms. Its not always the same failing single part, however it is always the transmission. The ONE thing that is always consistent with my failed transmissions are slipping between shifts. In other words, the car feels like its going into neutral between shifts.
If you go on the website I just posted you can see posts there indicating that the Prelude SS has long been a engineering blunder. The very fact that a regional manager admits that SS failures are "not too uncommon", and the fact that when the TL used to have the same transmission as the SS it had numerous transmission failures (which Honda later resolved with a new 5-speed SS tranny) is all very interesting. Just look at all the current models with the SS, all 5-speed SS trannies - looks like Honda dropped the 4 speed SS a long time ago...I wonder why, and I wonder why not for the prelude.
All in all best of luck man... I suggest you take off all FI mods and even ECU type mods (vtec controller, etc) before you go in. Bolt-ons are ok (except Akimoto intakes that have a NOS port. A friend got a world of BS from Honda because of that port - even though he never shot NOS)
SAme here happens when I drop the shifter from Reverse to park thats it... should i take it in ? ? I was wondering should i take out my intake for the warrenty , because remember some honda's are real A Holes but ... let me know
It seems that it is common for a SS to jerk a little in cold starts. can you elaborate on the "gear slipage"? I do not understand....the part where it feels like 'is in neutral in between gears'........mines 98 at 20kmiles does jerk once only at the first cold start P to D & R but no more jerks through out the dayand is little hard going from the 1st to 2 when I slowly step on gas...it feels like it wants to remain in 1st gear for a bit then shifts(if I hit the gas firmly and reaches 3krpm, the shift is pretty smooth)
spoon_805 was this your 'exact' symptoms b4 yours failed?or anyone?
thnx for your time bro!
SAme here happens when I drop the shifter from Reverse to park thats it... should i take it in ? ? I was wondering should i take out my intake for the warrenty , because remember some honda's are real A Holes but ... let me know
You're dealer can't give you any crap about your intake for a transmission problem. Its a whole different story when you have engine issues. But a lot of dealers sell intakes now, so I would not be too worried about a simple intake at all.
I would take it in just to get it looked at.
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can you elaborate on the "gear slipage"? I do not understand....the part where it feels like 'is in neutral in between gears'........
For example, when the transmission shifts between 2nd and 3rd, the RPMS are suppose to fall right? Well when it slips, my RPMS fly into the 6Ks as freely as if the transmission was in neutral. And then in like half a second, 3rd gear finally grabs and the RPMs fall normally.
To draw a better picture, acceleration is hesitated because the car feels like it went into neutral.
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first cold start P to D & R but no more jerks through out the dayand is little hard going from the 1st to 2 when I slowly step on gas...it feels like it wants to remain in 1st gear for a bit then shifts(if I hit the gas firmly and reaches 3krpm, the shift is pretty smooth)
I think cold starts just suck on all preludes. I think what really counts is what's going on when your car is at normal temp. But problems during cold starts COULD be indicators of things to come (ESPECIALLY with this transmission). Slight jerks are ok, they happen on all auto trannies. What you need to worry about are jerks that are so strong that makes your head kick back. I've had my transmission do that a few times, and then I finally took it in and ended needing a remanf. tranny.
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spoon_805 was this your 'exact' symptoms b4 yours failed?or anyone?
Everyone has different symptoms when their tranny fails. For me... on ALL 3 times I had my car taken to the dealer for transmission repair, the most consistent thing is having the clutches being burnt out and causing slips between shifts.
-----------
On a personal note... the dealer got approval for an overhaul by my extended warranty company. Like I said earlier, the warranty company insists on a overhaul and not a remanf transmission. If you are on Honda OEM Warranty, they will in all cases just replace your tranny with a remanf tranny in all repairs concerning your transmission.
So I got lucky this time, no $$$ out of my wallet (except the $220 they insist on charging me for removing my Mugen bumper). If any of you intend to keep the prelude SS for a long period of time. I suggest you look into getting an extended warranty.
this sucks BIGtime..
hmm no I haven't really experienced gear slippage and extremely jerky shifts... but the noise at P and N have been bothering me for some time now. I will be going into the dealership this weekend so hopefully it'll be something simple and not bring up more questions than answers.
belt dresser? fuel cleaner? haven't really used either one before but I'll look into it..
yeah and I actually have been to the SS complaint site.. but I read through some of the symptoms and didn't have any of them so I thought that I was one of the "lucky ones" and had an okay tranny. that is, until I saw your thread here. now, I'm really scared... and to make it worse I have no recollection of what warranty I purchased with my car. oh, and I have a VAFC too but with stock settings. hmm anyways thanks for all your help.
I'll keep you all updated.. wish me luck!
Quote:
Originally posted by spoon_805 TCB007,
Are you experienceing any gears slipping or VERY jerky shifts? If you are...this and the noise that occurs at Park or Neutral should be enough evidence that it is your transmission.
If you are not experiencing gear slippage or jerky shifts? Try some belt dressing or fuel cleaner. If that does not help, then I would be confident that it has to do with your tranny. (However, if it is a ticking sound, you might have to realign you valves.)
I would not suggest you pointing out that the tranny is at fault to the dealer. I would let them find out on there own. My dealer first thought it was a tensioner that was the problem, and replaced my entire belt assembly. Of course, that did not fix it, but i didn't have to pay for new belts and those parts.
Just let the dealer know of the symptoms that you know of. They should have enough to go on to pinpoint the tranny. Honestly, I don't think they ever take in consideration the diagnoses of the customer.
All 3 times my car has gone to the shop for transmission failure, there have been different symptoms. Its not always the same failing single part, however it is always the transmission. The ONE thing that is always consistent with my failed transmissions are slipping between shifts. In other words, the car feels like its going into neutral between shifts.
If you go on the website I just posted you can see posts there indicating that the Prelude SS has long been a engineering blunder. The very fact that a regional manager admits that SS failures are "not too uncommon", and the fact that when the TL used to have the same transmission as the SS it had numerous transmission failures (which Honda later resolved with a new 5-speed SS tranny) is all very interesting. Just look at all the current models with the SS, all 5-speed SS trannies - looks like Honda dropped the 4 speed SS a long time ago...I wonder why, and I wonder why not for the prelude.
All in all best of luck man... I suggest you take off all FI mods and even ECU type mods (vtec controller, etc) before you go in. Bolt-ons are ok (except Akimoto intakes that have a NOS port. A friend got a world of BS from Honda because of that port - even though he never shot NOS)
..they just said something like "we analyzed the problem and it seems to be your transmission.. but its all covered by your extended warranty though..." something like that. and the very first post in this thread by spoon_805 pretty much exactly described my symptoms; I had no other problems like gear slippage though - just the weird noises at P and N. good luck.
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Originally posted by black98lude
shoot! now it is making me worried as well... what exactly did the dealership say when they gave you a new one? and what exactly was your symptoms?
umm I'm not really sure.. Honda of Canada? I purchased the 6-year/100,000km comprehensive warranty when I first bought the car from the dealership. everything was done right there from day1 and I've never heard of another company's name being mentioned..? I'm not sure if things are done differently down there in the US.
And I'm pretty sure its a replacement because they said they had to order in a transmission for me and that they'd call when it comes in...
Quote:
Originally posted by spoon_805 who is your extended warranty company?
Originally posted by black98lude It seems that it is common for a SS to jerk a little in cold starts. can you elaborate on the "gear slipage"? I do not understand....the part where it feels like 'is in neutral in between gears'........mines 98 at 20kmiles does jerk once only at the first cold start P to D & R but no more jerks through out the dayand is little hard going from the 1st to 2 when I slowly step on gas...it feels like it wants to remain in 1st gear for a bit then shifts(if I hit the gas firmly and reaches 3krpm, the shift is pretty smooth)
spoon_805 was this your 'exact' symptoms b4 yours failed?or anyone?
thnx for your time bro!
I am paranoid but the description above is normal I think. Naturally it will jerk once in the morning then not at all the rest of the day. If I plug it in overnight, no jerk at all. The shift from 1 to 2 is rought if not at 3000rpms and on the throttle. You'll get the occassional reverse clunk too.
TCB, I actually rode in your lude dude. It was a couple years ago when i was over in Van. That is what made me want to get a lude but damn made the wrong choice in the SS.
Originally posted by Lude2k TCB, I actually rode in your lude dude. It was a couple years ago when i was over in Van. That is what made me want to get a lude but damn made the wrong choice in the SS.
the name is danny, a friend of Doris Jung. Hope your tranny is better after the swap. What exactly did the knock or ticking sound sound like? and it was only in P and N?
I have a swirling light knock but it is in all gears not just P or N and it has been there since day one
oh.. were you Doris' ex-bf? thanks man.. I hope everything wil be okay after the swap too! and yeah.. the sound is hard to describe - just like a cyclical, rhythmic knocking sound but ONLY in P and N for me.
Quote:
Originally posted by Lude2k the name is danny, a friend of Doris Jung. Hope your tranny is better after the swap. What exactly did the knock or ticking sound sound like? and it was only in P and N?
I have a swirling light knock but it is in all gears not just P or N and it has been there since day one
yeah that is me, I don't think I have that problem just paranoid. I am not going to worry about it though, going to parse out my ride and sell it, not more SS worries.
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