2002 accord v6 --- Tabtrim
 

I need someone's expertise. I have been having hard shift from first to second, rest are smooth. I have had an engine check light that say's EGR problem not
solenoid problem. Yesterday took it out onto interstate and ran about 70 and all of sudden the check engine light and the srs light started to FLICKER. That
happened all the way home. Next day before I took off I pulled the clock fuse and got rid of the lights. It's been 2 days now and the check engine light and SRS have not come on, but still have hard shift from 1 to 2. Shouldn't I have a code and light indicating problem with solenoids ? Could something have changed by driving 70 for an hour that maybe unclogged a solenoid or sensor ? It seems like everyone calls the solenoids something different. Some say lienier, some lock up. some shift, some 1 or 2 or 3 or 4. I have a 2002 accord lx v6 3.0 with 200k on it , and I just don't know which solenoid to even look at. I thought having a
hard shift would throw a code. Is that not the case ? Thanks for any info on my problem. Tabtrim.

When you get a check engine light, you should have the codes read, so you have an idea of the cause before resetting. The codes may still be stored as history codes, so you may want to have them read. Post the actual code number on here if you have any.

Transmissions are tough to diagnose. The pcm will detect problems if you have an electrical signal out of range or missing. I'm your case, everything could be working fine electrically, but your transmission may not shift mechanically.

The solenoids on your transition are shift and lockup solenoids. It won't hurt to remove them to see if debris is blocking the screen on the gasket, or debris in the solenoid.

Your transmission works with hydraulic pressure, so trying a fluid change may help with shifting. When was the last time you changed the transmission fluid?

Changed the trans fluid 4 weeks ago using honda dw1. That's the 2nd time. According to what I've read, I need to change it one more time. I've had the code read many times and it's always P0401 insufficient EGR flow, I was going to wait till I get this hard shift solved before I worked on the EGR. but can you get that
code with a hard shift problem.? doesn't hard shift have a code of it's own ? Are the shift and lockup solenoids located under the battery on the drivers side ?
It's a 2002 accord v6 3.0 with just over 200k miles on it. Thanks for the response PAHonda. Sorry to take up your time..

Your engine can stumble when the EGR passages are blocked, but I'm not sure it would feel like a hard shift. The EGR cleaning is pretty straightforward and well documented on how to clean it out. I has a slight chance to fix the issue. It won't hurt to attempt vs transmission rebuild/replacement.

The shift and lockup solenoids are under the battery. Each solenoid is really two solenoids, so you should be able to unbolt and look for a clogged screen. FYI, the 98-02 V6 transmissions did have a higher failure rate vs other year accords, so unfortunately your transmission could be toast. Cleaning the screens and changing the fluid are much cheaper attempts to fix vs replacing/rebuilding the transmission.

Thanks for your patience PAHonda. The hard shift Is less hard if I let off the gas when it starts to shift from first to second. It just doesn't sound like
carbon build up causing the hard shift, but I will follow your advice and tackle the solenoids and screens first. Change the fluid and then pull the upper manifold for the cleaning of the EGR. It takes me alot longer than the average wrencher, I guess it all just comes down to all the miles on this old bod. I do appreciate your help.
Thanks, Tabtrim.