Need Transmission Help

[robd]

Been reading posts here for awhile and have enjoyed the information.

Recently in the last few months our 2003 Pilot EXL transmission with 53000 miles has started to occasionally slip when taking off from a start then rapidly moving forward with a bang and a lurch, sometimes chirping the tires. Also the car seems to want to shift up into 5th gear quickly upon acceleration and stay there even when we decelerate to under 30 mph and lugs engine without down shifting (torque converter seems to stay locked also).

Took it to the only Honda dealer within 40 miles and they could not reproduce the slipping and said 900 rpm in 5th is normal and it does this to save gas.

Family is going to take a trip from Pennsylvania to Florida on the day after Christmas and I want to feel safe driving the Pilot with a two and a six year old aboard.

[N_Jay]

What does the fluid look and smell like?

Have you have the fluid changed?

[robd]

Had the fluid changed at 30k and also had the recall done for second gear.

[ictvuser]

Originally posted by robd
Had the fluid changed at 30k and also had the recall done for second gear.

Has the EGR been replaced?

Egr Valve vs Torque Converter

[robd]

Yes, Last summer.

[Sunday Rider]

Looks like you had the fluid changed 23,000 miles ago. Maybe time for another change. Does the fluid smell burned?

I have 107,000km (66,000 miles) and it shifts very smoothly. Most of my driving is highway, and I started changing the tranny fluid at every other oil change, when I hit 60,000km (36,000 miles).

[robd]

Just got to look at the fluid, it is clear but much darker than new Honda ATF on a paper towel. Don't know if this would cause the slipping and causing the torque converter to stay locked at low speeds lugging the engine.

[Sunday Rider]

It would be a cheap do it yourself and a good first try to see if that fixes it. I also found the tranny fluid to be darker and "browner" than the new stuff. Seeing as you have the trip ahead of you, and unlikely the dealer will find the problem before you go.
But of course it is Christmas, and you have a million things you haven't done yet for the Big Day besides this.

Good luck.

[robd]

I was thinking on the same lines. Went to the Honda dealer today and purchased 4 Quarts of Honda ATF and did the change before I read your message. I noticed about 1/8 of an inch of a dark gray material on the magnet of the drain plug and wiped it off and I'll see what happens. Wondering how much wear material is normal?

Had to pump fluid through the small dipstick line with a little oil transfer pump I had, without the pump it would have been difficult to pour fluid down that dipstick tube. Happy Holidays!

[Sunday Rider]

I had around the same amount of metal filings around the magnet too. That dip stick hole is a pain, but once you have the right tube to fit, you are good for the future changes too. Just don't use that pump for the VTM4 fluid, the 2 fluids are very different, and VTM4 much more delicate to foreign stuff (my experience anyway).
Hope that fixes your shifts. Let us know how you make out.

Merry Christmas.

[robd]

Just Got back yesterday from Florida. Trans is still acting the same but doesn't seem to be getting worse. Wish it would set a problem code so I could bring it to dealer. (doesn't believe there is a problem but was very smooth before).

Still wondering if it could be the torque converter, It seems to sometimes drive like a manual transmission when you don't press the clutch or down shift, lugging the engine. Maybe it could also be the ECM?

[Sunday Rider]

Glad you made it back safely. I imagine you went through the mountains in the Virginias and Carolinas, how did it shift there?

That is one thing I found about the Pilot is how smoothly it shifts. Perhaps it is the ECM. This is beyond my level. I will look in the service manual and see if there is anything that jumps out in the tranny section.

[Sunday Rider]

Here are a couple of things in the repair manual:

Symptom Erratic shifting gears: fails to shift in the D and D3 positions; starts off in 5th; Fails to shift in the 2 postition; starts off in 4th

Probable Cause 1. Shift solenoid valve B defective
2. Shift valve B defective

Notes chekc the D indicator, and check for loose connectors. Inspect the O-ring, and check the shift solenoid valve for seizure

Page 14-14 of service manual (2003)
-----------------------------------------------------------

Symptom Engine does not rev up to high speed, and the transmission shifts up during lov-rev condition (Engine at normal operating temperature)

Probable Cause VTEC rocker arms defective

Notes check the engine rocker arms as described in the engine section of this service manual

page 14-17 of service manual.
----------------------------------------------------------
Not sure if this helps you any.

The module that controls this is the PCM (powertrain control module).

[rocky]

I'm a big fan of changing ATF at half the recommended intervals. on every auto you only drain a small portion, perhaps 30% of the fluid each time you do it, even with filter changes.

Think about it after the first change you have 70% of the original fluid
Second change (60K) 50% (+/-)
Third (90k!) 30%

[robd]

Thanks for all the info.

I will take this to the dealer and maybe now he will do something. This car use to shift extremely smooth also, but now is degraded to the point it worries me. I don't have the extended warranty and really don't want to pay $4500 for a new tranny.

Will keep posted on results.