I have a 2002 Honda Accord SE/4 cyl. Recently, the transmission is beginning to show signs of trouble.

While it shifts with some irregularity, the most noticeable and bothersome problem is that it starts in a higher gear after you stop and then accelerate -- accelerating extremely slow.

However, all symptoms go away once the car is warmed up.

Any advice or experience is very much appreciated.

David

quite frankly i know very little about transmissions, when my 02 SE 4cyl had problems (a bit of slippage on the 1-2 and 2-3 upshifts when cold, the dealer advised that the torque converter was going..

they replaced the tranny under warranty (bought certified used), no hassle, perhaps there's a problem with their trannys, they told me it was much more common on v-6 models

The problems are much more apparent on the V6 models, mainly the 98-01. The 02 models were said to be mostly fixed. I don't know about their I4 transmissions though.

Ok, now am on my second replacement tranny for the car...both have been covered under the powertrain warranty, is there an issue with these things? It's a 4cyl...again, the dealership told me that they almost never see problems with the 4cyl models?

Are they full of it?

First time, at 47K...about 2k after a tranny fluid change at the dealer...they told me the torque converter was going.

This time at 87K....about 500 miles after a tranny fluid change at an independant shop...but they used the Honda ATF z1 fluid becuase i bought the fluid at the dealer and brought the fluid in.

I wasn't 100% please with the way was shifting at times, but after the tranny fluid change, things got worse when the car was cold in the mornings...it slipped on me once during the 1-2 upshift.

The problems disappeared once the car was driven about 15 minutes.

I didn't tell the Honda dealer that I had recently had the fluid changed, they claimed they verified that there was a problem with the tranny again, and replaced it under the powertrain warranty.

Could the other shop have done something stupid to cause this or is there an issue with these trannys?

The work invoice shows that the tranny was replaced under Honda's trans. replacement program..

I am leaning towards the view that they are using *hitty parts or something...

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Thanks!

I heard many Honda owners had tranny failure shortly after fluid change, including Acura models. But reason unknown so far.