Honda and Acura Model Specific Forums

Jim Truett · 01-27-2008, 10:20 AM

It's a 1999 V6 Acura CL tranny, but the case and internals are pretty much identical to the Accord V6. It's basically just like a constant mesh manual tranny with hydraulic clutch packs to select the gears. This transmission started slipping badly on a 2nd and 3rd shift. The 2nd gear clutches were worn down to the adhesive that bonds the friction material to the clutch plate. Normal thickness was .079", and these measured in at .055-.050". The standard free play in the clutch packs is between .015"-.045". With six discs worn between .024"-.029", that combined for about .160" total free play, and made the shifts very harsh.

With the end cover removed:

With the mid case removed:

1/2 clutch drum with clutches removed:

Worn 2nd gear clutches:

Installation of new friction and steel:

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-RedneckDave- · 01-27-2008, 02:11 PM

This is going right into the FAQ. This is very nice.

213374U · 01-27-2008, 04:41 PM

Very brave

Excellent post though

02 accord · 01-27-2008, 04:44 PM

How many miles were on that?

Jim Truett · 01-27-2008, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 02 accord

How many miles were on that?

111,561. I would not have gotten much more out of 2nd gear.

YeuEmMaiMai · 01-27-2008, 06:09 PM

hey did you pull the internal mesh filter when you put that pos back together?

Jim Truett · 01-27-2008, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YeuEmMaiMai

hey did you pull the internal mesh filter when you put that pos back together?

I checked it out. It was suprisingly clean. It's not much of a "filter".

gianinline · 01-27-2008, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 213374U

Very brave

lol... something with transmission gears and the way they have to be assembled... few people would want to work on that.

YeuEmMaiMai · 01-27-2008, 06:33 PM

GL with that man I had a 98 LX V6 coupe that ate 3 transmissions within 11K miles........

RS2 FAB · 01-27-2008, 09:42 PM

djphonics · 01-28-2008, 12:55 AM

111k is the life I'd expect to see out of an auto tranny in a Ford, but not a Honda. That's disappointing.

Cool pics though. I would personally be terrified about taking an auto apart. Those babys are complicated.

Jim Truett · 02-03-2008, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by YeuEmMaiMai

GL with that man I had a 98 LX V6 coupe that ate 3 transmissions within 11K miles........

This is the reason I chose to rebuild it myself. When you have someone else do it, you don't know how competent they are. Also, when you get a reman from Honda, there is no way to tell what the original failure was.

My failure was from the previous owner not changing the fluid per the service guidelines.

xci_ed6 · 03-18-2008, 07:57 PM

so that was it???? Just dropped in some new 2nd gear discs and steels and slapped 'er back together?

Any other parts that you replaced/noticed/would recommend replacing?

I worked for Honda, but we never open trans cases. Just put the onld one back in the box the new one came from :D

YeuEmMaiMai · 03-18-2008, 09:14 PM

did you inspect the differential bearings.....those things are crappy as can be.......

I am suprised that the internal filter was clean but the 2nd gear clutch pack was toasted......

fleetw00d · 04-01-2008, 04:32 PM

Is it only the V6 automatics that have this kind of trouble? Got a friend looking for a 5th-6th generation automatic Accord for his wife. Want to let him know what to avoid.

TouringAccord · 04-01-2008, 04:37 PM

mainly it's the 98-02 V6 auto's IIRC.

Legendaryyaj · 04-01-2008, 08:11 PM

Avoid the TL's and CL's as well.

JHern · 11-14-2008, 12:14 AM

Thanks for posting these great pics. I have a 2001 Accord V6 with 98k miles. The tranny is not slipping between gears, but the shift from 1st to 2nd gear is a bit sudden (dropping from just above 3000 RPM to 2000 RPM during the shift) when accelerating from a stop. A Honda mechanic told me it is not a problem, and if it were a light would come on (is this true?).

It is not really bothersome, but I am beginning to think that I will have to get a transmission rebuild done on it some day. Frequent fluid changes will probably help prolong its life, I'm guessing. I also need to check that it is shifting at the proper RPMs.

But I'd also like to defend this car. It is really very nice. For us, a little tranny trouble, though considered a major repair, is worth it. Other than that, this car is fantastic. Great acceleration, wonderful ride, and solid construction all-around make this a great auto.

Of course, if things start to look worse, I might sell it before it gets to the point of no return if I ever change my mind on how much I love the car. This model has a great resale value.

csmiths98AV6 · 11-14-2008, 09:32 PM

ah yes the good ol j30a1 auto matic tranny. ive had 4 in my accord, just bc of bs and im only supposed to be on 2 but..... yea mine went out at 160k which was really really surprising compared to alot of other accord owners. but yes these trannies are not very strong, and that is awesome that you are rebuilding it yourself

bsivoljr · 04-05-2009, 11:50 PM

cool man hey how do you know what to look for inside of this gearbox?
More specifically how do you recognize the wear or distinguish it. To a noobs eyes those clutch plates looked normal to me, key word noob but lets not focus on that too much lol. Peace Good stuff

'The engine made me do it'- EviL GeniUs

tabahop · 05-13-2009, 05:41 PM

by the way seizing the opp..my tranny is all burnt out and im rebuilding it as you read this, the other problem i found on this tranny is one of the differential bearings is completely damaged and the carter has a little play with the steady part of the bearing...do you know if there's any method to adjust de free play of the differential?

tabahop · 05-14-2009, 04:11 PM

by the way...do you reccomend an external cooler?

01-27-2008, 02:11 PM	#2
-RedneckDave- Working Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Knoxville,TN U.S. Posts: 7,817	Re: Inside the V6 Automatic Transmission (Jim Truett) This is going right into the FAQ. This is very nice. __________________ "I'm convinced that if Darth Vader drove an Accord, it would be yours." JG Luder "They're serving breakfast, I guess I should stop drinking"

01-27-2008, 04:41 PM	#3
213374U Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cedar Park, Tx Posts: 2,825	Re: Inside the V6 Automatic Transmission (-RedneckDave-) Very brave Excellent post though __________________ CD Squad Member #052 21337's EF Sedan Build ---> http://www.honda-tech.com/showthread.php?t=2608833 FS/WTB Thread -- http://www.hondamarketplace.com/show....php?t=2622954

01-27-2008, 06:09 PM	#6
YeuEmMaiMai i got a chuckle for christmas! Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Bouncing off of the city bus in Saigon Posts: 10,623	Re: Inside the V6 Automatic Transmission (Jim Truett) hey did you pull the internal mesh filter when you put that pos back together? __________________ HT common sense krew member #2...The plane WILL FLY club member #3...Jesus is Salvation...Whatever you can think of that is utterly nasty, I can find something that is way worse....and that is true on the Internet

01-27-2008, 06:33 PM	#9
YeuEmMaiMai i got a chuckle for christmas! Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Bouncing off of the city bus in Saigon Posts: 10,623	Re: Inside the V6 Automatic Transmission (Jim Truett) GL with that man I had a 98 LX V6 coupe that ate 3 transmissions within 11K miles........ __________________ HT common sense krew member #2...The plane WILL FLY club member #3...Jesus is Salvation...Whatever you can think of that is utterly nasty, I can find something that is way worse....and that is true on the Internet

01-27-2008, 09:42 PM	#10
RS2 FAB Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 515	Re: Inside the V6 Automatic Transmission (YeuEmMaiMai)

01-28-2008, 12:55 AM	#11
djphonics Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Portland, OR, USA Posts: 1,278	Re: Inside the V6 Automatic Transmission (RS2 FAB) 111k is the life I'd expect to see out of an auto tranny in a Ford, but not a Honda. That's disappointing. Cool pics though. I would personally be terrified about taking an auto apart. Those babys are complicated. __________________ NEW DESIGNS! ---> CRX T-shirts: http://images.honda-tech.com/set1/smile/emthup.gif http://www.cafepress.com/djphonics 1990 Accord LX 4 Door 1988 CRX Si, DOHC ZC - Sold (good luck, lil buddy!)

03-18-2008, 07:57 PM	#13
xci_ed6 Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: CR/IC, IOWA, US Posts: 2,830	Re: Inside the V6 Automatic Transmission (Jim Truett) so that was it???? Just dropped in some new 2nd gear discs and steels and slapped 'er back together? Any other parts that you replaced/noticed/would recommend replacing? I worked for Honda, but we never open trans cases. Just put the onld one back in the box the new one came from :D __________________ /yourself

03-18-2008, 09:14 PM	#14
YeuEmMaiMai i got a chuckle for christmas! Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Bouncing off of the city bus in Saigon Posts: 10,623	Re: Inside the V6 Automatic Transmission (Jim Truett) did you inspect the differential bearings.....those things are crappy as can be....... I am suprised that the internal filter was clean but the 2nd gear clutch pack was toasted...... __________________ HT common sense krew member #2...The plane WILL FLY club member #3...Jesus is Salvation...Whatever you can think of that is utterly nasty, I can find something that is way worse....and that is true on the Internet

04-01-2008, 04:32 PM	#15
fleetw00d Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: West Chester, Ohio, USA Posts: 116	Re: Inside the V6 Automatic Transmission (YeuEmMaiMai) Is it only the V6 automatics that have this kind of trouble? Got a friend looking for a 5th-6th generation automatic Accord for his wife. Want to let him know what to avoid. __________________ 90 LX 4dr 5 spd 297,000+ / 93 LX 4dr 5 spd 106,000 / 93 EX 2dr auto 151,000 / 93 LX Wagon auto 150,000

04-01-2008, 04:37 PM	#16
TouringAccord H-T Order of Merit Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: somewhere in, MI Posts: 8,544	Re: Inside the V6 Automatic Transmission (fleetw00d) mainly it's the 98-02 V6 auto's IIRC.

11-14-2008, 12:14 AM	#18
JHern Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Carmichael, CA, United States Posts: 2	Re: Inside the V6 Automatic Transmission (Jim Truett) Thanks for posting these great pics. I have a 2001 Accord V6 with 98k miles. The tranny is not slipping between gears, but the shift from 1st to 2nd gear is a bit sudden (dropping from just above 3000 RPM to 2000 RPM during the shift) when accelerating from a stop. A Honda mechanic told me it is not a problem, and if it were a light would come on (is this true?). It is not really bothersome, but I am beginning to think that I will have to get a transmission rebuild done on it some day. Frequent fluid changes will probably help prolong its life, I'm guessing. I also need to check that it is shifting at the proper RPMs. But I'd also like to defend this car. It is really very nice. For us, a little tranny trouble, though considered a major repair, is worth it. Other than that, this car is fantastic. Great acceleration, wonderful ride, and solid construction all-around make this a great auto. Of course, if things start to look worse, I might sell it before it gets to the point of no return if I ever change my mind on how much I love the car. This model has a great resale value.

11-14-2008, 09:32 PM	#19
csmiths98AV6 Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Kennesaw, GA, US Posts: 81	ah yes the good ol j30a1 auto matic tranny. ive had 4 in my accord, just bc of bs and im only supposed to be on 2 but..... yea mine went out at 160k which was really really surprising compared to alot of other accord owners. but yes these trannies are not very strong, and that is awesome that you are rebuilding it yourself

04-05-2009, 11:50 PM	#20
bsivoljr Junior Member 1995 Honda Accord Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Tx, USA Posts: 248	Re: Inside the V6 Automatic Transmission cool man hey how do you know what to look for inside of this gearbox? More specifically how do you recognize the wear or distinguish it. To a noobs eyes those clutch plates looked normal to me, key word noob but lets not focus on that too much lol. Peace Good stuff 'The engine made me do it'- EviL GeniUs

05-13-2009, 05:41 PM	#21
tabahop New User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 4	Re: Inside the V6 Automatic Transmission by the way seizing the opp..my tranny is all burnt out and im rebuilding it as you read this, the other problem i found on this tranny is one of the differential bearings is completely damaged and the carter has a little play with the steady part of the bearing...do you know if there's any method to adjust de free play of the differential?

05-14-2009, 04:11 PM	#22
tabahop New User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 4	Re: Inside the V6 Automatic Transmission by the way...do you reccomend an external cooler?

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