Blinking D4 shift indicator

Discussion in 'General Motoring' started by Cameo, Sep 11, 2010.

  1. Cameo

    Cameo Guest

    Last (and first) time it happened was over a year ago, and now it
    happened again. I parked my '94 Accord for a short time to pick up a
    newspaper and when I tried to start the car again, I noticed the D4
    shift indicator in the instrument panel was blinking. This time I knew
    what to expect when trying to shift into a forward gear: the car hardly
    moved, as if the engine was not engaging the transmission firmly (or the
    transmission the wheels.) The RPM was there, but the car was hardly
    moving. Only the reverse seemed to work OK. Having been through this
    experience before, I suspected that the problem will cure itself by just
    letting the car park a bit longer before I start it again. Sure enough,
    that's what happened and I was able to drive on fine.

    This is one nasty problem, because the Honda dealer supposedly already
    fixed it after the first occurance by replacing the shift control
    solenoid valve assembly but now I think that was a wrong and unnecessary
    fix. The real cause must be somewhere else. I suspect this problem might
    be related to another similar problem I've had a couple times in the
    last two years where the car would not even start after some short
    stops, usually on a hot day. Most of you guys were betting on that one,
    when I first reported it here last year, that it was caused by a
    failing main relay. In that case the engine would not even start, but
    the problem would disappear after waiting with the start for a few
    minutes.

    Now I wonder if the failing main relay might be causing both of these
    problems. I'm afraid to take the car to the same Honda dealer who might
    try to sell me yet another shift control solenoid that does not really
    fix the problem.

    What do you think, guys? Should I try another Honda dealer or an
    independent Honda shop? I don't really have the tools and know-how to
    fix it myself. Having some insight from you, however, might help me to
    judge if the next service technician really knows what he is supposed
    to.
     
    Cameo, Sep 11, 2010
    #1
  2. Cameo

    J.L.Hemmer Guest

    When my D4 started to blink, the problem WAS solved with a
    transmission control module (the computer). YMMV
     
    J.L.Hemmer, Sep 11, 2010
    #2
  3. Cameo

    jim beam Guest

    what code are you getting?
     
    jim beam, Sep 11, 2010
    #3
  4. Cameo

    Cameo Guest

    I don't have a code reader.
     
    Cameo, Sep 11, 2010
    #4
  5. Cameo

    jim beam Guest

    you don't need one for the 94. use a bent paperclip on the readout
    connector, and get the code from the gauge light flashes.
     
    jim beam, Sep 12, 2010
    #5
  6. Cameo

    Cameo Guest

    Oh, I see ... There is a blue plastic female connector under the
    glove box with a 3-prong and a 2-prong male connector stuck in it. I
    assume the the latter is the readout connector, right? It has a red and
    green wire connected to it.
     
    Cameo, Sep 12, 2010
    #6
  7. Cameo

    Tegger Guest



    The 2-prong is the one.

    Turn the key to "II" after inserting the paper clip.
     
    Tegger, Sep 12, 2010
    #7
  8. Cameo

    Cameo Guest

    Thanks for the confirm, Tegger. I did as you wrote and the D4 light
    returned a code with a series of flashes. After about 2 secs of setting
    the key to position 2, there was one short blink followed by a long
    pause, then 8 short blinks in rapid succession. This sequence then kept
    repeating. I'm not sure whether that 1st blink with the long pause
    should be interpreted as one long flash that would mean 10, or just 1.
    Adding the blinks together in the first case would mean code 18 (10 +
    1), in the latter case code 9 (1 + 8). However, the code chart I got
    only goes up to 15.

    In any case, I made a short video clip of the flashing sequence so you
    can see it for yourself and let me know how to interpret it. The video
    quality is pretty crappy from my shaking hand, but you can still see the
    D4 shift indicator flashes pretty clearly. You should be able to get the
    video streaming from the following link:

    http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/pgq5GlSHXyFTuVOuYLX5OxG_5eaM5TeH4rH7k6zp73E?feat=directlink
     
    Cameo, Sep 12, 2010
    #8
  9. Cameo

    Tegger Guest



    You've got codes 1 and 8.

    How does the transmission behave if you put the lever in 2 instead of D4?
     
    Tegger, Sep 12, 2010
    #9
  10. Cameo

    Cameo Guest

    Oh, that makes sense. I just didn't know the computer can save multiple
    codes. Can they be codes from different episodes or they are just from
    the last one? I wonder because before this last episode I had a similar
    one earlier but at that time I could not even start the car after a
    short stop. That's when most of you guys suspected the main relay as the
    cause. Unfortunately I still didn't have the chance to watch the
    odometer's needle during cranking (as you suggested) at such episode.
    Now I wonder if one of the two codes was produced et that earlier
    episode and the other code at this last one. What if they did not reset
    the earlier code? How would you clear it anyway?

    I got hold of the diagnostic troubleshooting chart for codes 1 and 8 and
    both of them suggest solenoids located next to each other: the lock-up
    control (code 1) and shift control (code 8) solenoids. However, as the
    shift control solenoid was replaced last year (probably unnecessarily) I
    doubt that would be at fault this time.
    It behaves normally now but I'm not sure if that was also the case
    during the episode.
     
    Cameo, Sep 13, 2010
    #10
  11. Cameo

    jim beam Guest

    the next thing to do is erase the codes and see what comes back. if
    both go away and don't recur, you have an intermittent which is more
    likely to be a loose electrical connector or just a glitch. if it one
    or both return immediately, you have a solid failures which you can then
    repair.
     
    jim beam, Sep 13, 2010
    #11
  12. Cameo

    Cameo Guest

    OK, so how do I do that?
     
    Cameo, Sep 13, 2010
    #12
  13. Cameo

    Tegger Guest


    Better make sure. This is critically important.
     
    Tegger, Sep 14, 2010
    #13
  14. Cameo

    Tegger Guest


    Remove the Backup (Radio) fuse for ten seconds. This will also erase your
    radio presets and will reset the clock.

    Given your other symptoms, I think your tranny has deeper problems.
     
    Tegger, Sep 14, 2010
    #14
  15. Cameo

    Cameo Guest

    OK, done. I drove about 10 miles and then I checked for any code again.
    There was/is none.
    Are you trying to put the fear of God in me? :-( Except the one or two
    episodes like that the car runs fine. The A/T also shifts smoothly. In
    any case, I'll be checking for any returned code more frequently now
    that I know how easy it is.
     
    Cameo, Sep 14, 2010
    #15
  16. Cameo

    Dabbler Guest

    Those troubleshooting decision trees in the Honda Service Manual may not
    be very useful to diagnose problems that could not have been foreseen by
    Honda engineers at the time the service manuals were printed, i.e., when
    the cars were introduced. I think these strange warm engine restart
    failures after years of ownerships are such. I have not seen any such
    symptoms listed in the Service Manual's troubleshooting section. Using
    DTC-s to diagnose these transitory problems is therefore probably
    useless or misleading. I think such problems are only addressed by Honda
    in service bulletins, if at all. But they are not as easily available to
    individual car owners as is the official service manual.
     
    Dabbler, Sep 16, 2010
    #16
  17. Cameo

    Flatlander Guest

    Yeah, he is...because Honda's record with transmissions hasn't exactly
    been stellar. The transmission doesn't fail all at once. These
    intermittent issues tend to become more and more frequent as it heads
    south...

    ....said the 2001 Accord owner with experience...
     
    Flatlander, Sep 16, 2010
    #17
  18. Cameo

    Clams Guest


    Considering my 2000 Accord at 189k and my 2005 Pilot at 122k continue to
    run fine with no apparent transmission problems, but I never had a GM,
    Ford or Chrysler product last 120k on a transmission, I have to
    seriously question your claim.
     
    Clams, Sep 16, 2010
    #18
  19. Cameo

    Cameo Guest

    I think some model years are better than others.
     
    Cameo, Sep 16, 2010
    #19
  20. Cameo

    Flatlander Guest

    Covered by a recall - which is a good thing about Honda.
     
    Flatlander, Sep 16, 2010
    #20
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