Honda Transmission Repair in San Antonio, TX
Is your Accord or Civic shuddering or hesitating when you pull away from a stop? Does your CR-V whine or feel like it is slipping as it speeds up? Is your Odyssey or Pilot shifting hard or flaring between gears? Hondas are known for going the distance, and plenty of them on San Antonio roads have the miles to prove it. Even so, transmissions wear with time and heat. Here is a plain look at the transmissions Honda uses, what drivers tend to notice, and what to do next.
The transmissions in most Hondas
Honda uses two main kinds of automatic transmissions, and which one you have depends on the model and the year.
Many newer Civics, Accords, CR-Vs, and HR-Vs use a CVT, which stands for continuously variable transmission. Instead of fixed gears, a CVT uses a steel belt between two adjustable pulleys to change the ratio smoothly. You do not feel separate shifts, and the engine speed may stay fairly steady while the car picks up speed. That is normal. A CVT that whines loudly, shudders, or revs without the car moving to match is not. We explain more about how they work on our CVT transmissions page.
Larger Hondas like the Pilot, Odyssey, and Ridgeline use conventional automatics, the kind with a set number of gears you can feel as the vehicle speeds up. Older models commonly have five-speed automatics, and newer ones have moved to six, nine, and ten speeds. Older Accords, Civics, and CR-Vs from before the switch to CVTs also use conventional automatics, and many of those vehicles are still on the road with a lot of miles.
What Honda drivers tend to notice
On CVT models, the most common complaints are a shudder or judder when pulling away or at low speed, a whine that rises with speed, a lag between pressing the gas and the car responding, or a rubber band feeling where the engine revs before the car catches up. On conventional automatics, drivers describe harsh or delayed shifts, a flare in engine speed between gears, slipping, or a clunk when the transmission changes gears. Some owners notice that the transmission acts up more in the summer, once it is hot.
If any of that sounds familiar, our pages on shuddering when accelerating, slipping, and grinding or whining noises go through each symptom in more detail.
Why it happens
For both kinds of Honda transmission, fluid is at the top of the list. Honda transmissions are particular about their fluid, and fluid that is old, low, worn down by heat, or the wrong type can cause shudder, rough shifts, and slipping. San Antonio heat and stop and go traffic break fluid down faster than easy highway miles do. On CVT models, the belt and pulleys wear as fluid ages. On conventional automatics, the internal parts that grip and hold each gear wear with mileage, and the parts that control fluid pressure can weaken. Electronic sensors and controls can cause trouble on both, and sometimes a software update is part of the fix.
Some of these causes are handled with a fluid service. Others need a larger repair or a replacement. A proper diagnosis is how you know which one you are dealing with.
How we handle Honda transmissions
You do not need to know which transmission your Honda has before you call. At Sergeant Clutch Certified Engine and Transmission Repair Shop on Walzem Road on the Northeast Side of San Antonio, our certified mechanics start by finding the real cause. We check the fluid level and condition, scan for codes, and test how the transmission behaves, then explain in plain terms what is going on and what your choices are. Nothing gets done without your say so.
Our certified mechanics diagnose and repair Honda transmissions, both CVTs and conventional automatics, along with every other make and model we see. When replacement makes more sense than repair, we install Jasper remanufactured transmissions. You will know the problem and the plan before we pick up a tool, and we stand behind the work with a limited parts and labor warranty.
Can you keep driving it
If the problem is mild, such as a slight shudder once in a while, you can usually keep driving for now, but have it looked at soon so it does not grow. If the vehicle is slipping, the shudder is getting stronger, or the transmission seems to overheat, it is better to stop adding miles. We offer free towing with your transmission service, so you do not have to risk the drive.
We serve San Antonio, Windcrest, Converse, Live Oak, Universal City, Randolph AFB and the whole Northeast Side from 6557 Walzem Rd., San Antonio, TX 78239, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
If your Honda transmission is not acting right, the simplest move is to have it looked at now, and you are welcome to call Sergeant Clutch at (210) 239-1600 to set that up. Ask about our financing, with payment plans and no credit needed through Synchrony Car Care, Easy Pay Finance, and SNAP Finance, so you can get your Honda back on the road without the wait.
PAYMENT PLANS! NO CREDIT NEEDED*
