Buy this car or not-

[rk1407]

I am looking for the collective wisdom of my fellow Bitogers.

I ran across a 1995 Honda Accord DX with 123k miles, the body is in descent shape for $1,500. I talked to the owner and he says it has a bad trans. As I questioned him on this further, the story is he drives it about 40 miles each way to work everyday and it shifts fine going forward. It only has a problem in reverse, sometimes it takes a few times to actually "catch" and go into gear. He took it to a mechanic who said the trans is bad (of course he wants to make money)

I have read some different threads on Bitog and other places where bad Transmission and/or motor mounts can cause the transmission to have this problem in reverse.

I don’t know the maintenance history of the vehicle. The current owner bought it from a friend only about 3 months ago and now he wants to dump it because he doesn’t want to drop a grand on a new trans.

This car averages about $2,500-3,000 in this condition and mileage. I think if I can get it for $1,000 put in new mounts and have a decent car for the price or turn around and sell it for some profit all the while having fun fixing it, etc it might be worth it.

I know there are risks but how calculated would you say they are?

Let me know what you think, thanks in advance!

 

[SLCraig]

I would not be scared of it.
If it were me, worst case I'd get a JY trans and fix the car, selling it for profit.
That is what happened with me, with my last 2 cars.

 

[cmf]

I don't have any experience with that specific car but I've never heard not shifting into reverse being a motor mount problem. Car's that jerk going into reverse are often motor mounts, but not catching sounds entirely transmission related. I would guess that it is a bad shift solenoid. I again have no experience with that car but shift solenoids generally aren't that difficult to replace, or that expensive.

 

[eljefino]

Wait a minute is this a stick or auto? I could see, I guess, a motor mount messing with a rod style shifter, if they even still made those.

If it's an automatic, you could easily have a sludged valve body. A fluid/filter change and some quality time left idling in reverse might help things.

I would buy it regardless. You can always sell a Honda.

 

[Chris Meutsch]

I agree, sounds like a gummed up solenoid issue.

 

[oilmaven]

I have a '96 Accord EX V6. The car just turned 93,000 miles and I was marveling today how well it runs...and the a/c (never been touched) is colder than my '08 Impala (which is another story). I wouldn't be surprised if it at least doubles the current mileage with reasonable driving and good maintenance. I think the fifth generation (94-97) Accords were some of Honda's best.

 

[needsducktape]

If it doesn't look like the odometer was rolled back, go for it.

My sister sold her 1993 accord for $1800 with 185K on the original clutch.

I think people truly over pay for Honda cars. At the same time early/mid 90s Hondas seem to be the best cars ever made.

 

[JimPghPA]

One of my brothers bought a van that would not go in reverse, for $400 dollars. Never fixed it. Drove it for 2 and 1/2 years before it died. He would load that thing up with his kids sporting equiptment, and any thing else. He thought it a chalange to always park it so he could pull out. Said sometimes he would drive it up a curb some so it would roll back. When it died, he said $400 for a van for 2 and 1/2 years is not bad.

Is the honda too big to push backward with one leg if you get in a bad spot?

 

[rk1407]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Wait a minute is this a stick or auto? I could see, I guess, a motor mount messing with a rod style shifter, if they even still made those.

If it's an automatic, you could easily have a sludged valve body. A fluid/filter change and some quality time left idling in reverse might help things.

I would buy it regardless. You can always sell a Honda.



Its an auto

 

[FL_Rob]

The valve body could be gummed up.

It dosen't take much for those checkballs to get jammed and being it shifts fine in forward you know the clutches are prolly OK ,aside from this...
1) reverse solenoid / servo
2) valve body (which may only be a bad internal gasket or broken spring.
3) Faulty PCM? CEL?



For 1.5k I'd be tempted.

 

[rk1407]

Originally Posted By: FL_Rob
The valve body could be gummed up.

It dosen't take much for those checkballs to get jammed and being it shifts fine in forward you know the clutches are prolly OK ,aside from this...
1) reverse solenoid / servo
2) valve body (which may only be a bad internal gasket or broken spring.
3) Faulty PCM? CEL?



For 1.5k I'd be tempted.


He's asking 1,500 so I am going to offer about $1,000. If I have to put a new or rebuilt trans in it would only be another $1,000 at most right?

How much do any of those repairs cost you mentioned??

 

[rk1407]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Wait a minute is this a stick or auto? I could see, I guess, a motor mount messing with a rod style shifter, if they even still made those.

If it's an automatic, you could easily have a sludged valve body. A fluid/filter change and some quality time left idling in reverse might help things.

I would buy it regardless. You can always sell a Honda.



Thats exactly what I was thinking (change filter and flush the fluid via cooler line). What would idling in reverse do for it? I have never heard of that. Clean things out somehow?

 

[MrCritical]

I doubt you can get a new or rebuilt Honda auto for $2000 installed.

It's a [censored]. Someone who hasn't serviced the tranny probably hasn't changed the timing belt either. Who knows what else.

 

[eljefino]

Originally Posted By: rk1407
Originally Posted By: eljefino
Wait a minute is this a stick or auto? I could see, I guess, a motor mount messing with a rod style shifter, if they even still made those.

If it's an automatic, you could easily have a sludged valve body. A fluid/filter change and some quality time left idling in reverse might help things.

I would buy it regardless. You can always sell a Honda.



Thats exactly what I was thinking (change filter and flush the fluid via cooler line). What would idling in reverse do for it? I have never heard of that. Clean things out somehow?


If you have sludge in the passages in the valve body more flow might help flush it out.

I don't know how it would react with honda fluid but I used this "bars leaks" goo from walmart, thick red syrup, on a tired cutlass ciera transmission. It, a filter/fluid change, and vacuum modulator brought it back from the dead. If you have internally leaking o rings on some actuator this could help.

Typical procedure is to set the e-brake and run it in reverse until the cooling fan cycles a couple times.

A timing belt should be easy enough for you if you're contemplating changing transmissions.

Save the receipts and old belt; they'll be a bonus when you flip it. You'll find someone buying something reliable for their 16 year old daughter who gets straight As.

When asked why you're selling it, say you like it well enough but you want one like it with a stick shift.

 

[lairdwd]

$1500 for a car that old with a "bad" transmission? Overpaying. Max $1000

 

[CharBaby]

rk1407, I'd first check to see how much money you can get a rebuilt tranny for, installed, prior to buying the Accord. At least you'll know up front what the total cost of the car will be. And although these Accords could have been a great long running car when properly maintained, they could also be a money pit if you don't know what you are buying. Timing belt and tentioner and cam/crank oil seals, water pump and anything else that was neglected or not replaced yet. Don't get the car just cause it's an Accord!

We here at Bob's, can't see the Accord that your looking to buy and I have seen lot's of Honda's for a $1K that I wouldn't touch with a 10' pole. And although Honda's have been the best cars to date that I have ever owned from a reliability stand point, there is alot of junk Honda's out there for a grand.

I have had may of these Accords over the year and they're great cars but, I owned them from new and sold them in well maintained condition, even with many miles on'em.

 

[MarkM66]

Originally Posted By: MrCritical
I doubt you can get a new or rebuilt Honda auto for $2000 installed.

It's a [censored]. Someone who hasn't serviced the tranny probably hasn't changed the timing belt either. Who knows what else.


I agree. $2k plus for a remove, rebuild and re install.

At least that's what they cost around my area, at a reputable shop.

 

[01rangerxl]

For me it would all come down to the condition of the rest of the car.

If the rest of the car is in awesome shape, take it home for $1000. If it's in rough shape, and especially if it is rusty, I would run from it. Rust will cause far more headaches in the long run than a transmission will.

Since it isn't slipping, this probably isn't an "eminent failure" transmission problem. It may very well be repairable without a rebuild. Worst case scenario, it does need a rebuild, but even then you might be able to get some good use out of it. The auto trans in my friend's '98 Civic has been slipping for at least two years now and he still drives it daily. Slipping is of much greater concern than troublesome reverse IMO.

If the car is in really great shape overall (doubtful), it may be worth getting a rebuilt trans. If it's a regular 16 year old beater, I'd just go for a used one that's known to be working.

 

[daves87rs]

Originally Posted By: 01rangerxl
For me it would all come down to the condition of the rest of the car.

If the rest of the car is in awesome shape, take it home for $1000. If it's in rough shape, and especially if it is rusty, I would run from it. Rust will cause far more headaches in the long run than a transmission will.

Since it isn't slipping, this probably isn't an "eminent failure" transmission problem. It may very well be repairable without a rebuild. Worst case scenario, it does need a rebuild, but even then you might be able to get some good use out of it. The auto trans in my friend's '98 Civic has been slipping for at least two years now and he still drives it daily. Slipping is of much greater concern than troublesome reverse IMO.

If the car is in really great shape overall (doubtful), it may be worth getting a rebuilt trans. If it's a regular 16 year old beater, I'd just go for a used one that's known to be working.



This.