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Honda Accord 2003 V6 transmission failing - where to buy a second hand replacement?


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Posted

I got caught out earlier in the year and purchased a mint condition 2003 Honda Accord V6 3.0l with just 89,000k on the clock.

 

Little did I know that the transmissions on these cars had a problem and most need replacing at some point - mine has just failed on me.

 

As the car is in otherwise great condition and low mileage, I will fix try to fix it rather than scrap it.

 

So, I need to find either a 2006 replacement transmission or a transmission specialist somewhere in Thailand that has a good rep and will give me a reasonable length warranty on their work.

 

Any and all suggestions for where to find either the replacement engine or the suitable mechanic would be very welcome.

 

I am in Pattaya and know a guy that can do the swap out, but no way would I trust him to do the rebuild. I can send the car on truck anywhere else in Thailand, for the right person to fix it.

 

Many thanks in advance.

Posted

Your Honda sounds like a nice car and with a V6, even better. Most of the manufacturers are fazing out the V6 engines, too bad. There are many Honda Thai forums online that discuss your problem and where to go for repair and replacement. They of course are in Thai. If you know a Thai and that you can trust, I would suggest doing some research on these forums. Bangkok has the most qualified mechanics and I have found that Bangkok is cheaper than Pattaya.

 

I have a larger sedan with a V6 engine but not a Toyota. It was suggested to me when I bought this vehicle in Thailand to install a radiator type transmission oil cooler with a fan as Thailand is a very hot climate. So I did and monitor my transmission oil temperature via a gauge inside the vehicle. Good luck.

 

https://www.hybridautocar.com/oil-cooler/ระบบ-hybrid-oil-cooller.html

 

https://m.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2183593198371979&s=15

 

 

Posted

I am sure you have already done this but you need to ensure with whoever you end up dealing with, that they are 100% sure of the gearbox model fitted to your car. Check the VIN number to get the build date, not the date the car was registered. Sixth generation V6 Accords last build date is Oct 2002 worldwide. Then it is a seventh generation. Six gen V6 have a four speed auto B7XA. Seven gen V6 have a five speed either BAYA or MAYA or some have a H5. These of course are Japan and Europe fitments no saying which boxes were supplied for the Thai market. It could be a case that Honda had a bunch of 6 gen right hand drive cars and decided to sell them in Thailand long after the 2002 cut off date. As the problems are with the B7XA box it sounds to me you have a 6 gen car even though it is a 2003.

To confuse you further the 6 gen large engine Accords are built on an Acura platform. The small engine models are built on a stretched Civic platform.

Posted

Assuming this is a Thai built Gen 7 Accord then it will have the North American V6 and a version of the earlier (first gen) H5 three-shaft autobox.

Frankly I think you are a difficult position. These boxes have multiple weaknesses, including the 3rd clutch drum and the TC lock up clutch.  Finding a servicable used box will be almost impossible and an effective repair will require a lot of Honda-supplied hard parts and a new TC.  In the UK the parts would cost £3k+.... 

The three shaft H5 box was only in production for two or three years before it was replaced by the more reliable four shaft H5.

The transmission programming is also stupid in that in D up to 36mph the TCM duty-cycle modulates the TCLC to improve fuel efficiency - this prematurely wears the clutch. Setting the box in 'D3' up to 36mph will avoid this. Also these boxes have a small fluid capacity (about half what is typical for a box with this torque rating) and no fluid cooler. 

I have worked on a number of these three and four shaft Hondamatics and I'm not a fan. I appreciate they were trying to avoid BorgWarner patents with these designs but all seem to have weaknesses. Actually they are not too difficult rebuild but the parts costs is the killer.

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