hey, here's the cliche first forum post complaining about car troubles...

im new to the honda world as i just bought a 1990 accord dx with 218k, to daily drive while i complete my subaru project

problems:

very rough idle
transmission (AT) wont shift under constant acceleration (kick down?)
acceleration is horrible, takes maybe a minute or longer to reach freeway speeds..
it doesnt do hills. at all.
wont go over 60mph
blinking CEL, i cannot find the '2 pin connector' used to read codes anywhere (pass side under the dash, didnt see it)
got some overheating and light smoking after about a 40 mile mostly freeway drive
and the fan stays on for a bit after i shut the car off and remove the key


but.. the body and interior is pretty good for a car as old as i am

anyways.. hit me with the onslaught of tech advice

 

okay, so i found the diagnostic plug, with a switch on it instead.. so thats confusing the **** out of me





it looks like it was in the position of shorting the two wires to begin with, because when i switch it off, the cel turns on with the other lights, then turns off as if theres no code, when the wires are touching (switch turned 'on'), the cel blinks slowly..

so..?

 

If the CEL is flashing slow with the SCS connector shorted when you are not driving those are more than likely stored codes.

A flashing CEL while driving indicates a misfire issue. Check your spark and fuel.