Two problems related to noises during shifting have been reported for the 2004 Honda Accord. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2004 Honda Accord based on all problems reported for the 2004 Accord.
The car initially would stick with a brief pause when shifted from reverse to forward. Several days later while driving on the freeway the car suddenly began to slow between 30-40 miles an hour. In order to get home we had to turn off the car and then restart and coast. In an effort to transport to our mechanic the car would not go in reverse and would not go into drive so we had to tow it in neutral to the shop. The mechanic was able to verify how the transmission fluid was black and smelled burnt. His prognosis was that I will need a new transmission. Within the past couple of months I had the car in the shop because of engine noise. It was thought to be the transmission and further diagnostics revealed the idler tensioner pulleys had to be replaced. At the time computer diagnostics revealed no problems with the transmission and the fluid was fine as well.
While accelerating in 2nd gear, the transmission slips causing the engine to rev, but the car remains in a neutral state. Feels like the transmission is shifted into neutral while driving and then shifted back into drive. Once the transmission catches, the vehicle shifts extremely hard. There is a loud whining noise coming from the front of the car while accelerating, that didn't exist before. After taking the vehicle to the dealer, it was discovered that the transmission is faulty. This vehicle has already had the transmission replaced because of a safety recall which pertains to this exact problem. Honda refuses to fix the transmission because they state the transmission has already been replaced.