2003 accord v6 auto trans recall

I bought a 2003 honda accord coupe v6 used that now has 40k miles. I
just started having problems with the car not wanting to shift into
second gear almost acting like it slips into neutral. after googling
"2003 honda accord recalls" i found that there was a recall for the
auto trans. problem. I found a 1-800 number to call honda, I spoke with
someone at that number who did verify that there is a recall and after
i gave her my VIN number they told me that this vehicle was serviced in
2004. obviously there is still a problem. Then she tells me that since
the car now has 40k miles and is older than 3 years, the factory will
no longer cover this repair!! how can that be if it is a RECALL ! I've
read that the problem is related to heat and is most likely related to
inadaquate <spelling?> transmission oil cooling. Does anyone know how i
should go about getting this resolved without me having to pay out of
pocket? I didnt make the car and if its a manufacturer recall i dont
see why they shouldnt be offering to take care of this for me.

has anyone dealt with similair circumstances purchasing an accord used
and then getting the recall serviced after 3 yr/36K miles?

 

Call back. Ask again.

Or:

Go to a local, friendly dealer. If he doesn't give you the right
answer, try another local, friendly dealer.

Talk with the service manager. Be nice.

Every Honda dealer has access to goodwill dollars from Honda. Make
friends, give him your business, and the service manager will take care
of you.

I promise you that I will never, ever pay for a transmission repair of
any kind on my 02 Odyssey, no matter what, thanks to (a) my relationship
with my dealer, and (b) Honda's widely known problems with transmissions
hooked to V6 engines, systems that were made from 98 through mid-04.

It was the largest recall ever for Honda, something like $360 million.
They are eager to take care of their customers and get rid of this mess.
They do NOT want to be known as "oh yeah, Honda, they used to be good,
now they're just another Chrysler".

 

Find out who the best Honda dealer is in your area and go talk to them.
The people answering 800 numbers are rarely the most useful.

Honda has had a lot of problems with some of it's recent transmissions.
Many of them have had 100,000 mile warranties added on by Honda. I
don't know if that applies to the '03 V-6 Accord or not.

John

 

I don't think this was a recall but rather a warranty extension to
acknowledge that there was a problem with the transmission. As such
Honda has no obligation beyond the original warranty period. But as
you point out, they have been generous in the past in extending the
warranty up to 100K on certain models. Beyond that you would have to
be a pretty good customer, I think.

What happened in mid-04? Is it a new transmission or just another fix
on the old one?

 

The recall was to add a band-aid fix which is supposed to improve
lubrication of a high wear internal part.

John

 

The recall was to add a band-aid fix which is supposed to improve
lubrication of a high wear internal part.[/QUOTE]

There were two issues:

1) the four speed transmissions hooked to V6 engines got the warranty
extension and overall generous treatment.

2) the five speed transmissions hooked to V6 engines, the ones that came
out with the 02 Odyssey and the 03 Accord, got the lubrication fix for
2nd gear--that is, if 2nd gear wasn't already burned up. If so, they
just got a new transmission.

Both campaigns, coming one right after the other, are utter embarassment
for Honda and for Japan Inc. in general. Now the Toyota stuff is coming
under fire.

 

Trannys under this recall I believe have an extended 100K mi warranty.

 

From what I understand, the recall was a service to add some extra cooling
line for the trans (as well as the extended warranty). If car had over a
certain mileage, they were supposed to pull it apart and look for signs of
fatigue from overheating before adding the fix.

 

Yes, it would include this vehicle. My 2001 and 2004 6 cyl is covered.

 

From what I understand, the recall was a service to add some extra cooling
line for the trans (as well as the extended warranty). If car had over a
certain mileage, they were supposed to pull it apart and look for signs of
fatigue from overheating before adding the fix.[/QUOTE]

See my previous posts.

They screwed up the 4 speed auto trannies that were hooked to V6
engines. All of them, starting in the 98 model year. (The auto
trannies hooked to 4 cylinder engines were not affected by this screwup.)

The affected cars--Honda Accords, Honda Odysseys, and the V6 Acura
models--got (and still get) extended warranties and generous treatment
from Honda and its dealers.

In the 02 model year, they started with the changeover to a 5 speed
automatic trans. Different trans completely. The 02 Odyssey was the
first one to get this, then the 03 Accord, and the Acuras as they
changed over models. And guess what? In 04, they discovered that they
screwed that one up, too--in a different way. 2nd gear wasn't getting
sufficient lubrication. Again, this is the trans that hooks to the V6
engines.

For this campaign, they have the tech look at the tranny through the
fill hole, using a still camera. He takes several pictures and compares
them to a printout from Honda. If the gear shows no evidence of heat
scoring, the tech puts on a modification that routes some return fluid
back in through that hole to bathe the gear.

If, however, the gear does show any sign of heat scoring, the tech sends
the pictures to Honda for evaluation. Honda responds by sending back
either of (a) a lubrication mod kit, or (b) a rebuilt (new, really)
transmission.

In no case does the tech "tear apart" the transmission. Honda dealer
techs do not do transmission repairs; they treat it as a single unit and
replace it if need be.

 

See my previous posts.

They screwed up the 4 speed auto trannies that were hooked to V6
engines. All of them, starting in the 98 model year. (The auto
trannies hooked to 4 cylinder engines were not affected by this
screwup.)

The affected cars--Honda Accords, Honda Odysseys, and the V6 Acura
models--got (and still get) extended warranties and generous treatment
from Honda and its dealers.

In the 02 model year, they started with the changeover to a 5 speed
automatic trans. Different trans completely. The 02 Odyssey was the
first one to get this, then the 03 Accord, and the Acuras as they
changed over models. And guess what? In 04, they discovered that
they screwed that one up, too--in a different way. 2nd gear wasn't
getting sufficient lubrication. Again, this is the trans that hooks
to the V6 engines.

For this campaign, they have the tech look at the tranny through the
fill hole, using a still camera. He takes several pictures and
compares them to a printout from Honda. If the gear shows no
evidence of heat scoring, the tech puts on a modification that routes
some return fluid back in through that hole to bathe the gear.

If, however, the gear does show any sign of heat scoring, the tech
sends the pictures to Honda for evaluation. Honda responds by
sending back either of (a) a lubrication mod kit, or (b) a rebuilt
(new, really) transmission.

In no case does the tech "tear apart" the transmission. Honda dealer
techs do not do transmission repairs; they treat it as a single unit
and replace it if need be.[/QUOTE]

Yes, I see they don't actually tear it down, but at least they do a visual
check, though of course, the visual will not be 100%, but it will pick up
most of the potential failures.

I'm sure they have calculated how many failures they will most likely get
with this approach that would be under the new extended warranty and
compared that to the costs of taking each one apart.