Following putting in a new engine in the base model 97 prelude, the car started up with the usual white smoke from the new gaskets and what not. It was driven up the road and back and everything was all good. While waiting to for the registration, went to start it. It started up fine. When we put it in reverse (triptronic auto by the way) it died. Tried to start it again and put it in reverse and it died again. Checked all the fuses and the fuel pump and it was all good. Tried to start it a third time and the speedo jumped up in the 120's and bounced around. The park light on the dash was lit but the D4 light flashed as the car tries to turn over but doesn't start. It ran good at first, so what could be the problem?

 

It sounds like you have a transmission code, I'm not familiar with how to read AT codes but you should look into that.

Take it from there, if it wasn't for that I would think a bad ground might cause the speedo to bounce like that.

 

it doesn't throw a code.

 

starter wasn't grounded its all good now.

 

good find, that ground is crucial