Honda Car Forum

My automatic 1996 Honda Civic EX stalled suddenly in the middle of the
street yesterday. The engine was fine, however the car no longer
continued to move after pressing the gas pedal. I could only hear the
engine rev, but no movement. I could also hear the car switching
gears, when I changed them. The check engine light came on. And the
"D" light blinks when I put the car in drive which is unusual.

*brief history*
Since I got my car in March '06-- it has had a slight jerk to it.
Whenever I accelerate from a full stop (turning corners, going uphill,
leaving stop signs), the car would always jerk and would often shake
so hard, it turned the windshield wipers on. While this was
embarassing, the car seemed to drive fine otherwise (no problems on
Hwys and after car had been driving for longer periods), so I avoided
getting it checked out until recently, since the shake could often be
lessened/avoided by pressing the gas pedal ever so gently.

Recently, I took it to a Honda dealer to have them look at it since
the problem seemed to be getting worse. First, they told me to get 3
new tires and an alignment, which I did. Then they told me that it
might be the clutch ($2000). They suggested changing the transmission
fluid twice first, to see if that might alleviate the problem. They
changed the fluid once (for a whopping $64). It drove a little better,
but then this happened 7 days later. I went to put more fluid in it
after it broke down, and I added some oil since that was low too.
Nothing is working. I don't know what's wrong with my car. Anyone had
this problem before or can offer any advice???? Thanks in advance. -
Shauna

sapolla@gmail.com wrote:
> My automatic 1996 Honda Civic EX stalled suddenly in the middle of the
> street yesterday. The engine was fine, however the car no longer
> continued to move after pressing the gas pedal. I could only hear the
> engine rev, but no movement. I could also hear the car switching
> gears, when I changed them. The check engine light came on. And the
> "D" light blinks when I put the car in drive which is unusual.
>
> *brief history*
> Since I got my car in March '06-- it has had a slight jerk to it.
> Whenever I accelerate from a full stop (turning corners, going uphill,
> leaving stop signs), the car would always jerk and would often shake
> so hard, it turned the windshield wipers on. While this was
> embarassing, the car seemed to drive fine otherwise (no problems on
> Hwys and after car had been driving for longer periods), so I avoided
> getting it checked out until recently, since the shake could often be
> lessened/avoided by pressing the gas pedal ever so gently.
>
> Recently, I took it to a Honda dealer to have them look at it since
> the problem seemed to be getting worse. First, they told me to get 3
> new tires and an alignment, which I did. Then they told me that it
> might be the clutch ($2000). They suggested changing the transmission
> fluid twice first, to see if that might alleviate the problem. They
> changed the fluid once (for a whopping $64). It drove a little better,
> but then this happened 7 days later. I went to put more fluid in it
> after it broke down, and I added some oil since that was low too.
> Nothing is working. I don't know what's wrong with my car. Anyone had
> this problem before or can offer any advice???? Thanks in advance. -
> Shauna
>
two things:
1. the vehicle is under warranty - get the dealer to sort it out. call
honda usa customer service if the dealer doesn't look like they're
taking care of it properly and explain the situation.
2. and this is not related to #1, are you sure you checked the
transmission fluid level correctly? did you read the owners manual on
how to do it? while it's possible, it's not so likely that if you've
just had the fluid changed, that the dealer didn't fill it right.
hondas need to be dipped with the motor /off/, not running like other
automatics.

I doubt the vehicle is under warranty. My dad bought it used in March.

I don't have a manual, but when I checked the fluid while the engine
was on and it had gone down from when the engine was shutoff. So we
put in fluid until it reached the line with the xxxxxxx and tried to
restart it but to no avail.

sapolla@gmail.com wrote:
> I doubt the vehicle is under warranty. My dad bought it used in March.

that shouldn't invalidate the warranty. since this is potentially a
$3k+ repair, i think someone had better clear up this "doubt". power
train should be covered for 60k miles.

>
> I don't have a manual,

get one. it's as essential as the ignition key. it should have come
with the car.

> but when I checked the fluid while the engine
> was on and it had gone down from when the engine was shutoff. So we
> put in fluid until it reached the line with the xxxxxxx and tried to
> restart it but to no avail.

it won't fix the problem, but you overfilled it - the engine needs to be
OFF to read it correctly. and only use honda fluid.

thanks so much for your feedback jim.

the mileage is 151,320. so I'm thinking the repair isn't going to be
worth it. But I will try and get ahold of a manual, do you know where
I could get one from?

I did use Honda ATF, but I guess we've overfilled it.

sapolla@gmail.com wrote in news:1171143368.710828.107850
@v33g2000cwv.googlegroups.com:

> My automatic 1996 Honda Civic EX stalled suddenly in the middle of the
> street yesterday. The engine was fine, however the car no longer
> continued to move after pressing the gas pedal. I could only hear the
> engine rev, but no movement. I could also hear the car switching
> gears, when I changed them. The check engine light came on. And the
> "D" light blinks when I put the car in drive which is unusual.



This indicates that a trouble code has been stored in the transmission's
computer.

You need to locate the 2-pin Service Check connector under the dash on the
passenger side above the plastic kick panel ahead of the door, and short
the two pins with a paper clip. Then turn the ignition to "II" and count
the blinks from the D4 light. There may be long and short blinks, and more
than one sequence, separated by a 2-second pause. Report that here.



--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Read the subject line IT IS A 1996. I don't think Honda has extended their
warranty to 11 years yet...


"jim beam" <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote in message
newsK-dncUwv-6E1VPYnZ2dnUVZ_oytnZ2d@speakeasy.net...
> sapolla@gmail.com wrote:
>> I doubt the vehicle is under warranty. My dad bought it used in March.
>
> that shouldn't invalidate the warranty. since this is potentially a $3k+
> repair, i think someone had better clear up this "doubt". power train
> should be covered for 60k miles.
>
>>
>> I don't have a manual,
>
> get one. it's as essential as the ignition key. it should have come with
> the car.
>
>> but when I checked the fluid while the engine
>> was on and it had gone down from when the engine was shutoff. So we
>> put in fluid until it reached the line with the xxxxxxx and tried to
>> restart it but to no avail.
>
> it won't fix the problem, but you overfilled it - the engine needs to be
> OFF to read it correctly. and only use honda fluid.

Woody wrote:
> Read the subject line IT IS A 1996. I don't think Honda has extended their
> warranty to 11 years yet...

duh, spaced. had 2006 on the brain from something else... retract all
that warranty stuff.

>
>
> "jim beam" <spamvortex@bad.example.net> wrote in message
> newsK-dncUwv-6E1VPYnZ2dnUVZ_oytnZ2d@speakeasy.net...
>> sapolla@gmail.com wrote:
>>> I doubt the vehicle is under warranty. My dad bought it used in March.
>> that shouldn't invalidate the warranty. since this is potentially a $3k+
>> repair, i think someone had better clear up this "doubt". power train
>> should be covered for 60k miles.
>>
>>> I don't have a manual,
>> get one. it's as essential as the ignition key. it should have come with
>> the car.
>>
>>> but when I checked the fluid while the engine
>>> was on and it had gone down from when the engine was shutoff. So we
>>> put in fluid until it reached the line with the xxxxxxx and tried to
>>> restart it but to no avail.
>> it won't fix the problem, but you overfilled it - the engine needs to be
>> OFF to read it correctly. and only use honda fluid.
>
>

sapolla@gmail.com wrote:
<SNIP>
Then they told me that it might be the clutch ($2000).
<SNIP>

-------------------------------
Good thing it's the automatic tranny and not the clutch it previously
had. :-(

Your Honda dealer knows that they HAVE to include a manual with a Honda
they sell. It says so inside the front cover of the freaking manual.

SEARCH this newsgroup for links to your manual.

'Curly'

I never got the clutch fixed. They told me they'd change the tranny
fluid first to see if that helped. I can't afford to get a new clutch.
I might as well get a brand new car.

I can't get to the car today, but when I do I will check to see what
the service check connector is showing.

I'm also wondering if the car might have problems with the solenoid or
if the problem is even related to the clutch for certain?-S.