I was driving to work last week and my check engine light came on. I finished the drive to work (2 miles or so) and when I went to leave work the light came right back on. It sounded fine, so I was just going to drive it home. I backed out of my spot (ramp garage) and started up this incline. It held onto first gear excessively and violently shifted to second (enough to chirp the tires). Well, it did this multiple times on the way home, and I had to turn around to park and their was no reverse. The engine would simply spin as if it were in neutral. I was a little peeved and I revved it up a bit more (say 4k rpm) at which point it decided to engage reverse and I just about smacked my face on the steering wheel. I called Honda Roadside people, but of course this was on a Sunday evening, so it got towed Monday morning. To make a long story short, the check engine light was from a bad O2 sensor. The tech said that it could have been malfunctioning for some time, but still given reasonable data so that it didnt throw any codes. He felt that this could partly explain my wonderful 23 mpg Ive been getting on the highway. As far as the transmission is concerned, it was some solenoid/actuator that allowed varying clutch pressure, etc. He claimed that it drove violently because it had no clutching to ease it into gear, and that is also why it would rev so high before catching. Well, any of you gearheads out there have any input. I have seen O2 sensors changed and had remarkable improvements in performance/mpg, but whether or not this is the culprit we will see. Since I got it back, it has been snowed in under about 3 feet, and I dont feel like digging it out. Lazziness has set in this winter...

 

wow.. sorry to hear that.. what mileage does your fit have?

hope this fix will improve the MPG..


update us later...

 

Changed my AT trany oil to a synthetic trans oil (Mobil)- I know I'm not suppose to-got to use Honda stuff-- I did it-GUILTY as charged- my fit runs better-smother upshifts, better milage
PS-
Don't bother sending me all that crap about voiding my warranty either.