93 Accord EX automatic: only have gears 1 and 2
05-12-2008, 10:05 AM
#1
93 Accord EX automatic: only have gears 1 and 2
My car has recently developed the following problem: it only goes into the first two gears. The gear selector layout is this:
P R N D4 D3 2 1
When I put it in R, N, D4, and D3, it seems to only go into the first gear. The lights on the dashboard correspond to the setting I see at the gear selector -- that is, when the lever's at D4, the light says D4, but the transmission goes only to first gear. When I set it to 2, it goes into second gear; 1 goes to first gear.
I checked the transmission fluid after all this happened. There's plenty of it, and it looks clean.
Here's the back story:
For a long time, I've had to give the lever a quick jerk to get it in or out of P. On a long trip (over 1000 miles) I took recently, P became reverse. Later, on the same trip, the lever became very hard to move, and after giving it a hard yank, P turned back into park, but then R and N became forward gears. I needed someone to push the car backwards so I could leave from the service station. It also turned out that when in D4, it only went up to second gear.
Later on the same trip, I dropped off one of the passengers, but then D3 no longer went into third gear! I think it only did first gear in D3. Fortunately I didn't have to go on the freeway anymore, so I was able to limp home using 2, and then friends helped me parallel park by pushing my car backwards into the spot. (Since I don't have neutral when the car is on, I had to turn off the car and use my key to allow a gear selector change; the gears seem to be disengaged when the car is off but the selector is on any setting other than P.)
I've read some similar stories saying that a gear selector stuck in P is indicative of problems with a cable. A friend of mine pointed out that the problems started from the top down -- first R, N, then D4, then D3 -- and that this could mean that there's a problem with a cable or a return spring.
Anyone have advice on this? Is it a cable or the transmission? I assume that if it's the transmission, it's not worth fixing. If it's the cable, how hard is it to change? I do have a Honda service manual.
Modified by wch at 12:02 PM 5/12/2008
P R N D4 D3 2 1
When I put it in R, N, D4, and D3, it seems to only go into the first gear. The lights on the dashboard correspond to the setting I see at the gear selector -- that is, when the lever's at D4, the light says D4, but the transmission goes only to first gear. When I set it to 2, it goes into second gear; 1 goes to first gear.
I checked the transmission fluid after all this happened. There's plenty of it, and it looks clean.
Here's the back story:
For a long time, I've had to give the lever a quick jerk to get it in or out of P. On a long trip (over 1000 miles) I took recently, P became reverse. Later, on the same trip, the lever became very hard to move, and after giving it a hard yank, P turned back into park, but then R and N became forward gears. I needed someone to push the car backwards so I could leave from the service station. It also turned out that when in D4, it only went up to second gear.
Later on the same trip, I dropped off one of the passengers, but then D3 no longer went into third gear! I think it only did first gear in D3. Fortunately I didn't have to go on the freeway anymore, so I was able to limp home using 2, and then friends helped me parallel park by pushing my car backwards into the spot. (Since I don't have neutral when the car is on, I had to turn off the car and use my key to allow a gear selector change; the gears seem to be disengaged when the car is off but the selector is on any setting other than P.)
I've read some similar stories saying that a gear selector stuck in P is indicative of problems with a cable. A friend of mine pointed out that the problems started from the top down -- first R, N, then D4, then D3 -- and that this could mean that there's a problem with a cable or a return spring.
Anyone have advice on this? Is it a cable or the transmission? I assume that if it's the transmission, it's not worth fixing. If it's the cable, how hard is it to change? I do have a Honda service manual.
Modified by wch at 12:02 PM 5/12/2008
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05-12-2008, 06:30 PM
#2
Re: 93 Accord EX automatic: only have gears 1 and 2 (wch)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by wch »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">My car has recently developed the following problem: it only goes into the first two gears. The gear selector layout is this:
P R N D4 D3 2 1
When I put it in R, N, D4, and D3, it seems to only go into the first gear. The lights on the dashboard correspond to the setting I see at the gear selector -- that is, when the lever's at D4, the light says D4, but the transmission goes only to first gear. When I set it to 2, it goes into second gear; 1 goes to first gear.
I checked the transmission fluid after all this happened. There's plenty of it, and it looks clean.
Here's the back story:
For a long time, I've had to give the lever a quick jerk to get it in or out of P. On a long trip (over 1000 miles) I took recently, P became reverse. Later, on the same trip, the lever became very hard to move, and after giving it a hard yank, P turned back into park, but then R and N became forward gears. I needed someone to push the car backwards so I could leave from the service station. It also turned out that when in D4, it only went up to second gear.
Later on the same trip, I dropped off one of the passengers, but then D3 no longer went into third gear! I think it only did first gear in D3. Fortunately I didn't have to go on the freeway anymore, so I was able to limp home using 2, and then friends helped me parallel park by pushing my car backwards into the spot. (Since I don't have neutral when the car is on, I had to turn off the car and use my key to allow a gear selector change; the gears seem to be disengaged when the car is off but the selector is on any setting other than P.)
I've read some similar stories saying that a gear selector stuck in P is indicative of problems with a cable. A friend of mine pointed out that the problems started from the top down -- first R, N, then D4, then D3 -- and that this could mean that there's a problem with a cable or a return spring.
Anyone have advice on this? Is it a cable or the transmission? I assume that if it's the transmission, it's not worth fixing. If it's the cable, how hard is it to change? I do have a Honda service manual.
Modified by wch at 12:02 PM 5/12/2008</TD></TR></TABLE>
It could possibly be the shift cable out of adjustment, but I'm leaning more toward a worn out position sensor (transmission range switch).
To test the position sensor, put the selector in the neutral position. Tap the shifter with your hand toward the "R" and "D4" positions without actually forcing it into gear. Keep your eyes on the dash indicator. While you are tapping the shifter, the "N" light should stay fully lit. If it's fading or blinking out, your position sensor needs replaced. If your position sensor is worn out, the ECU doesn't know what gear the transmission is in. This typically results in slipping, delayed engagement or many other wacky characteristics (including stuck in granny gear).
To adjust the shift cable, you may want to refer to other threads. In older models, my area of expertise is limited.
P R N D4 D3 2 1
When I put it in R, N, D4, and D3, it seems to only go into the first gear. The lights on the dashboard correspond to the setting I see at the gear selector -- that is, when the lever's at D4, the light says D4, but the transmission goes only to first gear. When I set it to 2, it goes into second gear; 1 goes to first gear.
I checked the transmission fluid after all this happened. There's plenty of it, and it looks clean.
Here's the back story:
For a long time, I've had to give the lever a quick jerk to get it in or out of P. On a long trip (over 1000 miles) I took recently, P became reverse. Later, on the same trip, the lever became very hard to move, and after giving it a hard yank, P turned back into park, but then R and N became forward gears. I needed someone to push the car backwards so I could leave from the service station. It also turned out that when in D4, it only went up to second gear.
Later on the same trip, I dropped off one of the passengers, but then D3 no longer went into third gear! I think it only did first gear in D3. Fortunately I didn't have to go on the freeway anymore, so I was able to limp home using 2, and then friends helped me parallel park by pushing my car backwards into the spot. (Since I don't have neutral when the car is on, I had to turn off the car and use my key to allow a gear selector change; the gears seem to be disengaged when the car is off but the selector is on any setting other than P.)
I've read some similar stories saying that a gear selector stuck in P is indicative of problems with a cable. A friend of mine pointed out that the problems started from the top down -- first R, N, then D4, then D3 -- and that this could mean that there's a problem with a cable or a return spring.
Anyone have advice on this? Is it a cable or the transmission? I assume that if it's the transmission, it's not worth fixing. If it's the cable, how hard is it to change? I do have a Honda service manual.
Modified by wch at 12:02 PM 5/12/2008</TD></TR></TABLE>
It could possibly be the shift cable out of adjustment, but I'm leaning more toward a worn out position sensor (transmission range switch).
To test the position sensor, put the selector in the neutral position. Tap the shifter with your hand toward the "R" and "D4" positions without actually forcing it into gear. Keep your eyes on the dash indicator. While you are tapping the shifter, the "N" light should stay fully lit. If it's fading or blinking out, your position sensor needs replaced. If your position sensor is worn out, the ECU doesn't know what gear the transmission is in. This typically results in slipping, delayed engagement or many other wacky characteristics (including stuck in granny gear).
To adjust the shift cable, you may want to refer to other threads. In older models, my area of expertise is limited.
05-12-2008, 07:19 PM
#3
Re: 93 Accord EX automatic: only have gears 1 and 2 (hilltopgraphics)
<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by hilltopgraphics »</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
It could possibly be the shift cable out of adjustment, but I'm leaning more toward a worn out position sensor (transmission range switch).
To test the position sensor, put the selector in the neutral position. Tap the shifter with your hand toward the "R" and "D4" positions without actually forcing it into gear. Keep your eyes on the dash indicator. While you are tapping the shifter, the "N" light should stay fully lit. If it's fading or blinking out, your position sensor needs replaced. If your position sensor is worn out, the ECU doesn't know what gear the transmission is in. This typically results in slipping, delayed engagement or many other wacky characteristics (including stuck in granny gear).
To adjust the shift cable, you may want to refer to other threads. In older models, my area of expertise is limited.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Thanks for the tip. I went out for a stroll -- my car is parked several blocks away because that was the closest spot I could find that didn't require reverse to get out of -- and I checked it out. There's no blinking or fading, so that means it's not the position sensor?
Also, each time my problems changed, they were preceded with physical changes in the shift selector's resistance, so I strongly suspect some sort of mechanical problem...
It could possibly be the shift cable out of adjustment, but I'm leaning more toward a worn out position sensor (transmission range switch).
To test the position sensor, put the selector in the neutral position. Tap the shifter with your hand toward the "R" and "D4" positions without actually forcing it into gear. Keep your eyes on the dash indicator. While you are tapping the shifter, the "N" light should stay fully lit. If it's fading or blinking out, your position sensor needs replaced. If your position sensor is worn out, the ECU doesn't know what gear the transmission is in. This typically results in slipping, delayed engagement or many other wacky characteristics (including stuck in granny gear).
To adjust the shift cable, you may want to refer to other threads. In older models, my area of expertise is limited.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Thanks for the tip. I went out for a stroll -- my car is parked several blocks away because that was the closest spot I could find that didn't require reverse to get out of -- and I checked it out. There's no blinking or fading, so that means it's not the position sensor?
Also, each time my problems changed, they were preceded with physical changes in the shift selector's resistance, so I strongly suspect some sort of mechanical problem...
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05-15-2008, 01:27 PM
#4
Re: 93 Accord EX automatic: only have gears 1 and 2 (wch)
If you're getting mechanical resistance in the shift lever then obviously there's an issue with the linkage. As I stated in my earlier post, ask around some of the dealer techs on here on how to adjust your shift cable. They'll be able to help a lot more with that than I can. 
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05-19-2008, 07:35 AM
#5
Re: 93 Accord EX automatic: only have gears 1 and 2 (hilltopgraphics)
Update: I replaced the cable (I think the official name is the AT selector cable) and everything works great now. I'm glad it wasn't a problem with the transmission! The old cable feels like it has severely frayed inside the housing. I haven't opened it up, but I suspect that some water got in there, causing the cable to rust.
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