Well, first and foremost, I have a 93 Honda Prelude S. F22a1 engine and a 4speed automatic transmission. I have 3 main problems which are all causing me quite a bit of grief.

1. The car overheats. When the car is running but not moving it will begin to overheat. But as soon as I get moving again, it lowers back down to normal operating temperature only to go back up once I stop again. In an effort to fix this, I've already replaced the Radiator, top and bottom hoses, thermostat and the water pump with no success.

2. The car sputters, a lot. When the engine is just being started up for the first time each day it sputters and backfires pretty badly and continues to do so at about 3000rpms until the engine heats up. Once it's at normal operating temperature it lessens a bit, but is still there. Trying to fix this, I've replaced the spark plugs, fuel filter and catalytic converter with no success.

3. I have to manually shift to get the car to accelerate properly. If I simply put it in drive it shifts way early. Letting the car shift on it's own, it'll be in 4th gear by the time I hit 35mph. Also, when I press the accelerator down, it doesn't ever lock into the passing gear.

Any assistance here would much appreciated.

 

1. does your cooling fan work?

2. is your check engine light on?

3. is the cable from the throttle to the transmission functioning, i think its the kick down cable maybe.

 

1. Yes. Though, mine has two and it seems that the drivers' side doesn't work all the time. At least not that I've noticed, so I guess that could be part of the problem.

2. Yes, it is. But only when the car is on. Once the engine shuts down, the light goes out.

3. From what I've been told, this model doesn't have a kick down cable. But I could be wrong on that.

 

Head gasket?

Check coolant for oil and vice versa.

Take the cap off the radiator, while the engine is cold, start the car, let it warm up. Are you getting air bubbles or lots of agitation of the coolant in the radiator?

Also do a compression check.

BTW the second fan is for your A/C condenser, it should only come on when the A/C is on.

 

Oh, that's good to know. I didn't know that about the second fan. I've noticed no oil in the coolant or vice versa so I really don't think it's the head gasket. I have noticed air bubbles from time to time when opening the radiator cap. What does that indicate?

 

first issues sounds like a coolant temp sensor not kicking your fan on at the correct times. Second issues sounds like the idle sensor on your intake. Search idle problems in the forum and your find a sticky fourm fix for that... sorry no help for the third problem.... good luck to your though!

 

Fix your CEL, there is a little two hole blue plug behind your radio, put a paper clip or piece of wire in it and it will cause the CEL to blink.

Long blinks are 10, short blinks are 1. For instance, two long blinks and two short blinks would be 22.

There will be a pause between each set of blinks.

 

ARE YOU LOOSING COOLANT?

 

1 . 1 fan is cooling the other fan is condenser, they both should come on when the ac is on.

2. have you checked to see what codes are stored in the ecu?

3. i am pretty confident that all F series automatics through 97 at least had them.

 

Have you taken the rad cap off started the car and turned on the heater and just let it run. You might have an air bubble stuck up in the head, so just let it run for atleast 2 cooling fan cycles and filling as needed.

Sputtering could be your Fast idle, or Idle air control valve

Shift has to do on the trans ecu being able to read the TPS sensor and having enuff fluid in the trans to create oil pressure to shift the trans. Bust out a DVOM and test the TPS sensor range..