Page 321 of 1771

PROBABLE CAUSE
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
Low ATF
ATF pump worn or binding
Regulator valve stuck or spring worn
Mainshaft worn/damaged
Shift cable broken/out of adjustment
Secondary drive gear, secondary driven gear,
extension shaft worn/damaged
Countershaft worn/damaged
1st gears worn/damaged (2 gears)
1st clutch defective
2nd gears worn/damaged (2 gears)
2nd clutch defective
Reverse gears worn/damaged (2 gears)
Excessive ATF
Torque converter one-way clutch defective
Parking mechanism defective
Throttle valve stuck
Linear solenoid defective
1-2 shift valve stuck
2-3 shift valve stuck
3-4 shift valve stuck
2nd accumulator defective
3rd accumulator defective
4th accumulator defective
4-3 shift timing valve stuck
Foreign material in main orifice
Foreign material in 1st orifice
Foreign material in 2nd orifice
3-4 orifice control valve stuck
Foreign material in 3rd orifice
Foreign material in 4th orifice
3rd clutch defective
4th clutch defective
Engine output low
Needle bearing worn/damaged
Thrust washer worn/damaged
Clutch clearance incorrect
Drive plate defective or transmission misas-
sembly
2nd check ball stuck
3rd check ball stuck
4th check ball stuck
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61C96)
61
('97 -'98)
62C97 - '98)
63
64
Torque converter housing or transmission
housing ball bearing worn/damaged
ATF strainer clogged
Joint in shift cable and transmission or body
worn
Modulator valve stuck
Torque converter check valve stuck
Foreign material in separator plate orifice
Lock-up timing valve stuck
Lock-up shift valve stuck
Lock-up piston defective
Lock-up control valve stuck
Shift control solenoid valve A defective
Shift control solenoid valve B defective
Lock-up control solenoid valve A defective
Lock-up control solenoid valve B defective
A/T gear position switch defective
4-3 kick-down valve stuck
1st-hold clutch defective
Reverse clutch defective
1st gear one-way clutch worn/damaged
2nd gear one-way clutch worn/damaged
CPC valve defective
Line pressure control valve defective
Main orifice control valve defective
Mainshaft speed sensor defective
Countershaft speed sensor defective
(cont'd)ProCarManuals.com
Page 322 of 1771
Symptom-to-Component Chart
Hydraulic System (cont'd)
The following symptoms can be caused
by improper repair or assembly
Vehicle creeps in position.
Vehicle does not move in or position.
Transmission locks up in position.
Excessive drag in transmission.
Excessive vibration, rpm related.
Main seal pops out.
Various shifting problems.
Harsh upshifts.
Check these items on the
PROBABLE CAUSE DUE TO
IMPROPER REPAIR List
R1,R2
R4
R1
R6
R7
R8
R9, R10
R11
Items on the
NOTES List
K, R
S
PROBABLE CAUSE DUE TO IMPROPER REPAIR
R1
R2
R4
R6
R7
R8
R9
R10
R11
Improper clutch clearance.
Improper gear clearance.
One-way (sprag) clutch installed upside down.
ATF pump binding.
Torque converter not fully seated in ATF pump.
Main seal improperly installed.
Springs improperly installed.
Valves improperly installed.
Check valve balls not installed.ProCarManuals.com
Page 323 of 1771

Set idl e rp m in gea r t o specifie d idl e speed . I f stil l n o good , adjus t moto r mount s a s outline d in engine
sectio n o f servic e manual .
I f th e larg e clutc h pisto n 0-rin g i s broken , inspec t th e pisto n groov e fo r roug h machining .
I f th e clutc h pac k is seize d o r i s excessivel y worn , inspec t th e othe r clutche s fo r wea r an d chec k th e orific e
contro l valve s an d throttl e valv e fo r fre e movement .
I f throttl e valv e is stuck , inspec t th e clutche s fo r wear .
I f th e 1- 2 shif t valv e is stuc k closed , th e transmissio n wil l no t upshift . I f stuc k open , th e transmissio n ha s
n o 1s t gear .
I f th e 4- 3 shif t timin g valv e is stuck , inspec t th e 2n d an d 3r d clutc h pack s fo r wear .
I f th e 3- 4 orific e contro l valv e is stuck , inspec t th e 3r d an d 4t h clutc h pack s fo r wear .
If th e CP C valv e is stuc k closed , th e transmissio n wil l no t shif t ou t o f 1s t gear .
Imprope r alignmen t o f AT F pum p bod y an d torqu e converte r housin g ma y caus e AT F pum p seizure . Th e
symptom s ar e mostl y a n rpm-relate d ticking nois e o r a hig h pitche d squeak .
I f th e AT F straine r i s clogge d wit h particle s o f stee l o r aluminum , inspec t th e AT F pump . I f th e pum p is O K
an d n o caus e fo r th e contaminatio n is found , replac e th e torqu e converter .
If th e 1s t clutc h feedpip e guid e in th e rea r cove r i s score d b y th e mainshaft , inspect th e bal l bearin g fo r
excessiv e movemen t i n th e transmissio n housing . I f OK , replac e th e rea r cove r a s it i s dented . Th e O-rin g
unde r th e guid e is probabl y worn .
Replac e the mainshaf t if th e bushing s for the Islan d 2nd feedpip e are loos e or damaged . If th e 1s t feedpip e
i s damage d o r ou t o f round , replac e it . I f th e 2n d feedpip e is damage d o r ou t o f round , replac e th e rea r cover .
A wor n o r damage d one-wa y (sprag ) clutc h is mostl y a resul t o f shiftin g th e transmissio n in S o r S posi -
tion whil e the wheel s rotat e in reverse , suc h as rockin g the vehicl e in snow.__________________ _
Inspect th e fram e fo r collisio n damage .
Inspec t th e revers e clutc h fo r damag e o r wear .
Inspec t botto m o f 3r d clutc h fo r swir l marks .
Replac e revers e clutc h i f wor n o r damaged . I f transmissio n make s clicking , grindin g o r whirrin g noise , als o
replac e mainshaf t revers e gear , revers e idle r gear , an d countershaf t revers e gear .
I f botto m of 3r d clutc h ha s swir l marks , an d transmissio n make s gea r noise , replac e th e countershaft .
B e ver y carefu l no t t o damag e th e torqu e converte r housin g whe n replacin g th e mai n bal l bearing . Yo u
ma y als o damag e th e AT F pum p whe n yo u torqu e dow n th e AT F pum p body . Thi s wil l resul t i s AT F pum p
seizur e if no t detected . Us e th e prope r tools .
Instal l th e mai n sea l flus h wit h th e torqu e converte r housing . I f yo u pus h it int o th e torqu e converte r
housin g unti l i t bottom s out , i t wil l bloc k th e flui d retur n passag e an d resul t i n damage .
Hars h downshift s whe n coastin g to a sto p wit h zer o throttl e ma y b e cause d b y th e linea r solenoi d no t working .
Adjustin g th e throttl e valv e body , throttl e valve , an d linea r solenoi d is essentia l fo r prope r operatio n o f th e
transmission . No t onl y doe s it affec t th e shif t qualit y i f misadjusted , bu t als o th e lock-u p clutc h operation .
A
B
C
D
E
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
V
Flush th e AT F coole r an d coole r lin e (se e flushin g procedur e in th e '95 - '98 Acur a 2.5TL Servic e Manual ,
61SW504) .
NOTES
ProCarManuals.com
Page 324 of 1771

Road Tes t
NOTE : War m u p th e engin e t o norma l operatin g temperatur e (th e radiato r fa n come s on) .
1. Appl y parkin g brak e an d bloc k th e wheels . Star t th e engine , the n shif t t o positio n whil e depressin g th e brak e pedal .
Depres s th e accelerato r peda l an d releas e it suddenly . Th e engin e shoul d no t stall .
2. Repea t sam e tes t i n position .
3. Tes t driv e th e vehicl e o n th e fla t roa d in position . Chec k tha t th e shif t point s occu r a t th e approximat e speed s show n
o n th e nex t page . Als o chec k fo r abnorma l nois e an d clutc h slippage .
NOTE : Throttl e positio n senso r voltag e represent s th e throttl e opening .
-1 . Remov e th e PC M cove r t o expos e th e PC M fo r roa d testing ; refe r t o pag e 14-6 6 an d 14-67 .
-2 . Se t th e digita l multimete r t o chec k voltag e betwee n D 6 (+ ) termina l an d A2 6 (- ) termina l o f th e PC M fo r th e throttl e
positio n sensor .
NOTE : Refe r t o pag e 14-66 ; Ho w to us e th e Backprob e Set .
SR S component s ar e locate d i n thi s area . Revie w th e SR S componen t locations , precautions , an d procedure s i n th e SR S
( sectio n 24 ) befor e performin g repair s o r service .
DIGITAL MULTIMETE R
(Commerciall y available )
KS - AH M - 32 - 003 ,or equivalen t
STACKIN G PATC H
CORDS
BACKPROB EADAPTER
BACKPROB E SE T07SAZ-001000 A
(tw o required )
v
A26 Termina l D
6 Termina lPCM
PC M CONNECTOR S
ProCarManuals.com
Page 325 of 1771
'97 - '98 Models
Upshift
Downshift
Downshift
'96 Model
Upshift
and Positions
NOTE:
Lock-up ON: Lock-up control solenoid valve B turns on.
Lock-up OFF: Lock-up control solenoid valve B turns off.ProCarManuals.com
Page 326 of 1771

Road Test
(cont'd)
4. Accelerate to about 35 mph (57 km/h) so the transmission is in 4th, then shift from position to position. The vehi-
cle should immediately begin slowing down from engine braking.
CAUTION: Do not shift from or position to or position at speeds over 63 mph (100 km/h); you may dam-
age the transmission.
5. Check for abnormal noise and clutch slippage in the following positions.
(1st Gear) Position
a. Accelerate from a stop at full throttle. Check that there is no abnormal noise or clutch slippage,
b. Upshifts should not occur with the shift lever in this position.
(2nd Gear) Position
a. Accelerate from a stop at full throttle. Check that there is no abnormal noise or clutch slippage,
b. Upshifts and downshifts should not occur with the shift lever in this position.
(Reverse) Position
Accelerate from a stop at full throttle, and check for abnormal noise and clutch slippage.
6. Test in (Parking) Position
Park the vehicle on slope (approx. 16°), apply the parking brake, and shift into position. Release the brake; the vehi-
cle should not move.ProCarManuals.com
Page 327 of 1771
Stall Speed
Test
CAUTION:
To prevent transmission damage, do not test stall speed for more than 10 seconds at a time.
Do not shift the lever while raising the engine speed.
Be sure to remove the pressure gauge before testing stall speed.
1. Engage the parking brake, and block the front wheels.
2. Connect a tachometer to the engine, and start the engine.
3. Make sure the A/C switch is OFF.
4. After the engine has warmed up to normal operating temperature (the radiator fan comes on), shift into [2] position.
5. Fully depress the brake pedal and accelerator for 6 to 8 seconds, and note engine speed.
6. Allow two minutes for cooling, then repeat the test in , , and positions.
NOTE:
• Stall speed tests should be used for diagnostic purposes only.
• Stall speed should be the same in , and positions.
Stall Speed RPM:
Specification: 2,000 rpm
Service Limit: 1,850 - 2,150 rpmProCarManuals.com
Page 328 of 1771

Fluid Level
Checking/Changing
Checking
NOTE: Check the fluid level with the engine at normal
operating temperature (the radiator fan comes on).
1. Park the vehicle on level ground. Turn off the
engine.
2. Remove the dipstick (yellow loop) from the trans-
mission, and wipe it with a clean cloth.
DIPSTICK (YELLOW LOOP)
DIPSTICK
GUIDE
3. Insert the dipstick into the transmission. Make sure
the notch in the rubber cap fits in the dipstick guide,
and push the dipstick in all the way.
4. Remove the dipstick and check the fluid level. It
should be between the upper and lower marks.
UPPER MARK
LOWER MARK
5. If the level is below the lower mark, pour the recom-
mended fluid* into the dipstick tube to bring it to
the upper mark.
6. Insert the dipstick back in the transmission. Make
sure the notch fits in the dipstick guide, and the dip-
stick is down all the way.
Changing
Bring the transmission up to normal operating tem-
perature (the radiator fan comes on) by driving the
vehicle. Park the vehicle on level ground, turn the
engine off, and remove drain plug.
NOTE: If a cooler flusher is to be used, see flushing
procedure in the '95 - '98 Acura 2.5TL Service
Manual, 61SW504.
SEALING WASHER
Replace.
DRAIN PLUG
18x1.5 mm
49 N-m (5.0 kgf-m, 36 Ibf-ft)
ATF PAN
2. Reinstall the drain plug with a new washer, then
refill the transmission with the recommended fluid*
to the upper mark on the dipstick.
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity:
'96 Model:
3.3 ( (3.5 US qt, 2.9 Imp. qt.) at change
8.7 £ (9.2 US qt., 7.7 Imp. qt.) after overhaul
'97 - '98 Models:
3.0 i (3.2 US qt., 2.6 Imp. qt.) at change
8.6 £ (9.1 US qt., 7.6 Imp. qt.) after overhaul
Recommended Automatic Transmission Fluid:
Genuine Honda Premium Formula Automatic
Transmission Fluid (ATF)*
* Always use Genuine Honda Premium Fomula
Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF). Using a non-
Honda ATF can affect shift qualify.ProCarManuals.com