Every Gear Acts Like Neutral

PeterOut wrote:
>> Bottom line: Everyone, especially yourself, needs to have more
>> information before you get beyond having a car that doesn't move.
>
> Thank you for your reply. We bought just over a month ago. It had
> 92839 miles when we bought it and we have since put about 500 miles on
> it, 275 since it was checked by a mechanic. When my wife drove it
> yesterday, it was slow getting into gear and then it revved up a bit
> when it was in gear. When my son drove it today, it gradually got
> progressively worse but somehow he managed to get home in it.
> However, when I tried it the gears did not appear to engage at all.
> The only gear that did not act like neutral was Park. The car was on
> a slight downward incline and rolled with every setting expect park.
> When I put it into park, it stopped rolling. My son and I can each
> bench-press 200 pounds but we were not able to push it up the slight
> incline when it was in Park with the brake off.

Linkage to the transaxle apparently AOK. Get it to a reputable (if you
can find one) transmission shop. Also check at a Honda dealer and see
what they will charge you.

I had a transmission go out on a Buick and the dealership was able to
replace it with a completely remanufactured GM Goodwrench transmission
for less $$ than having it rebuilt by one of the chains or independents.
The best part of it was that they warranty on the on the Goodwrench
tranny was longer than the warranty on the original driveline. (either
50K miles or 60K miles - go figure)

Who knows? Honda may offer something similar. Won't hurt to check.

And the warranty I asked about and you didn't respond to? That's kinda
what I thought.
 >> Stay informed about: Every Gear Acts Like Neutral 

On Sun, 27 Jan 2008 18:10:47 -0800 (PST), PeterOut
<MajorSetback.TakeThisOut@excite.com> wrote:

>On Jan 27, 9:01 pm, "Woody" <TheD....TakeThisOut@pond.net> wrote:
>> No mechanic can predict what is going to fail in the future. He can only
>> asses the condition when he sees it. Stop pissing that he didn't see the
>> failure was going to happen and take it to someone to diagnose the problem
>> and get it fixed. You aparently don have the ability to troubleshoot
>> yourself xo call a tow truck or maybe you can find a service shop that will
>> pick it up...
>>
>> "PeterOut" <MajorSetb....TakeThisOut@excite.com> wrote in message
>>
>> news:4766517e-eba5-458c-ae83-89dba25acba5@z17g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
>>
>> > On Jan 27, 8:08 pm, Jeff <kidsdoc2....TakeThisOut@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> >> PeterOut wrote:
>> >> > My wife recently purchased an automatic 2001 Honda Civic. We took it
>> >> > to a supposedly very reputable mechanic to check it out during the 30
>> >> > day trial period. They found nothing wrong. Now it has just stopped
>> >> > working. Whatever gear we put it into, it acts like it is neutral.
>> >> > Put our foot down on the accelerator and it whines but doesn't move.
>> >> > It seems like the engine is not engaging.
>>
>> >> > Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
>> >> > Peter.
>>
>> >> If it is still in the 30-day trial period, hire a tow truck and take it
>> >> back.
>>
>> >> Jeff
>>
>> > Unfortunately it is not. We thought we were covering our bases by
>> > taking it to a supposedly reputable mechanic during that period. They
>> > found no problems. Perhaps the next step should be a class action
>> > suit but I am not sure how successful that will be since it was far
>> > from being a new car.
>
>I was thinking of a suit against Honda, not the mechanic.


I hope you're kidding??? What will be your basis? You bought a
used car, right ? How does Honda know it was not abused before you
bought it? And I think even if you had a case (which I don't think
so), I think you will have to know what is wrong with it to begin with
inorder to sue Honda .... for example how will you know how much to
sue for without knowing what is wrong and the cost to fix it.
Good Luck what ever you do.
 >> Stay informed about: Every Gear Acts Like Neutral 

PeterOut wrote:
> On Jan 27, 5:23 pm, Bob <no....RemoveThis@nowhere.com> wrote:
>> Is the shift linkage really doing anything?
>
> I don't understand the question. Changing between R, N, D, D2, etc.
> does not make any difference.

Bob is suggesting that the shift lever is disconnected from the
transmission.

_Is_ every gear neutral? Perhaps you are still in Park. Can you push the car
by hand with the parking brake off?

--
Chuck
 >> Stay informed about: Every Gear Acts Like Neutral 

PeterOut wrote:
> My wife recently purchased an automatic 2001 Honda Civic. We took it
> to a supposedly very reputable mechanic to check it out during the 30
> day trial period. They found nothing wrong. Now it has just stopped
> working. Whatever gear we put it into, it acts like it is neutral.
> Put our foot down on the accelerator and it whines but doesn't move.
> It seems like the engine is not engaging.
>
> Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
> Peter.

If it is still in the 30-day trial period, hire a tow truck and take it
back.

Jeff
 >> Stay informed about: Every Gear Acts Like Neutral 

PeterOut wrote:
> On Jan 27, 7:47 pm, "Charles" <electrochuckREM... DeleteThis @XXXatt.net> wrote:
>> PeterOut wrote:
>>> On Jan 27, 5:23 pm, Bob <no... DeleteThis @nowhere.com> wrote:
>>>> Is the shift linkage really doing anything?
>>> I don't understand the question. Changing between R, N, D, D2, etc.
>>> does not make any difference.
>> Bob is suggesting that the shift lever is disconnected from the
>> transmission.
>>
>> _Is_ every gear neutral? Perhaps you are still in Park. Can you push the car
>> by hand with the parking brake off?
>>
>> --
>> Chuck
>
> I just tried the car out again. Park is not neutral. It acts as I
> would expect "park" to act. It is the only setting that does not act
> as neutral.
>
> Thanks,
> Peter.

How does the car act differently between park and the other gears?

The only difference between park and neutral is that there is a
mechanism that prevents the drive shafts from turning.

However, this does indicate that the shift lever is connected to the
transmission.

Jeff
 >> Stay informed about: Every Gear Acts Like Neutral 

PeterOut wrote:
> On Jan 27, 8:08 pm, Jeff <kidsdoc2....DeleteThis@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> PeterOut wrote:
>>> My wife recently purchased an automatic 2001 Honda Civic. We took it
>>> to a supposedly very reputable mechanic to check it out during the 30
>>> day trial period. They found nothing wrong. Now it has just stopped
>>> working. Whatever gear we put it into, it acts like it is neutral.
>>> Put our foot down on the accelerator and it whines but doesn't move.
>>> It seems like the engine is not engaging.
>>> Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
>>> Peter.
>> If it is still in the 30-day trial period, hire a tow truck and take it
>> back.
>>
>> Jeff
>
> Unfortunately it is not. We thought we were covering our bases by
> taking it to a supposedly reputable mechanic during that period. They
> found no problems. Perhaps the next step should be a class action
> suit but I am not sure how successful that will be since it was far
> from being a new car.

And you don't know what the problem is.
 >> Stay informed about: Every Gear Acts Like Neutral 

No mechanic can predict what is going to fail in the future. He can only
asses the condition when he sees it. Stop pissing that he didn't see the
failure was going to happen and take it to someone to diagnose the problem
and get it fixed. You aparently don have the ability to troubleshoot
yourself xo call a tow truck or maybe you can find a service shop that will
pick it up...


"PeterOut" <MajorSetback.RemoveThis@excite.com> wrote in message
news:4766517e-eba5-458c-ae83-89dba25acba5@z17g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
> On Jan 27, 8:08 pm, Jeff <kidsdoc2....RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> PeterOut wrote:
>> > My wife recently purchased an automatic 2001 Honda Civic. We took it
>> > to a supposedly very reputable mechanic to check it out during the 30
>> > day trial period. They found nothing wrong. Now it has just stopped
>> > working. Whatever gear we put it into, it acts like it is neutral.
>> > Put our foot down on the accelerator and it whines but doesn't move.
>> > It seems like the engine is not engaging.
>>
>> > Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
>> > Peter.
>>
>> If it is still in the 30-day trial period, hire a tow truck and take it
>> back.
>>
>> Jeff
>
> Unfortunately it is not. We thought we were covering our bases by
> taking it to a supposedly reputable mechanic during that period. They
> found no problems. Perhaps the next step should be a class action
> suit but I am not sure how successful that will be since it was far
> from being a new car.
 >> Stay informed about: Every Gear Acts Like Neutral 

PeterOut wrote:

>> If it is still in the 30-day trial period, hire a tow truck and take it
>> back.
>>
>> Jeff
>
> Unfortunately it is not. We thought we were covering our bases by
> taking it to a supposedly reputable mechanic during that period. They
> found no problems. Perhaps the next step should be a class action
> suit but I am not sure how successful that will be since it was far
> from being a new car.


Lotsa luck with a class action suit. You're reading too many newspapers
or comic books. Learn what is wrong with the car before you start
mapping a brilliant legal strategy. The first (and likely the LAST)
question you need to answer is "What warranty, if any, did you get with
the car?" If your answer is "Uh, well, the bill of sale says "No
Warranty, express or implied. Vehicle sold "As-Is"" you are, as they
say in the legal biz: SCREWED!

With no warranty, you have little recourse against the seller. He has
no duty to repair it and you'll find it very difficult to show that he
defrauded you when you already took the opportunity to check it out with
your own mechanic beforehand.

Hell, we don't even know HOW long it's been since you bought the car,
"recently" being a relative term. Nor do we know how many miles was on
the car and is on the car now.

You haven't bothered to let us know of any symptoms which may have been
observed before the fatal "everything is neutral."

I suspect, like others, that the linkage PROBABLY is connected but from
your poor description of the circumstance, it's possible that you don't
know what you're talking about when you say PARK works normally. Does
PARK just lock the ignition and steering wheel or does it actually
engage the parking pawl in the transmission? i.e., when it's in park,
can you push the car? When the car is rolling VERY slowly (you push,
wife works the shift) and you put it in PARK is there a grabbing and
quick stop of the car? If there isn't, it's not going into PARK and the
linkage is again suspect. Even if the interlock works in PARK, I
"think" there may be a possibility that the interlock could work WITHOUT
the linkage to the transmission still being connected and/or properly
adjusted.

Bottom line: Everyone, especially yourself, needs to have more
information before you get beyond having a car that doesn't move.
 >> Stay informed about: Every Gear Acts Like Neutral 

"Say What?" <NotMe DeleteThis @NotYou.com> wrote in message
news:sRanj.847$R84.767@newssvr25.news.prodigy.net...
| PeterOut wrote:
|
| >> If it is still in the 30-day trial period, hire a tow truck and take it
| >> back.
| >>
| >> Jeff
| >
| > Unfortunately it is not. We thought we were covering our bases by
| > taking it to a supposedly reputable mechanic during that period. They
| > found no problems. Perhaps the next step should be a class action
| > suit but I am not sure how successful that will be since it was far
| > from being a new car.
|
|
| Lotsa luck with a class action suit. You're reading too many newspapers
| or comic books. Learn what is wrong with the car before you start
| mapping a brilliant legal strategy. The first (and likely the LAST)
| question you need to answer is "What warranty, if any, did you get with
| the car?" If your answer is "Uh, well, the bill of sale says "No
| Warranty, express or implied. Vehicle sold "As-Is"" you are, as they
| say in the legal biz: SCREWED!

This is sounding like a linkage problem but obviously we cannot accurately
diagnosis the problem via cyberspace... and predicting future failure is not
much different from reading tea leaves without tearing everything apart. I
also don't know how a class could be certified in this case but there still
may be legal recourse depending upon where the OP lives. This as some states
have their own laws regarding used automobiles ("Lemon Laws"). NY has a used
car warranty law that goes up to 90 days and 4,000 miles contingent upon
selling price and odometer reading. For the OP it might be worth exploring
this issue with State Attorney General's office if the dealer's position is
contrary to state law.

For example http://www.oag.state.ny.us/consumer/cars/usedqa.html

John
 >> Stay informed about: Every Gear Acts Like Neutral 

Woody wrote:
> No mechanic can predict what is going to fail in the future. He can only
> asses the condition when he sees it. Stop pissing that he didn't see the
> failure was going to happen and take it to someone to diagnose the problem
> and get it fixed. You aparently don have the ability to troubleshoot
> yourself xo call a tow truck or maybe you can find a service shop that will
> pick it up...

However, I recommend that you don't go to a chain like AAMCO. AAMCO and
other chain shops have a reputation of fixing every problem with a
transmission rebuild. And, before you take it to a particular shop,
check them out at the Better Business Bureau to see if they are a better
business or not.

Jeff

>
> "PeterOut" <MajorSetback.RemoveThis@excite.com> wrote in message
> news:4766517e-eba5-458c-ae83-89dba25acba5@z17g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
>> On Jan 27, 8:08 pm, Jeff <kidsdoc2....RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>> PeterOut wrote:
>>>> My wife recently purchased an automatic 2001 Honda Civic. We took it
>>>> to a supposedly very reputable mechanic to check it out during the 30
>>>> day trial period. They found nothing wrong. Now it has just stopped
>>>> working. Whatever gear we put it into, it acts like it is neutral.
>>>> Put our foot down on the accelerator and it whines but doesn't move.
>>>> It seems like the engine is not engaging.
>>>> Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
>>>> Peter.
>>> If it is still in the 30-day trial period, hire a tow truck and take it
>>> back.
>>>
>>> Jeff
>> Unfortunately it is not. We thought we were covering our bases by
>> taking it to a supposedly reputable mechanic during that period. They
>> found no problems. Perhaps the next step should be a class action
>> suit but I am not sure how successful that will be since it was far
>> from being a new car.
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: Every Gear Acts Like Neutral 

PeterOut wrote:

> Thank you for your reply. We bought just over a month ago. It had
> 92839 miles when we bought it and we have since put about 500 miles on
> it, 275 since it was checked by a mechanic. When my wife drove it
> yesterday, it was slow getting into gear and then it revved up a bit
> when it was in gear. When my son drove it today, it gradually got
> progressively worse but somehow he managed to get home in it.
> However, when I tried it the gears did not appear to engage at all.
> The only gear that did not act like neutral was Park. The car was on
> a slight downward incline and rolled with every setting expect park.
> When I put it into park, it stopped rolling. My son and I can each
> bench-press 200 pounds but we were not able to push it up the slight
> incline when it was in Park with the brake off.

Hate to be the one to inject a bit of reason in all this but this
sounds quite familiar to what happened when the transmission hydraulic
pump went in a friend's '93 Protege. New pump was about $100...
replacement was done by a mechanic buddy in his back yard for a case of
beer, and it was good to go.

Obviously, there's no way to know for sure what's wrong with your car,
but it may be something simple (and relatively inexpensive) like this.
Before getting too worked up about things, have a COMPETENT transmission
shop take a look at it.

As others have noted, there likely is nobody to blame for this - it's
the kind of thing that can "just happen" on a car of that age,
especially if the previous owner didn't maintain it well. There's just
no way to tell.
 >> Stay informed about: Every Gear Acts Like Neutral 

On Sun, 27 Jan 2008 18:10:47 -0800 (PST), PeterOut
<MajorSetback.RemoveThis@excite.com> wrote:

>On Jan 27, 9:01 pm, "Woody" <TheD....RemoveThis@pond.net> wrote:
>> No mechanic can predict what is going to fail in the future. He can only
>> asses the condition when he sees it. Stop pissing that he didn't see the
>> failure was going to happen and take it to someone to diagnose the problem
>> and get it fixed. You aparently don have the ability to troubleshoot
>> yourself xo call a tow truck or maybe you can find a service shop that will
>> pick it up...
>>
>> "PeterOut" <MajorSetb....RemoveThis@excite.com> wrote in message
>>
>> news:4766517e-eba5-458c-ae83-89dba25acba5@z17g2000hsg.googlegroups.com...
>>
>> > On Jan 27, 8:08 pm, Jeff <kidsdoc2....RemoveThis@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> >> PeterOut wrote:
>> >> > My wife recently purchased an automatic 2001 Honda Civic. We took it
>> >> > to a supposedly very reputable mechanic to check it out during the 30
>> >> > day trial period. They found nothing wrong. Now it has just stopped
>> >> > working. Whatever gear we put it into, it acts like it is neutral.
>> >> > Put our foot down on the accelerator and it whines but doesn't move.
>> >> > It seems like the engine is not engaging.
>>
>> >> > Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.
>> >> > Peter.
>>
>> >> If it is still in the 30-day trial period, hire a tow truck and take it
>> >> back.
>>
>> >> Jeff
>>
>> > Unfortunately it is not. We thought we were covering our bases by
>> > taking it to a supposedly reputable mechanic during that period. They
>> > found no problems. Perhaps the next step should be a class action
>> > suit but I am not sure how successful that will be since it was far
>> > from being a new car.
>
>I was thinking of a suit against Honda, not the mechanic.

Good luck. It was out of warranty a long, long time ago. BTW, can
you prove the car received all the scheduled maintenance. Can you
swear it was never abused?

If the fluid is *real* clean, it may be because it was just changed
before you bought it. If so: A. Maybe they were trying to cover up a
problem or B. Maybe they put in non-Honda fluid which doesn't work so
good. (Of course, you don't even know who "they" are.)

Regardless, it is time to talk to whoever sold it to you. If they are
reputable and concerned about their reputation they might help out on
the transmission repair. (Probably not if you run in screaming about
lawsuits.)
 >> Stay informed about: Every Gear Acts Like Neutral 

On Sun, 27 Jan 2008 15:35:32 -0800 (PST), PeterOut
<MajorSetback RemoveThis @excite.com> wrote:

>I guess it's too bad we didn't see this before we bought it
>http://www.carcomplaints.com/Honda/Civic/2001/transmission/transmission_failure.shtml

Not sure exactly what is the common failure this might refer to.

But, Honda has had problems with their autos for many years, replaced
many on six-cylinder cars in and out of warranty. My old Acura tranny
never really worked right, and I suspect that was very common, but
since the car still moved, most people (like me) just lived with it.

Wouldn't surprise me a bit if there is a much lower statistical
failure of the same tranny technology on lower horsepower cars, and
it's probably still very rare into the 100k mile range, but it might
be just what you've got. The next question would be whether the
seller knew about it ... but who can say?

J.
 >> Stay informed about: Every Gear Acts Like Neutral