My 97 Accord seems to have an issue going into drive. When I put the car in drive it feels like it goes right into gear but a second or 2 later you feel another thud like it's really going into gear. The trans goes into reverse fine and shifts thru all the gears nice and firm other wise. It almost feels like if I put it into drive and step on it the car won't go yet till it makes that 2nd clunk. Thanks for any help!

 

get your tranny checked, but before check the tranny fluid (the car has to be turned on)... What year do you own? just as a comment... if it's the 98-02' V6... sell it asap... the have crappy trannies...
Peace dude

 

I've never seen a Honda that wants you to check the tranny fluid level with it running. That's the procedure for everyone else, Chevy, Ford, etc.

You want the car warmed up, like after you come home from somewhere. Shift up & down thru the gears while holding the brake, put it in PARK, turn it OFF. Maybe leave a minute to allow the fluid to settle, but check the dipstick while it's still hot.

 

I did check the level. Being a Chevy, Buick, Pontiac guy I checked it with it running in park! lol Then I just checked it the Honda way after reading this! It seems to be on the full line or normal operating temp line. It's weird. Like you put it in drive and it goes right in like the typical thump. But if you hit the gas right away it's almost like it slips a split second then kicks in. What I've been doing is put it in drive and wait a second for that second thump when it actually goes into gear. Other then that it shifts thru the gears nice and firm like it should. Reverse is fine as well. I have a local trans shop I was going to drop it off to him for service and a check up. I just wanted to post here to make sure it wasn't something serious that happens with these transmissions. The car is a 97 with 116K on it. As far as I know it's the original trans.

 

Philly, I have a 94 EX that does exactly the same thing. It's a HIGH miler (252k) so I think that has something to do with it. I have changed the fluid several times within a short period of time, and this has had no effect on anything. It seems to improve as it warms up. Everything else works fine, good shifts, overdrive at right speed, etc. My feeling at this point with a car that I paid $1500 for two years and a half years ago is to let it go and drive it. Dave

 

I actually had that start happening to me in my first nissan (84 300zx). soon enough after, it just started to slip more than catch gears. it would have to warm up before it even tried to catch first sometimes, then i would have to rev the crap out of it for it to try for me. I was told it was the clutch plate going bad bad by a buddy at aamco. too bad a rebuild on that car was around three grand. i would get it checked out before it got worse. i waited too long and reverse went, then third, then second. that is exactly the reason i won't buy another used automatic.

 

yea I'm gonna take it to my guy one day next week and have him look at it. I only paid 3K for this car so if it costs 3K to fix it off to ebay it goes! Thanks guys for your posts! I'll post what happens either way!

 

when was the last time the fluid was changed?

my 94 did that until I changed the fluid out for some new stuff.

also honda tell you to check the fluid with car on level surface and engine off.

 

well that's a post of good hope! I just got the car and don't know when the last owner changed the fluid. I'm going to take it this week to have the fluid changed and checked out. That would be nice if it was just in need of new fluid!

 

Honda autos don't like "Power Flushes". Just drain & fill a couple times because you only get about 1/3 of the fluid (torque converter doesn't drain).

You'll use less than 3 quarts for each drain/fill. Genuine Honda ATF seems to be the goodticket here.

Reach the drain bolt from beneaththe right-front, forward of the wheel. The bolt sorta 'faces' to the right side of the car, doesn't face downwards. It's got a square hole for a 3/8" socket extension without a socket. Fill thru the dipstick hole.