Auto transmission noise?

[frozenrice]

Hi all.
This is kind of a stupid question, but I've searched and can't find an exact answer. If an auto tranny is starting to go, what (if any at all) noises will it make?
I just got a 91 wagon before Christmas so I'm unfamiliar with the quirks of the Accord. After I got the car I noticed a noise coming from the front end of the car that I didn't notice when I was test driving it. The noise seems to happen randomly but only after the car has been driving for a while and usually happens if I accelerate (moderately to hard) from a stop. It doesn't seem to do it if I accelerate lightly. It sort of sounds like a cross between a rattle and thunking noise and lasts only for a second. I had a wheel alignment done yesterday (which includes a front end inspection) and they couldn't find anything wrong with the suspension and what not so I've eliminated that factor.
Although I highly doubt it, I thought it might be something wrong with the tranny. Any thoughts/ideas are appreciated. Thanks.

[xaxis360]

Okay, first things first.. if you haven't already; replace the transmission fluid with Genuine Honda ATF. Second, the problems you are describing sound a little like the CV shafts. Although the most common failure is a cracked boot, the joints themselves can go bad even if the boot is not torn. The best way to test the CV joints is to drive in a left and right circle with the brake and gas both depressed and listen for clicking from the outer wheel.

[frozenrice]

Thanks for the tip.
I was wondering about those too, but the thing is, is that it normally does it when I'm accelerating in a straight line, so I didn't think it was a likely suspect. I do know however, that just before I bought the car, one of the CV boots was replaced only a few months before. Perhaps it didn't get caught soon enough.

[F22-GURU]

Check All The Engine & Tranny Mounts.