Automatic Transmission Problem?
 

Hey,

I have a 1992 Honda Civic DX automatic with 110,000 miles on it.
The car runs and drives great except for a slight transmission problem.
When coming up to a stop, if i down shift from D4 to D3 its fine, from
D3 to 2nd its fine, but from 2nd to 1st the trans will grind or clunk.
The owners manual says that it is perfectly fine to up shift and down
shift, it even says i can operate this trans like a manual without a
clutch. So is the noise normal or am I harming the transmission and
has anyone else had this experience? Thanks in advance!

Paul

Re: Automatic Transmission Problem?
 

MFD wrote:
> Hey,
>
> I have a 1992 Honda Civic DX automatic with 110,000 miles on it.
> The car runs and drives great except for a slight transmission problem.
> When coming up to a stop, if i down shift from D4 to D3 its fine, from
> D3 to 2nd its fine, but from 2nd to 1st the trans will grind or clunk.
> The owners manual says that it is perfectly fine to up shift and down
> shift, it even says i can operate this trans like a manual without a
> clutch. So is the noise normal or am I harming the transmission and
> has anyone else had this experience? Thanks in advance!

Not totally sure what your purpose is in doing this, but I would NEVER
shift into first like this unless totally stopped. Generally, when
downshifting a manual transmission, you rev the engine so that when you
shift into the lower gear, you are matching the engine speed to what
the transmission can handle. With an automatic, that doesn't happen and
a so you have no idea what engine speed will be (and therefore
transmission speed) when you 'downshift'. I would say you should stop
doing this, and if you want to shift yourself, buy a car with a manual
trans.

Dan D
'07 Odyssey Slate Green
'04 Audi A4 quattro 6-speed

Re: Automatic Transmission Problem?
 

MFD wrote:
> Hey,
>
> I have a 1992 Honda Civic DX automatic with 110,000 miles on it.
> The car runs and drives great except for a slight transmission problem.
> When coming up to a stop, if i down shift from D4 to D3 its fine, from
> D3 to 2nd its fine, but from 2nd to 1st the trans will grind or clunk.
> The owners manual says that it is perfectly fine to up shift and down
> shift, it even says i can operate this trans like a manual without a
> clutch. So is the noise normal or am I harming the transmission and
> has anyone else had this experience? Thanks in advance!

Not totally sure what your purpose is in doing this, but I would NEVER
shift into first like this unless totally stopped. Generally, when
downshifting a manual transmission, you rev the engine so that when you
shift into the lower gear, you are matching the engine speed to what
the transmission can handle. With an automatic, that doesn't happen and
a so you have no idea what engine speed will be (and therefore
transmission speed) when you 'downshift'. I would say you should stop
doing this, and if you want to shift yourself, buy a car with a manual
trans.

Dan D
'07 Odyssey Slate Green
'04 Audi A4 quattro 6-speed

Re: Automatic Transmission Problem?
 

MFD wrote:
> Hey,
>
> I have a 1992 Honda Civic DX automatic with 110,000 miles on it.
> The car runs and drives great except for a slight transmission problem.
> When coming up to a stop, if i down shift from D4 to D3 its fine, from
> D3 to 2nd its fine, but from 2nd to 1st the trans will grind or clunk.
> The owners manual says that it is perfectly fine to up shift and down
> shift, it even says i can operate this trans like a manual without a
> clutch. So is the noise normal or am I harming the transmission and
> has anyone else had this experience? Thanks in advance!

Not totally sure what your purpose is in doing this, but I would NEVER
shift into first like this unless totally stopped. Generally, when
downshifting a manual transmission, you rev the engine so that when you
shift into the lower gear, you are matching the engine speed to what
the transmission can handle. With an automatic, that doesn't happen and
a so you have no idea what engine speed will be (and therefore
transmission speed) when you 'downshift'. I would say you should stop
doing this, and if you want to shift yourself, buy a car with a manual
trans.

Dan D
'07 Odyssey Slate Green
'04 Audi A4 quattro 6-speed

Re: Automatic Transmission Problem?
 

MFD wrote:
> Hey,
>
> I have a 1992 Honda Civic DX automatic with 110,000 miles on it.
> The car runs and drives great except for a slight transmission problem.
> When coming up to a stop, if i down shift from D4 to D3 its fine, from
> D3 to 2nd its fine, but from 2nd to 1st the trans will grind or clunk.
> The owners manual says that it is perfectly fine to up shift and down
> shift, it even says i can operate this trans like a manual without a
> clutch. So is the noise normal or am I harming the transmission and
> has anyone else had this experience? Thanks in advance!

Not totally sure what your purpose is in doing this, but I would NEVER
shift into first like this unless totally stopped. Generally, when
downshifting a manual transmission, you rev the engine so that when you
shift into the lower gear, you are matching the engine speed to what
the transmission can handle. With an automatic, that doesn't happen and
a so you have no idea what engine speed will be (and therefore
transmission speed) when you 'downshift'. I would say you should stop
doing this, and if you want to shift yourself, buy a car with a manual
trans.

Dan D
'07 Odyssey Slate Green
'04 Audi A4 quattro 6-speed

Re: Automatic Transmission Problem?
 

Dano58 wrote:
> MFD wrote:
>> Hey,
>>
>> I have a 1992 Honda Civic DX automatic with 110,000 miles on it.
>> The car runs and drives great except for a slight transmission problem.
>> When coming up to a stop, if i down shift from D4 to D3 its fine, from
>> D3 to 2nd its fine, but from 2nd to 1st the trans will grind or clunk.
>> The owners manual says that it is perfectly fine to up shift and down
>> shift, it even says i can operate this trans like a manual without a
>> clutch. So is the noise normal or am I harming the transmission and
>> has anyone else had this experience? Thanks in advance!
>
> Not totally sure what your purpose is in doing this, but I would NEVER
> shift into first like this unless totally stopped. Generally, when
> downshifting a manual transmission, you rev the engine so that when you
> shift into the lower gear, you are matching the engine speed to what
> the transmission can handle. With an automatic, that doesn't happen and
> a so you have no idea what engine speed will be (and therefore
> transmission speed) when you 'downshift'. I would say you should stop
> doing this, and if you want to shift yourself, buy a car with a manual
> trans.
>
the transmission is protected - it won't allow shifts that damage it.

Re: Automatic Transmission Problem?
 

Dano58 wrote:
> MFD wrote:
>> Hey,
>>
>> I have a 1992 Honda Civic DX automatic with 110,000 miles on it.
>> The car runs and drives great except for a slight transmission problem.
>> When coming up to a stop, if i down shift from D4 to D3 its fine, from
>> D3 to 2nd its fine, but from 2nd to 1st the trans will grind or clunk.
>> The owners manual says that it is perfectly fine to up shift and down
>> shift, it even says i can operate this trans like a manual without a
>> clutch. So is the noise normal or am I harming the transmission and
>> has anyone else had this experience? Thanks in advance!
>
> Not totally sure what your purpose is in doing this, but I would NEVER
> shift into first like this unless totally stopped. Generally, when
> downshifting a manual transmission, you rev the engine so that when you
> shift into the lower gear, you are matching the engine speed to what
> the transmission can handle. With an automatic, that doesn't happen and
> a so you have no idea what engine speed will be (and therefore
> transmission speed) when you 'downshift'. I would say you should stop
> doing this, and if you want to shift yourself, buy a car with a manual
> trans.
>
the transmission is protected - it won't allow shifts that damage it.

Re: Automatic Transmission Problem?
 

Dano58 wrote:
> MFD wrote:
>> Hey,
>>
>> I have a 1992 Honda Civic DX automatic with 110,000 miles on it.
>> The car runs and drives great except for a slight transmission problem.
>> When coming up to a stop, if i down shift from D4 to D3 its fine, from
>> D3 to 2nd its fine, but from 2nd to 1st the trans will grind or clunk.
>> The owners manual says that it is perfectly fine to up shift and down
>> shift, it even says i can operate this trans like a manual without a
>> clutch. So is the noise normal or am I harming the transmission and
>> has anyone else had this experience? Thanks in advance!
>
> Not totally sure what your purpose is in doing this, but I would NEVER
> shift into first like this unless totally stopped. Generally, when
> downshifting a manual transmission, you rev the engine so that when you
> shift into the lower gear, you are matching the engine speed to what
> the transmission can handle. With an automatic, that doesn't happen and
> a so you have no idea what engine speed will be (and therefore
> transmission speed) when you 'downshift'. I would say you should stop
> doing this, and if you want to shift yourself, buy a car with a manual
> trans.
>
the transmission is protected - it won't allow shifts that damage it.

Re: Automatic Transmission Problem?
 

Dano58 wrote:
> MFD wrote:
>> Hey,
>>
>> I have a 1992 Honda Civic DX automatic with 110,000 miles on it.
>> The car runs and drives great except for a slight transmission problem.
>> When coming up to a stop, if i down shift from D4 to D3 its fine, from
>> D3 to 2nd its fine, but from 2nd to 1st the trans will grind or clunk.
>> The owners manual says that it is perfectly fine to up shift and down
>> shift, it even says i can operate this trans like a manual without a
>> clutch. So is the noise normal or am I harming the transmission and
>> has anyone else had this experience? Thanks in advance!
>
> Not totally sure what your purpose is in doing this, but I would NEVER
> shift into first like this unless totally stopped. Generally, when
> downshifting a manual transmission, you rev the engine so that when you
> shift into the lower gear, you are matching the engine speed to what
> the transmission can handle. With an automatic, that doesn't happen and
> a so you have no idea what engine speed will be (and therefore
> transmission speed) when you 'downshift'. I would say you should stop
> doing this, and if you want to shift yourself, buy a car with a manual
> trans.
>
the transmission is protected - it won't allow shifts that damage it.

Re: Automatic Transmission Problem?
 

jim beam wrote:

> the transmission is protected - it won't allow shifts that damage it.

Perhaps - but are you saying that a 'grind' or 'clunk' is normal? I
don't think so. And if the transmission is starting to develop
problems, then manually shifting it certainly won't help it. Again, I
would let it perform as designed and shift for itself - that's the best
way to protect it.

Dan D
'07 Odyssey

Re: Automatic Transmission Problem?
 

jim beam wrote:

> the transmission is protected - it won't allow shifts that damage it.

Perhaps - but are you saying that a 'grind' or 'clunk' is normal? I
don't think so. And if the transmission is starting to develop
problems, then manually shifting it certainly won't help it. Again, I
would let it perform as designed and shift for itself - that's the best
way to protect it.

Dan D
'07 Odyssey

Re: Automatic Transmission Problem?
 

jim beam wrote:

> the transmission is protected - it won't allow shifts that damage it.

Perhaps - but are you saying that a 'grind' or 'clunk' is normal? I
don't think so. And if the transmission is starting to develop
problems, then manually shifting it certainly won't help it. Again, I
would let it perform as designed and shift for itself - that's the best
way to protect it.

Dan D
'07 Odyssey

Re: Automatic Transmission Problem?
 

jim beam wrote:

> the transmission is protected - it won't allow shifts that damage it.

Perhaps - but are you saying that a 'grind' or 'clunk' is normal? I
don't think so. And if the transmission is starting to develop
problems, then manually shifting it certainly won't help it. Again, I
would let it perform as designed and shift for itself - that's the best
way to protect it.

Dan D
'07 Odyssey

Re: Automatic Transmission Problem?
 

Dano58 wrote:
> jim beam wrote:
>
>> the transmission is protected - it won't allow shifts that damage it.
>
> Perhaps - but are you saying that a 'grind' or 'clunk' is normal? I
> don't think so. And if the transmission is starting to develop
> problems, then manually shifting it certainly won't help it.

how does that work? you're not actuating anything in the box by moving
the shift lever - all you're doing is changing from autonomous shift
control to non-autonomous. all internals of the box function /exactly/
as before. if there is a "clunk" it's more likely a broken engine
mount. or maybe a worn driveshaft or final drive, but the driver alone
can't influence how the shifter mechanism behaves to make a noise like
that - that bit is fully automatic under all conditions. /and/ there
are safety over-rides to protect it from driver mistakes.

> Again, I
> would let it perform as designed and shift for itself - that's the best
> way to protect it.
>
> Dan D
> '07 Odyssey
>

Re: Automatic Transmission Problem?
 

Dano58 wrote:
> jim beam wrote:
>
>> the transmission is protected - it won't allow shifts that damage it.
>
> Perhaps - but are you saying that a 'grind' or 'clunk' is normal? I
> don't think so. And if the transmission is starting to develop
> problems, then manually shifting it certainly won't help it.

how does that work? you're not actuating anything in the box by moving
the shift lever - all you're doing is changing from autonomous shift
control to non-autonomous. all internals of the box function /exactly/
as before. if there is a "clunk" it's more likely a broken engine
mount. or maybe a worn driveshaft or final drive, but the driver alone
can't influence how the shifter mechanism behaves to make a noise like
that - that bit is fully automatic under all conditions. /and/ there
are safety over-rides to protect it from driver mistakes.

> Again, I
> would let it perform as designed and shift for itself - that's the best
> way to protect it.
>
> Dan D
> '07 Odyssey
>