1992 Civic Transmission

Because I really love my car I want to know whether or not it is worth
fixing.

Here’s the problem - The car is an automatic and when I shift into D4
(that’s what it says on the dash board) the gear light starts to flash
(where before it was a steady light) and the engine revs almost to 8.

The car has about 240K on it. The original owner did not keep up with
regular maintenance (spark plugs, timing belt, etc.). I have given
the car a complete engine make over, including replacing the radiator
fan and the Alternator.

My question is - what is wrong with the transmission? Is this a major
thing? Or, will it be a minor fix?

 

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The dipstick is the place to start. How full is it, how does it smell,
and what color is the fluid if you put it on a sheet of paper?
Why would -you- shift into D4 ? Don't you just leave it in D4 and let
it shift for you, or is that because you climb a lot of hills? When you
got the car did you change the ATF, and if so, what brand did you put in?

'Curly'

 

When I start the car then shift gears, reverse is okay then when I
change gears to drive forward, that is when the light blinks and the
engine revs really high. I shifted back into reverse to see what
would happen and the car wouldn’t move and the RPMs remained high.

What is an ’ATF’? I don’t know if my mechanic friend changed that for
me. Unfortunately, I know almost nothing about cars except for
paying for repairs.

 

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If you don't own an Owner's manual for your Honda, please order the
correct one from your Honda dealer. ATF is Automatic Transmission Fluid,
and the ONLY one you should be using is Honda Z1. Look on your reciepts
and see what the heck he put in it. If it's got non-Honda fluid in it,
you need to get it replaced ASAP.

'Cruly'

 

Have a look (or have your mechanic have a look) here:
http://forum.mpt.org/messages/9/5978.html?1119287370
and here:
http://www.accordforums.com/forums/printthread.php?threadid=2776
and here:
http://tinyurl.com/e3pdt

A common fail point is one of the Shift Control Solenoids.

 

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Maybe the Original Poster can shift manually for now . . .

Hey, TeGGer, would the 'exploding capacitors' in the ECU give the same
symptoms? It's about that vintage, right?

'Curly'

 

Phoo, I dunno. You're the electronics expert, not me.

 

don't think so. that was a problem in the early 2000's. in the p.c.
world at any rate. i have a mobo souvenir filled with the wretched things.

 

I look for the X stamped in the top - if they bulge, it's time to start
budgeting for a replacement. If they leak, it's time to spend the budget.

Mike