I have a '93 Accord 10th Anniversary edition (automatic) that I just bought a couple weeks ago with 196000 mi.

Occasionally when I try to start it I crank and crank and no spark and during the cranking the red P lights up and the D4 on the dash begins to flash. I have read on here that that indicates some kind of transmission code. I will usually wait a minute and try again and the car starts fine and acts normal.

The other thing is that every once in a while it will start fine but the D4 flashes. Then it stays in 3rd or 4th gear unless I manually shift it into 1 or 2 to start. After I get up to speed, I manually shift up to D3 or D4 and then it shifts up fine but doesn't downshift. The weird thing is that once I realize it's doing this I can turn the car off and restart and it will run fine like nothing happened.

Any ideas?

-Caleb

 

Passenger side find the blue two wire connector.
Jumper it, turn your ignition to II(ON), read the blinking code from the D4 light.
Post it up here.

 

I'm guessing it is 1 since it is steady flashing

 

Mike, I read one of your posts in this forum: https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-accord-1990-2002-2/d4-light-3214297/

My battery cables are a little loose on the terminals, they can slip off without the bolt being loosened. Do you think this could causing the problem? Also I have noticed when it's a hot day the starting problem is magnified. Maybe the heat is causing the metal to expand and make even less of a connection?

 

CAN BE. i can go ahead and let my battery terminals barely touch my post and it will still start. you could use a battery post&terminal cleaner. clean the battery post and terminals. you could try putting visegrips on it before you even attempt to start it and see if it starts. or use a screw a small one to screw in between the post and terminals its ghetto but its one way to rule that out for NOW

 

Had the exact same thing happen with my 93 accord.
Changed the shifter assembly, fixed.
Spilled some stuff on it a while back and it acted up slowly until failure.
50 bucks salvage.

 

That will play hell with all aspects of the car. Clean and tighten those terminals.

 

that sounds like good advice

 

just cleaned my shifter assembly. used some PBlaster and microfiber towel. also cleaned the shift grooves which were sticky from spilled sodapop. D4 light is all but gone and car shifts better and runs smoother. shifter assembly was filled with what looked like grease but i assume it was high fructose corn syrup

 

Just getting back with my solution. I tried changing my battery terminals and that didn't help. After reading some other stuff, I decided to try the main relay. After switching that out a couple weeks ago, I haven't had any problem since.