Hi All:
On my 89 Accord, I can use the button to lock my doors but it will not unlock any of them. I can assume the fuse is good with the locks locking. Is there a module for the locks somewhere on this car? I had the door panel off the other day and had to replace the window motor. I pulled the power motor off the door mechanism and tested..it seemed fine. Another strange thing on the drivers door...when you close the door you can lock and unlock it fine(manually) but when the door is open, you cannot lock the door. It will not push down, but close the door and works??? Guess I need another latch. So if I need a module, I can get one when I get the latch. Where is the module located at on this model?
I also have a problem with the transmission. It revs up pretty good when it shifts gears. Kinda like the torque converter is not locking up. The kick down cable is broke( from the carb to the transmission). I thought about pulling the cable a little and holding in place with some visegrips and trying to see if that firms up the shift points for the transmission. When I shift the car manually, it shifts fine.. That's why I was wondering if the kickdown cable might have something to do with the shifting. I have drained and refilled the transmission 4 times already.
Thank You and God Bless US All....John

 

Trans: If the throttle control cable/kick down to the trans is broken, replace it. Yes it controls shift points and lock up (not sure if the LX had the lock up converter but I know the LXi did). So address this before doing any more trans maint.

Door locks, do you have a volt meter or test light to perform a few tests?

 

Thank you Poorman.. I do have a test light and volt meter. I finally found where the module is for the PDL's under the passengers seat.
I was thinking that the kickdown had something to do with the shifting points, but wasn't quite sure. Now to find a cable for it. The 2 that I know of in a boneyard have the FI motors in them. Do you know if the cable(kickdown) is the same for them? If so, I'm in business..
I thought it was strange that you could manually shift the car at about 3000-3500 rpm's and it does fine, but you put in D4 and it acts like it wants to rev up higher and not take the gear, but when you get up to 50 or so, it does fine.. So I'll find a kickdown cable and replace it.
The only thing I wish the car had was a sunroof...LOL..Thanks again and God Bless US All...John

 

Don't know if the cables are the same? My guess, I've owned both FI and Carb, is no.

A-1 in Lebanon (615-444-8167 / 615-259-9271) or Qualis in Lafayette (1-888-880-4095) look to have a carb model or two in the yard? You can use something like "car-part" dot com and look around - I couldn't find a listing for the throttle control/kickdown cable but looked a few things that would only be on a carb model - the trans might be and issue?
EDIT: Qualis shows to have an auto trans for the 89 carb model....A-1 shows an auto trans for an 88 carb (88 cable should work...maybe 87 and 86 but there were "some" differences in them)

Not sure if you need additional help on the door locks or not?

 

Poorman:
I have been up to Qualls a few times. He doesn't have any of the cars on the lot at this time, but may have the Tranny. I checked with another in Scottsville,Ky and he has 2, but both of the are F.I. cars and the cable appears to be too short. He told me to take the old one off and see if he couldn't match one up. If it stops raining today, I plan on trying to use some vise-grips and pull the cable little by little and clamping in place to see if it makes the car shift better.
Also on the door lock, I was going to get one from Ky and started taking it off when I realized that it wouldn't lock when the door was open..same as mine so maybe it's a safety feature or something..So I didn't get it.
Thank You and God Bless US All...John

 

Oh....yea. It won't lock the door when open.....I guess to keep you from locking your keys in the car ??? I don't really know.

Hold the inner door handle in the "open" position and it will lock. Just don't lock your keys in the car

I was using "car-part dot com" trying to find a bone yard near you that had a carb'd Accord.

There is an adjustment procedure that you can review to see how the cable is suppose to move/be adjusted.

 

UPDATE on the Transmission..
I finally located a Transmission cable and installed..She shifts just fine now. It was hard to locate around here. All I could fine was the F.I. cars and finally found one 200 miles away, so a road trip was in order..Well worth it.
Until the next time. Thank You and God Bless US All...John

 

Sorry for the road trip but it sounds like it was worth it

Thanks for the follow up....hope you don't but if you do run into other questions let us know.

Take care.