Ok, just bought the car, it has 167k miles and it's an 89' 2.0 4cly. Everything including the a/c works good, except, it wont shift out of 1st into 2nd untill it reaches about 4000 rpm's no matter how little gas i give it, iv tried taking off as slow as possible and always goes up to around 4000 until it shifts. If I press it to the floor it will stay in 1st gear into the redline area and doesn't even want to shift at all...other than that i just drive it normal to school, and work and just as long as I ease off the gas some it seems to help it go ahead and shift just at a higher than normal rpm (always around the 4 grand mark) i have a haynes book on it and checked the fluid as it read...fluid looks fine and so does the level..this is my first time on this site and look forward to learning more about my new 89 accord. I had an 88 accord before that did kind of the same thing but not this bad. -------- Thank you

 

Transmission problems are not as simple to diagnose as engine problems IMO. I would change the tranny fluid (do not have it flushed) with Honda ATF then drive it for a couple of weeks. Then drain and drive again, because draining the tranny only removes a portion of the total fluid.

A misadjusted throttle cable will also cause shifting problems. Also the solenoids have screens on them that can get clogged up over time. It might be worthwhile to clean the screens and solenoids.

 

Thanks bro,

By draining the fluid only, you mean just loosen the drain plug, and let whatever fluid comes out then replacing that amount back right with new right? also on my dip-stick i dont see a add or full marked on it...just two xx's at the bottom.

Where are the screens and solenoids at, and how do i clean them?

And is adjusting the throttle cable a do-it-your-selfer job? It seems like that may be what is is too.

peace

 

And are you talking about the Throttle control cable that goes to the tranny in the pic below?

[IMG]local://upfiles/15456/7B166563E5DB49DA9193B93351B44D11.jpg[/IMG]

 

Your 89 does not have solenoids and screens that can be cleaned.
That throttle cable that goes to the pressure lever on the front of the trans , should be adjusted by loosening the cable at the pressure lever then have some one lightly step on the gas pedal. Tighten up the cable slack so it winds up that just as the RPM increases, the pressure lever just barely starts to rise.
Be sure there is a little slack in the THROTTLE cable before you start doing adjustments.
When you drain the trans you need to refill it with 3 qts of trans fluid, Honda Z-1 ATF is good stuff.

 

thanks Hondadude,

I will give this a try, although it seems it may be easier said than done for me..but i will be patient and see if i can do it...hope i dont mess it up..

 

update: Ok tried it today and the engine was ideling too fast so i adjusted it back to where it was about....

Im thinking I need to get the idel right first then try again...it idle's at like 1500 rpm....in park...

 

That seems unusually high.

Mine idols at around 800-1000RPM.

Im not sure if there right.

But my car also shifts at high RMPs, making it jurky whenever it shifts.