1996 Honda Accord Ex with the 2.2 liter engine.

My transmission started having trouble shifting on the way to work. After looking at the transmission fluid level I thought maybe it was because the fluid was low so I filled it back up with genuine honda atf 1. While at first it seemed to be doing better by the end of my first test drive it was the exact same as before. It seems to do better when it is cold, as I was able to get it to shift fairly normally all the way up to fourth last night. But today on a nice day I can't even get it to shift into third. It runs fine except that it doesn't want to shift.

The codes it is throwing up are P0700, P0705, and P0715. The 0700 seems to just be a general transmission control code. the 0705 is for the transmission range sensor. The 0715 is a shaft input speed sensor.

I have an appointment with the only honda dealer in my town in a couple of days, but I prefer to fix my car myself and if the try to charge me too much I will have to get rid of her and I really love this car.

Has anyone had this same experience.

 

They will hook it up and do some testing. Here is one of the tests they might perform....

 

The car drove perfectly fine on the way to the dealer to get it tested. After testing it the dealer said that there is internal damage and the transmission needs replace and had no further comment or details. When I was calling around getting price quotes for a new tranny, the first guy I talked to said that it may be something else but he wants to charge 75 dollars an hour to diagnose it. Further diagnoses is going to cut into what little money I have to buy a new transmission. Does anyone have any opinion on this? What should I do?

 

I don't know, as this one could go either way. It's kind of a damned if I do, damned if I don't. I think I'd get a second opinion myself, and IF it needs a replacement, I'd look at a good used JDM unit, as they usually have low miles on them. Normally the 97 and earlier automatics have less trouble than the 98-02 cars do, which are known for failure (eventually). However it's your car, and your money.

 

So I found a guy that had a used transmission with 130,000 miles on it that would swap it out for $1,000; part, labor, and a free transmission flush after I drive her for a month. He drove her around before he changed out the transmission and he said he felt pretty certain that it was shot. So for anyone else that has these three codes, your transmission is probably shot too.