Is my Accord's transmission broken?
March 14, 2011 11:01 AM Subscribe
Is my Accord's transmission broken?
So my 2000 Honda Accord drives fine with an exception: when reversing up a hill, even a slight one, the car makes a loud hissy sputtering sound, and the car will cease to move after a little bit. A quick shift back into park and then again into reverse and we can move again. If you floor it in reverse the sound is pretty loud and the car creeps backwards but if the hill is too steep the car won't move. I park on the street in San Francisco; I kind of need for my car to be able to negotiate hills backwards sometimes.
To recap: car drives fine in forward. In reverse, if backing up a hill, hisses and won't go, or won't go much despite high revs.
Is my Accord's transmission broken? Am I hosed? Just need to top up the transmission fluid? What do I call this problem when I take it in?
So my 2000 Honda Accord drives fine with an exception: when reversing up a hill, even a slight one, the car makes a loud hissy sputtering sound, and the car will cease to move after a little bit. A quick shift back into park and then again into reverse and we can move again. If you floor it in reverse the sound is pretty loud and the car creeps backwards but if the hill is too steep the car won't move. I park on the street in San Francisco; I kind of need for my car to be able to negotiate hills backwards sometimes.
To recap: car drives fine in forward. In reverse, if backing up a hill, hisses and won't go, or won't go much despite high revs.
Is my Accord's transmission broken? Am I hosed? Just need to top up the transmission fluid? What do I call this problem when I take it in?
* Clarification: "look at the fluid itself" -- on the dipstick
posted by crapmatic at 11:12 AM on March 14, 2011
posted by crapmatic at 11:12 AM on March 14, 2011
Best answer: It sounds to me like the fluid level is low in the transmission. You should check that ASAP. To check trans fluid the car has to be running and up to operating temperature (drive around the block a couple of times). Cycle the gear selector through all the gears and check the fluid in park (remember to leave the engine running while you do this.
If it does need fluid, make sure you use the correct type.
posted by Capa at 11:13 AM on March 14, 2011
If it does need fluid, make sure you use the correct type.
posted by Capa at 11:13 AM on March 14, 2011
Best answer: In addition to the level, look at the fluid itself; it should be reddish and clear.
What you don't want to see is the fluid being very dark, with specks of anything that resembles rust or metal shavings.
You may or may not be hosed (too soon to tell). If you need to take it to a mechanic, your problem is exactly what you said, "can't back up a hill, drives fine going forward."
posted by Mister Fabulous at 1:27 PM on March 14, 2011
What you don't want to see is the fluid being very dark, with specks of anything that resembles rust or metal shavings.
You may or may not be hosed (too soon to tell). If you need to take it to a mechanic, your problem is exactly what you said, "can't back up a hill, drives fine going forward."
posted by Mister Fabulous at 1:27 PM on March 14, 2011
Also: the car needs to be parked on level ground when you check the transmission fluid level.
posted by exphysicist345 at 4:29 PM on March 14, 2011
posted by exphysicist345 at 4:29 PM on March 14, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by crapmatic at 11:10 AM on March 14, 2011