Honda Car Forum

The transmission in my 91 Civic vibrates/shutters when shifting to
second gear. All other gears seem fine. Anyone know of a quick fix?

My Ford F-150 has done the exact same thing when shifting to overdrive
for the last 70,000 miles. That one I believe is a sticky solenoid, but
it has never stranded me.

Chuck wrote:
>
> The transmission in my 91 Civic vibrates/shutters when shifting to
> second gear. All other gears seem fine. Anyone know of a quick fix?
>
> My Ford F-150 has done the exact same thing when shifting to overdrive
> for the last 70,000 miles. That one I believe is a sticky solenoid, but
> it has never stranded me.

------------------------

We don't know the mileage, and we can't tell when the tranny fluid was
last changed . . . While you're checking the level, wipe some on a sheet
of paper to check the color, and sniff it.

'Curly'

On 2005-11-10, 'Curly Q. Links' <motsco__@interbaun.com> wrote:
> Chuck wrote:
>>
>> The transmission in my 91 Civic vibrates/shutters when shifting to
>> second gear. All other gears seem fine. Anyone know of a quick fix?
>>
>> My Ford F-150 has done the exact same thing when shifting to overdrive
>> for the last 70,000 miles. That one I believe is a sticky solenoid, but
>> it has never stranded me.
>
> ------------------------
>
> We don't know the mileage, and we can't tell when the tranny fluid was
> last changed . . . While you're checking the level, wipe some on a sheet
> of paper to check the color, and sniff it.
>

The thing has 141K miles on it. The fluid didn't look bad, but I
replaced it with Honda fluid.

I made it shudder less when I found a missing transmission mount bolt,
but it still shifts bad into 2nd gear. Everything else shifts fine. It
seems this car had a mechanic that wasn't worth a dime. I'm going to
play with the kick-down cable and see if it makes a difference.

BTW, thanks everyone for the cooling system pressure advice. It was
about the worst case possible, but with the new head gasket everything
is fine. I was too darn stubburn and should have just taken this thing
to the junkyard. Well, maybe I'll get this shifting issue resolved and
put another 60k on the car. People thought I was nuts when I bought my
87 4-runner for $100 and spent a month on it, but after a rebuild and
paint those people don't question me about this civic. Although the only
paint this thing will see is a white camoflage paint job with skulls and
crossbones...what would be better to get me and my boards to the slopes
and back all winter?

Chuck wrote:
> On 2005-11-10, 'Curly Q. Links' <motsco__@interbaun.com> wrote:
>
>>Chuck wrote:
>>
>>>The transmission in my 91 Civic vibrates/shutters when shifting to
>>>second gear. All other gears seem fine. Anyone know of a quick fix?
>>>
>>>My Ford F-150 has done the exact same thing when shifting to overdrive
>>>for the last 70,000 miles. That one I believe is a sticky solenoid, but
>>>it has never stranded me.
>>
>>------------------------
>>
>>We don't know the mileage, and we can't tell when the tranny fluid was
>>last changed . . . While you're checking the level, wipe some on a sheet
>>of paper to check the color, and sniff it.
>>
>
>
> The thing has 141K miles on it. The fluid didn't look bad, but I
> replaced it with Honda fluid.
>
> I made it shudder less when I found a missing transmission mount bolt,
> but it still shifts bad into 2nd gear. Everything else shifts fine. It
> seems this car had a mechanic that wasn't worth a dime. I'm going to
> play with the kick-down cable and see if it makes a difference.

check the condition of all the mounting rubbers - they frequently tear -
especially the one at the rear, the most important one.

when adjusting the kick-down cable, make sure you don't tighten it more
than 3mm - shifting get a bit strange if you do that.

>
> BTW, thanks everyone for the cooling system pressure advice. It was
> about the worst case possible, but with the new head gasket everything
> is fine. I was too darn stubburn and should have just taken this thing
> to the junkyard. Well, maybe I'll get this shifting issue resolved and
> put another 60k on the car. People thought I was nuts when I bought my
> 87 4-runner for $100 and spent a month on it, but after a rebuild and
> paint those people don't question me about this civic. Although the only
> paint this thing will see is a white camoflage paint job with skulls and
> crossbones...what would be better to get me and my boards to the slopes
> and back all winter?

On 2005-11-11, jim beam <nospam@example.net> wrote:
> Chuck wrote:
>> On 2005-11-10, 'Curly Q. Links' <motsco__@interbaun.com> wrote:
>>
>>>Chuck wrote:
>>>
>>>>The transmission in my 91 Civic vibrates/shutters when shifting to
>>>>second gear. All other gears seem fine. Anyone know of a quick fix?
>>>>
>>>>My Ford F-150 has done the exact same thing when shifting to overdrive
>>>>for the last 70,000 miles. That one I believe is a sticky solenoid, but
>>>>it has never stranded me.
>>>
>>>------------------------
>>>
>>>We don't know the mileage, and we can't tell when the tranny fluid was
>>>last changed . . . While you're checking the level, wipe some on a sheet
>>>of paper to check the color, and sniff it.
>>>
>>
>>
>> The thing has 141K miles on it. The fluid didn't look bad, but I
>> replaced it with Honda fluid.
>>
>> I made it shudder less when I found a missing transmission mount bolt,
>> but it still shifts bad into 2nd gear. Everything else shifts fine. It
>> seems this car had a mechanic that wasn't worth a dime. I'm going to
>> play with the kick-down cable and see if it makes a difference.
>
> check the condition of all the mounting rubbers - they frequently tear -
> especially the one at the rear, the most important one.

I took this one partially out of there and the thing didn't look torn
if it is constructed like the others. There was one rubber section that
connected the two halves of the mount and two rubber partial sections
that seemed like softners that don't connect the mount together similair
to the other mounts.

The vibration seems to be coming from the right wheel area. That's where
I found a missing mount bolt to the transmission. I guess I need to
check out this mount better too.

>
> when adjusting the kick-down cable, make sure you don't tighten it more
> than 3mm - shifting get a bit strange if you do that.
>
>>
>> BTW, thanks everyone for the cooling system pressure advice. It was
>> about the worst case possible, but with the new head gasket everything
>> is fine. I was too darn stubburn and should have just taken this thing
>> to the junkyard. Well, maybe I'll get this shifting issue resolved and
>> put another 60k on the car. People thought I was nuts when I bought my
>> 87 4-runner for $100 and spent a month on it, but after a rebuild and
>> paint those people don't question me about this civic. Although the only
>> paint this thing will see is a white camoflage paint job with skulls and
>> crossbones...what would be better to get me and my boards to the slopes
>> and back all winter?
>

Chuck wrote:
>
> On 2005-11-10, 'Curly Q. Links' <motsco__@interbaun.com> wrote:
> > Chuck wrote:
> >>
> >> The transmission in my 91 Civic vibrates/shutters when shifting to
> >> second gear. All other gears seem fine. Anyone know of a quick fix?
> >>
> >> My Ford F-150 has done the exact same thing when shifting to overdrive
> >> for the last 70,000 miles. That one I believe is a sticky solenoid, but
> >> it has never stranded me.
> >
> > ------------------------
> >
> > We don't know the mileage, and we can't tell when the tranny fluid was
> > last changed . . . While you're checking the level, wipe some on a sheet
> > of paper to check the color, and sniff it.
> >
>
> The thing has 141K miles on it. The fluid didn't look bad, but I
> replaced it with Honda fluid.
>

------------------------------

Keep in mind you replace less than half of the fluid each time you do a
drain-n-fill. I do it twice, a few days a part. Many guys say to do it
three times. I'm cheap so I just try to be very thorough when I do it
twice :-)

'Curly'

On 2005-11-11, 'Curly Q. Links' <motsco__@interbaun.com> wrote:
> Chuck wrote:
>>
>> On 2005-11-10, 'Curly Q. Links' <motsco__@interbaun.com> wrote:
>> > Chuck wrote:
>> >>
>> >> The transmission in my 91 Civic vibrates/shutters when shifting to
>> >> second gear. All other gears seem fine. Anyone know of a quick fix?
>> >>
>> >> My Ford F-150 has done the exact same thing when shifting to overdrive
>> >> for the last 70,000 miles. That one I believe is a sticky solenoid, but
>> >> it has never stranded me.
>> >
>> > ------------------------
>> >
>> > We don't know the mileage, and we can't tell when the tranny fluid was
>> > last changed . . . While you're checking the level, wipe some on a sheet
>> > of paper to check the color, and sniff it.
>> >
>>
>> The thing has 141K miles on it. The fluid didn't look bad, but I
>> replaced it with Honda fluid.
>>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> Keep in mind you replace less than half of the fluid each time you do a
> drain-n-fill. I do it twice, a few days a part. Many guys say to do it
> three times. I'm cheap so I just try to be very thorough when I do it
> twice :-)
>
> 'Curly'


This probably isn't related, but I'm wondering what the sensor on the
front of the transmission does. It's located below the distributor near
the cooling lines. It appears to have been tampered with or at least
wrenched on with same set of forsaken tools that have rounded half the
bolts on this car already.

Chuck wrote:
> On 2005-11-11, 'Curly Q. Links' <motsco__@interbaun.com> wrote:
>
>>Chuck wrote:
>>
>>>On 2005-11-10, 'Curly Q. Links' <motsco__@interbaun.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>>Chuck wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>The transmission in my 91 Civic vibrates/shutters when shifting to
>>>>>second gear. All other gears seem fine. Anyone know of a quick fix?
>>>>>
>>>>>My Ford F-150 has done the exact same thing when shifting to overdrive
>>>>>for the last 70,000 miles. That one I believe is a sticky solenoid, but
>>>>>it has never stranded me.
>>>>
>>>>------------------------
>>>>
>>>>We don't know the mileage, and we can't tell when the tranny fluid was
>>>>last changed . . . While you're checking the level, wipe some on a sheet
>>>>of paper to check the color, and sniff it.
>>>>
>>>
>>>The thing has 141K miles on it. The fluid didn't look bad, but I
>>>replaced it with Honda fluid.
>>>
>>
>>------------------------------
>>
>>Keep in mind you replace less than half of the fluid each time you do a
>>drain-n-fill. I do it twice, a few days a part. Many guys say to do it
>>three times. I'm cheap so I just try to be very thorough when I do it
>>twice :-)
>>
>>'Curly'
>
>
>
> This probably isn't related, but I'm wondering what the sensor on the
> front of the transmission does. It's located below the distributor near
> the cooling lines. It appears to have been tampered with or at least
> wrenched on with same set of forsaken tools that have rounded half the
> bolts on this car already.

that's the shift solenoid.

On 2005-11-12, jim beam <nospam@example.net> wrote:
> Chuck wrote:
>> On 2005-11-11, 'Curly Q. Links' <motsco__@interbaun.com> wrote:
>>
>>>Chuck wrote:
>>>
>>>>On 2005-11-10, 'Curly Q. Links' <motsco__@interbaun.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>Chuck wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>The transmission in my 91 Civic vibrates/shutters when shifting to
>>>>>>second gear. All other gears seem fine. Anyone know of a quick fix?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>My Ford F-150 has done the exact same thing when shifting to overdrive
>>>>>>for the last 70,000 miles. That one I believe is a sticky solenoid, but
>>>>>>it has never stranded me.
>>>>>
>>>>>------------------------
>>>>>
>>>>>We don't know the mileage, and we can't tell when the tranny fluid was
>>>>>last changed . . . While you're checking the level, wipe some on a sheet
>>>>>of paper to check the color, and sniff it.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>The thing has 141K miles on it. The fluid didn't look bad, but I
>>>>replaced it with Honda fluid.
>>>>
>>>
>>>------------------------------
>>>
>>>Keep in mind you replace less than half of the fluid each time you do a
>>>drain-n-fill. I do it twice, a few days a part. Many guys say to do it
>>>three times. I'm cheap so I just try to be very thorough when I do it
>>>twice :-)
>>>
>>>'Curly'
>>
>>
>>
>> This probably isn't related, but I'm wondering what the sensor on the
>> front of the transmission does. It's located below the distributor near
>> the cooling lines. It appears to have been tampered with or at least
>> wrenched on with same set of forsaken tools that have rounded half the
>> bolts on this car already.
>
> that's the shift solenoid.
>


Hmmmm, I wonder if that thing could act up in second gear only. I'm no
transmission expert, but it almost seem like the torque converter is
locking up when it attempt to shift to second gear.

Anyways, this shift solenoid was completely covered in oil/sludge before
I changed the head gasket. I wonder if I'm just throwing money away if I
went and snagged the one off that Civic that I saw in the boneyard.

On 2005-11-12, Chuck <chuck@westmichigan.net> wrote:
> On 2005-11-12, jim beam <nospam@example.net> wrote:
>> Chuck wrote:
>>> On 2005-11-11, 'Curly Q. Links' <motsco__@interbaun.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>>Chuck wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>On 2005-11-10, 'Curly Q. Links' <motsco__@interbaun.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>>Chuck wrote:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>The transmission in my 91 Civic vibrates/shutters when shifting to
>>>>>>>second gear. All other gears seem fine. Anyone know of a quick fix?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>My Ford F-150 has done the exact same thing when shifting to overdrive
>>>>>>>for the last 70,000 miles. That one I believe is a sticky solenoid, but
>>>>>>>it has never stranded me.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>------------------------
>>>>>>
>>>>>>We don't know the mileage, and we can't tell when the tranny fluid was
>>>>>>last changed . . . While you're checking the level, wipe some on a sheet
>>>>>>of paper to check the color, and sniff it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>The thing has 141K miles on it. The fluid didn't look bad, but I
>>>>>replaced it with Honda fluid.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>------------------------------
>>>>
>>>>Keep in mind you replace less than half of the fluid each time you do a
>>>>drain-n-fill. I do it twice, a few days a part. Many guys say to do it
>>>>three times. I'm cheap so I just try to be very thorough when I do it
>>>>twice :-)
>>>>
>>>>'Curly'
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> This probably isn't related, but I'm wondering what the sensor on the
>>> front of the transmission does. It's located below the distributor near
>>> the cooling lines. It appears to have been tampered with or at least
>>> wrenched on with same set of forsaken tools that have rounded half the
>>> bolts on this car already.
>>
>> that's the shift solenoid.
>>
>
>
> Hmmmm, I wonder if that thing could act up in second gear only. I'm no
> transmission expert, but it almost seem like the torque converter is
> locking up when it attempt to shift to second gear.
>
> Anyways, this shift solenoid was completely covered in oil/sludge before
> I changed the head gasket. I wonder if I'm just throwing money away if I
> went and snagged the one off that Civic that I saw in the boneyard.


I found the problem. Luckily, nobody got hurt. It was/is the upper ball
joint. The car is parked while the thing is on order. Nobody in town
could order the ball joint, so I got reamed for the control arm.