So I just test drove a 98 accord with the V6 Vtech engine. Everything was really smooth with the exception of the shifing from Park to Drive or Reverse to Drive. It seems like once you had it in D, it would shift but then it seemed like it shifted again. Ive never driven a honda accord before so I dont know if this is normal or a sign of things to come.

The dealer had the tranny fluid replaced recently though and the vehicle has 157K

 

Is this a Honda dealer?

This is kind of tough, I've heard and read many stories of trans failures on this gen...now that could be we just hear of the ones that go bad. If you are worried, there is not warranty....I'd walk away and look for a manual trans or something newer/older (03 and up or 97 down) with an auto trans

 

no its not a honda dealer.

lol, ive read through 15 pages here of all the transmission issues. but i do know that alot of them failed below 120K, and not all fail.

but the thing is ive never driven a honda accord until yesterday, so i dont know if the issue im describing is normal...to recap

Going from R to stop to D4 to in gear then 1.5sec later it feels like it shifted again all while my foot is still on the break

 

I own a 99 Honda Accord with a V6, 266K miles. Mine does the same thing, I have been told it is due to poor Engine Mounts and Transmission Mounts. Shifting the transmission jars the engine barely, but with poor mounts, the slight movement is exponentially increased into a more noticeable movement.

 

ahhh, finally...so the tranny is fine then? how long have you had this issue with ur honda

 

So I went back and test drove the accord again and it did not have this issue and the engine mounts looked perfect. The dealer had just had the tranny oil replaced this week.

So he got it done at jiffy lube, and I called jiffy lube to see what tranny fluid they use and they said they use something comparable to Hondas DW1...yikes, how long do i have before i should change it to the Honda DW1, which is $8.20/qt at Honda dealership?

 

Of course the choice is yours.......

If it seems fine, plan the change in the near future......see if you can get a discount if you buy a case-or check online dealers (might have to add a thing or two like an oil filter, cap, rotor to make the pre-paid freight). Compare cost and make the choice?

The reason I suggest a case, on a drian and fill you change about 3 qts of fluid-the trans hold somewhere around 9. So, me-i'd do a drain and fill for three weekends in a row.....then have ~ enough left over to do another in ~15K miles....

Good luck in whatever you decide.

EDIT: Just me but I have also seen Honda trans fluid in parts stores for ~$7.79 a qt.....

 

Just thought Id update...I ended up purchasing a 1997 honda accord 5speed manual 2.2L with 73K orginal miles. In the end I wanted that piece of mind of not worrying about my transmission going...of course i dont have leather, v6, moonroof, volume controls on steering wheel, cd player

Quick side question.

How are the 2.2L and manual tranny in this 97...are they pretty much "bullet proof"?

 

My personal experience...the 5th gens (94-97) are SOLID in motor and trans-manual or auto....you should be fine.