*prepare for a bit of a long explanation*

I recently bought this car for a few hundred dollars thinking it would be a good deal due to the fact the body and interior were in crazy good condition and for having 180k on the motor is ran like a dream for a 16 yr old car. However, i did know it has an issue with the transmission somewhere. When i got the car, the only gear that worked was reverse (and park of course), and it had a weird bouncing idle...ranging from basic idle to around 2500 RPM. after doing a LOT of forum reading here and in other locations, i have troubleshot many things and am at a loss of what to do. i have minimal backyard mechanic experience, so i might be doing things wrong, or backwards...or not even looking in the right places to fix this issue.

i have read up on a few fixes for what COULD wrong

!. Shift Solenoids. removed, tested and checked out ok

2. A/T computer. i have done 2 things with this. One, i have removed it completely as i was told it is a good way to test if it is blown. you are able to drive in 1-D3, but no D4. this seemed to be ok at first. smooth shifting, nice drive, until a slight grind from trans comes along, and i lose all gears again, having to coast it to its parking spot.The strange idle issue also goes away when the computer is removed. the only other time the idle seemed fine was after it would shift into park when the computer was hooked into place.

I have also tried doing the code test, but im not a wiring kinda person, so i get lost on what wires to work to get the D4 light to blink for the codes. i will be looking further into that so i can possibly put up blink codes t help with the issue.

3. Shift Cable. in perfect working order

4. Transmission Fluid. When i got the car, the fluid had recently been changed. i know nothing of what kind it is, but the fluid is still a clean color and does not seem to have any burning odor to it. until i know if i have to replace the transmission, i don't know that a flush/fill with the proper Honda fluid would be best since i would have to tow it back and forth from where it would be done at if that was the cause of some of the issue.

I have read up that these cars are very reliant on many sensors and relays and im hoping its a quick easy fix like one of these rather then a whole trans/Torque Converter replacement. Any insight would be MUCH appreciated.

 

im gonna say they changed the fluid wrong and the trans is toast very soon...i say change the fluid wrong because hondas dont have a serviceable filter and if the trans get flushed it can cause damage to it