Hi Everyone,

I bought a 1998 Accord Coupe V6 in 2017 (100,000 km, one owner) and it looked like a great deal.
Very impressed with the quality of the car (I also have a 1991 SAAB 900 SPG...) and it was really smooth to drive and enjoy. Didn't test the VTEC part yet since you will see that it's a long story.



As soon as I got it, took it to the dealer to have fluids changed (engine and transmission oil, coolant and brake fluid) and make sure everything was O.K. Verdict: "you have a brand new car, sir"...

A few weeks later, little problems started to arise with transmission: gears were not as smooth as they were, sometimes not switching when it should,...).
I took the car back to the dealer to find the problem. They didn't find anything and just did another transmission oil change (in order to bill me...).
Of course that didn't help and I started to loose gears slowly but surely... After a few more oil changes (...), ended up with first gear only so I had to take it back to the dealer...
Technical manager tells me gearbox has to be completely removed and cleaned and the quote is around 1,000 €. I leave the car and they lend me one. I find out that they are going to send the gearbox to a specialist for cleaning...

The pro refurbished it completely (clutches, washers, solenoids,...) sent it back to Honda, who reinstalled it, tested the car, found out that it was switching gears again but not smoothly and sent the whole car back to the specialist without even checking the settings, trying to reset the Transmission Electronic Unit,...

The pro ordered a used refurbished gearbox (to make sure) and (of course), the new gearbox did the same thing. He then ordered a used Electronic unit but the car wouldn't start anymore... So I had to call back Honda (who didn't care at all....) and tell them that they had to do something since my car was there for a year and it was getting nowhere.
Honda took it back, reprogrammed it so that the car would start again but didn't do anything to the gearbox...
(I hope everyone is seated here....). So here we are, one year after leaving my car, after a few certified letters, mails, phone calls and visits to the garage, I have a meeting with the general manager who tells me that they don't have the skills to repair my car... but he won't give it back to me because I'm supposed to owe him about 7,000 € (20 € x 365 days of car lending....) to be able to get my unrepaired car back....

It's been 2 1/2 years now and the dealer still has my car... My lawyer told me that they are in big trouble and this should be taken to court next september.

Last week, I received a message from the garage's lawyer who tells me that after my repeated requests to get my car back, they are willing to give it back to me (Hurray.... I 'll see with my lawyer if I should sue them for damages).

So not a too happy story so far, but I hope I can find answers here (I'm sure I'm not the only one with gearbox problems on an Accord even though I was told that these gearboxes are really solid....).
I think the first owner (an old lady) drove it really slow but never serviced it (even though the service papers are all stamped like it was serviced....), so when I took it to the dealer to change the fluids, the gearbox oil change started to clean all the dirt that was stuck inside and it fried the clutches and made it terrible to drive.
Now I'm pretty sure that mechanically, it is sound since the pro that took care of it has been doing it for decades (with this model too), I suspect it to be an electronic problem and I hope that I can soon solve it and enjoy my "new car"...
I'm going to look for the right section to post in and get help but if anyone has an idea, I'm listening.
I live in France and I'm currently looking for a place that could look into that and hopefully fix it (Have to test that VTEC now...) ;-).

 

From what I understand, the Honda V6 transmissions from 98 thru 2002 were troublesome. There were also 2 different versions of it 98-99 and 2000 - 2002. Some would die at 50K miles, while other would go 200K miles. There was no set mileage of when they would quit like other vehicles (like GM's 4L60E trans was good to 150K). Over on this side of the pond, most people would just replace the trans, then go on driving. I knew one guy from Canada that put over 400,000 kms on his car, but with 2 different transmissions, and just dumped the 3rd one in about 6 months ago. So the trans in them is a known weak spot, to an otherwise great car. Last report I had was that a brand new trans (not a rebuild) cost 10K Canadian. Granted that was almost a year ago.
All of that said, I think your lawyer would have a good case.

 

Hello The Toe Cutter,
Thanks for your answer.
I know I got the best tranny in decades (...) but I just love the car and if it's not crazy, I would like to try to fix it.

So the gearbox has supposedly been reman/refurbished by a specialist (whom I trust) and he even tried to change the ECU to see if it was solving the problem...

I have a few questions:
Do I have to do anything (like resetting the ECU) in order to "introduce" the gearbox to the engine and the ECU? or is it just a swap and that's it?
I saw that a few people added a trans cooler. Does it help? Where do you get it?
I also saw that some pros were selling "updated" parts like valves in order to improve the gearbox. Any feedback? Could you direct me to a pro that could help me narrow the issue?

Thanks a lot for your time and help.

 

You shouldn't have to reprogram the ECU for a replacement trans, unless the installer used a later trans when he replaced it. Like I said there were 2 models used, 98-99 and 2000-2002. If the installer used a 2001 trans, then you'd have to change the ECU mainly because of the added electronics of the later trans, and he'd probably have to add a section of harness as well to run it. But IF it was the original trans that was rebuilt and reinstalled, then it shouldn't have needed any changes to the ECU (you have what you've got).
To get more life out of these transmissions, add a cooler, and a remote trans oil filter. The cooler in particular, because heat is what destroys these trannies (all AT transmissions). A screw on style oil filter set up (remote filter in this country) would be the easiest way to add a filter to a transmission that never got a true filter (only a screen buried deep inside the trans). In this country, places like Summit racing or Jeg's would be a good choice to get one from. Maybe even look on e-bay for a good deal.
As for valves and such, I couldn't tell you, as I'm not a Honda trans expert.
I hope this helps.

 

Thanks a lot for your time.
I'll check what trans was put in there and get in touch with the experts you gave me to get more info.
Regards,