2001 Honda Civic slipping

DBAAS

MEMBER
2001 HONDA CIVIC
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
129,000 MILES

The transmission slips (revs 500 rpm's) when shifting from 1st to 2nd gear and maybe worse from 2nd to 3rd. I notice it most when the car is cold (32 deg.) And below. And once its warmed up the problem almost goes away. If I accelerate hard the transmission shifts perfect, and at cruise 55-65 mph it does not slip, only when shifting up. I do know the transmission was serviced by a Penzoil shop this past summer. They said they back fill it when it was serviced. They used a generic fluid and added something to it to make it work for Honda's. I have drained and filled the transmission 2 times (using a Castrol product for Honda's from Advanced auto) and the problem did not go away>>HELP

1 Reply

KHLOW2008

MECHANIC
41,814 POSTS

Hi dbaas,

Honda transmissions are very sensitive and if incorrect fluids were used, it can cause irreversible damages.

If the fluid level is correct with no trouble codes, I would say the trans is failing and would require rebuilding.

When transmission is cold, they tend to leak internally along presure points and after warming up, the sealing becomes better thus the shifting improves. This is due to aging of the O rings.