Acura Integra Transmission Problems

go8b · November 2006

I have a '90 Integra 1.8L LS hatchback with an automatic transmission that does not want to shift from 2nd to 3rd. At least not until it warms up. Let me regress a bit... I bought this car for my son 2 years ago and everything was fine for about the 1st year. Then, it seemed to take longer to want to shift and it has progressively gotten worse. At first, it was slight, then noticeable, and now it is up to about a 10 minute drive @ 3000 - 4000 RPMs. Once it makes the shift, all shifting is normal except for a slight slippage going from 2-3 and that quickly goes away and easily controlled with the throttle. I have drained and refilled the tran twice thinking that it helped each time for a short while... but to be honest... it might have just been hopeful wishing as it has never gone away.

Can any of you extremely knowledgeable people out there shed any light on what the problem might be and any corrective action I should take? Is this transmission just shot.. if so... any suggestions (other than the tax write-off for donations)?

I know engines very well but trans are not my area of expertise... but neither was engine rebuilds/overhaul/swaps... until I just dove into it... more than a few times on more than a few vehicles.

) I honestly have not had the time to do any checks (like pulling the solenoids and cleaning/checking them) so I would like to find out a logical way to troubleshoot this problem. I have full schematics but I do not know how the shift control is done... I do know there is a 'tran control module' but have no idea as to what should happen when and what for. I have full test equipment (MM, O-scope, etc.) but want to know where to start. Thank you in advance for any insight anybody can give. All comments are welcome and grateful!

endoescudo · January 2007

Hi, Go8b actually i have the same problem as yours, but with my Suzuki Escudo 1.6 Have a favor though, can you send me relevant replies to your problem... thank you very much...
I dont have more time to spend on my computer... thanks...
My email add is endoescudo@yahoo.com

Thanks again...

gacyota · January 2007

go8b - DONT SWAP your tranny
I have the same exact car with the same exact problem - I have been warming the car up with the Ebrake on in Drive so i can drive the car to and from work. It is not an internal problem - there is a shift solenoid that is not working. I need to do some more research, but i think this is an electrical issue - not mechanical

go8b · January 2007

Yes, there are two shift solenoids on the transmission. They are mounted on topside with electrical connectors going to them. I have tested these solenoids and both are working fine. I also did continuity check of all wire feeding them and all was ok. I believe the problem to be with sludge and junk build-up in some ports that cause too much positive pressure to shift until it heats up enough to melt. I have had no time to check into it any further but know that a standard tranny flush may or may not temporarily help but will not fix the ultimate problem. THANX FOR THE REPLY tho... and keep me posted if you resolve anything.

go8b · February 2007

Any resolve to your problems. Haven't got much response in 4 months and just curious if you have come up with anything?

endoescudo · February 2007

Thank you so much for your reply... Im gonna go to my mechanic to check on what you said...

Last time my mechanic told me that he'll use an AT Fluid that he uses on his off road cars... I dont know about that, but with what he told me it might have a faster heating process, the good thing was, he was honest to tell me that he wasn't sure... Ill keep you posted.. thank you so much...

endoescudo · March 2007

Hi.After telling my mechanic about what you told me, well they checked it and everything was fine the solinoids and the one that you mentioned i forgot what that was...
Using there ATF did not made any differnce though my mechanic said to change my tranny.... I dont want to.. well not yet until i have everything checked out...

My problem has become worse now... My tranny DOES NoT SHIFT now, well that was after a had my engine changed oil and changed my spark plugg. :sick: I really dont know what to do next... Any updates??? id really love to hear it.... thnaks...

rockstar007 · April 2007

I own a 94 Teg LS and had the same problem and everytime I went to do mods on my ridge most told me that it be better to wait till it gave out.I hoped it would hold out a bit longer but it did go out and would not shift.I thought it was the solinoids but checked them out and it was internal. Sad I pretty much baby my ride and have everything on it tuned up.
Well I ended up doing a tranny swap a few weeks ago from another teg and it works fine minus the cost to do it. But love my ride none to less. I have read on other boards about this problem and wonder about it maybe over 10 other peeps I chatted to and no real answers give some feed back if you find something. :confuse:

y2kcrash · April 2007

May want to check what is called the shifter switch located on you shifter column. You will need to remove your centre console to see it.
Same problem occur on my 1990 same model as yours.
Cost of new switch in 2005 was $60 Can
Part number I have for it is 35700-SK7-A01 Swtich Assembly
Hope this helps.
The problem will get worse as time goes too the point that you will also be not able remove your key from the igination because the shifter will not indicate when you are in park. :mad:

y2kcrash · April 2007

If the switch is okay then the next item to check is the shifter cable.
The age of the vehicle could have resulted in it stretching or corrision inside

endoescudo · May 2007

Hi. Guys... It has a been a very long wait for me in dectecting the problem of my car...

Thing that was done...

1. Had it checked to another mechanic... Found out out my Bulb Body stacked-up so i had my tranny removed and checked.. things where going well unil it was installed again... Worse... at first it shifted really or then after a couple of minutes a cracking sound then a sudden stop no movement at all.. the next day tranny was checked then found out the plates where abraded...
2. So, removed the tranny again and changed the plates... after installation and trial ride... no movement at all... no shifting happend... :mad: :confuse: :sick:
3. We contacted a Automatic Transmission speciallist from another city had him fly to where i am.... after he checked on it mechanical point of view where all ok that is after he started the engine... just that it doesn't shift.... Solinoid was checked and it is not functioning....

4. Its been 2 months no I till cant find any solenoid
I went to SUZUKI dealer it may take another 2 months b4 it can be delivered.... but the problem is not that its the PRICE: about $375 just for the solenoid... thats too much...
for me and even the speciallist said it is to much....

HELP........ Do you know wher i can get a cheap solinoid? 1990 model 3 doors suzuki escudo... HELP

My thoughts: change my tranny and engine... for one reason nobody here is selling tranny only... it costs about 40,000 pesos that is about $870
: Change my tranmission to manual--- Problem can find any, for my car here in my place

Thanks guys

wadesimmons · June 2007

I have a 95 Integra, and my tranny just decided to cut out one day. Changing gears seemed not to engage, like I was stuck in Neutral. Thought it might have been the fluid, so I topped it up. Seemed to work for.... bout half a block, then back to nothing. Sitting at the side of the highway for 10 minutes with the engine off and it started to work but wasn't engaging very strong, but far enough to get off the highway. Engaging into gears slows the engine speed slightly, but not enough to grab, and I hear a scratchy whine coming from the tranny when its idling. Think it might be internal, or any possibility its electrical?
-Thanks, Vic

thestickmaster · July 2007

yea get this i have a 94 acura integra and it was wierd because at first i had the problem with the transmission being odd on me cause when it first seemed as though it was slipping it stoped going out of first gear and then a couple of days later it wouldnt even kick into the gear when i shifted it and it was acting like it was in neutral and just reving even if it was in first gear then all of a suddon i take out the stock head unit (it needed the code from the manual but of course i dint have one) and all of a suddon it was kicking again when i shifted it into every gear but it once again wouldnt go out of 1st gear ...... (if someone could tell me whats up with that then that would be great .... or does my car just have a mind of its own lol)

sick_integra91 · August 2007

I just picked up a 91 integra and it is having a problem shifting from 2nd to 3rd, until it warms up, but just this morning it shifted fine until it warmed up,then it wouldnt shift into third. I am a mechanic, i get paid to fix peoples crap, and iv had it up to my yanked out hair over this thing, have friends that run tranny shops, and iv checked the relays, changed the 2-3,and the 3-4 shift packs, and ran the flush through it.I live in IL and iv called dealerships in Cali just to get a handle on this problem, now im being told to check the speed sensor.
Iv seen this on Chysler mini-vans, and GM cars so it just seems that maybe iv over-looked this.But i will repost as soon as I try this.And from looking on more of these threads, alot of Acura owners could use some info on just this same issue!

trinivibes · September 2007

I also have a 95 Integra, and my problems match yours exactly. What was your final diagnosis and solution?

wolftheenf4cer · November 2007

Hey did you ever get your problem fixed cuz my 95 Integra GS-R is doing the same thing and if you could tell me how to fix it I would be very very greatful. Thank you

wolftheenf4cer · November 2007

My 95 Teg SE is doing the same thing, I would start it up it would shift fine for awhile then it would either not shift out of 1st or just act like it was in neutral. :mad: and it angers me. And then I'll pull into a parking lot turn off the car and I would start it up and it wouldn't shift out 1st but if it did and I stopped it would have a problem either going into 1st or out into 2nd gear. Should I just have the transmission replaced or would that be a waste of time and money. :confuse: I used to workin on older cars and trucks but only domestics these imports motor and transmissions are so crammed together I figure out what wires running where but I hope someone can help me and thank you for reading this unneeded long post

trinivibes · November 2007

I ended up having to get my transmission changed. The transmission had gone thats why it was doing that. Go to a mechanic and have them put it on the hoist and have the transmission checked.

wolftheenf4cer · November 2007

Thank you I just my car in a shop yesterday and they are replacing the transmission

:shades:

eltoto · February 2008

ok i got a civic sir but i bought it at a auction and they did a conversion to it amd put in a b18c4 wit a lsd tranny and it was crashed on the right side fender breakin the rim and the axle so when i took down the vin number of the car i went to a place where i get my parts from and gave them the vin number of my car and then i installed it ..then when i put in in gear manual transmission, it wont run and it makes a load noise

vtracer · March 2008

Got an RS model, 5 speed B trans in a 1.8L. 1992
Made a vibration/whine going into 3rd leaving home. Stopped, backed up reverse OK, then 1st started whinning and running like not in gear. Got home, maybe a 1/4 mile. Is this the clutch and guts gone or a tranny out of time?

santoshmanya · March 2008

Got an 98 LS automatic model with 75k miles in Florida 2 years back for 6k.I used to race with other cars at 90 to 110 MPH from Jax to Miami frequently. When my car reached 90k I replaced timing belt and did 90k full service for $1100.Its acceleration was very quick.
When I moved to NJ, I drove my car non stop from FL to NJ for 15 hrs.
I love my car as it never let me down, I drove entire FL and even to key west at 90 mph and I used to enjoy a lot.

The first day of NJ when I was driving at 25mph I met with a small accident as I do not know that NJ is full of traffic and people can stop anywhere on road. I had to replace my left head light and airbags for $1500 and checked my dashboard wires.There was a minor scratch on my front bumper.

now, my car was not running as before and it used to shake when it reached 80mph and rpm used to shoot between 2k to 6k frequently and when contacted the mechanic, he replaced transmission fluid and asked me to warm my car before driving and I used to do the same.
But, no Change, rpm was frequently fluctuating and there was delay in gear shift

For NJ DMV inspection,I had replaced gas filter, distributor, val cover gasket, new spark plug,NGK igni wire set, for $1000 and also replaced transmission fluid

same problem with rpm and it was more consistent

one day there as a lot of noise from dashboard as if some wire was struck between odometer and the next day onwards there was no noise.
last week my car broke and I towed it to mechanic and he replaced thermostat, gasket, new heater hose and the mechanic said its due to Anti freeze liquid leakage

the next day when I drove my car, it wobbled and vibrated a lot while driving and there was delay in gear shift from 2nd to 3rd and I immediately slowed my car
but, suddenly it broke on main road and did not start, even if it started it used to stop and after 15 min it started.
But I dont want to take chances and towed it to Mechanic and he did Check Engine diagnostics and said its a Transmission problem and advised me to sell my car.
Now, it has 105k miles on it. When I came to NJ it was exactly 100k

I dont know what to do,

I have three options
1. Sell my car? KBB fair value is 3600, for how much I can sell?
2. Show it to Acura Dealer and fix Transmission it. If so, how much I can spend
3. Continue as it is?

trinivibes · March 2008

All in all, integra automatic transmissions are known for going bad after some time. If you really do want to keep the car, get the transmission changed. It costed roughly $600 for a jdm transmission with installation up here in toronto on my 95 db7. It all comes down to whether you want to keep the car or not.

sixftfour · May 2008

Just bought a 96 Integra to save on the gas bill, love the car, runs great except for the tranny. Read through the other posts here and didn't really see what I am experiencing, so I thought I'd put in a post. My car has 153,000 miles on the original tranny, previous owner lived down a fairly rough dirt road, and drove it pretty hard. The trans is the 4sp auto, it goes in and out of every gear fine, but it shifts excessively hard in all gears. It does seem to lessen if you just ease into the gas and slowly accelerate, but it may shift good 1-2nd, then wind up to 3000-3500 rpm to shift to 3, and or 4th. Next stop light it may shift bad 1-2, good to 3rd, bad to 4th. It does seem to get worse with more stoplight to stoplight driving. Now on the flip side if you gun it and take off hard it winds up high in each gear but doesn't kick as hard when it goes in gear, but I don't like doing that because I'm afraid it's not gonna shift one day and blow it up. My question is this, could this be a bad tranny all together, bad converter, bad computer, bad shiftcable? Also what is the make and model of the trans? Engine is the 1.8 dohc. Any current price, or ball park range on a new (or rebuilt) trans installed, in the midwest, or abroad for that matter? Any info would be greatly appreciated.

esilsbee · September 2008

My acura was leaking auto trans fluid. I went to check the level

The dipstick is sucked down its retaining hole and there is one hell of a vaccum holding it in place. The only part visible is the ring at top. I called my mechanic who said dont pull it out. I need a new used tranny. I have a yearning to somehow get it out of there. Any advice or prior experience with this.

PF_Flyer · September 2008

If you're replacing the tranny I'd say just leave the dipstick where it is. It's not a vacuum that's holding it in but the ring got cured into the tube from corrosion, heat, or whatever. If you try to force it out and chunks of "stuff" go down the tube into the transmission, that's not good.

norcal51 · October 2008

I have a 96 gsr (manual) and Some times when I get on it, the passenger side half shaft will pop out of the tranny. I can get under the car and pop it back in and it drives fine. I replaced both half shafts and my motor mounts are fine. Any ideas on what this could be or how to fix it?

mouaxiong · January 2009

I have a 92 acura integra gsr. The third gear kind of grinds when I shift to it. should I keep driving it, or should I do something about it? This is the first time I have own a manual, so I'm not sure what to do.

bigal92 · February 2009

i wouldn't worry about it the 90-93 integra trannys had a problem with that and third got it the worst because its the most used gear but they fixed it in 94 if you want to get one a used tranny is from like $300-$1000 depending on if you get usdm or jdm and if you get type R GSR or LS the LS being the least expensive.

but the 94-01 trannys are hydralice and the 90-93 trannys are cable so you would have to convert it

PS. the 92-93 GSRs are VERY RARE so take care of it and lock it up because the motor is a one of a kind

lovemyintegra · April 2009

I had the same issue as you, on a 2001 Integra. Just recently, while I was on the highway (probably in fourth gear), it started revving up like it was in neutral -- its at the shop now. Started looking on these forums and its seems like there is not other solution other than replacing the tranny. Has anyone come up with a cheaper/less drastic way of fixing this problem??

hyperguyy99 · August 2009

Well i have a 1990 ls integra manual transmission and i was driving normal and i went to go into 3rd gear and it went in fine but it didnt grab, like my car was in nuetral. a place told me it could be the throw out bearing , can some one help me with this please thxs Doug or email me at hyperguyy99@yahoo.com

meowlady · October 2009

Hi, guys. I have a 98 Integra LS, auto. Original owner; 128k miles. No alterations (too chicken to kill the warranty for first 48k miles, then too broke!) Car hesitates going uphill from a full stop and seems to slip a little between first and second then but stabilizes at about 30 mph. But my big concern is the "rattling" at 40 mph. Above 42 and below 38 mph is fine. Not sure if it's quickly slipping between gears -- or could it be something with the o2 sensors? I'm on a really tight budget these days; how should I go about dealing with this as cheaply as possible? The dealership is way too pricey for me these days! Advice/suggestions, please!

acuraintegra41 · January 2010

hey i just recently bought a 96 integra for 2000. The only problem with it was i needed to replace the cv boot or the drive shaft.So on the way home after buying it, after doing highway for a good 15 minutes. Im on my street corner, doing about 3-4MPH. All i hear is a big noise followed by cluck-cluck-cluck. So i put it to the curb. Pushed it a few houses down to my place. I realize that ill have to replace the front passenger side drive shaft. This i hear is a medium job. But is there any kind of other serious damage that could of been done? Im a student and i dont have 500-1000 to put into it. Mine is manual btw. Please answers would be very helpfull

knowtom · February 2010

most likely the rattling is sludge formation. make sure to change your engine oil regularly! i've drive three integras, one thats a 5sp gsr sedan and the others a ls auto sedan as well as a auto coupe. all from 1995. i've noticed LS accelerates pretty slow especially even if you are gassing it. if you havent changed the transmission fluid ever, it should be about time. my tranny fluid changes from a light purple to a brown when it goes bad. you might have a [non-permissible content removed] transmission cable which might cost you.

car_love · April 2010

you should be fine, the only thing it did was probably ruin the CV boot and such. You can see if there's any damage to where the front axles go into the transmission to see if anything stripped but you should be fine I think. Check inner side of wheel. I owned my 98 for 10 years and watched knew people who broke front axles and replaced them all the time. The honda/acura ones are the best and cheapest too.

tbahr · April 2010

do you know how to fix this problem? I have a 91 Integra with the same proble.

tbahr · April 2010

I have a 1991 Acura Integra with a 4 cyl. and an automatic transmission,
the tranny will shift from 1st to 2nd fine when cold but will not go into 3rd until warmed up, after it is warmed up the tranny shifts into all gears fine.
Can any body help me with this problem?

walls95gsr · April 2010

wow you got raped on all your repairs from earlier. I love my teg, don't get me wrong. But i am in the same boat as you and i don't know what to do. I think i would sell it. For how much money you have already put in it you could have bought a pretty nice car.

walls95gsr · April 2010

I have a 95 gsr. wtf is wrong with my tranny!!!!
first of all i started to feel my cluth slipping, new cluth would be no biggy.
but it eventually started to get harder and harder to get it into gear. When i do get it into gear its very inconsistant(shakes, grinds chugs w/e)

Now its worse than ever! about half the time i just cannot get my car into gear. I have to shut my car off and then it will go in no prob.

o yeah! and sometimes when i have it in gear i cant get it out and it just keeps moving.
i am freaking out! someone shed some light on my prob please.

acuradude2 · May 2010

well with integras like the previous guy above said 95 has the hydrolic tranny and 93 down has the cable... what u need to do is bleed out the line cuz there might be air in the line... the pressure plate isn't fully disengaging from your friction plate. thus making it very hard to shift or keep going when u push on the clutch pedal. if that isn't the problem you probably have a bent lever to push on your pressure plate. and also check your clutch oil what you use with that is just regular brake fluid.... good luck

timthecarguy · July 2010

i would recommend anyone with these honda and acura cars- change your trans fluid each 30k and find some BG ATC to add to the fluid. these cars are a piece of cake to service the trans fluid, a drain plug, no filter, no pan, no gaskets and yet people neglect them. if the fluid were new at these intervals or at the first sign of an issue, it is my opinion you would never have transmission issues.

I perform this service first thing when these issues arise and in many cases eliminate the problem. this may be other than the owner who is constantly racing the vehcle.

toolmantim · July 2010

why will my auto. tranny only shift into third gear after being warmed up? when cold you can run up to 7000 RPM's and it wont shift.

toolmantim · August 2010

I still have not figured this out. I was hoping somone here could tell me what is wrong.

beezieinohio · February 2011

I live in Ohio and its cold out. I got my car stuck in the snow outside in my driveway i tried to rock it out but didnt work wheels were moving and it was going into gear. I waited till i got some help to try and get the car out and now i put it in gear and it just revs. i am wondering if something froze any ideals??

rickeym3 · April 2011

have you figured out what was the cause of the shiffting yet cause i have a 1990 with the same problem just wondering if you could help me out Thanks

imakz · December 2011

i drove over speed bump. nd like scraped. nd now when i put it in gear the stick starts moving crazy. in every single gear. nd like i could move my stick shift up nd down. its not secure. you know whut the problem is???

tbahr · February 2012

still nobody can seem to help me, I think next I am going to try and change the modulator.

tbahr · February 2012

91 Integra will not shift until fully warmed up,have changed almost all the sensors the TCM and the ECM and even the thermostat. at least I dont have any more codes so next i think I am going the change the modulator the speed pulser and the VSS i cant think of anything else can you?

Please help if you can
I only paid $250.00 for the car and now have over $1500.00 in it with new axsels and all new brakes and stereo and all the parts i have put in for no reson i guess

toolmantim · December 2012

I still can'i figure this one out have you? :confuse: :lemon:

dj_thao · February 2013

I have a 3 door 90 integra rs auto tansmission.. The car died on me.. And i dont know why the s3 wont stop flashing. I cant start the car... It cranks and all.. But it wont fire... Please help any info plz email me at sion_thao85@yahoo.com

x6h0ztx · April 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7JJ_g2UuBI clutch test

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4CUBB01qX8 cable adjust

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfjGohWy-OU how it works

I have the same problem, I have it in gear and no movement.... but im going to start with the cheapest thing... adjusting the cable. then fluids, then well... if ima get a new tranny, gonna get a new clutch. Thats my opinion.

My car on the dyno: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEtF0T1u--o&list=UU60kapmvh9A83EGKzcEfwaw&index=2-

Acura Integra Transmission Problems

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