I've been reading with great interest and concern threads which discuss transmission problems on the latest generation Accord. Since I just bought a certified 03, I don't want my tranny to bite the dust when it's out of warranty. So far I haven't experienced any problems with my auotmatic transmission, but I'm wondering if there's a way I can get my dealership to take a look at the transmission to make sure everything is okay. Should I discuss my concerns with them, create a bogus problem so they have to take it apart to look, or simply hope everything will be okay? My car has 32,000 on it.

Thanks for your thoughts.

If you don't have any issues with it, there is not much they can do. From what I've heard, they won't really take it apart and inspect it. I think you need to make sure your fluid has been changed, and make sure the recall work was properly done.

If you are going to keep it for the long haul, you might consider adding the Honda Care warranty - it will run you about $900 here:

http://www.hondacuraworld.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=HO-AV6-EW-50&Category_Code=WARR

I'm sure it had it's picture taken of the second gear already. If it was burnt, the tranny was replaced, if it wasn't or if it had less than 15K at the time, it's had the oil jet kit installed to prevent the burning.

The damage has occured when many miles are put on during long flat drives. The torque convertor locks up....which is what it's supposed to do. But when it does 2nd gear wasn't getting enough oil.

If you wanted to pay the dealer to remove the oil jet kit & look at the second gear again & take a picture to show you.... I suppose you could. In the thread with the buttetin in the factory direct area is a picture of mine. It has ZERO burns.

Drive it hard!!! The the torque convertor doesn't lock up as much & it'll be happy!! :D :D I just love having an exuse to be lead footed!!! :lmao:

Once again, thank you for your valuable expertise! I do not completely trust the dealer I bought the car from. I wouldn't put it past them to sell the Accord to me without having the recall tranny work performed on the car before putting it up for sale (anything to save a few bucks). The dealer I take the car to for service I trust much more. Is there a way my current dealer can look at the tranny without taking anything apart and tell if recall work has been done?

Any Honda dealer can punch the VIN into the computer & it will tell them which recalls & updates have been done. You might be able to too on the owner link on the Honda site. https://www.ahm-ownerlink.com/login.asp I'm not sure which info transfers to the next owner.

If you decide to have a dealer do it, you might stand right there & watch...if yo don't trust them. :dunno:

Likely the former owner had it taken care of....

Is there a way my current dealer can look at the tranny without taking anything apart and tell if recall work has been done?

If it was done, you should be able to look where the AT filler bolt is supposed to be (under the air cleaner and fuse box), and see a strange tubular-looking thing coming out.

Also, the simpler way is to look at the VIN in your engine compartment. After the oil jet procedure is complete, the dealer is supposed to make a punch mark above the 11th digit from the left:

COMPLETION PROCEDURE
Center-punch a completion mark above the 11th character of the engine compartment VIN.
Center-punch here (above the bold digit).
1HGCMXXXXXXXXXXXX

You can read the TSB #04-037 for more details on how this is done.

my dealer never center punches the VIN. :rolleyes:

There's also a colorful sticker on the tranny with numbers & a punch on it. I think it's yellow, blue & bright pink.

Like this:

Wow! You folks know your Hondas! I'll let you all know what I find out. Thanks!