sports mode short?

[91problems]

I have a 91 lx w/ 4 speed automatic tranny. On the side of the gear shifter (just below the main button that you push to shift gears) is a button that puts the car into "sports" mode, which keeps the car in 2nd gear ONLY if the shifter is in the D3 or D4 position. Manually shifting to 1st and 2nd works fine. Seems like an unnecessary extra feature to me (this is my daily driver), so I never use it.

For the last month or two, the car has spontaneously gone into (and out of) "sports" mode, regardless of the position of the button on the shifter. Now it is permanently in "sports" mode. This means that I only have 1st and 2nd gear, and have to shift manually between the two, otherwise the car is permanently in 2nd gear ONLY. I took the switch out of the equation by clipping the wires to it, but the "sports" mode condition still exists.

Naturally I suspect a short, but I have no idea where the (2) wires from the switch go after they join a big bundle and penetrate the firewall. Haynes and Chilton's manuals don't even mention this "sports" feature, and I've looked through the electrical schematics in both. I'm guessing that they go to the A/T control module, but I have no idea where that module is. I'm thinking that if I just disconnect the wires from whatever device they terminate to, that sport mode will finally die. Good riddance. 55 mph down the highway in 2nd gear sure burns a bit more gasoline.

Anyone out there had this problem before? What is the quick fix? If it means completely taking out the "sports" mode feature, I'm sure I could live without it. If anyone even knows where I could find the A/T control module, that might be a help also.

Thanks,

91problems

[Leung]

the TCU is under the carpeting for the front passenger.

do you know about the jumper in the fronter passenger side kick panel?

http://techauto.awardspace.com/transmission.html

i'd read that and then see if your TCU gives you any trouble codes.

the problem you're describing sounds like one of the solenoids has crapped out, well the one that controls shifting to 3 and 4. when you're facing your car, the solenoids are on your transmission and they look like two cylinders attached to a plate with a wire sticking out of them.

if you really wanted to get rid of the Sports mode, maybe switch your TCU for one from a 92 or 93 automatic equipped Accord.

[NorcoAccord]

I read threw most of your post, but I think your transmission has a problem, one sport mode shouldn't make you lose 3rd and 4th, it should make your car stay in the shift longer (basically redlineing it).

3 questions?
Does the light ever blink or is it steady?
When you 1st start the car does the light come on and then go off?
Have checked for transmission codes and do you know how to do that?

[turboAccordHSF]

yeah i did, but b4 i tell you what exactly to do i need to ask you some more questions.

1st, does your car rev by itself on P or N,?
2nd, do you hear some clicking noises coming from the shifter area? like it sounds like its shifting by itself?
3rd have you reset the codes yet?
4th, does it go way some times but comes back and you feel a lil pull,
5th when you put it on drive does it like take along time to hit 5mph like it would be on N?

[turboAccordHSF]

I read threw most of your post, but I think your transmission has a problem, one sport mode shouldn't make you lose 3rd and 4th, it should make your car stay in the shift longer (basically redlineing it).

3 questions?
Does the light ever blink or is it steady?
When you 1st start the car does the light come on and then go off?
Have checked for transmission codes and do you know how to do that?

actually it's not the trans this is a electrical problem bro....you see when the S' goes on and off like that and then stays on, your 4D and 3D shut off and you can only run 1st and 2nd, the 2nd gear is expanded and can only hit like 35-55 mph tops! but it basicly means that your TCU is sending the wrong signals to your TCU and or its not getting them at all that causes it to go likein hardcore mode or running rich putting all that throttle and no responce it can fuck up timing and your air valves i actually ran itno this and i got the solution, and then fixed a couple of CB7s and one integra that had air valves damage cuz of this i did it for free though....

[91problems]

First off, thanks for the swift replies. You're input is more than appreciated.

Here's the answers to the questions:

Leung-I think I do after reading another thread. Is that the blue connector? I'm guessing I short two of the leads w/ a paperclip and get the code from the blinking S. correct?

NorcoAccord-
the light is on steadily, as in always. It only did the on/off thing a couple times, staying on for a few days and then it went away, but one time it kept switching back and forth right after I put the key in the ignition, before I started the car. The light eventually went away tho, and the car ran/shirfted fine for a month until now. The light is now always on, even before the car starts. It never goes off. I'm gonna give checking the codes a shot, more soon...

TurboAccordHSF- the car does not rev itself. A month or so ago, when the S light randomly came on, yes, it made a click noise like gears shifting as the light would go on and off. I'll give resetting the codes a shot. I just remove the neg terminal from the battery for 15 mins to do so, correct? As far as going away, it USED to come on and then go away, but I'm on day 3 now with it staying on. It could go off tomorrow, no telling... Yes, it takes a long time to get going when in drive, basically because it starts off in 2nd gear and never shifts. To alleviate this, I just manually shift to 1st.

I definitely think the problem is electrical. The transmission performs perfectly whenever the light should happen to go off. The 3rd/4th gear solenoid is definitely a possibility, as well as the TCU. I'll check the codes and reply soon.

Thanks again for your help, guys.

[Flatline]

i had a monte carlo that woldn't shift down to 1st. then i got the A/C fixed and BAM! First gear!

[turboAccordHSF]

First off, thanks for the swift replies. You're input is more than appreciated.

Here's the answers to the questions:

Leung-I think I do after reading another thread. Is that the blue connector? I'm guessing I short two of the leads w/ a paperclip and get the code from the blinking S. correct?

NorcoAccord-
the light is on steadily, as in always. It only did the on/off thing a couple times, staying on for a few days and then it went away, but one time it kept switching back and forth right after I put the key in the ignition, before I started the car. The light eventually went away tho, and the car ran/shirfted fine for a month until now. The light is now always on, even before the car starts. It never goes off. I'm gonna give checking the codes a shot, more soon...

TurboAccordHSF- the car does not rev itself. A month or so ago, when the S light randomly came on, yes, it made a click noise like gears shifting as the light would go on and off. I'll give resetting the codes a shot. I just remove the neg terminal from the battery for 15 mins to do so, correct? As far as going away, it USED to come on and then go away, but I'm on day 3 now with it staying on. It could go off tomorrow, no telling... Yes, it takes a long time to get going when in drive, basically because it starts off in 2nd gear and never shifts. To alleviate this, I just manually shift to 1st.

I definitely think the problem is electrical. The transmission performs perfectly whenever the light should happen to go off. The 3rd/4th gear solenoid is definitely a possibility, as well as the TCU. I'll check the codes and reply soon.

Thanks again for your help, guys.

your welcome but hey, now this is what you got to do, get a Transmission computer Unit/Module, this will solve your Problem, but do this after you reset the code and see no results then get a new TCU...i did, i got a 1995 four door accord F22A1 automatic TCU, note that the 95 has no sports shift mode, but still uses the Redline like sports mode, but i'm not telling you to go off and buy a TCU from a 94'95 accord, ok just get a new one 91,90 TCU make sure its automatic! and i think you should get one off ebay for like 50 bucks cuz usually i say go to the junk yard but sometimes they don't work cuz of rain or dirt....unless you go to a good one not like the ones that you can go on and pick your part like if it was kmart..lol but yeah bro you can get other plps opinions b4 you do get one though i don't want you just doing what i said to do just read around hear other plps opinions...

[turboAccordHSF]

i had a monte carlo that woldn't shift down to 1st. then i got the A/C fixed and BAM! First gear!

Monte carlo & Accord are two different cars bro....

[91problems]

so yeah...

I got the TCU code & instead of the S light blinking, the check engine light did. One long blink for 10, then two short blinks. I'm guessing this means 12. Strange, considering that the thread I read on how to check the TCU codes says that 12 is not used! (maybe it's not used because of discontinuing sport mode? j/k) Nah, now I think that it really is just an electrical transmission related component that is starting to go, cuz I disconnected the battery for 15 minutes, and guess what, no more S light! I even drove it around for a bit, all four gears working fine. Weird. So ya dude bros, I guess I got an intermittent prob that (at least for now) can be cured by disconnecting the neg battery terminal and waiting 15 minutes. I can live with that.

I lost sport mode (by cutting the wires, oops) in the process, but I also learned that the accord is smarter than I thought. It can give transmission error codes if you have a paperclip handy, and if you don't speak it's language, you might just blame everything on sport mode (prob not the real prob). Who knew?

Many Mahalos

Aloha