Hey guys, as you all can see this is my first post here. I just bought my first Accord this week, but 2nd Honda. I had to listen to the wife and buy an automatic, but I still love the car. Anyway, I have a 1998 Accors LX 3.0 automatic. When I was taking the car to work this morning, I noticed that the RPM's were a little higher than I was comfortable with on I-95. When I was cruising around 80 mph, the engine was turning around 4000 RPM. Does it seem to anyone else like this is high, an if so any suggestions for things to check before I have to bite the bullet and talk to a tranny shop. Thanks for the help to all.

 

I'd check for codes first.

 

I checked the codes, I have a P0420 and an EGR code. I checked the EGR per the Haynes manual and it checked as bad (no continuity), so I replaced it. The other is a cat code, and I am going to put a high-flow cat and use the "defouler trick" to get that one gone. The car is strange, when sitting at a stop light, it shows my idle as being about 1200 rpm. According to my ear, the car doesn't sound like it is running that high. Then if I take off from the light as fast as I can, the tach shoots up beyond the ond of the guage (what would be the 9000 rpm range). I have heard motors tach that high, and there is no way that motor is turning that fast, I could see no more than 6000 under max acceleration, but for the tach to read 9000, I am at a loss.

 

I also just happened to notice that the tabs on the bottom of the instrument cluster are on the outside of the trim, meaning someone has been in the dash. Is it possible that the original 6cyl guages were swapped for 4 cyl guages? Or is there a difference, I apologize for the ignorence. I am just trying to find the easiest solution. Thanks again all.