[Writer]

The first 500 miles on our 2006 Honda Accord V6 LX went by smoothly - then the transmission started what a mechanic friend calls "hard shifting." Instead of smoothly shifting through the gears, now it sorta "hangs up" between gears, with a pause and a jerky feel.
So, Honda experts, what's going wrong here? Is my transmission starting to fail? Can the dealer fix it?
I take it into the shop on Wednesday, October 4 - but I'm afraid they'll just tell me that the jerky shifting is "normal."
Anything that I need to tell them? Thanks for any and all help here!!

Respectfully. . .LarryR

 

[dads-car]

It's not jerky once you've got some experience... People with these cars come to expect the impending shift; ie: reapplying gas after coasting for a while can make it jerk a little.

Because Honda use a manual transmission with a torque converter instead of a normal slushbox, it's a little jerky. If they make it too soft, things burn out (clutch packs).

 

[Conundrum]

Because Honda use a manual transmission with a torque converter instead of a normal slushbox, it's a little jerky. If they make it too soft, things burn out (clutch packs).

Honda's ATs use the same setup as MTs?? First I've heard of that, and doesn't make a lot of sense as if they were MTs they wouldn't have had all the 2nd gear issues they did in the past. The only real "automatic manuals" are set ups like the SMG and DSG systems, neither which any Honda vehicle has/uses atm (sans anything in F1).

As far as I know, the jerkiness could be coming from either the fact that the car uses a DBW throttle system or the tranmission is still "learning" the driver. The AT in the 7th gens is supposed to learn when to shift based on how it is driven, that way it will react much fast than a "dumb" auto that doesn't learn. Additionally, the DBW throttle system lifts the throttle (regardless if your foot is on it or not) when changing gears, so if you're pushing the gas harder in between shifts when the car is back in gear and the throttle "turned back on", it would detect the new position and the car would lurch a bit. I know in my 6MT the DBW throttle also does "lag" a bit...as in I can hit it, and then a split second later it registers my input.

 

[stiller fan]

http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2025&highlight=failures+explained

honda auto trannies are different from most others.... have a look....

 

[Writer]

But why the change now?

Thanks for your replies, though I can't always follow the technical talk, I did read everything in your posts and in the link.
But that leaves me with one frustrating question: why is my transmission shifting harder all of a sudden, and seemingly getting worse?
If this thing is "learning" how I drive - well, I've gotta give it a D - for effect! (grin)

I just remember the car a week ago - and the car last night - two different shifting "feels" entirely.

If, as you hint, this is "normal," then normal I'm not happy with - but can anything be done to make the transmission sift smoother? Ah! That's the rub. . . .

respectfully. . .LR

 

[stiller fan]

even if it was a 6th gen AT, it shouldn't be doing it THAT SOON....

any codes (check engine light) showing??? :dunno:

your best bet is take it to the dealer....

 

[Conundrum]

http://www.driveaccord.net/forums/showthread.php?t=2025&highlight=failures+explained

honda auto trannies are different from most others.... have a look....

Hmm...very interesting as I must have missed this thread before. I take it then most of the 1/4 mile and 0-60 differences must be the torque converter, and also the Honda ATs "slippy" shifts.

 

[Writer]

Code lights no, shudder/whine yes

Again - thanks for the replies. My wife and I were discussing the forum and our problem, and she said I forgot (what's new?) to mention that often the transmission will "shudder" or shake when shifting - and it also makes an eerie "whining" noise all the time - a steady tone that we swear wasn't there when brand new.

The car only has 800+ miles on it - but the very jerky shifting really began between 500 and 600 miles. And we've never seen any unusual lights on the dash, other than when the key is first turned. Then, they all go off at startup.

I understand from some private messages (thanks!) that the transmission "learns" driving styles - thus perhaps that is part of the problem? Still, I doubt that it should shake - sometimes, not always - when shifting.

I shall have it in the shop this coming Wednesday, October 4.

Respectfully. . .LarryR

 

[stiller fan]

could you post of a video of you or your wife driving it?

that may help us diagnose the problem....

 

[princess]

I like the HARD shifts mine does after it learns my prince's style!! :thmsup: It feels sportier!

I don't have a whine noise coming from it..... sometimes coming from me when he's driving...but that's a whole 'nother story.... :lmao:


Get the car checked. If there's no codes they'll need a detailed description.

 

[Writer]

Honda shop can't feel or see?

Well (chuckle) had another "round" in the Honda repair shop - this time at the place I bought the car 750 miles ago.
They pronounce the transmission "fine" and the shudder and balky shifting as "normal." Sigh. OK - we'll see if it gets worse. . .
I asked them if resetting the ECU might help - and they looked at me like I was from Venus. Huh? they said. . .didn't know what I was talking about. Sigh.

The tachometer sticks. Especially when cold. Sticks around 1,000rpm and will suddenly "jump" to another speed. The shop said they couldn't see this - so I took the rep out to the car, put him in the driver's seat, and told him to go up and down the rpms. I could see the tach needle jerk as it went up and down - but he said he could not. Thinking of taking up a collection for the shop - for glasses?
Anybody have trouble with their tach sticking? And if so - what can be done?

I've about had it with the car - just too frustrating. My wife says it rides so hard that she could never take it on a long trip. Should have gone with another brand, I guess. Hindsight - always 20/20 - right? (grin)

Respectfully. . .LarryR

 

[princess]

The dealer where my prince works is only seeing an Accord AT about every 3 months or so now. It's nearly 100% of ones that haven't had fluid changes.... some including oil!! The "problems" have faded significantly! :thmsup: That doesn't mean there's none out there though. Now that you have the complaint documented you should be able to relax....some anyway.

I haven't had any tach issues.... maybe someone else has..... :dunno:

 

[hermann]

Talk to the dealer to drive another V-6 auto and compare. This is really the only way to make your point. Also reading reviews on Edmunds.com, it seems that the most disatisfied owners, are LX V-6 buyers.

BTW WELCOME to DA

 

[Writer]

Did the drive, with thanks

Yo - Hermann, et al - happened to have another LX V6 available, so drove it today, and the difference was the cliched "night and day." Mine shifted smoothly for the first 500 miles, also - then started to give me fits. the second V6 - with only 26 miles on it, drove smoothly, at the request of a dealer rep.

I'm going to the Ft. Myers Honda place next week - the service dept. chief said to contact him personally - which I will do Monday.

I'm thinking that I may have the proverbial "lemon" on my hands. . . .sigh.

Respectfully. . . .LarryR

 

[dads-car]

Have you reset the ECU yet?

It won't hurt.

Might have been the drive-by-wire etc adapting to your driving style.

 

[Writer]

ECU "erased" for the better

Yep, I reset the ECU, and the shifting problems became much less than before. I'll post more after I've driven with the "erased" computer another day or so.

As I posted above, I did test drive another LX V6 - better ride all around - but then I forgot to add that the other V6 had Bridgestone, not Michelin, tires on it. From what I read in the TireRack, the Bridgestones seem to give a much quieter and somewhat "softer" ride? Maybe that made a difference. . .

I get the Michelins "road force" tested next week. If they fail, I plan on getting them replaced with the Bridgestones. . .my wife says ANYTHING that helps the ride will make her happier!

Respectfully. . .LarryR

 

[BenjiBoy650]

You should see if they make Goodyear ComforTreds for your tire size

 

[Conundrum]

I was just browsing through the Honda Service News PDFs that greg-ster posted links up for...and in September 2006's release they mentioned some info about "whining 05-06 ATs"...

A/T Whine? Check the Shift Cable Mount Bushing
Got a ’05–06 Accord L4 with a whiny A/T? The shift cable could be transmitting gear vibration into the passenger compartment. To check for this, disconnect the shift cable from the A/T and go out for a test-drive. If the noise goes away, check to see if the shift cable rubber mount bushing matches up with the shift cable housing. Both the bushing hole and the cable housing are hexagonally shaped so they fit together much like a lock and key.

If the bushing hole doesn’t match up with the cable housing, turn the bushing until it does. Reconnect the shift cable, and go out for another test-drive. If the noise is gone, return the car to your service customer. If the A/T still whines, it’s time to replace the shift cable.

I know this doesn't solve all your problems/issues...but I remembered you mentioning a whine from your transmission so I figured I would post the above info.

I've uploaded the actual Honda Service News file with this infomation to this post as well...that way if your car is doing what said here you can print out the actual Honda info and bring it in to the dealership with you (should help with any "I can't hear what you are talking about" issues atleast a bit...lol).