2003 ex coupe transmission troubles

[Just Me]

Girlfriend is having trouble with her transmission. Reading online, it should come as no suprise. Details are... 03 ex coupe v6, auto. 86000 miles. Transmission hesitates when upshifting from 2nd to 3rd. Took it in, they said needed a flush, and needed to replace solenoids on the trans. Now $103 for diagnostics, $360 for flush, sols and labor, and it still does the same thing. Found online that there was a recall. Questioned the dealership about this and they said the recall was done in April 2003. The car wasn't even owned by her at that point. It was still on a lot, brand new, as she was the first owner. Is this even possible. I thought the recall came out in 2004?

Question #1
Do dealers ever do recall work on cars before they sell them?

Question #2
Anyone else had this problem? It seems like the start of the transmission problems they are known for.

The dealership, after being told it wasn't fixed, said that maybe they put in defective solenoids. THEY ARE LUCKY she was talking with them, as I have less tact than she.

Also, anyone know the number for Honda's regional service manager for Sheboygan, Wisconsin area? Lakeland Honda is the name of the dealership and they are a sorry excuse for a dealership.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Joel

 

[Earle Horton]

Girlfriend is having trouble with her transmission. Reading online, it should come as no suprise. Details are... 03 ex coupe v6, auto. 86000 miles. Transmission hesitates when upshifting from 2nd to 3rd. Took it in, they said needed a flush, and needed to replace solenoids on the trans. Now $103 for diagnostics, $360 for flush, sols and labor, and it still does the same thing. Found online that there was a recall. Questioned the dealership about this and they said the recall was done in April 2003. The car wasn't even owned by her at that point. It was still on a lot, brand new, as she was the first owner. Is this even possible. I thought the recall came out in 2004?

Question #1
Do dealers ever do recall work on cars before they sell them?

Why not? They get paid the same either way.

Question #2
Anyone else had this problem? It seems like the start of the transmission problems they are known for.

The dealership, after being told it wasn't fixed, said that maybe they put in defective solenoids. THEY ARE LUCKY she was talking with them, as I have less tact than she.

This sounds like fraud. The recall you are talking about wouldn't have anything to do with defective solenoids, would it? I personally am not familiar with the recall, but this sounds suspicious.

Saludos cordiales,

Earle

 

[Brad Holland]

Mine, 2003 Accord EXV6, went out at about 72,000 mi. It (the transmission) began to free rev up another 1500 rpms or so before upshifting to either the 2nd or 3rd gear. I don't remember which. My dealer put in a new transmission and only charged me the freight (I think $200). They said if I paid the freight it would carry an additional 3 year warranty. Anyway, I don't know that they would have done this normally. When my radio/climate control display went out they were going to charge me $1,200 for a new one until I called Honda Corp. and complained. I suspect my dealer knew I would pick up the phone again.

 

[motsco_]

Girlfriend is having trouble with her transmission. Reading online, it should come as no suprise. Details are... 03 ex coupe v6, auto. 86000 miles. Transmission hesitates when upshifting from 2nd to 3rd. Took it in, they said needed a flush, and needed to replace solenoids on the trans. Now $103 for diagnostics, $360 for flush, sols and labor, and it still does the same thing. Found online that there was a recall. Questioned the dealership about this and they said the recall was done in April 2003. The car wasn't even owned by her at that point. It was still on a lot, brand new, as she was the first owner. Is this even possible. I thought the recall came out in 2004?

Question #1
Do dealers ever do recall work on cars before they sell them?

Question #2
Anyone else had this problem? It seems like the start of the transmission problems they are known for.

The dealership, after being told it wasn't fixed, said that maybe they put in defective solenoids. THEY ARE LUCKY she was talking with them, as I have less tact than she.

Also, anyone know the number for Honda's regional service manager for Sheboygan, Wisconsin area? Lakeland Honda is the name of the dealership and they are a sorry excuse for a dealership.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Joel

As an experiment, make sure the coolant reservoir is full to the =MAX= mark. Check it again in two days and top up as needed. If it 'uses' coolant, there was AIR in the cooling system and it means somebody didn't follow the part in the owner's manual about filling the system any time the cooling system has been worked on.

It can radically affect your shift points.

'Curly'

 

[Just Me]

Coolant? Are you F-ing me? What the hell does antifreeze have to do with shift points. It is not a liquid cooled trans, unless you include the trans cooler, which cools the trans fluid. That sounds like complete and utter bs! anyone else ever heard of this?

Incidentally, they called my girlfriend back and said Honda is worried about their image and will be replacing the trans for free. I will believe it when I see it.

Thanks, Joel

 

[tww1491]

Coolant? Are you F-ing me? What the hell does antifreeze have to do with shift points. It is not a liquid cooled trans, unless you include the trans cooler, which cools the trans fluid. That sounds like complete and utter bs! anyone else ever heard of this?

Incidentally, they called my girlfriend back and said Honda is worried about their image and will be replacing the trans for free. I will believe it when I see it.

Believe it. Honda is a reputable company.

 

[E Meyer]

Coolant? Are you F-ing me? What the hell does antifreeze have to do with shift points. It is not a liquid cooled trans, unless you include the trans cooler, which cools the trans fluid. That sounds like complete and utter bs! anyone else ever heard of this?

Hondas go nuts if they get air in the cooling system. The sensors don't read right, the computer decides everything is still cold and directs the transmission to shift accordingly.

 

[jim beam]

Coolant? Are you F-ing me?

not unless you're naked and have your ass higher than your head.

What the hell does antifreeze have to do with
shift points.

coolant temp tells the ecu which shift pattern to use.

It is not a liquid cooled trans, unless you include the trans cooler, which cools the trans fluid.

that makes it liquid cooled.

That sounds like complete and utter
bs! anyone else ever heard of this?

yes, it's pretty much the norm on any modern electronically controlled automatic. you need to learn more.