This is my first Honda and only my second 4-banger. I bought the car for $400 when my real car spun a rod bearing. I've done a COMPLETE tune-up and only need to replace the cat and smog it. My goal is simply reliability and fuel mileage. Here are a few questions I have though:

How to check auto trans fluid level? I've tried it in park, neutral, in gear with the e-brake, and also with the engine off. Of course all this was after a drive to everything is at correct operating temp. No matter what I can't get a clear fluid reading on the dip stick. It's driving me mad! I'm used to full temp, engine running, in park or neutral on a normal car. How the heck do I check this Honda?

Exhaust diameter at the cat? I'm simply going to weld in a catco high flow slip fit myself in my garage but I'm not sure what diameter cat to buy on eBay.

Cooling fan relay? When I first got the car, the fans would only go on when the A/C was engaged and of course then both came on. Then a couple days later they won't come on at all. Do these cars have a relay for the fans? I have both fans wired into a toggle switch until I can figure it out but the car still over heats and runs hot.

Location of radiator fan temp switch? I've already replaced both temp sensors in the head as part of the tune-up and I also bought the large temp sensor/switch that goes in the radiator. Problem is I can't find where the fuck this thing goes, lol. I'm going to be replacing the radiator next week to try and solve my cooling problem so I'm hoping I'll find where it goes when I do that. I'm hoping replacing this sensor/switch will fix my fans not going on issue I mentioned.

Also, when it's cold and I put my car back into park after driving to work, the stupid thing won't register as being in park. Mechanically it's in park, but sensor wise it's not so I can't shut it off and get my key out until I beat the shit out of the shifter for a while or get lucky before shutting it off, lol. Is this a common problem? Is it an easy fix like taking the shifter apart and cleaning some contacts?

Lastly, my freaking speedo makes this HORRIFIC noise when the car is in motion. Do these cars have a VSS sensor or an actual speedo cable? After 3,000 miles of driving it's gotten SLIGHTLY better but is still annoying as shit. I think it's the actual gears in the speedo it's self. Is this common? Do I simply tear apart the dash and figure out how to squirt oil into the back of the damn thing?

Lol, well that's about it for now that I can think of. I'm still reading through the forum stickies and stuff so don't flame me too bad, lol. Thanks! Alex

EDIT: Oh yeah, when my engine is warm and the idle is the lowest, the car gets REALLY rough like I'm only on 3 cylinders @ idle. I've already checked out the mounts and they are fine. Any ideas there? - Also the car has a near new alternator that was already on it. The car sat for 2 years before I bought it. When the RPM's get over 5500, the alternator dash light flickers. What's the deal with that?

 

what kind of car do you have, i dont remeber seeing that, sorry if im wrong.

 

It's in my signature.

 

well as for the auto stuff i dont know, but yes the 90-93 tegs have the VSS with a speed cable, and you can remove the gauge cluster by removing a few screws and the speed cable, ill post my service manual when i get home in a bit.

 

Yes please because cars don't have both that I've ever seen, it's either a VSS sensor that sends the signal to the speedo OR a speedo cable going from the trans to the gauge.

 

well its a speed cable the manual referrs to that object stuck in the top of the tras as a VSS so, i did as well, but its definately a cable, i notice when i dropped my trany.

 

Thanks for verifying, I';ll just have to dig into the dash and find that cable to lube it then!

Can anyone else help with my other questions? Thanks!

 

i'm almost positive that all honda auto tranny's are checked in park with the engine off, but those tranny's are a simple drain and fill, but i would check the condition of the fluid before deciding to change it out completely...if it's bad just keep adding cuz changing it can do more harm than good...