Tranny shutter/Judder and recall updates!

[jared52]

Well boyz, i have great news, i finally replaced the trany fluid using the Ody Site recommended Amsoil synthetic oil, with 212,000 miles on our 05, the trany has NEVER EVER shifted better than it does NOW....even better than brand new, even with me complaining to Honda dozens of times, since the second week of ownership, has our van ever run this smooth.
The stupid ugly shudder/judder is finally gone. And i still have the original trany, engine mounts, torque converter, etc...but i did install a trany cooler during the second yr of ownership, running cooler must really help...i joined Amsoil as a preferred customer, getting a good break on the price, finally, should have done this yrs ago...thanks for the free advice...very happy

How long did you drive yours with the shudder going on?

[4x4rock]

Brought the van in for an alignment and mentioned about the shudder and the tech pulled up the recall/firmware flash. They flashed it and it seemed good now.

Before the flash, between 35-40mph, the RPM is around 1200-1400 and now it's between 1600-1700. Also when cruising at 70mm, it used to be right on 2000rpm, now it's around 2200-2300. The ECO light doesn't get kick in very often any more.

It's the 05 EXL with 74789 miles on it.

One thing he mentioned is the 8 years 105k miles is not the warranty for the torque converter but only for the firmware flash. I thought the extended warranty is for the converter as well.

[2012 Sky]

Brought the van in for an alignment and mentioned about the shudder and the tech pulled up the recall/firmware flash. They flashed it and it seemed good now.

Before the flash, between 35-40mph, the RPM is around 1200-1400 and now it's between 1600-1700. Also when cruising at 70mm, it used to be right on 2000rpm, now it's around 2200-2300. The ECO light doesn't get kick in very often any more.

It's the 05 EXL with 74789 miles on it.

One thing he mentioned is the 8 years 105k miles is not the warranty for the torque converter but only for the firmware flash. I thought the extended warranty is for the converter as well.

I notice the same thing after the flash plus it guzzles mire gas too! Sucks!!


Sent from my iPhone using AutoGuide.com Free App

[achung73]

Well, just ordered the amsoil ATF to do a drain and fill on my 150k '05 ody...stuttering is very minimal, but like to keep it that way. After reading tons of post, the software update is not the answer, but does help some. I know drain and fill with fresh ATF will help. The transmission didn't have any stuttering when it was new or upto 130k or so, I don't think software flash will help with my situation.

$100 for 2.5gal delivered to my door, so not so bad in terms of pricing for the oil. Should provide right amount for 3 drain and fill activity. Will do with along with engine oil change.

[Dirkdaddy]

Hello, wow there sure are a LOT of posts on this topic. Sorry but I don't have 6 hours to read all them. Sorry in advance for being redundant.

I thought I was doing well but had a couple of judders like running over a rumble strip, and we have a long cross country trip coming up. I have 06 EXL with 97k on it, the dealer says I can get the software update under warranty. I have done periodic (about every other oil change) drain and fill with new DW1. Fluid looked great last time I drained and filled. Replaced motor mounts under warranty at 58k. I live where its flat and don't tow so I have not yet installed an additional cooler but bought one, just been busy 8-) Trip will be during winter BTW.

I understand another drain and fill may solve the problem, but I also understand the new FLASH will get worse fuel economy, something we like to maximize. Crap. I dont want to rely on the drain and fill and get transmission issues in my trip, but also wonder if I really need the flash. Oh well, I guess I will have to do it. The service writer said he had never heard of a TC needing replacing and this is at Russell & Smith Honda Houston, a fairly large and well respected rated dealer. Dunno how long he worked there.

Any advice?

[achung73]

Hello, wow there sure are a LOT of posts on this topic. Sorry but I don't have 6 hours to read all them. Sorry in advance for being redundant.

I thought I was doing well but had a couple of judders like running over a rumble strip, and we have a long cross country trip coming up. I have 06 EXL with 97k on it, the dealer says I can get the software update under warranty. I have done periodic (about every other oil change) drain and fill with new DW1. Fluid looked great last time I drained and filled. Replaced motor mounts under warranty at 58k. I live where its flat and don't tow so I have not yet installed an additional cooler but bought one, just been busy 8-) Trip will be during winter BTW.

I understand another drain and fill may solve the problem, but I also understand the new FLASH will get worse fuel economy, something we like to maximize. Crap. I dont want to rely on the drain and fill and get transmission issues in my trip, but also wonder if I really need the flash. Oh well, I guess I will have to do it. The service writer said he had never heard of a TC needing replacing and this is at Russell & Smith Honda Houston, a fairly large and well respected rated dealer. Dunno how long he worked there.

Any advice?

You can try the Amsoil trans oil. yeah, it is expensive, but after 2 drain and fill, the shutter is gone. That was the only item that changed from the whole thing, so like so many others out there, Amsoil may be the answer to your problem.

From software standpoint...if your car didn't have any issues for close to 100k, what would the software fix? Maybe nothing, but worse, it may make it worse. If you are thinking about software update, I would do it after your trip. You probably don't want any issues during your trip.

[Dirkdaddy]

I asked the same question of the tech, why if it worked great for nearly 100k would the software suddenly need update to run smoothly? He said at 100k my extended (by honda) warranty on the expires to bring it in soon. I don't doubt your experience with Amsoil, but DW1 is also supposed to be good fluid and designed for Honda, they can't argue with the type of fluid if something happens. In reality however any support from Honda here forward is probably pretty minimal, so it probably doesn't matter. Since we have had the issue probably less than 5 times maybe I am getting too worked up? But the flash is free now, after my trip will be over 100k. Hmm...

[maxud]

I asked the same question of the tech, why if it worked great for nearly 100k would the software suddenly need update to run smoothly? He said at 100k my extended (by honda) warranty on the expires to bring it in soon. I don't doubt your experience with Amsoil, but DW1 is also supposed to be good fluid and designed for Honda, they can't argue with the type of fluid if something happens. In reality however any support from Honda here forward is probably pretty minimal, so it probably doesn't matter. Since we have had the issue probably less than 5 times maybe I am getting too worked up? But the flash is free now, after my trip will be over 100k. Hmm...

I can't give you any more advice on the tranny.
However, I can chime in regards to tranny flash, I was able to bring my car way past 100k to do the free flash. It sort of falls under recall, which they don't charge you for, regardless of the mileage.
The other thing I want to mention is about Honda extended warranty. Couple of years ago, there was a lawsuit against Honda in regards to their vehicles odometers not recording proper mileage. Part of the settlement was adjustment to extended warranty mileage statement. I forgot how many miles got added to the mileage portion, but it was like 5k extra miles. It applied to my 2005, not sure if 2006 was part of it.

[Dirkdaddy]

Brought the van in for an alignment and mentioned about the shudder and the tech pulled up the recall/firmware flash. They flashed it (snip) Also when cruising at 70mm, it used to be right on 2000rpm, now it's around 2200-2300. The ECO light doesn't get kick in very often any more.

It's the 05 EXL with 74789 miles on it.

One thing he mentioned is the 8 years 105k miles is not the warranty for the torque converter but only for the firmware flash. I thought the extended warranty is for the converter as well.

Just curious if you were certain about the RPM change, as the flash cannot change overall gearing at all. I think perhaps you were mistaken? It can totally change lockup of the torque converter, but hopefully at over 50mph its locked up all the time more or less. I don't get on the hwy a ton between long trips, so I am going off memory but as I recall, my 06 EXL that has not been flashed at about 70 mph is 2200 or so RPM, so I think that is the same.

I also was told the extended warranty was for the flash to 105k / 8 yrs, not the torque converter, but I got a letter 6 months ago which I will have to dig up I thought it said TC, but it may have been semantics.

I am leaning towards just driving the van on our cross country trip as-is, for better MPG and it runs great 99.9% of the time. Also highway driving is very little shifting, just get to cruising speed and hold it for hours on end.

I am going to possibly consider trading it in however, as a major $$ for transmission work is a factor - as well as exceptional resale value - we got a letter from a dealer offering us just a couple thousand less than our used purchase price for our 06 EXL sight unseen! Granted I am skeptical of this sort of thing as they make money on the new car somewhere, but just shows despite some issues these vehicles do have great resale. And it was from a Honda dealer and I'm not paying $$ for a new one with my wife laid off last year (she's interviewing) and my job not totally secure either, plus I usually buy used and skip the depreciation.

A have read a lot from users about how they really like amsol products, but the DW1 is full synthetic and hard to imagine the fluid composition would change the operation of the transmission markedly, however I am not doubting individual experiences, just wondering from nut and bolt perspective what would be different. Perhaps I need to add a aftermarket tranny filter like the Gen 2 guys swear by.

I'm also going to check if I have enough DW1 for a drain/fill before the trip.