1989 Acura Legend Shifting Problems

I am having a problem with my 1989 acura Legend V-6L coupe, automatic transmission, both of the "s" lights are on, and i cannot take off fast in drive, or s, only in gear 2, and i cannot turn off the "s" mode. I was thinking it mioght be the switch, but any input from anyone would be greatly appreciated, thank you.

I am not too sure about your problem with the "S" gear, but I have a '90 Legend and have a lot of problems with my transmission as well. I have had my car for about 6-8 months and just had a rebuilt transmission put in my car because the old one was not shifting properly. Now that I have put about 200 miles on it it is still giving me the same problems. It feels like it is going from 1st gear at the beginning then winds out, then goes into 4th. I think we just need to get another car if you ask me. If you have any other suggestions let me know.

Hey I am having the ame problem. I got this car a month ago from a guy cheap. I found out a week ago after driving it that It seems to be stuck in 3rd gear. That is S3 the light has been on the whole time and I can not turn it off. I can manualy shift the trans from 2nd to 3rd while driving. The other thing is that at night when I put the head lights and the ignitiion switch is on the the guage board will not light up P,R,D,or 2 only S3. When the ignition switch is off it will iluminate the P,R,D,S3,S4,and2. I belive that the problem may lie in the "Shift Control Solenoid Valve A/B". I have not tested the solenoid to see if they have gone bad. One more thing I am getting a chirpping like from a bird it is comming from the front left hand tire. I nor anybody I have talk to has any clue what is causing it. It starts once the car has traveled a distance of like 30 feet and at a spped of 5mph or more. I would appericate any help in solving these 2 problems.

Thank-you

Ps Hey I say test the "Shift Control Solenoid Valve A/B" and see if there are bad and if that fixes it. If I find out how to solve this trans problem I will let you all know.

Ok so I tested my Shift control solenoid with a fluke and the resitance was way out of specifacation like 41-41.9 MHz@ 30 degrees C. The range is 16-20 @ 20 Mhz degrees C. I belive i need to replace it I will let you know if it fixes the problem when I replace the valve.

OK new update for u all out here. The issue is that the transmission is in third gear and will not shift out when driving like it should. In D and S the RPMs will go to 2100 and max out on a flat road I can get the car to get to 40 mph with time Now I can manualy shift it to 2nd gear and back to S drive but on its own it will not down shift to first gear. I tyied the following to no avail. I took off both the shift solenoid and the lock-up solenoid and cleaned and tested both they work fine. I tried plugging the #7 vacum hose comming off the EGR Valve to pull a vacum but that did not change a thing. I had taken it to a dealer and they said that the EGR valve was bad and that was why it was not shifting properly becuse the RPMs were not high enough. I am nt gong to buy another EGR vavle at 200 unless I can get this trany to work right. I wonder if there is not a short in the eletrical systems in the car. The Trans CPU led blinks 8 times. If any one can help me with this I be greatful thank-you

alien009

I'd like to join in the discussion: My '88 Legend has about 192,000 with similar shift problems- can start off in 2nd, manually shift to D3 or D4, but won't downshift under load, etc. About 30K ago, a shop replaced the lower of the 2 shift solonoids, and- worked perfectly! When my problems came back recently, I headed to the solonoids and took both off and cleaned, checked operation, cleaned clogged filter screen that is part of the gasket- no change. I am now quite certain it is in the "shift computer"(under passenger seat) I have seen for sale from on line parts houses. My buddy, service manager at local large Honda dealer and sharp guy, is having a hard time getting technical info from Honda, but still working on it. He says the blinking lights on the box are sometimes easy to decode, but usually only give them broad areas to check. Anybody already tried buying new box?? I'll update when new info avail. Love the car, hate the recurring problem!

Ok so I replaced my EGR valve and the RPMs came back to the car. I can now take off in D and the car goes the S3 light went off too. The thing now it is does not apear to shift the RPM gauge does not drop like it should when a trans shifts. It is automatic and I get the RPMs up to 4000 and not change in gear. Before was in third and not shifting out and now I dont know. The other thing is that I took it out yesterday and the S4 light was on and the wire was cut to the switch and I spiced it back togther and today. The S4 light is out and the S3 light is back on and to top that off the car is stalling when I started it up I tried to started it severl times. I also Do not hear the fuel pump comming on. I have had a problem with the fuel pump not starting up like that when I got it. I replaced it thinking it was bad but I think the problem may be electrical and there is a short in a wire some where. Another short in a wire is in the dash when I turn the lights on while the car in running the shift position on the gauge board dims and only the S3 light is still brite and I can not tell which gear I am in on the dash. Please I need help to make this car run right. Thank you

Visit this site at www.acura-legend.com:
http://www.acura-legend.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=31385&highlight=tranny+problems+101
OR, go the site, search for: Tranny problems 101.
Has many useful posts about our problems, most of which appear to be elecrical Transmission Control Unit issues...I'm looking for one in the salvage business right now, feel that it will probably solve a lot of issues, since I've already cleaned the solenoids and such....
Hope this helps more than one of you. the Acura site has LOTS of specific help for these wonderful cars....

I had the same problem and tried everything you guys tried i swapped trannys and was good for 15k then again same problem i made my car stick its way better feels more powerfull and i get 4-6 mpg more than before if you need info on the swap drop me a line.

Ok so I have a 1989 Legend and I got a 5-speed Integra not sure on the yea I van get a manual out how do I tranfer it