I've read all I can read. I know these are known for being built like a tank. I know a guy in central arkansas that has put 14,000 miles on his!
Question is, how good is the Hondamatic Transmission?
I've read about a few people haveing trouble that turns into an expensive fix. Just doesn't seem as reliable as an old manual shift.
I found a Rubi in north Arkansas for $3500, maybe a bit less. It's at a dealership and I will be asking about the extended warantee, but still want some advise.
I can handle bearings, ball joints, ect, but tranny problems and major electrical issue scare me. Let me know what you guys think. Has about 3400 miles.

 

I run my rubicon HARD and mine has been flawless with 2k miles, Iv taken it to the dunes and held it wide open all day long threw salt water and river corssings and also pulled a 4x10 trailer full of wood up a 20% grade 2 mile long logging road floored in low range @ 15mph the entire way four times a year during wood cutting! the tranny is MAJIC when the going gets slow and tricky it makes the trail easy! Id say its just as bulletproof or maybe even tougher than a gear tranny as gear tranny shifting forks wear duirng hard abuse.

 

There does seem to be regular posts about the Rubicon going into limp mode because the computer detects a fault.

I think if you cleaned all the connectors with contact cleaner and compressed air, then hit them all with diaelectric grease, you would prevent some problems.

Having a service manual would also be a way to reduce the cost of a problem, if you were to have one. A lot of the time it's something like the angle sensor, or a connector or the shift motor needs cleaned up. As long as you know how to retrieve codes and how to reinitialize the computer it shouldn't be too bad.

Actual failures of the hydrostat drive it's self I think are pretty rare.

 

We have 9000 miles on our 2001 with zero transmission issues.

I have replaced both upper control arm bushings, shafts and seals, the left rear wheel bearing and I just replace the left lower ball joint last week. It still has the original battery and brakes.

I change the oil every 500 miles and use Valvoline 10w40 ATV oil. I adjust the valves and change the spark plug every 1000 miles and replace the coolant every 2000 miles.

My only wish is that Honda would build a 650 cc Rubicon.

 

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote>Originally posted by: 12guns

I've read all I can read. I know these are known for being built like a tank. I know a guy in central arkansas that has put 14,000 miles on his!

Question is, how good is the Hondamatic Transmission?

I've read about a few people haveing trouble that turns into an expensive fix. Just doesn't seem as reliable as an old manual shift.

I found a Rubi in north Arkansas for $3500, maybe a bit less. It's at a dealership and I will be asking about the extended warantee, but still want some advise.

I can handle bearings, ball joints, ect, but tranny problems and major electrical issue scare me. Let me know what you guys think. Has about 3400 miles.</end quote></div>

Normally good units. If possable, check the history of the unit and see if it ever had an oil pump replaced. '01 was the year for bad oil pump relief valves on the oil pump

----- Gimpster -----

 

How much to replace the oil pump?
Just curious, I found a newer 500 Foreman for only $2700, but sounds to good to be true, so maybe.
Also found 01' Rubicon w/ 3k miles. Dealership asking 3500, but may take less.
Having said that, they won't be able to tell if the oil pump has been done or not.

 

Gimpster, should i replace my oil pump as well? My Rubi runs perfect except the auto decomp takes a few seconds to click off on hot starts
thanks man, Joe

 

Replacing an oil pump would depend on the hourly hate the shop charges .. On warranty Honda pays 6.5 hours flat rate , but it actually takes in the 10 hour range plus the price of the oil pump & gasket kits A & B ...

 

is it a engine damageing issue? does it cause big end failure or anying major? id replace it but i have splitting the caces

 

I wouldn't replace the pump unless it had a problem, not all of the 2001s were bad.

Several of our friends have Rubicons. Two of them had oil pumps fail and Honda told them it was due to some metal shavings left in the pumps by the manufacture. I believe these 2 Rubicons were 04s. One only had 400 miles on it (owner NEVER rides it) and the other one had about 1600 miles on it. They were both over 2 years old and Honda took care of both of them with no cost to the owners.

I beleive that Honda stands behind their products better than any of the others do.

I sure wish they would build a 650 Rubicon.