Honda Accord Automatic Transmission Won’t Go Into Gear

There are hundreds of car manufacturing companies around the world today. However, very few companies have managed to grow into automobile giants and touch people’s lives in every way possible. Among them, the Japanese automobile manufacturer Honda is a household name for service and reliability. 

Honda has produced engines and automobiles since the 1950s, and we know them as the world’s largest two-wheeler brand. Their cars, too, have shared their success in the home country and all over the world. Despite all this, a few car models have shown several problems. 

Since 1994, Honda’s cars show numerous issues; a majority of them are from the cars’ transmission. Among them, the 2003 model of the Honda Accord is reported to have the most transmission faults. For the common people’s interest, we will refer to it as a gear problem. So many people have dealt with the automatic gear malfunction of the Honda Accord.

Gear malfunction can bring minor to disastrous consequences. A running car with faulty gears can land you in a lot of trouble. Your car can break down at a place where it’s impossible to get any help. What is more, it can cause accidents. 

It is essential to know what to look for if your Accord behaves unnaturally, which can be a sign of transmission failure. 

How to know if your Accord has a faulty transmission?

If you drive an automatic, the problems will be evident and easy to spot. Most Honda engines come with an engine check light. The light tells the owner to review the car’s engine. 

You can begin with a clunking noise under the hood whenever you’re trying to shift gears. This is not normal as it means that something is wrong with the gear system. This means that you should take your car to an auto shop and let them figure out the issue. With the clunking noise, other sounds like frequent buzzing or humming are definite transmission malfunction symptoms. 

The next step to check your transmission is to see if the car stays in a particular gear or not. The gear shifting will be delayed in a faulty system, and the car will not remain in a specific gear. You may witness heavy shifting at low revolutions or no shifting at all when you’re increasing speed. The reason for improper shift may be a malfunction shift linkage. To be sure, put your Accord into ‘drive’. You will be able to detect the problem. 

Also, the torque converter in the automatic transmissions can initiate problems. The converter uses the energy from the engine and drives the car. Improper shifts, car not staying in gear are indications that your torque converter is not working. To be sure, put your car in drive mode and take your foot off the brake. If your car doesn’t bump forward, it may indicate a non-functional converter. This problem only occurs with automatic transmissions as standard gear systems don’t have this mechanical component. 

There can be other issues adding to this situation. Check if your car speeds up concerning higher revolutions. If it doesn’t, there may be a problem with the clutch. You can also try putting your car in reverse. If your vehicle has a faulty clutch and transmission, it probably will not move. Sometimes, one or more teeth of the gear system break, resulting in slippage of gears. To be sure, you must service your car. 

A Honda accord with a faulty transmission is most likely to suffer from overheating. It becomes evident if you smell something burning inside your car. For this, you should check your car’s transmission fluid to see if it’s burnt. The fluid is imperative for the gear system as it acts similar to engine oils. Locate the car’s dipstick and remove it. If the liquid inside is black, the fluid is most probably burnt. 

Moreover, you will see the liquid leaking from the bottom of your Accord. It is most visible when you park your vehicle for some time. The fluid will make a puddle under your car. This is a clear indication that your transmission needs servicing. 

Grinding noises and sensations while shifting gears can point towards transmission failure. Sometimes, the sound can come from the broken teeth of gears. Also, your car will vibrate a lot even when it’s idle.  

How to fix the problem?

All these problems with your Accord will require a simple solution. That is a full transmission repair or replacement. Most of these problems appear after you’ve completed more than 100,000 miles. After that, you need to address the issues such as improper shifting, slipping out of gear and transmission failure. On average, repair and replacement of Honda Accord transmission cost between one thousand to six thousand dollars, depending on the magnitude of damage. 

Liam Dare

As CEO of ReplicarClub.com, my passion for the automotive world motivates me to build online businesses that provide information and entertainment to users. I am proud to contribute in a positive way to the automotive community.