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Re: 1999 Accord V6 transmission problems

"Paul Bielec" <me@no.spam> wrote in message news:binp7b$sp5$1@dns3.cae.ca...

> Not so long ago, Honda annouced silently that they're extending the
> automatic transmission warranty on some V6 models.
> It was mostly on the Oddyssey but I think that the V6 Accords were also
> included as they use the same tranny.

Paul,

The impression I've gotten through my research, is that the extension
applies to the 2000-2001 models. It also seems Honda is not forthcoming with
the reason why 1998, 1999, and 2002 models are not included. Puzzling, since
I think they are all the same transmission. If I'm wrong about that I sure
wish someone from Honda would explain the differences.

Rick

Re: 1999 Accord V6 transmission problems

"Fluffy" <no-spamming-bsavanh@mchsi.com> wrote in message
news:Q5S3b.301052$YN5.207261@sccrnsc01...
> I had a 2002 Honda Accord EX-V6. In a year we only put 10K miles on it..
it
> was a good car to us. The tranny failure rate I've read in various
articles
> was about 2% but the cost for repair if not under warranty is very high.
> One of my co-worker's mom who's working in Germany had a tranny failure on
a
> 1999 as well and it cost her something crazy like $6,000 to replace.
>
> Though I wasn't afraid that my tranny would fail, I wanted to at least
know
> why my 2002 was not part of the warranty extension so I sent letters (four
> letters) to Honda asking for an explanation why the 2002 model was not
part
> of the extended warranty models. They would not answer my simple question
> so last month I traded that sucker in for a new Volvo XC90 and VOWED to
not
> buy another Honda again and have informed my family members, cousins,
> friends, and their friends to do the same. (As you can see, I'm upset
about
> the whole thing.)

It seems to be a common thread that Honda won't respond to inquiries about
the warranty extensions. Kinda unusual for a company that built it's
reputation on customer satisfaction.

> Sure I traded in an apple for an orange but it was my way of voting with
my
> $$. Though I still own a 91 Honda Civic Si and probably will own that for
a
> very long time. My protest probably will not have a big impact on Honda
but
> at least in my mind I'm satisfied, something Honda couldn't do for me as
> their customer. Nowadays there are so many good cars out there. I'm
> willing to bet that many Honda owners have owned or currently own vehicles
> from other manufacturers and is happy with the other vehicles. Honda's
not
> the only game in town.

I'm not convinced protests such as these go unnoticed by Honda, but only if
they know about them. Did you write them and let them know the result of
their failure to communicate with you?

Rick

Re: 1999 Accord V6 transmission problems

"Dick" <rhughes33@cableone.net> wrote in message
news:kikvkv070jmt800fi32qbsdc2jg0gbb0cg@4ax.com...
> The procedure for the V6 is similar.
>
> If the line pressure is OK, replace the Lock-up Control Solenoid
> Assembly set and the A/T clutch pressure control solenoid valve A/B
> assembly.
>
> Turn the ignition switch OFF and reset the PCM memory by removing the
> BACK UP fuse in the passenger's under-dash fuse/relay box for more
> than 10 seconds.
>
> Using the scan tool, check to be sure that the engine coolant
> temperature is 176F or above.
>
> Drive the vehicle at 55 mpg constantly for more than one minute.
>
> Recheck for code P0740.
>
> THEN, if the code is still there, replace the transmission and torque
> converter. Do the checks first.
>
> Dick

Dick,

Thanks for the info. Is replacing the solenoid assembly commonly the whole
cure? How much does this procedure normally cost?

Rick

Re: 1999 Accord V6 transmission problems

(Sorry for my english)

I have a 98 Accord EX V6. 68k miles. The only tranny problem I have are:
1. It 'hits' 2 times when I go from N to D4 when the motor is hot (after a
city drive).
2. There is a 'clang' noise when I go from N to R when the engine is cold.

1. I would like to know where you saw Honda saying there was a problem with
our models tranny. My Honda service representative told me he never heared
about it (I am now in Quebec, Canada...). I can't see anything about it on
Honda's internet sites.
2. Should we all pay for an extended waranty in case it breakes ? (Does it
sometimes break from one day to another ?)

Sure you can use my mail for your letter to Honda.

Keep us posted.

Alain.

Re: 1999 Accord V6 transmission problems

You brought up a good point. I should attached the payoff letter from the
Honda along with a copy of all the letters I wrote them and explain that
since they could not answer my questions it means that they don't have
confidence in their products; and since they don't have any confidence in
their products I don't either. Thanks for the idea.

Honestly - I wasn't looking for a freebie transmission BUT I felt that Honda
should've at least explained why the 02 was not included in the warranty
extension.

Honda was sooooo reliable and they stand by their product and not be sooo
afraid of covering their behind then why didn't they just do the following:

1. Extend the warranty to 7 year / 100,000 miles on the other years as with
the other years. (This would buy consumer confidence for sure.)
OR
2. Explain why some of the year models such as the 2002 were excluded by
the warranty extension. (That would also buy consumer confidence).

Their inaction to #2 translate to me that they don't care. If they don't
care about me, then I don't care about them. It's that simple in my book.

1.6% - failure is TOO high.

------------------------
Below is an article from LA Times that was pointed out by one of the Post
here earlier in the year that sparked my curiosity and concerns...

September 11, 2002

Honda's Unexpected Gear Shift
Some customers believe a recall should be issued for the slipping
transmissions

By JOHN O'DELL, TIMES STAFF WRITER

Matthew Veno spotted an opening in the early-morning rush-hour traffic and
stabbed the accelerator. His year-old Acura TL Type-S surged forward,
hitting close to 80 mph on Boston's Route 3. Then, with no warning, the
five-speed automatic transmission slipped from fifth to second, pulling the
car up as sharply as if he had slammed on the brakes.

"Fortunately, the people behind me were able to swerve, so there wasn't an
accident," the 23-year-old computer engineer recalled. "But it could have
been pretty bad."

When Veno's $34,000 Acura spontaneously downshifted, the engine kept racing
and the crankshaft revolutions, or RPMs, went through the roof, kicking in a
limiter that cuts off the engine to avoid damage.

"That caused even more jerkiness, and at 80 it started the car swerving from
side to side on a two-lane highway. I almost slammed into a construction
barrier," Veno said. "It was the scariest time I've ever had in a car. If
the traction control hadn't been on, I would have lost it."

Veno's dealer arranged for the car to be towed and replaced the faulty
transmission under warranty and without argument.

It is one of almost 16,000 Honda and Acura automatic transmissions American
Honda Motor Co. has replaced in the last two years, leading some owners to
begin questioning the company's reputation for building bulletproof cars.

Others, such as Kathy Lammens, say American Honda should order an immediate
recall.

"They need to do it for the people's sake," said the 38-year-old Placentia
resident, whose 2001 Acura CL's automatic transmission failed completely the
day after it slipped into second gear at 65 mph on the Costa Mesa Freeway
late last month.

When the downshift occurred, Lammens said, she was heading home from work on
a fairly empty freeway.

"It felt like I'd suddenly slammed on the brakes," she said, "but the engine
was straining.... And there was no one behind me, which is good because the
brake lights don't go on when that happens, so there's no warning to anyone
following."

Lammens said her Acura dealer agreed immediately to replace the transmission
but told her he could not give her a completion date.

"I asked why, and I was stunned," she said. Lammens was told she was 27th on
a regional waiting list for replacement of five-speed automatic
transmissions for late-model Acura CLs.

Mike Spencer, a spokesman for Acura, Honda's sport-luxury division,
confirmed that there has been a "higher than normal incidence" of problems
with two Honda-built automatic transmissions. Although many involve
high-performance models such as the 260-horsepower Acura Type-S, others
afflict 200-horsepower V-6 Honda Accords and 240-horsepower Odyssey minivans
not usually associated with racing and speeding abuses.

The two transmissions are the five-speed used in V-6-equipped Acuras since
the 2000 model year and in Honda Odysseys since the 2002 model year; and the
four-speed automatic used in V-6 Honda Accords since 2000 and in 2000 and
2001 Odysseys.

Of 1 million vehicles sold in the U.S. with those transmissions, Spencer
said, Honda has replaced the transmissions in about 16,000, or 1.6%.

No accidents or injuries have been reported, and a spokesman for the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that though the agency
has received a number of Honda and Acura transmission failure complaints,
the screening staff that checks reports for safety issues has not
recommended that an investigation be opened. Reports to the agency can be
filed online at www.nhtsa.dot.gov.

Spencer said the number and severity of transmission problems, though
exceeding Honda's tolerance, are not enough to warrant a recall.

Nor has Honda issued a service bulletin to alert dealers to the potential
for trouble, he said.

Company policy prohibits dealers from opening transmission cases--"If
there's a problem under warranty, the whole transmission is replaced,"
Spencer said--and the problem transmissions cannot be identified until the
problem occurs.

So a bulletin, which typically provides instructions for repairing a problem
when the customer takes in a vehicle for service, would do no good.

Spencer said Honda engineers identified the root of the problems a few
months ago and have redesigned the transmissions.

The four-speed models were afflicted with a bad bearing that could break
apart, scattering fragments of metal that clogged fluid passageways in the
transmission, causing it to shift erratically, he said.

The five-speed models typically were damaged by premature wear of the
third-gear clutch pack. As the clutch friction material abraded, it
scattered bits inside the transmission case, clogging fluid lines and
causing erratic shifting.

Honda and Acura dealers are replacing affected transmissions under
warranty--typically with factory rebuilt transmissions, a standard industry
practice, Spencer said. He said customers such as Lammens have been caught
in an unusual situation because Honda has never had a run of bad
transmissions and thus has never had to stockpile replacement parts. When
the four-and five-speed automatics started breaking, he said, a backlog
quickly developed.

"But we are trying to get parts into the system, and in the meantime we are
providing loaners at no cost so our customers won't be without
transportation," he said.

That has come in especially handy for a few Acura owners whose cars were out
of service several times before Honda engineers found the cause of the
problem.

Several on an Internet forum for Acura owners have complained of having to
replace transmissions several times before getting one that did not
self-destruct. Not all own older vehicles either.

Jim Mincy, a Michigan real estate broker, said in an e-mail interview that
his 7-month-old 2003 Acura TL Type-S is headed back to the dealer for its
second replacement transmission.

Most of those interviewed had no complaints about how Honda and its dealers
have treated them. But many echoed Veno, who said his problem transmission
will haunt him--and Acura--for a long time.

"I bought this car because of the company's reputation for quality. I was
going to buy a Honda product and drive it for 250,000 miles," he said. "But
now I can guarantee you that when the warranty is up, the car is gone. And
this will probably be in my mind when I go looking for a replacement."

Spencer said Honda is confident the problems have been solved.

He said Honda owners with transmission concerns should call the company's
customer service hotline at (800) 999-1009; Acura owners should call (800)
382-2238.

"We are definitely keeping an eye on this, and if it looks like the issue is
growing, we'll take other steps" that could include extending warranties for
replacement transmissions that now are covered only by the remainder of the
original new-car powertrain warranty of five years or 50,000 miles, Spencer
said.

That's good, said Joshua Pai, a 23-year-old electronics engineer from
Anaheim who worries about his Acura TL's longevity after its recent
transmission failure.

"But I wish they'd do more," he said. "There's bound to be someone in an
accident because of this, and that will be terrible. They really should
recall them all."

*

John O'Dell covers the auto industry for Highway 1 and the Business Section.
He can be reached at john .odell@latimes.com.

"Pete" <pete_nagurski@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:bip9k2$bfdvf$1@ID-194065.news.uni-berlin.de...
>
> "Fluffy" <no-spamming-bsavanh@mchsi.com> wrote in message
> news:Q5S3b.301052$YN5.207261@sccrnsc01...
> > I had a 2002 Honda Accord EX-V6. In a year we only put 10K miles on
it..
> it
> > was a good car to us. The tranny failure rate I've read in various
> articles
> > was about 2% but the cost for repair if not under warranty is very high.
> > One of my co-worker's mom who's working in Germany had a tranny failure
on
> a
> > 1999 as well and it cost her something crazy like $6,000 to replace.
> >
> > Though I wasn't afraid that my tranny would fail, I wanted to at least
> know
> > why my 2002 was not part of the warranty extension so I sent letters
(four
> > letters) to Honda asking for an explanation why the 2002 model was not
> part
> > of the extended warranty models. They would not answer my simple
question
> > so last month I traded that sucker in for a new Volvo XC90 and VOWED to
> not
> > buy another Honda again and have informed my family members, cousins,
> > friends, and their friends to do the same. (As you can see, I'm upset
> about
> > the whole thing.)
>
> It seems to be a common thread that Honda won't respond to inquiries about
> the warranty extensions. Kinda unusual for a company that built it's
> reputation on customer satisfaction.
>
> > Sure I traded in an apple for an orange but it was my way of voting with
> my
> > $$. Though I still own a 91 Honda Civic Si and probably will own that
for
> a
> > very long time. My protest probably will not have a big impact on Honda
> but
> > at least in my mind I'm satisfied, something Honda couldn't do for me as
> > their customer. Nowadays there are so many good cars out there. I'm
> > willing to bet that many Honda owners have owned or currently own
vehicles
> > from other manufacturers and is happy with the other vehicles. Honda's
> not
> > the only game in town.
>
> I'm not convinced protests such as these go unnoticed by Honda, but only
if
> they know about them. Did you write them and let them know the result of
> their failure to communicate with you?
>
> Rick
>
>

Re: 1999 Accord V6 transmission problems

In article <GZQ3b.12174$j26.646@lakeread02>, "twaugh5" <twaugh5@cox.net> wrote:

> When I had a 99 Accord LX, I had a problem with 5th gear synchro on the 5
> speed at 600 miles. Honda wanted to replace the transmission, but after
> four months of " there are no available replacement 5 speeds" the box was
> successully repaired by the dealer. At the time, the service manager told
> me that were having great difficulties with the V6 automatic -- failures and
> so forth. I now drive 01 5 speed Prelude -- not one problem at all. I gues
> it depends on the model. The old 5 speed Accord were bulletproof.
>
> "Pete" <pete_nagurski@yahoo.com> wrote in message
> news:bimfcn$b3tu2$1@ID-194065.news.uni-berlin.de...
> > Yesterday the "Check Engine" light came on in my wife's 1999 Accord EX V6.
> > We bought this car new. It is out of warranty with 48,000 miles. She had
> > recently noticed what she described as the engine "missing" occasionally,
> > but nothing serious. I assumed it was the well-known EGR problem, for
> which
> > there is an extended warranty, so we made an appointment with the dealer
> to
> > take care of it.
> >
> > Imagine my surprise when the code came up a PO740 which the tech described
> > as a "transmission system failure". What!!! This is my third new Honda. My
> > first was a 1982 Accord. It's still in the driveway with 300,000 miles,
> > being recycled through each of my kids as they get their driver's
> licenses.
> > The only major work necessary on it has been the timing belt and the
> clutch.
> > And they didn't fail, it was just time. Now I'm facing a several thousand
> > dollar bill on a practically brand-new car?????
> >
> > The first thing the dealer wanted to do was a pressurized transmission
> flush
> > for $210. This on top of the $80 I now have to pay (which I'm really
> pissed
> > about because I can get OBD II scans for free) because the problem isn't
> > under warranty. I recalled hearing about some problems associated with
> > pressure flushing, but couldn't remember exactly what they were. So before
> > giving the go-ahead, I called an independent transmission shop that I use
> > for business (I'm the fleet manager for an electric utility) to pick his
> > brain a little.
> >
> > He recommended that I pass on the pressure flush. He has seen catastrophic
> > failures occur to transmissions immediately following a pressure flush. He
> > recommended a drain and fill, running the car a few days and then another
> > drain and fill. So I had the dealer do a $42 drain and fill and arranged
> for
> > another appointment next Tuesday. They were really disappointed I wouldn't
> > let them do the pressure flush.
> >
> > I voiced my displeasure (politely) with this entire turn of events with
> the
> > poor kid at the service desk and eventually he got the service manager to
> > talk to me. He seemed sympathetic, but insisted he couldn't do anything
> for
> > me because the car is out of warranty. I told him that I have been a Honda
> > true-believer for years and am shocked that something like this could
> happen
> > with a car of this vintage. I told him I am even more shocked at the
> > prospect of being hung-out-to-dry by Honda in this way.
> >
> > Then it got kind of interesting. He seemed to get a little uncomfortable.
> He
> > admitted that Honda had experienced some transmission problems with many
> of
> > their V6 models. He said there were warranty extensions on some of them
> due
> > to these acknowledged problems. He asked the warranty manager if there was
> > an extension on mine and she replied there was not. He then suggested we
> > wait and see what happens with the drain and fill routine, and then
> contact
> > Honda. He had a pretty good attitude about the whole thing, so I left
> > feeling, not exactly ok, but calmed down a little. When we started the car
> > the "check engine" light was off. We left the dealer. At about 10 miles
> the
> > light came on again. It's about 50 miles home and we didn't experience any
> > symptoms.
> >
> > My interest piqued by the service manager's comments about known problems,
> > I've spent the afternoon google searching. What I've discovered so far is
> > that there is indeed a common problem with these transmissions from 1998
> to
> > 2002 model years. Honda has granted warranty extensions for the 2000 and
> > 2001 models, but inexplicably not the others, although they cannot or will
> > not explain the design differences between them that would legitimize the
> > exclusions. The 2003 models are a new design. Can anyone relate any recent
> > similar experiences? And the outcome, positive or negative? And any advice
> > on the direction I should take with this?
> >
> > Honda needs to step up and take care of their customers. I have been a
> proud
> > Honda owner for over twenty years and have loudly announced my loyalty for
> > that entire time. Resolution of this situation will either confirm my
> faith
> > in Honda or destroy it. If Honda doesn't take care of me, I won't let it
> > rest. I think there are enough owners that have experienced this, and not
> > received satisfaction, to put together a formidable group to take Honda
> on.
> > I hope it doesn't come to that.
> >
> > Pete
> >
> >
> >

I have a 99 Accord and recently decided to pay about $2000 for an extended
warranty that will cover the Accord up to 100,000 miles. I seem to recall
that I have to pay the first $50.00 of any repair jobs under the warranty.
As a result of reading the many posts related to transmission
problems--I'm glad I purchased the extended warranty. If you have one of
the Honda vehicles that may have the defective transmissions--I advise you
to trade it in before the trans. develops problems or purchase the
extended warranty. With most Honda dealers--they will usually do this with
any Honda purchased from the dealer that is selling you the warranty. They
may want to have their mechanics check the vehicle so buy it now before
the trans. starts developing problems. Of course, if you don't want to
take my advice--that is up to you.

Re: 1999 Accord V6 transmission problems

>
> Honda has issued a "silent" warranty extension on 2000 and 2001 models. Why
> not the others? As far as I know, these transmissions are all the same, and
> many owners have experienced similar problems.

it's not a silent warranty at all. letters were mailed out to all
registered honda owners. and if you have a dealership service your
vehicle, they should run a vin stat every time and it will show.
they had a limited run of trannys with a problem. look at
chrysler... they haven't built a good tranny in 15 years!!. honda's
1.6% fail rate is pretty commendable for over a million vehicles.
as for the article about the acura. that's a different animal if
you've ever worked on them. that's a five speed auto. honda just got
that this year. most of the time acura is the experimaental platform.
out of all the trannys i've seen fail in hondas, most of them have
never had their fluid changed. and on the oddysey most of them have
aftermarket trailer hitches with no tranny cooler...
no matter what people will gripe about it..

for those that don't know. a honda automatic is essentially a manual
gearbox with wet clutch packs. they are built like no domestic tranny
on the market. a lot of the common complaints are just normal
characteristics of the vehicle.
mor often than not engine maintenance and poor running cause a lot of
tranny malfunctions due to the ecu being confused.
chip

Re: 1999 Accord V6 transmission problems

2% is still 2 cars out of every 100. I don't believe Honda feels that a 2%
failure is commendable. If it's commendable then they would make it a
selling point: "We at Honda build quality cars, only 2% of our transmissions
in some models will fail." I don't think it will catch on too well when you
consider the cost of a new transmission. Sure the article talks about Acura
but it's not just Acura models, but Accord, Odyssey, Prelude's as well. If
the root cause of the premature failures as due to the negligence of the
vehicle owners I doubt that Honda would roger up and extend the warranty on
these vehicles. At the same time, I'm sure that there are failures was due
to negligence i.e. not changing fluid, other factors such as exceeding the
vehicles' limitation or it's intended use. The latter is not just on a
Honda but on any vehicle.

"American Honda Motor Co., Inc. announced it will provide extended
warranties on approximately 1.2 million Honda and Acura models equipped with
automatic transmissions due to problems that may result in premature wear or
failure. The extended warranty will cover affected transmissions for seven
years or 100,000 miles.

The standard bumper-to-bumper warranty for Honda vehicles is three years or
36,000 miles, while Acura vehicles are covered for four years or 50,000
miles.

Vehicles covered by the extended warranty include:

2000 - 2001 Honda Accord, Odyssey and Prelude
2000 - 2002 and some 2003 Acura 3.2 TL
2001 - 2002 and some 2003 Acura 3.2 CL

While only two percent of these vehicles have experienced these transmission
problems, American Honda will provide extended transmission warranties on
all potentially affected vehicles.

"Our priorities are making sure our customers are taken care of and
reassured they can continue to depend on their Honda or Acura automobile for
a long time to come," said Tom Elliott, executive vice president for
American Honda.

There is usually plenty of warning to the driver that the transmission is
not operating properly, such as slow or erratic shifting, giving them ample
time to take the vehicle in for service.

American Honda will notify all owners of eligible vehicles via mail in the
coming weeks. "

"Chip Stein" <chip@chipanddebby.com> wrote in message
news:5ddcea74.0308301656.1745a01f@posting.google.c om...
> >
> > Honda has issued a "silent" warranty extension on 2000 and 2001 models.
Why
> > not the others? As far as I know, these transmissions are all the same,
and
> > many owners have experienced similar problems.
>
> it's not a silent warranty at all. letters were mailed out to all
> registered honda owners. and if you have a dealership service your
> vehicle, they should run a vin stat every time and it will show.
> they had a limited run of trannys with a problem. look at
> chrysler... they haven't built a good tranny in 15 years!!. honda's
> 1.6% fail rate is pretty commendable for over a million vehicles.
> as for the article about the acura. that's a different animal if
> you've ever worked on them. that's a five speed auto. honda just got
> that this year. most of the time acura is the experimaental platform.
> out of all the trannys i've seen fail in hondas, most of them have
> never had their fluid changed. and on the oddysey most of them have
> aftermarket trailer hitches with no tranny cooler...
> no matter what people will gripe about it..
>
>
> for those that don't know. a honda automatic is essentially a manual
> gearbox with wet clutch packs. they are built like no domestic tranny
> on the market. a lot of the common complaints are just normal
> characteristics of the vehicle.
> mor often than not engine maintenance and poor running cause a lot of
> tranny malfunctions due to the ecu being confused.
> chip