Help Solve The Unsolvable Problem!

[tear2wo]

ok well this has me, and a couple other mechanics stumped. to start off i have a F22B1 engine w/POA ecu and a H22 AUTO LSD tranny with 40k miles with a P19 tcu.

so my problem is that when i drive my car, most of the time i only ride in 1st and 3rd gear. when im on the high way it shifts to 4th. but in the city my transmission only shifts one time. the only time that my car shifts 3 times is when after i drive i turn off the car for about 10 minutes and turn her back on OR when im slowing down to a stop sign and then hit the gas again.

also my reverse gear takes about 15-30 seconds to kick in. started happening when the other problem started.

so far this is what i know and have done to try and find a remedy:

1.tranny is in good condition, problem occured with old tranny
2. TCU has no codes. opened up the tcu and everything looks good
3. did a drain n fill with Honda ATF.
4.CEL codes 41 and 21

when the car is having THE PROBLEM it feels very sluggish, i hit the gas and i slowly go fast. but when the car is acting normal, it feels super quick and responsive , when i hit the gas the tranny either downshifts or picks up speed super fast... kind of like if vtec is engaged.

these are what i think could possibly be the problem..

1. vtec isnt hooked up
2. shift cable is messed up
3. need a new tranny mount
4. need to switch the A6 and A11 pins in ecu (i doubt it though because these two wires are for the o2 sensor and EGR)

anyone has any ideas on where i should start looking for the problem or anything else i can check?


thanks in advance!

[19dabeast85]

Check the TPS (think there's a diy here). The TPS along with the map sensor and o2 sensor controls your fuel curve. The TPS also sends a signal to the TCU to let it know throttle position and thus the needed firmness and quickness of shifts.

Check your tranny kickdown cable and make sure it has very little to no slack.

Could be a bad shift solenoid on the front of the tranny.

[jdmjimmy22]

Bad kickdown cable or valve body.......

[tear2wo]

Bad kickdown cable or valve body.......

im leaning towards a bad kickdown cable .. would this explain both the reverse problem and gearing issue or just the reverse problem ?

i dont think my shift solenoids are bad since the owner of the new trans had no problems with it whatsoever

[Losiracer2]

check you shift cable. I had this happen to me awhile back. The cable was coming undone from the trans side. Or it was really loose...this caused a delay when shifting into reverse.

Either that or your cable is really old and is gumming up or got stretched somehow. I've got a spare one from when I was auto just sitting in my AUTO parts box in my garage if you need one...PM me

[tear2wo]

check you shift cable. I had this happen to me awhile back. The cable was coming undone from the trans side. Or it was really loose...this caused a delay when shifting into reverse.

Either that or your cable is really old and is gumming up or got stretched somehow. I've got a spare one from when I was auto just sitting in my AUTO parts box in my garage if you need one...PM me

ill double check the shift cable. i think this could be causing the delay in reverse.

okay well i figured out a way to have the car have all four gears.

since my drive way is on a hill, i must park the car in reverse so the front of the car is facing down. maybe causing the tranny fluid to sit in the front? somehow this helps me get all four gears when i start the car in the morning .

now after i drive it and park it for about 45 minutes (on a flat road) .. when i start it i only have two gears again .. so i drive it for about 2 minutes, then turn the car off and turn it on. when i turn it on i have all four gears again .

im thinking this is happening because the tranny fluid just sits at the bottom of the tranny .. ne ideas?

[Losiracer2]

ill double check the shift cable. i think this could be causing the delay in reverse.

okay well i figured out a way to have the car have all four gears.

since my drive way is on a hill, i must park the car in reverse so the front of the car is facing down. maybe causing the tranny fluid to sit in the front? somehow this helps me get all four gears when i start the car in the morning .

now after i drive it and park it for about 45 minutes (on a flat road) .. when i start it i only have two gears again .. so i drive it for about 2 minutes, then turn the car off and turn it on. when i turn it on i have all four gears again .

im thinking this is happening because the tranny fluid just sits at the bottom of the tranny .. ne ideas?

maybe your solenoids are clogged? and its choosing when to shift, like an intermittent problem. Have you taken them off to inspect the screens yet for blockage of whatever?

[cb7pr]

good to see you still motivated.

[rtek72]

hmm, not sure
i know mine sometimes wont start and the d4 is flashing
had to mess with the cable adjustment to match the electronic sensor on the gear selector...
havent had that issue for a couple months, so may have it lined up right...

[ingold]

I didn't read the replys but I think I can rule out the vtec not being hooked up correctly, mine did this when I had my a1 in it. I now have a b1. I have the same problem, but only after it rains/snows.

[PR CB7]

you have CEL

as

you have CTL ("check trans" light)


count the blinks

whats happening is the trans, is going on limp mode being the sluggish feeling
its not sluggish, you trans is shifting from 1st to 3rd, and at so low RPM's the TC is actually doing all the work from 1500-3500k rpm

there's 1-2 solenoid, 3-4 solenoid, nc speed sensor(magnetic ) nm speed sensor, and differential speed sensor (big tower w power steering lines going to it)

the console shifter rarely goes bad, TCU, shifter cable and kickdown adjustment

auto trans diag is easy, ten times better than manual, ask losi

also WTF u waiting to hook vtec up?

[tear2wo]

you have CEL

as

you have CTL ("check trans" light)


count the blinks

whats happening is the trans, is going on limp mode being the sluggish feeling
its not sluggish, you trans is shifting from 1st to 3rd, and at so low RPM's the TC is actually doing all the work from 1500-3500k rpm

there's 1-2 solenoid, 3-4 solenoid, nc speed sensor(magnetic ) nm speed sensor, and differential speed sensor (big tower w power steering lines going to it)

the console shifter rarely goes bad, TCU, shifter cable and kickdown adjustment

auto trans diag is easy, ten times better than manual, ask losi

also WTF u waiting to hook vtec up?

you say i have a ctl .. but when i jump the blue connector only the cel lights up, not the d4 light. its not giving me any codes from the tcu. i also heard that an led by the tcu lights up too and it tells you the code but i have no led at all ..