Our 91 Honda Accord LX sports mode light comes on right when we start up the car sometimes. If it is on, the car will not shift out of 1st. If it does not come on, the car shifts fine.
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Anonymous
ANSWERS: 4
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People who drive in a manner that requires sports mode generally hold gears a lot longer than most people so as to rev the engine up to where it actually produces power. Most people are uncomfortable revving past 3000 RPM because it sounds (to them) like the engine will rev itself to pieces. Most cars get their best performance over 4000 and Hondas usually come alive at RPMs that many other cars cannot reach: 6000+. With that in mind, how high does the engine rev when it won't come out of 1st? If you don't bother to bring it over 4000 then you have NO idea what "Sports mode" is and should trade your Accord to someone who knows how to handle such a car. Get yourself a Taurus or a Regal. As for why it automatically goes to sports mode.... I must wonder about your driving style first of all since I am now suspicious as to whether you actually know the controls to your vehicle. Sports Mode is usually a driver-selectable thing. Maybe you're telling it to enter Sports Mode without realizing it?
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Well it seems to be working okay for me so far in life...
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Too much conversing and no answering of the question that I saw. This is "limp-home mode" for the 90-93 Accords. Only 2nd gear is available in this mode. Basically you should be driving in this mode only to get to a mechanic (or home). The sports light will come on to tell you there is a problem with the transmission. Get an error code readout from the TCM/TCU (transmission control module/unit). Many times it turns out the TCM is fried. This is a common problem on this vintage of Accord. Rebuilt TCUs are readily available. I got mine from a yard and no problems 3 years since. I had the same symptoms as you. This site helped me immensely. http://home.earthlink.net/~michaelpkeefe/HowTo_Codes.htm good luck!
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1989 through 1993 Accords had a problem with bad capacitors in their tcu.The capacitors would leak causing the s light or "sport mode" light to come on and prevent the car from shifting out of second gear.If you disconnect negative battery cable for 10 seconds or so the reconnect this resets the tcu and car will shift fine,but only for short time "maybe 2 days".Cheapest fix is remove tcu,then remove cover,take it to Radio shack they can show you which ones are bad and how to upgrade them.Fixed mine 2yrs ago and cost under $5.00.
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