bad transmission - 2500 dollars

Hi,

I took my 98 civic to an authorized honda dealer. they read the code
P0730 - Incorrect gear ratio. Now they suggest replacing the
transmission for 2500 parts and labor.

Some q's:

Is there any chance honda is wrong in saying the only thing to do is
get a new transmission. There is something wrong with the car, the
check engine light came on a week ago, I had it reset, and now it's on
again, so it's not just a fault with the computer. Also the car jumps
slightly (almost impersptably) when i step on the gas after starting
it.

The car seems to run fine otherwise. How long is it possible for it to
keep going?


Will it just break down on the freeway one day (not safe to drive), or
will it just gradually get worse?


Anything I can do besides replacing my tranmission? The dealer said
just baby it and don't change the transmission fluid as this is any
metal particles in it now keep it running fine, so don't change it.

I was planning on getting rid of the car in a few months anyway, as I
will not need a car for a while (going back to school). I don't want
to rip someone off by selling them a car that seems fine, but has a a
bad transmission, on the other hand i sure don't want to pay 2500 for
a new transmission. Any cheaper alternative fix I can do or other
suggestions?

Thanks.

 

If it is an automatic and you are getting a remanufactured transmission
installed, $2,500 is not a bad price.

 

Before spending $2,500 and perhaps not fixing the problem, I'd want a second
opinion.

Unless the computer has an internal intermittent fault or there is a sensor
problem or an intermittent wiring problem.

It will probably go into "limp-home" mode first. That might restrict you to
second and fourth gears, for instance.

Keep a log of conditions when failure occurs. Is the transmission cold? Hot?
Is the weather wet? Dry? Does the code set when upshifting? When
downshifting? When accellerating? When decelerating? What other work has
been done on the car recently? That information may provide some clues.

 

Why did you post this identical message independently to at least three
newsgroups? Each group now has no idea what has been posted in reply in the
other groups. That's not smart.

"Honda" is not wrong, the *dealer* is wrong. The dealer is not Honda.

There is a TSB out on exactly your problem. The fix involves replacing the
linear solenoid, plus replacing the ATF with the correct Honda Z1.

Ask your dealer about TSB 00-012. Not all Civics are affected, just the
ones in a certain VIN range.