808Accord92

Hey Howzit Everybody. I have a little dilemma I believe, it HAS been sort of addressed, but not really the way I have this problem.

I purchased my first car, a 92 Accord DX auto in November, and about a week into driving it the D4 light stayed lit solid, not flashing.

I figured the light was just broken and acting stupid since it was a pretty old car. Nothing else changed at all, as I could notice.

Now, roughly 5 months later (and a replaced timing belt, radiator, water pump & gasket, brake hose, distributor cap, and all spark plugs. . . damn cars!!) I feel this weird sensation of the transmission biting down in what seems like a lower gear when I'm coasting in 2nd, and sometimes not shifting into third when I shift it. I deliver pizza so I drive a lot, and it happened once in awhile, sometimes a lot in a row, all during my last shift. It kept switching back and forth between only 1st and 3rd working, or only 2nd and 4th working.

I googled it and found out about the whole D4 light thingy, with how it's supposed to signify most likely a few fried circuits in the cars Automatic Transmission Control Unit

Thing is:
The light lit up such a long time ago!! I'm only now realizing that I think I've been driving it the whole time with this problem, as 1st and 4th wouldn't work. I think I've been only using 2nd, and then every time I switch it to 3rd it instead goes directly to 4th! (which is why shifting to 4th has no reaction).
Important note- the guy I bought it from did some thing to it (that I hear is very common) in which the gears don't change automatically, and you have to start it in 2nd, then go to 3rd and 4th respectively as you speed up, making the car quasi manual I guess. (which is why I shift it myself if you were wondering)

So my question is:
DO you guys think the transmission is dying out? Was it super bad to be driving it in this error state (not sure if it qualifies for limp mode) this whole time? Or do you think it's just taken a while for this issue with the TCU to manifest itself?
mainly- will fixing the burnt out circuits (like this: http://people.consolidated.net/etrid...ordtcufix.html) or replacing the TCU with a rebuilt unit fix the problem, or did I really **** up and now because of it I have bigger transmission problems?

I would greatly appreciate as many responses as possible please!! I need to get back to work so I can pay bills! Tomorrow I'm going to pull the codes off the TCU, I just need to find a socket wrench which I don't have

THANK YOU!

808Accord92

Sorry for bumping (I just posted this a few seconds ago), but just to add a side note, the way I drive it is as follows

start in 2, slam on the gas (its loud and fun) until it reaches over 30 and then switch to D3, which apparently I'm now realizing has been D4 this whole time instead. I coast at this gear until a light (city driving), then I slow down, put it in 2, and repeat the whole process again, many times.

As I said the car needs to be driven manually this way as the honda bro I bought it off switched something in the trans to make it like this. My mechanic says lots of Honda guys do it, because they like shifting it like its manual because its fun.

garyhibdon

when the d4 light comes on in these, it means theres a malfunction. for what youre describing, toss the tranny and get a manual or go back to stock. this isnt going to get better. forcing the trans to act this way is VERY rough on it and will only bite you later. fix it now, or lose the car to someone elses stupidity.

Personally, i dont see any point in doing this to a car. its cruel punishment

808Accord92

So i NEED to replace the whole transmission and thats that? Does anybody else agree?

Frankly i bought it for $1300, replacing the whole trans basically means its totaled. Will replacing just the TCU work? Or has the TCU caused the trans itself to start slipping?

garyhibdon

the tcu codes are really going to depict what needs to be done. find out EXACTLY what he did to modify the trans to work this way, ive personally never heard of doing anything like this so im not sure tbh. if he mod'd the tcu, then change it and do a tranny service with some lucas trans fix to help it out. other wise, find the codes and go from there

MAD_MIKE

808Accord92 go to the link in my sig, H4A Troubleshooting, and read up on your transmissions issues. What you will need to do is first see if there are any codes stored in the TCU. You find this by jumping the two wire blue connector and turning the car to ON, do not start the engine. Count the blinks, find out what the code is.

Underhood you can see if Brool Story unhooked any connectors to the transmission. There will be two sensors on the ride side cover, and there are the two pairs of shift solenoids on front edge. Make sure they are all connected.

The TCUs on 90-93 models are know to burn out the capacitors and resistors, this may be the problem, but first check codes and see what pops up.

Do not use any fluid other than Honda ATF, if need be use Dexron II.
Under no circumstances use any mystery or 'performance' oils.

Roader

Use the correct values for the components if the TCU needs fixing. Digi-Key or Mouser sells those 330µF 10V through-hole aluminum caps for less 25¢.

1991EX

My 91 EX did the exact same thing. Changed the TCU and all was fine.

808Accord92

So I jumped the two terminals together on the SCC.

Nothing Happened!!!!!

I know its that blue thingy with two holes in it located inside of the passenger right side kickplate. . . connected the two holes with a paperclip and tried turning the key to on, did this about 5 times always messing with the paperclip. . .

Is it possible that the SCC can be broken?

emosun

I would like to add to this thread , that my car today just did the EXACT same thing.

solid D4 light
only 2nd and 4th work
and have to manually select them , just as you describe.

Seems to me that it's not a "replace entire transmission" issue but electrical.

junklover1

I have exactly the same problem. I replaced all the electrolytic caps in the TCU (the 15 ohm resistors measure and look good), and the car ran like a dream for about 150 miles , then same problem again. At one point it would only run in second. Does anyone think that pulling the NC and NM sensors is worthwhile? I checked the TPS and it shows correct voltages smoothly thru its full range of motion. Also checked the resistance of the NC and NM sensors and they were correct.

Lost Again

Re-check the TCM....I'm going to guess the caps have blown again. If so let us know and we can give some things to check to figure out why they keep blowing.

HondaAccordKen

To all with the cap issue, try higher voltage caps. It's possible the voltage is sometimes spiking higher then 10 volts. Just might not be able to get same style.

Hammer90

Has anyone tried higher voltage caps? Has it worked or are there other issues - I just had the same problem - fixed the TCU - ran great for a couple weeks - now experiencing the same problems again. Thanks

Seth Wilson

I have a question, I have a 94 accord today after I stopped to pump gas I got in and every since I have owned the car my d4 light has been solid and it started flashing it feels like the brakes are stuck when you try to go. They r not we checked them you almost have to put the pedal to the floor to make the car move it is like the engine wants to go but there is so etching holding it back does anyone know what might be wrong

holmesnmanny

sounds like your tranny just took a ****

Lost Again

You ignore a code/problem long enough and things go bad.

You could get the code and see if there is anything that can be done.