Auto trans trouble...F22A1 90 Accord LX

[Aeromech]

I just bought this car and love everything about it! Except for the auto transmission.

First off it slips pretty bad in 2nd and 3rd. It slips to the point of gunning it and seeing the rpm's reach like 2000 before even moving. I read more about the fluids used and am going to try the Honda ATF-Z1 from the dealer and hope that will fix some of the slipping issues.

The second thing really baffles the he!! out of me....depending on temperature of the day it seems, the trans will only use either 1st and 2nd or 2nd and 3rd. If in the D4 position it will stay in 2nd or 3rd depending what it wants to use at the moment. D3 will use 2nd or 3rd also, 2 will use 2nd, 1 will use 1st or 2nd. It will shift from gear to gear, but will only use 2 out of the 4 at one time....I don't think it has used 3 gears at all and I am almost sure it hasn't used the 4th gear or the OD. Could it be the shift soleniod?

Also, the "S" light is always on reguardless of swith position on the shifter handle.

Also there is a slight dip in power like it boggs badly at about 1500-2000 rpm, could that be clogged EGR passages?

Another thing is the speedo zero's out while driving. I could be going 70 and the speedo just goes to 0 and like a minute later it seems it will go back to normal.

The car is a '90 Accord LX coupe with a F22A1 Auto transmission and 153xxx miles on it. The trans fluid level is correct, but not sure about the fluid type in there at the moment...I think it is Dextron III.



I know this is alot to ask about, but the car is intended as a daily driver. So, I need to fix these things as best I can. I do plan a H22A with a 5 speed swap, but it will be later down the road.

Thanks for any info you can give me on these problems.

The attachments are pics of the car.

[Aeromech]

Someone please help me out!

[Leung]

have you tried pulling codes from the computer by the plug on the front passenger kick panel?


this is how to diagnose the CEL codes for the ecu. you find the blue jumper wire in the passenger kick pannel. and you run a line from one connector to another. if its a single digit code, it will flash quickly a bunch of times, just count them. if its double, like 21... it have two long flashes followed by one quick, then a pause and repeat.

heres what they all are:
00
ECU
Defective ECU

01
Primary O2 sensor
Open or short in O2 sensor circuit, defective Primary O2 sensor

02
Secondary O2 sensor
Open or short in O2 sensor circuit, defective Secondary O2 sensor

03
Manifold Absolute Pressure sensor
Open or short in MAP sensor circuit, defective MAP sesnor

04
Crankshaft Position sensor
Timing belt slipped, defective CP sensor

05
Manifold Absolute Pressure sensor
Reading too low or too high, defective MAP sensor

06
Engine Coolant Temp circuit
Reading too low or too high, open or short in circuit, defective ECT circuit

07
Throttle Position circuit
Reading too low or too high, open or short in circuit, defective TPS circuit

08
Top Dead Center sensor
Open or short in TDC sensor circuit, defective TDC sensor

09
Cylinder Position sensor
Open or short in CYP sensor circuit, defective CYP sensor

10
Intake Air Temperature sensor
Open or short in IAT sensor circuit, defective IAT sensor

12
Exhaust Gas Recirculation Valve
Open or short in EGR valve circuit, defective EGR valve

13
Barometric Pressure sensor circuit
Defective ECM (Barometric sensor)

14
Idle Control System Malfunction
Defective IAC valve, defective fast idle thermo valve, throttle body

15
Ignition Output Signal
Missing, defective or noisy Ignition Output Signal

16
Fuel Injector System
Defective or malfunctioning Fuel Injector System

17
Vehicle Speed sensor circuit
Open or short in VS sensor circuit, defective VS sensor

19
Lock-up Control Solenoid
Open or short in LCS circuit, defective LCS solenoid

20
Electrical Load Detector circuit
Open or short in ELD circuit, defective ELD circuit

21
VTEC Solenoid Valve
Open or short in VTEC solenoid valve circuit, defective VTEC solenoid valve

22
VTEC Oil Pressure Switch
Open or short in VTEC OPS circuit, defective VTEC pressure switch

23
Knock sensor circuit
Open or short in Knock sensor circuit, defective Knock sensor circuit

30
A/T FI Signal A high/low input
Defective AFSA line, TCM

31
A/T FI Signal B high/low input
Defective AFSB line, TCM

41
Primary Heated O2 sensor heater circuit
Open or short in Primary O2 sensor heater circuit, defective Primary O2 sensor heater circuit

43
Fuel Supply System
Defective or malfunctioning Fuel Supply System

45
System too lean/rich
Fuel supply system, Primary O2 sensor, MAP sensor, contaminated fuel, valve clearance, exhaust leakage

48
Lean Air Fuel sensor
Open or short in Lean Air Fuel sensor circuit, defective Lean Air Fuel sensor

54
Crankshaft Speed Fluctuation sensor
Open or short in CKF sensor circuit, defective CKF sensor circuit

58
Top Dead Center sensor #2
Open or short in TDC sensor circuit, defective TDC sensor

61
Primary Heated O2 sensor
Slow response, exhaust leak, defective Primary Heated O2 sensor

63
Secondary Heated O2 sensor
Slow response, exhaust leak, defective Secondary Heated O2 sensor

65
Secondary Heated O2 sensor circuit
Open or short in Secondary Heated O2 sensor circuit, defective Secondary Heated O2 sensor circuit


TCU Codes:

CODE LIST:

1-Lock-up solenoid 'A' circuit open or shorted.
2-Lock-up solenoid 'B' circuit open or shorted.
3-Throttle Position Sensor circuit open or shorted.
4-Vehicle Speed Sensor open or shorted - No signal from speedometer.
5-Shift Lever Position Switch circuit shorted.
6-Shift Lever Position Switch circuit open.
7-Shift Solenoid 'A' circuit open or shorted.
8-Shift Solenoid 'B' circuit open or shorted.
9-Counter shaft or transmission speed pulse generator open or shorted.
10-Coolant Temperature Sensor open or shorted.
11-Engine RPM (Ignition coil signal) open or shorted.
12-(No code 12 used)
13-Main shaft speed pulse generator open or shorted.
14-Linear (line pressure control) solenoid open or shorted.
15-Kick down switch circuit shorted.

[Aeromech]

anyone else have input on this?

[Aeromech]

CEL is not on....no codes

[Leung]

has your auto tranny ever had a fluid change? you may want to check the condition of the fluid that is currently in there.

it should be a red colour and not brownish nor should it smell burnt.

one of the other things people have been having problems with these early TCUs is that some of the components in the computer itself leak some liquid onto the board and short it out. so what i'm trying to say here is you'll maybe want to pull the carpet up on the passenger side now and remove the TCU to see if there are any burn marks and such.

[Aeromech]

Tranny fluid is like new and about to be changed again for Honda ATF. I will have to check the TCU though...never thought about that.

Thanks Leung

[Akira_kj]

Sounds like you need a new transmission. Slipping is BAD, dumping hard isnt as bad but is a bad sign. Honda auto trans are notorious for shifting hard.. not for slipping or not shifting when they are suposted to. If a TCU dosnt fix it your better off just replacing the transmission. I talked to a reputable shop in town here and its like $1700+ to have a 90 autotrans rebuilt and like 300-$500 on ebay or maybe less from a junk yard for a used one. Its a easy choice.

[Leung]

well when i bought mine from a buddy which is also an '90 DX auto he had just rebuilt the tranny also but then he let the car sit because the insurance expired and he wanted a new car. when i was driving home it too bascially slipped back into neutral where i would have to shut the engine off and then start it in N and then shift it into D4.

my brother's dealership is currently looking at it now so in a week or two we'll find out if it's the TCU or a shitty rebuild.

[Akira_kj]

bascially slipped back into neutral where i would have to shut the engine off and then start it in N and then shift it into D4.

I bet thats fun to do in traffic.

[regulatorocks]

throw a bottle of lubegaurd in with your next tranny fluid change. my transmission doesnt slip, but it shifts pretty hard still, accords are notorious for the hard shifting


also, try driving around in d3 instead of d4 on city streets. driving in d4 allows the tranny to shift when it really doesnt need to. put it in d4 if you ever get on a freeway or go above 50mph

[Aeromech]

my trans still doesnt shift unless I do it.

no hard shifting....just NO SHIFTING

this thing is a piece of crap.

[alifeva]

ya i actually have the same as u and same color. 90lx coupe. mines in pretty good condition still. 110,000 miles just the other day. but with me its my 1st getting to 2nd. i have to let off the gas so that it shifts properly 2nd. but other than that no slipping yet. atf flush is good. also oil. maybe try to get an intake? more airflow should improve shifting. exhaust. u kno upgrades that should help the engine breath more. but it might just be that the teeth are worn, used tranny, poor clutch i dunno, i dont really know to much about cars but it is common in old gears. i also have a 1990 tomos targa lx moped. same thing. slippage in the clutch or gears. very common

haha damn i just realized i have 2 LX vehicles. and both 1990

[cebese7en]

well when i bought mine from a buddy which is also an '90 DX auto he had just rebuilt the tranny also but then he let the car sit because the insurance expired and he wanted a new car. when i was driving home it too bascially slipped back into neutral where i would have to shut the engine off and then start it in N and then shift it into D4.

my brother's dealership is currently looking at it now so in a week or two we'll find out if it's the TCU or a shitty rebuild.

so what happened. same problem for me. it does it just about every thirty seconds - slips out, pull over, turn it off, turn it on, hope for gears, drive, slips out. . . broke down outside of the honda dealer i go to now and then, left it there, they said i need a new transmission. too expensive for me.

[JDM ACCORZ]

so what happened. same problem for me. it does it just about every thirty seconds - slips out, pull over, turn it off, turn it on, hope for gears, drive, slips out. . . broke down outside of the honda dealer i go to now and then, left it there, they said i need a new transmission. too expensive for me.

it is most likely your TCM (Transmission control module) i have the same problem you can get a replacement from the dealership it cost around 300 bucks