1986 Accord EF JDM A18A

[Teratani]

Hi everyone!

Maybe somebody remember my topic a few months ago about my 86 Accord JDM with automatic transmission problems.
So now I took my car away to a high skilled honda mechanic to fix properly auto tranny issue(I live in Italy, in this country is very very difficult find a good mechanic for old Honda car, this guy is very good).

The problem now is that car is Japanese only and we need a repair manual for the car in order to find the exact Transmission Type equipped in my car. The easy part is refer to US Accord repair manual, I already got that stuff but that cars are equipped with A20A and my is a A18A.

Shortly, in order to find which tranny has my car what should I do? This is situation for Accord:

A20A FI ---->F4 auto transmission
A20A Carb.-----> ?
A16A Carb. ----> C9 auto transmission

I discovered that the Prelude 2nd (1987) was equipped with A18A as well and it has a AS auto transmission......but this car has a dual carburator(my is single carb), so maybe other components could be not the same....so I don't know if it's reliable.


Maybe someone know what type of auto tranny has tha Accord JDM A18A, or in any case which of the tranny F4,C9,AS should I looking for?


In any case a repair manual for my Accord JDM would only in japanese language, is that so?


The very problem is that torque converter OEM Honda code is not the same for AS,F4,C9....so we think these transmissions for something are not the same....but the repair manual for C9-F4-AS are the same thus, in the transaxle section, is not specificated which are the differences beetwen these tranny.

So for example Accord can be A16A or A20A and is specified at very begin that the 2 engine has a different tranny code, but inside transaxle section is not speficated, the repair/data sheet are the same.

[carotman]

If you have an A18A, just get an 89 Accord transmission. They are a bit more robust. It will fit the engine.

Even if the components are different, you're replacing the whole assembly, it will fit without problem.

[Teratani]

I can't change entire tranny(I don't know where can I get one, I live in Italy, it's impossible find another 86-89 Accord automatic) so I have to replace only the torque converter(this piece was bad).

The torque converter that I've bought(form US) come from a F4 tranny.
It's fit but the car doesn't move in any gear only N ancd P works). So this new guy mechanic now it's working on, but it's necessary repair manual so the exact type of my tranny.

[carotman]

Oh, I didn't know you were from Italy.

In "theory". All torque converters should work if both transmissions have the same input shaft diameter. Maybe the problem lies in an oil pressure drop and not in the torque converter.

[2oodoor]

I remember this one.
Yes if the TC fit properly on the transmission shaft (s) and inside the bell housing, it should make the car move. It sounds like a pressure issue to me. Sometimes the TC has to be filled up with fluid before you install them too. Did the mechanic count/measure exactly how much fluid he put in it?

There must be an ID on the tranny somewhere or maybe you can find a production series ID on the car somewhere, maybe even throught the VIN.

[Teratani]

Oh, hi man! I remember u too!

The only thing 100% reliable is that this torque converter was completely out of fluid due to shipping, so I don't know if former bad(very bad) guy mechanic has filled with new one...

[Hauntd ca3]

if the pump in the trans is working the converter will be filled with fluid.
the mechanic should have put a pint or so in it to start with before bolting it to the flex plate.
with the engine running,pull off the lines to the converter one at a time and see if fluid is coming out of one at a decent rate.
you wont get much out of one as its the return to the trans
if you dont get fluid out of either, the trans has a dead pump or is out of fluid.
if you have good flow i'd poss suspect the shift valve body.
where in italy are you?

[Dr_Snooz]

Can't you just take your old T/C to a rebuild place?

[Teratani]

I live at Rome.

My plan is to take old TC to rebuild place...only ring gear was bad, in any case I'm waiting for my new mechanic. He say he wanna do all possible test before disassembly tranny.

So for reference repair is good A20A tranny?

[Hauntd ca3]

from my own experiance the old honda trannies are a bit weak and not tolerant of slack servicing.
prob cheaper to convert to a manual than rebuild the auto to tell the truth

am trying to get to italy myself to track down my family
my nonna and nonno are from brescia
and i want to go to monza, ferrari and ducati factories
and of course roma and the other tourist type places

[Teratani]

from my own experiance the old honda trannies are a bit weak and not tolerant of slack servicing.
prob cheaper to convert to a manual than rebuild the auto to tell the truth

am trying to get to italy myself to track down my family
my nonna and nonno are from brescia
and i want to go to monza, ferrari and ducati factories
and of course roma and the other tourist type places

I see
I live in Italy but I don't like this place...people are very strange!

[Hauntd ca3]

yeah i know
they are all ferrari/football mad if thats a bad thing
better to be a bit strange than like everyone else i say
and they all drive like mad men/woman
great food/wine/cars/architecture and woman tho

[Dr_Snooz]

from my own experiance the old honda trannies are a bit weak and not tolerant of slack servicing.
prob cheaper to convert to a manual than rebuild the auto to tell the truth

Ditto that. When I re-built my '82 tranny, there wasn't a valve or a bearing surface or a single part that wasn't scored/worn where the manual said to look for scoring/wearing. I went to the tranny shops and dug around in their bins for parts and it was the same story. Went to the junkyard and bought another tranny and it was the same. The upshot is that all those worn out parts went back together no problem and ran great until I sold the car 50k miles later. That car kicked butt. I still miss it and am going to buy another some day.

[Teratani]

Ok I still waiting for some news form the new mechanic guy

Anyway my tranny worked great until ring gear on TC was bad... thus car won't start anymore cause starter motor can't engage engine trough ring gear bad. So I'm sure tranny part should be ok, otherwise tranny breakdown byself due I stopped the car for 2 years

[Teratani]

Guys, problem SOLVED!!

It was....Torque Converter. The torque converter from A20A EU/US Accordis not good on A18A JDM Accord. They seems identical but not, they have some little differences and doesn't works.

So mechanic took my old TC and welding ring gear, then install it and now car run fine!

For this works they've need the original workshop manual that is only japanese language (LOL) cause tranny was a little different from Accord US/EU version...there's a valve there isn't in US/EU version.
Also Prelude with A18A is different from this Accord.


I'm very happy cause this car is like a girlfriend, it remember me something special.

Thanks everyone for support!!

[Dr_Snooz]

I'm very happy cause this car is like a girlfriend

You should get out more.

I hope your mechanic also changed your starter. If the starter gear is buggered, it will chew up that nice new ring gear real quick.

[Teratani]

The ring gear starter also was changed (form a civic starter). Anyway the problem that gone TC ring gear bad was the cold starting...It takes several cranks before start. I notice the air throttle is ever open.
Now mechanic must solve this issue.