RIP 2001 Accord V6 auto transmission?

I'm reasonably certain that my 2001 Accord V6 automatic transmission
with 56k miles started lunching itself this evening. No prior warning
at all. Just started making a noise like marbles in a coffee can,
increases in frequency and volume with increasing road speed. Tapping
on the brakes does not affect the sound. Revving the engine at rest
does not make the sound. Coasting at low speed with no gas sounds like
gravel up front . . .

Has anyone else here been down this road?

What exactly does the Honda extended warranty cover?

All parts and labor?

Any prorating for mileage?

How long does the fix take?

Do they spring for a rental car?

Thanks . . .


George

 

Based on the history of this transmission (a history which makes
Chrysler transmissions look like they were built by Lexus), this is no
surprise.

In fact, I'll diagnose it from here: yup, it's lunch. Time for a new
one.

Ask the dealer what they extended warranty covers. You'll get a
"rebuilt" unit that's all new except for the outer case. You won't get
a loaner, unless the dealership does something on its own for you.
You'll spend a week without your car. No pro-rating for miles, from
what I've heard.

If you and your dealer are close, this'll be no problem and you might
get a loaner. If your dealer doesn't know you at all, go rent a car.

 

Ack. How discouraging. First car I've ever had that has had this kind
of failure . . .

Any word on the reliability of the replacement transmissions?

Any idea what kind of warranty comes with them?


George

 

oh, c'mon now.

 

oh, c'mon now.[/QUOTE]

That's not TOO far off.

The scope of Honda's transmission problems ever since 1998 is even more
significant given that this is Honda we're talking about.

As late as 2004, they're still recalling transmissions. There's no
excuse for such an engineering company to have such serious ongoing
problems on such a major subsystem.

 

insider info..........

MAKE the dealership cover it IN FULL. They know the trannys are JUNK. They
extended the warranty to 105,000 miles I believe.

WARNING!!!!!!!!!!!

They are gonna also change your ecu to DETUNE the engine so that the
replacement tranny might live longer.

 

Since Elmo P.'s comments didn't show up in Google, but only in your
response, I am responding to both multiple writers here:

The replacement trans is remanufactured. Your extended 7 year,
100,000 mile warranty Honda announced a couple years back will still
be in place for your reman trans. Otherwise (in the case of a '98-'99
Accord, or beyond the 7/100k) the warranty is 12 mo/12,000 miles which
is short enough to ensure the replacements outlast the warranty.

From my experience as well as what I have heard and read, Honda has
not been paying for loaners, but if you have had a service history
with a dealer they might help you out.

As for the week without the car, it might depend on where you live.
In NE Ohio, the remans are coming from the same Ohio (or possibly
Eastern Indiana?) plant that builds them originally, and they show up
at the dealer a day or two after they are ordered. Distance is
certainly a factor as I doubt the transmissions are light.
Replacement should take no more than 1 day since the job is written up
as about a 6 hour job. When I had my last replacement done, I dropped
the car off at 7:30 AM and it was ready by 2:00 in the afternoon.

As for reliability, my first '99 Accord V6 trans replacement at ~51k
miles was subsequently replaced at ~76k. Forums (especially v6p.net)
are littered with messages claiming multiple replacements. My belief
is that Honda's engine output has exceeded the capabilities of their
transmission design. Subsequent designs (5 speed auto in more recent
models like the CL, TL, MDX, Pilot, Ody, and Accord) and their recent
recalls seem to indicate that Honda is applying bandaids rather than
fixing the problem.

Good luck, and as one of the local the Service Managers told me, you
might want to start thinking about a new car.

 

I'm working on my 3rd transmission in my 01/V6 accord sedan.... and my
car only has 40K miles

the issue wasn't it breaking down, but it leaking from the case
center... BOTH times, the first one was put in @ 34K and the next one
was put in @ 38K less than 5000 miles and it developed the same
problem,

my understanding is that they are covered for 100K (u can bet I'm
selling this car when it reaches 90K) but it's paid for right now, so
it's still very reliable transportation with NO CAR PAYMEMNT

I have less than 2000 miles on the new one, so you can bet when I
change my oil in another 1000 miles, I'll be looking for a leak.

it was never a drip drip leak, just WET on the trans bottom from
fluid, very very small seeping

but u should be covered under their new 100K extended warranty, I got
a letter from Honda @ i think last year stating this.

i never heard of them detuning the engine to make the trans last
longer, but I'm not a tuner head, and i don't race my car around town,
so I didn't feel any diffrence in the engine performance if they did
do this, most of my "driving" is highway passing and i can still pass
cars on the freeway and reach 85mph without even knowing i'm going
that fast, so I'm happy for now

good luck

 

George Earl wrote in message news:
Thanks for all the input.

It appears that I dodged the bullet this time. My dealer tells me it
was 'a loose backing plate on the right front brake that was rubbing
up against the rotor'. This makes sense considering that the symptoms
came on suddenly altogether at the same time yesterday evening with no
prior indication that anything was wrong. I had felt around a bit
under there myself but didn't find anything out of the ordinary, and
using the brakes didn't seem to affect the sounds I was hearing . . .

So far (my trip home from the dealer) everything seems fine . . . I'm
gonna keep everything crossed . . .



George

 

There is quite a bit of hyperbole in this statement. While it is
clear that there is a problem with these transmissions, they are still
quite a bit more reliable than most Chrysler transmissions. Compare
the Consumer Reports reliability rating on the Odyssey to the Chrysler
of your choice. (CR doesn't break out the data on the V6 Accord, but
the combined reliability of the 4 and 6 is very good.)

Probably true.

At least Honda is standing behind these cars.

 

On 3 Aug 2004 08:07:24 -0700, (James) wrote:
eady by 2:00 in the afternoon.

I think you might be right. Out of curiosity, how hard do you drive
this car?

My pet theory is that ATs are the most sensitive part of the car to
hard driving. I think this might explain why some owners never have a
problem and some go through multiple replacements or have problems
with every car they own.

 

what a bunch of shit!!! i replace trannys all the time and we have
never. ever! reprogrammed an ECU as part of it.....
where in the hell do you get your info?????
every manufacturer has problems with trannys. if people wouldn't
steal ideas they might be able to road test them for a while before
releasing, but it is what it is. remember fords FMX trannys stripping
the splines in the 60's? or chryslers famous tranny issues? i've seen
several 04 gm trannys crap also.
Chip

 

I have 2 bubbys that would at local Honda dealership, Performance Honda.
Cincinnati, Ohio.

 

what a bunch of shit!!! i replace trannys all the time and we have
never. ever! reprogrammed an ECU as part of it.....
where in the hell do you get your info?????[/QUOTE]

Typical random shit that gets onto the usenet.

 

I'm a "spirited" driver - probably harder on it than some, but I
wouldn't consider my driving habits abusive. Apart from about half of
my commute being 35mph suburban streets, almost all of my driving is
highway or 55mph country roads - in other words, very little shifting
and few standing starts.

I agree. I would also add that the Service Manager alluded to Honda
not really having a "fix" by the time my first replacement was
installed in May of 2002. Knock on wood, this second replacement has
been OK.