Honda CR-V Transmission Troubles: Grinding & Erratic Shifts

Hey there! I have some experience working on cars and faced something very similar with my 2013 Honda Accord (also had issues with my Civic before that). The symptoms you're describing sound exactly like what I dealt with. Mine turned out to be a faulty wiring harness that was causing transmission control issues. The gear display problems were actually the first sign something was wrong. Had a great mechanic who diagnosed it pretty quickly, cost me about 180 Euro to get it all sorted. The grinding completely stopped after the repair. Before I can give more specific advice, Are there any warning lights on the dash? Does it happen more when the engine is cold or warm? Have you checked the transmission fluid level and condition? Let me know these details and I can share more about what worked in my case! Always better to fix these things early before they cause bigger problems.

Thanks for sharing your experience! My CR-V has 24818 KM on it and had its last service about 3 months ago. I do see the check engine light occasionally flashing, usually when the transmission acts up. The grinding noise is definitely worse when the engine is cold, especially in the morning. I checked the transmission fluid last week, the level seems okay but it's a bit darker than usual. I'll definitely look into the wiring harness issue you mentioned. That repair cost sounds way better than what I was worried about! Did you notice any burning smell before you got it fixed? I'm getting a faint one sometimes when the grinding happens.

Hey again! Thanks for the follow-up. Yeah, that flashing check engine light and the cold-start grinding definitely rings a bell, exactly what I experienced with my Accord! You know what's interesting? I did notice that burning smell too before getting it fixed. It's actually pretty common with wiring harness issues because the faulty connections can cause excess heat. Mine had this weird burnt plastic smell, especially after longer drives. Since you mentioned your transmission fluid is darker than usual, I'd strongly suggest getting that changed ASAP. When I got mine fixed, my mechanic showed me how the faulty wiring was actually causing the transmission to work harder than necessary, which was making the fluid degrade faster. Quick tip from my experience, don't wait too long on this. I initially tried to "live with it" for about a month, and the problems just got worse. The grinding on cold starts became super loud, and the burning smell got stronger. The repair itself was pretty straightforward once I got it done, and my transmission's been smooth as butter since then. The fact that you're having these issues at just 24818 KM is actually good news, catching it early means you're likely preventing more serious damage. Let me know how it goes if you get it checked out!

Thanks so much for all the detailed info! You've honestly made me feel a lot better about this whole situation. I was really worried it might be a complete transmission failure, but the wiring harness issue makes total sense with all these symptoms matching up. I'm definitely going to get it checked out this week, not worth risking more damage like you said. I'll have them change the transmission fluid while they're at it too. Really glad I asked about this, could've gotten way more expensive if I'd kept driving it hoping the problem would go away. It's such a relief knowing you got yours fixed without breaking the bank! Will update you once I get it sorted. Thanks again for taking the time to share your experience!