My trouble is trying to find a shop I can trust. I already have money set aside to have it rebuilt. For us it's not a big issue since we got the car pretty much for a steal, and it would be worth putting the money into. I thought about a salvage yard tranny, but how would I ever know if that one didn't have the same problem? Someone on the DriveAccord forum mentioned I should get a used tranny, rebuild it myself, then swap it in when it's ready. The rebuild kits don't cost much in the grand scheme of things ($250-$300). It's the labor involved.Yikes there are numerous reports all over the web about Honda transmissions 1998-2002 (ours is an '02) shifting rough or even worse problems like refusing to shift up on freeway ramps or suddenly shifting down into low gears on the highway. This is pretty depressing since we spent $1900 getting it completely rebuilt a couple years ago when it wouldn't shift into overdrive on the highway. Time to call the tranny shop.
There is a "shift improvement kit" for some of these transmissions, but a trans shop would need to be comfortable with installing them properly. Using an external transmission cooler and filter might also be a good idea. The "cooler" for the tranny in the '02 is just a short piece of metal pipe, mounted near the bottom of the radiator. (I had to replace it, as it had rusted through at the weld on the support bracket.)