This is about a 1999 Honda CR-V. When it gets into the 3rd gear, if I cruise at about 40-45 mph (cruising meaning I don’t accelerate, just press the gas pedal as is. If I accelerate, vibration doesn’t happen), the whole car occasionally will vibrate. It doesn’t happen all the time. The vibration doe…

I guess another way to say what Barky said above, if there’s a can of worms hidden under the transmission pan, probably best to know about it now rather than later.

This transmission does not have a pan to remove, the valve body and filter are deep inside the transmission, the transmission must be disassembled to access the filter.

It sounds like you are saying a rebuild to change the trans filter? @Nevada_545

An experienced technician can tell the difference between an axle vibration and torque converter shudder, have someone drive the vehicle to identify the problem. Don’t tell them this only occurs in 3rd gear because you transmission should be in high gear when cruising at 45 MPH. That 3rd gear detai…

Thanks George! That’s a great explanation. Did you mean the new high gear (overdrive) has a higher rpm than the engine’s so that the same engine rpm can get even faster road speed? I think this thread is very helpful and educational, at least to me. We figured out my problem is likely a TC issue, w…

Now turning off O/D and driving in third gear was the solution to the vibration. Earlier today turning O/D back on solved the problem. I give up.

bluekinginc: Did you mean the new high gear (overdrive) has a higher rpm than the engine’s so that the same engine rpm can get even faster road speed? Yes, that’s correct.

Hope this is my last update. The fluid change is significant! I drove more than 20 miles locally today and I didn’t feel a single shudder. So this problem may have gone away or at least been greatly reduced. This is totally unexpected (by me). I still don’t know what exactly went wrong (most likely …

You’re quite welcome and I’m sure the other Car Talk forum members will second that. Now you can drive your CR-V in “D” with O/D turned on as Honda intended while enjoying a significant improvement in highway fuel mileage.

Was the vibration continuous or for just a few seconds?

Vibration at 3rd gear 40-45mph

Maintenance/Repairs

BillRussell October 2, 2017, 12:41pm 72

That idea (don’t change ATF fluid) is reinforced by the manufacturers. Many (most?) maintenance schedules do NOT call for ever changing the AT fluid.

Not going to change unless/until the manufacturers change that policy.

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Vibration at 3rd gear 40-45mph

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