# Transmission - specific symptom **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** civic, honda\ **Created:** [December 8, 2008, 5:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-specific-symptom/23119 "2008-12-08T17:25:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Portia911](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@Portia911](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Portia911)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 5:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-specific-symptom/23119/1 "2008-12-08T17:25:17Z")
Dear knowledgeable people: I know you all prob. think I’m OCD and are prob. right. BUT - I can give you a specific example of what the 98’ Honda does that makes me worry about the transmission. This morning, on my daily route to work - I was driving down this notorious hill at 40mph - the hill ends at a traffic light and is fairly steep. In order to stop at the light, I take my foot off of the accelerator at (40 mph). There is a slight jump, and then the tach needle drops rapidly from 3000 rpms to 1000 rpms, then I brake to a stop at the base of the hill/traffic light. No CEL, no other jumps or jolts. This happens everytime I drive down that hill, unless I creep down it at a lower speed. Is this normal?? For those who may not know: The car is a '98 Honda Civic EX w/ 118k automatic, 4 -cyclinder, v-tech engine. Bought it at 81K. Trans fluid flushed last Oct. Fuel filter changed last Thanksgiving Spark plugs replaced last Thanksgiving Trottle body cleaned - low idle issue New distributor - late Sept./Early Oct. this year IAC cleaned (not replaced)- low idle issue Reg, oil changes Timing belt 105K Checked my trans fluid last week after driving and while running parked in p-lot- fluid was clear pink - Good level Use to run more smoothly up until the last 6 mos. Thanks again! Maybe it’s just old, but I feel like this issue could be improved if I had a better idea what might be causing it. Portia ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 6:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-specific-symptom/23119/2 "2008-12-08T18:46:01Z")
Most automatic transmissions adjust the shift points based on the position of the throttle. Because of this, the transmission will often upshift as you let up on the gas pedal. Could that be what is happening? Honda’s automatic transmissions have a bad reputation. I suppose it could be a bad sign with the age and mileage of your car. If it was normal, I doubt it would have emerged as a symptom in the last six months. I would love to see what transman has to say about this. ---
**Author:** ![roflcopter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d26b3c/32.png) [@roflcopter](https://community.cartalk.com/u/roflcopter)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 6:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-specific-symptom/23119/3 "2008-12-08T18:48:16Z")
When you let off the gas, the car is going to “coast” at around 1000 rpm. That’s normal. The slight jump you described may just be the car downshifting to 3rd or 4th gear. Someone please correct me if i’m wrong? ---
**Author:** ![realbinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a87d85/32.png) [@realbinky](https://community.cartalk.com/u/realbinky)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 8:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-specific-symptom/23119/4 "2008-12-08T20:40:04Z")
It could be a lock-up converter disengaging under load, not sure if this car has one. ---
**Author:** ![nfs480](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@nfs480](https://community.cartalk.com/u/nfs480)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 9:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-specific-symptom/23119/5 "2008-12-08T21:12:11Z")
My '89 Honda Accord does this exact same thing and has done it for as long as I can remember. My vote is for normal but i’d be interested to see what other people have to say. ---
**Author:** ![mr\_josh](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mr_josh/32/3008_2.png) [@mr\_josh](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mr_josh)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 10:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-specific-symptom/23119/6 "2008-12-08T22:40:51Z")
YOU have OCD. Your car, on the other hand, is just fine. It will get you to the psychotherapist without a problem 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Portia911](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@Portia911](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Portia911)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 11:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-specific-symptom/23119/7 "2008-12-08T23:36:40Z")
You wouldn’t be the first to come to the OCD conclusion :). If I became a mechanic/or just got used to aging cars and all their quirks - I’m sure that would cure me w/o a shrink. ---
**Author:** ![Portia911](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@Portia911](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Portia911)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2008, 11:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-specific-symptom/23119/8 "2008-12-08T23:57:22Z")
Thanks for that information, shame to hear that about Honda transmissions. I hope it could be related to carbon build up, or some other kind of grime - but if it were, I’m sure it’s anyone’s guess what part that could be. I know it’s normal for shifting to be perceptible - it’s hard to describe, but when I take my foot off the gas, from time to time and esp. on those hills, it just drops speed faster than it used to - as oppo. to gradually dropping to a lower speed. 45mph and over, the transition is smooth and seems normal. ---
**Author:** ![Portia911](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@Portia911](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Portia911)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 12:02am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-specific-symptom/23119/9 "2008-12-09T00:02:01Z")
Lock up converter? Showing my lack of knowledge, but what might that be? I will check the manual to see if I can find that term. I really do feel like it’s related to some worn out or dirty part - I hope it’s not transmission - I’m preparing for the worst, but hoping for the best. ---
**Author:** ![Portia911](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@Portia911](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Portia911)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 12:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-specific-symptom/23119/10 "2008-12-09T00:07:28Z")
Thanks - It would be great to know that it’s normal and to save money. Great to hear you have a 19 year old Honda! Do you do your own repairs? I think I should learn. ---
**Author:** ![Portia911](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@Portia911](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Portia911)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 1:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-specific-symptom/23119/11 "2008-12-09T01:09:11Z")
> **[Torque Converter Lockup](https://ezinearticles.com/?Torque-Converter-Lockup&id=113485)** > > Troubleshooting torque converter problems that feel as if they were an engine problem. Many times a converter "locks up" at the wrong times causing a vehicle to stall. Maybe you are onto something. ---
**Author:** ![nfs480](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@nfs480](https://community.cartalk.com/u/nfs480)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 2:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-specific-symptom/23119/12 "2008-12-09T02:33:40Z")
Yeah, i try and do what I can on my own. So far the only thing i’ve had to do with the transmission was change the fluid. ---
**Author:** ![Portia911](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@Portia911](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Portia911)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 3:44am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-specific-symptom/23119/13 "2008-12-09T03:44:34Z")
Cool Beans! ---
**Author:** ![Portia911](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@Portia911](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Portia911)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2008, 11:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-specific-symptom/23119/14 "2008-12-09T23:30:17Z")
Checked the owner’s manual - it does have one. ---
**Author:** ![EllyEllis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f14d63/32.png) [@EllyEllis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/EllyEllis)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2009, 4:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-specific-symptom/23119/15 "2009-06-29T04:01:03Z")
Why would a car downshift while going down hill? ---
**Author:** ![EllyEllis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f14d63/32.png) [@EllyEllis](https://community.cartalk.com/u/EllyEllis)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2009, 4:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/transmission-specific-symptom/23119/16 "2009-06-29T04:09:20Z")
why would there be a “load” going downhill and stopping? On Chevy S10s ('99 to’01 at least) The converter unlocks when you let up on the gas or hit the brakes.