Hi all,

I'm looking for advice on a transmission problem.  It's a 4 speed
automatic, 98 accord lx, 91k miles.  When cold, it stays in first gear
for a really long time, then slams into second gear.  Sometimes after
slamming into second gear and comming to a stop, it takes off in what
seems like second gear.  I got mad one time and floored it in first
gear and wound it up to a kind of high RPM, and it shifted/slammed into
second then eventually through all the gears just fine.  It seemed as
though that "fixed" the problem for a few short days, then went back to
needing to be warmed up/babying first gear for a long time/slow rpm,
then it gets going into shifting ok.  Will a flush/service help?  I
seem to remember an old friend with a similar Honda tranny problem, and
was told it needed to be fixed asap, and it wound up lasting a few more
years, any thoughts on this?  Also, any guestimate as to the cost of a
rebuilt one in Southern California?

Thanks in advance, and sorry for the long post.

Eddy