1992 honda accord AT shifts late.... why?

My friends 1992 accord automatic is slow to shift into the next gear.
If I drive like a rocket, it is fine, but if I drive like a granny it
races the motor and eventually shifts into the next gear when you get
going fast enough.

Is there a vaccum sensor that could be malfunctioning, or could someone
have put in a "racing chip" in the computer? I don't know, I just
guessing.

Has anyone experienced this?

Thanks

Tor

 

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Since auto trannies run on ATF, that would be the first question to help
him figure out . . What's the vehicle's mileage? Is it full enough, and
what's the color / smell like? What's the mileage since it was last
replaced, and was HONDA fluid used? Is it overdue? Does it presently
shift HARD, or smoothly?

'Curly'

 

What's the deal with "Was it Honda fluid"?

 

StoneyStude wrote:

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If non-honda fluid has been used, the tranny could be 'toast' by now.
It's been covered a million times. Honda trannies are designed to run on
Honda Z1. The manual says you can use dexron as an 'emergency
replacement', but that's if you are in a town where Z1 isn't available.
You can't expect to troubleshoot a tranny without making sure you've
answered the questions I asked.

Is there a problem with that? You seem to want to skip the most
important point for some reason . . .

'Curly'

 

I am the original poster, and I do not know of its level. It has 88,000
miles and it does shift hard. I will check the level/smell and report
back.

thanks

Tor

 

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Don't bother with the sniff test . . If it's shifting hard, you need to
get it changed with Honda Z1, at least twice. Preferably a couple days
apart so you can catch the maximum amount of metal filings on the
magnet, and to scrape any buildup from the clutch faces. Somebody has
put the wrong stuff in there. It may not be too late. It's an easy DIY
job, if your friend is up for it. I'd drive it hard between the first
and second change . . . . And I'd do it a third time since it has a
foreign lube in there.

'Curly'