Transmission problems with the Honda Civic is a widespread problem in models made from the early 2000s. The 2001 Honda Civic appears to be the worst year for transmission problems. An occasional problem on this vehicle is failure of the second gear clutch in the Automatic Transmission. This will cause the Automatic Transmission to slip, and the Check Engine Light to illuminate. Many of the transmission failure complaints are caused by the torque converter failing – the engine will rev up but the car won’t shift into gear or move. The transmission problems will occure when the torque converter fails and essentially burns up the transmission fluid, rendering the entire transmission useless. More than half the reported problems are happening under 90k miles, with 1 in 5 breaking down before the odometer hits 70k. (Source article)
More Common Transmission Symptoms / Complaints for the 2001 Honda Civic Transmission:
* Transmission Slipping
* Transmission won’t engage
* Shutters on initial movement
* Pops out of gear
* Jerks when accelerating
* Torque converter problem codes
* Check engine light is on
* Car will not move
What is a Torque Converter?
When you come to a stop in your vehicle, drivers with manual transmissions use a clutch to disconnect the engine from the transmission so your engine can continue to spin while your wheels do not. Drivers with automatic transmissions don’t have a clutch and instead rely upon the torque converter to perform the same task.
According to HowStuffWorks:
A torque converter is a type of fluid coupling, which allows the engine to spin somewhat independently of the transmission. If the engine is turning slowly, such as when the car is idling at a stoplight, the amount of torque passed through the torque converter is very small, so keeping the car still requires only a light pressure on the brake pedal.
Essentially, when the torque converter fails your car isn’t going anywhere.
If you suspect you have a torque converter or transmission problem, please call us at 704-821-3460. Transmission problems may start off small, but worsen over time — the worst being when your car simply will not move at all.
