Transmission Help

I am working on a 90 Accord EX with an A/T, 2.2. The problem is, that there is a whining coming from the transmission. The whining is constant and gets louder as you give it gas. I've had the thing out once and replaced the torque converter because that was the first thing I thought of. After putting the tranny back and putting some fluid in it, the noise came back. It's not the starter, I ruled that out already. I got an email from someone suggesting that there was a recall because the shaft bolts were backing off and causing the whine. And now, when trying to shift, it is hard to get out of park and then when trying to put it back in park with the engine running, the gears grind.

I guess the questions are, has anybody heard of this before? Has anybody had a similar problem? If so, what was the fix? What about the shifting problem?

Thanks.....sorry about the long post.

TJ

it does sound like the shaft bolts backing off. I'd take a look at that. I have not had a similar problem first hand though.

- Nathan

Ok, dumb question......what is the green "S" light? This light is on now.

Supposedly "sport" shifting. I could never see a lot of difference. It's turned on & off by the button just below the shifter knob (where your thumb can reach it)

Ok, so the fact that the shifter is locked and won't go out of park, does this have anything to do with that?

What about the shifter solenoids?? Will that lock the shifter?

Thanks,
TJ

No connection as far as I know - just hit the button and the light should go out.

You may have a solenoid/switch problem. Does the solenoid click when you put your foot on the brake?

If that checks out OK, is it really locked rather than stuck? I worn shifter cable can make it seem like it's locked in Park.

Codger,

I'm actually working on the tranny right now. I replaced the torque converter because there was a whining coming from the transmission. That didn't fix it. I noticed the S being on after I put the tranny back on. You are the second or third person I've seen on this forum mention the shifter cable. I'll check that out. The solenoids.....are they the things in front that look like large thimbles and there are 4 of them....2 sets of 2????? When you hit the brake, the shifter does move and click....what does that indicate?

thanks,
tj

Presumably you currently have the console dismantled? When you put your foot on the brake, you can see the solenoid - right in front of the shifter - disengaging the Park lock. I don't remember, but I think there's only one of them.

You can also check to see if the shifter is actually locked using the manual unlock - it's the slot like a keyhole in the top of the shifter casing. Just stick your key in it and try to move the shifter.

No, at this point I don't have the console taken apart. I appreciate the info though, I'll see if I can pick up a solenoid at the junk yard tonight just for the hell of it and maybe the cable.

I've tried to manually unlock the shifter and it doesn't work.

Does either of these problems have anything to do with the fact that the gears grind when I try to put it in park???

Well, I'm no expert, but I would tend to think that, yes, if you had a problem with the shifter cable (damaged, misadjusted etc) it could cause the grinding.

Not being able to free the shifter by unlocking it manually REALLY indicates a problem with the cable (or the transmission itself, of course).

Well.....here we go. I found out that there was a recall because the transmission shaft bolt can back off and create problems. This recall was way back in 91. I asked Honda to see if it had been done to this car......it hasn't. They said that the car had to be driven in for them to take a look at it. Well, the car is half apart, so it's not drivable. So, they showed me a diagram of what had to be done.......Had to take the transmission cover off on the passenger side and check the nut in there. Chunks started falling out of the tranny when I got the cover loose. So, I'll be calling Honda tomorrow and see if not having the recall done all those years ago could cause that.....and if it could....if they will replace or rebuild the tranny.....my guess is they won't.

Thanks for the replies guys.

TJ