1991 Honda Accord - "S" Light flickering like crazy / TCU is clicking loudly
#1
1991 Honda Accord - "S" Light flickering like crazy / TCU is clicking loudly
Hello,
I messaged here about a month ago, and failed to follow up...i guess my post has been purged. My "S" light was flickering a bit back then and would cause the RPMs to rise whenever it came on, like it was downshifting from 4th to 3rd momentarily. Now it's gotten worse, it flickers very frequently and sporadically or just lights up a little bit as if it can't decide whether it wants to light up or not...Now when I press the speedshifter button the "S" light doesn't come on at all. The RPMs shoot up and down rapidly as the the transmission switches gears. Sometimes, I have no 1st or 3rd gear. I have to put the auto-shifter in D1 or D2, for it to start off in 2nd gear. Then when I get up to 3500 RPM (or so) I pop the shifter into D3 or D4 so it can shift from 2nd gear to 4th gear.
Also, when I put the shifter in Park the "S" light starts flickering out of control like it's got a short, I can hear the TCU clicking very loudly. NOW the shifter is stuck in park and will not come out unless I use the key to UNLOCK the shifter.
Last time I posted, somebody helped determine that my TCU is bad. I guess it either needs to be replaced or repaired. I like the 'repair' option better! I guess a couple capacitors and traces need re-working....or something like that.
Can that person who helped before, further advise? I think somebody wanted to send the TCU to you and have it repaired. I'd consider that option as well....and I'll happily pay you for your troubles
I messaged here about a month ago, and failed to follow up...i guess my post has been purged. My "S" light was flickering a bit back then and would cause the RPMs to rise whenever it came on, like it was downshifting from 4th to 3rd momentarily. Now it's gotten worse, it flickers very frequently and sporadically or just lights up a little bit as if it can't decide whether it wants to light up or not...Now when I press the speedshifter button the "S" light doesn't come on at all. The RPMs shoot up and down rapidly as the the transmission switches gears. Sometimes, I have no 1st or 3rd gear. I have to put the auto-shifter in D1 or D2, for it to start off in 2nd gear. Then when I get up to 3500 RPM (or so) I pop the shifter into D3 or D4 so it can shift from 2nd gear to 4th gear.
Also, when I put the shifter in Park the "S" light starts flickering out of control like it's got a short, I can hear the TCU clicking very loudly. NOW the shifter is stuck in park and will not come out unless I use the key to UNLOCK the shifter.
Last time I posted, somebody helped determine that my TCU is bad. I guess it either needs to be replaced or repaired. I like the 'repair' option better! I guess a couple capacitors and traces need re-working....or something like that.
Can that person who helped before, further advise? I think somebody wanted to send the TCU to you and have it repaired. I'd consider that option as well....and I'll happily pay you for your troubles
#2
Re: 1991 Honda Accord - "S" Light flickering like crazy / TCU is clicking loudly (Ralphalot)
If anybody else has any suggestions or anything to add, I'd greatly appreciate it!
Thanks,
-Ralph
Thanks,
-Ralph
#3
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Re: 1991 Honda Accord - "S" Light flickering like crazy / TCU is clicking loudly (Ralphalot)
I may have a spair TCU.I need to go get it and test it out first before I put it up for sale though.Hows $50 bucks shipped sound?If it tests good.
Modified by Dmc1 at 6:14 PM 2/18/2006
Modified by Dmc1 at 6:14 PM 2/18/2006
#4
Re: 1991 Honda Accord - "S" Light flickering like crazy / TCU is clicking loudly (Ralphalot)
That sounds like a good price, although I've yet to price-check a TCU, so I"m not sure what they're going for..
How do you test the TCU?
How do you test the TCU?
#6
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Re: 1991 Honda Accord - "S" Light flickering like crazy / TCU is clicking loudly (Ralphalot)
A visual inspection may also confirm the TCM has soiled itselt. The are two large Capacitors in the TCM which act as buffers and also act to save the tcm the indignancy of rebooting every time the car starts. They go bad and start leaking (and it is visible) It is the most common TCM failure out there (hands down).
You discription is a classic Tcm failure.
Hopefully Dmc1's will check out
P
You discription is a classic Tcm failure.
Hopefully Dmc1's will check out
P
#7
Re: 1991 Honda Accord - "S" Light flickering like crazy / TCU is clicking loudly (Ralphalot)
DCM, Hehe...i guess that would be a good way. Okay, let me know if it tests out okay! P_Adams, I'm gonna pull my TCU and inspect it (to fulfill my morbid curiosity) but I'm pretty sure it's already in the peak of it's hangover. Thanks for your comfirmation!
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Re: 1991 Honda Accord - "S" Light flickering like crazy / TCU is clicking loudly (Ralphalot)
Man I am totally sorry Ive been busy and forgot about your TCU.I'll post tomorrow by 6pm letting you know one way or the other.
#9
Re: 1991 Honda Accord - "S" Light flickering like crazy / TCU is clicking loudly (Dmc1)
No problem! Actually, I would expect you'd want to make sure I was serious before you made the effort....which, by the way, I am!
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Re: 1991 Honda Accord - "S" Light flickering like crazy / TCU is clicking loudly (Ralphalot)
Thats fine.If you weren't serious about buying it Someone else would would come in here needing one.It's a common problem.But Cool I'll let you know tonight when I get home.
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Re: 1991 Honda Accord - "S" Light flickering like crazy / TCU is clicking loudly (Dmc1)
heres a pic of the tcu.
Hey P this is kinda funny.
For years Ive had the flashing sport light in my old accord.It shifts and runs fine but the S light flashes.I put this tcu in to test it for mister Ralph here.And all the sudden no flashing S light.Ive had a bad TCU for years now.and didn't know it.I thought it was some sensor or something wrong Because the car shifts fine...Sheesh.
Hey P this is kinda funny.
For years Ive had the flashing sport light in my old accord.It shifts and runs fine but the S light flashes.I put this tcu in to test it for mister Ralph here.And all the sudden no flashing S light.Ive had a bad TCU for years now.and didn't know it.I thought it was some sensor or something wrong Because the car shifts fine...Sheesh.
#13
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Re: 1991 Honda Accord - "S" Light flickering like crazy / TCU is clicking loudly (Dmc1)
Hey, what do you know?
A Two-For!!
Two fixes from one diagnosis. Not bad for an old fart!
A Two-For!!
Two fixes from one diagnosis. Not bad for an old fart!
#14
Re: 1991 Honda Accord - "S" Light flickering like crazy / TCU is clicking loudly (Ralphalot)
Awesome! Got your PM. Just in case there was any misunderstanding..let it be known I'm VERY serious!!!
So this is a picture of the junkyard dog you described in PM? If so, cool! I want it. Sending you another PM right now
So this is a picture of the junkyard dog you described in PM? If so, cool! I want it. Sending you another PM right now
#15
Re: 1991 Honda Accord - "S" Light flickering like crazy / TCU is clicking loudly (Ralphalot)
Heya..figured I'd drop y'all a line.
DMC1, thanks for everything. I installed the TCU and it has worked perfectly since I installed it. I'm now comfortably putting serious mileage on this old Honda! How about over 3000 miles during the last 3 weeks!! Currently at 196k.
Now...on to my newest problem, just started during the last couple days. Speedometer bounces around, sometimes dropping down to zero mph, then returning to normal speed. On just one occassion, the S light started flashing with consistent intervals and would not stop flashing until I turned off the car & restarted.
Any ideas?
DMC1, thanks for everything. I installed the TCU and it has worked perfectly since I installed it. I'm now comfortably putting serious mileage on this old Honda! How about over 3000 miles during the last 3 weeks!! Currently at 196k.
Now...on to my newest problem, just started during the last couple days. Speedometer bounces around, sometimes dropping down to zero mph, then returning to normal speed. On just one occassion, the S light started flashing with consistent intervals and would not stop flashing until I turned off the car & restarted.
Any ideas?
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be happy that it was solved just by swapping a part out
since I swapped my auto out to manual I've been CEL for over a year. There is no manual ECU that I can use. I have to get unichip to make a custom map for me which costs 700$ + dyno tuning
I had / have a eletrical draw somewhere, anyone know how much power the TCM draws ?
I left my TCM connected, it's still has power. Last night driving home I heard it clicking like 20-30 times, then I saw my abs light was on
as soon as the clicking stopped the ABS light went off and a suplus of voltage went back through my eletrical system ( dash was getting to mid light point )
since I swapped my auto out to manual I've been CEL for over a year. There is no manual ECU that I can use. I have to get unichip to make a custom map for me which costs 700$ + dyno tuning
I had / have a eletrical draw somewhere, anyone know how much power the TCM draws ?
I left my TCM connected, it's still has power. Last night driving home I heard it clicking like 20-30 times, then I saw my abs light was on
as soon as the clicking stopped the ABS light went off and a suplus of voltage went back through my eletrical system ( dash was getting to mid light point )
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Re: 1991 Honda Accord - "S" Light flickering like crazy / TCU is clicking loudly (Ralphalot)
this issue here
" Now...on to my newest problem, just started during the last couple days. Speedometer bounces around, sometimes dropping down to zero mph, then returning to normal speed. On just one occassion, the S light started flashing with consistent intervals and would not stop flashing until I turned off the car & restarted. "
that sounds like a speed sensor is going. My wife has had here speedometer do that for years. I does not activate the odometer, so you're not getting acurate mileage on the car
If it was the TACH dancing around ... change out the distributor cap, rotor and that will solve the issue ...
while you're at it upgrade the spark plug wiring, and plugs
" Now...on to my newest problem, just started during the last couple days. Speedometer bounces around, sometimes dropping down to zero mph, then returning to normal speed. On just one occassion, the S light started flashing with consistent intervals and would not stop flashing until I turned off the car & restarted. "
that sounds like a speed sensor is going. My wife has had here speedometer do that for years. I does not activate the odometer, so you're not getting acurate mileage on the car
If it was the TACH dancing around ... change out the distributor cap, rotor and that will solve the issue ...
while you're at it upgrade the spark plug wiring, and plugs
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