How to check automatic transmission?

[air_explorer]

Hello,
My friend's going to buy a 98 Honda Civic Auto,he needs to verify that its transmission is faultless,any reliable method to check?
Thanks.

[toofast]

That's how i do it. Take car to the lift and see under for any leaks. Check the level of oil/color. Drive the car slowly and see the gear changing. Take car on highway and push it. Car should change through all 5 or 4 gears(depends how many gears that car has). Also check the gear changing response, Car should not jerk. On highway while passing other car or pushing on pedal car should drop to 3 or 4th gear and then back to 5th. On highway cruising(120km) RPM should not cross 4 and should stay around 2-3 range.

@Other experts
If i am missing anything feel free to add

[Zish16]

fast u r rite if explorer understand what u r trying to say...

[hameedafridi]

althings u said was ok but first 98 civic with auto doesnt have 5 speed its 4 speed auto and it will jerk in shifts cause its transmission is that sort of it prosmatec civics doesnt jerk cause its technology is prograssive shift i have 99 vti automatic it gives a jerk a bit in petrol when pedal up but in cng gives a good jerk

[air_explorer]

thanx to those who replied.

more replies please.... i m still confused.

[Zish16]

i think it is quite clear but if u r confused we can clear it up....n yes dont forget to check the transmission oil color....take a drop of transmission oil on white paper and see its color..if its pink in color its fine but if its brown or blackish brown in color leave the car..dont take that....

[HumanGenius]

@toofast
RPM will be depending on the engine size/condition + other factors. I doubt a 800cc car with 3 speed A/T can do 120 under 3,000 rpm. My Altis A/T does it about 2.5k rpm, Civic 1.6 A/T does 120 at about 3.2 or so..

[riz_]

i m still confused.

Are you serious? tooooosloooow have posted excellent instructions. Just follow them.

If you are not sure how to follow them, then you shouldn't. Just take the care to a good transmission mechanic and get it checked.

[Saaduk]

Put the car on Park mode, then apply brak and shift to D. It it has delay more then normal or if it jerks more then its weak. Also check out oil color.

[toofast]

@toofast
RPM will be depending on the engine size/condition + other factors. I doubt a 800cc car with 3 speed A/T can do 120 under 3,000 rpm. My Altis A/T does it about 2.5k rpm, Civic 1.6 A/T does 120 at about 3.2 or so..

@HG
I am just giving an idea. My V8's and V6's do 120 around 2 so RPM should be around 3 and do your home work about how many gears that car have:) My guideline was for any auto car.

Some body with 98 auto Civic can guide him exactly what to look for.

[FaiezCivic]

check to see the transmission fluid dipstick, if its at correct level......cuz most people never ever bother to replace transmission fluid on auto transmissions......
And also ask the owner a simple question, " after how many kms shud the transmission fluid be changed?"
And if he says " these things last a lifetime" , then its not the right car to buy. But if he says " around 40k kms " , then it means the car must be ok.

Not changing the transmission oil for a long long time can completely destroy the transmission.....

Check the transmission side mount as well, jerks can be due to that as well.....

To check the torque tube, put the car in D and press brake and throttle fully.... the rpm shud rise to about 3k rpm and stay there, it shouldnt rise more then that.....

[FaiezCivic]

And also , you have to check the axles......

[Zish16]

@ FaiezCivic...:o what type of tips u r giving man...i totally couldnt understand that....atleast dont give wrong tips if u dont know technically about the prob.....

[panicslayer]

@Zish16

Which tip by @faeizcivic is wrong? I think none of them is wrong.

Well the simplest and easiest way to check the transmission is as faeizcivic described. I'll elaborate it a bit more. Put the transmission in D, apply foot brake firmly and push the accelerator all the way to the floor. DON'T RELEASE FOOT BRAKE. If the engine dies, that is not the right car to buy but if it doesn't die, then everything's fine

[FaiezCivic]

^^yes but if it goes more than 3.5k rpm the nit means the torque tube has some problem which means u shudnt buy the car.....

[syncview]

What is the STALL SPEED for that civic automatic trans? That depends on that stall RPM, it should DIE at some point actually..

[panicslayer]

What is the STALL SPEED for that civic automatic trans? That depends on that stall RPM, it should DIE at some point actually..

yes it should die at certain RPM but should not keep dieing. It must stay there

[doubletrouble]

agreed with panicslayer
the thing he mentioned..is a must check..because if it does die...then there is something seriously wrong..
except for that there are minute things
1. do check the transmission oil
2. it has 4 gears..drive the car and it should change all the gear till 4th and comeback to 1st...
3. 96,98 civic does always give a little jerk when you shift to D or R..that is perfectly normal
4. when you push hard the accelerator and if the RPM goes till 5 and does not come back until you release the acc..dont get tensed, it just tells you to got to workshop and get the car tuned
5. while driving if you fell a little underpowered, its also related to tunung and not gears
6. the car should hunt gears in early RPM range when you drive it with a soft foot...sometime when you buy a car, drive it with soft foot..it still changes every gear around 2.5+ RPM ...then it means that mechanic have at sometime adjusted the clutch cable ..(although it is strictly not recommended to alter the clutch cable as the underpowerness which you will feel will be cured by tuning and not the clutch cable) ..i have messed on this step once in my life, had C180 98 model auto
7. do check for any weird noises when you shift from P to D and vice versa
8. when you shift from P to R or vice versa..and N to D and vice versa...sometimes ul feel a little noise from brakes..its because the moment the car gets in gear it urgently takes power and try to build momentum..IF you do not fully press the brake the noise might come...(other wise shift quickly up and down and quickly press the acc, u wont feel anything:P..thats not recommended though)
9. if your car has these gear..P-R-N-D-D3-D2 .......then drive the car around 40kms, shift from D to D2...it should change to 2nd gear..and also drive the car at 25kms in D(u will feel that RPM is somewhere around 2..its 1st gear) shift to D2 then...now the car should come in 2nd gear and the RPM will be almost at IDLE ...
10. park ur car at inclined place...put it in P...dont pull the handbrake...release foot brake...now press then foot brake and put it in R ..if the transmission is faulty,it will give a jerk and a noise(jaisay gear phasay) ...

normally civic dont have much issue with auto trans...xcept for 05-07 models ..

[hash4u]

i own a 98 civic auto
and if anyone tries to do most of the stuff told here on my car
i would rather break his head

[portage1]

hash4u bhai.................I am with you.....