(1991 Honda Civic SE: 1.5L, 4-speed automatic, 290,000km / 180k mi)

Not quite sure what the problem is, figure I'd start something here and get some ideas on diagnostics before I dig deeper. This $500 Civic has just encountered its first worrysome drivability issue in almost two years and 40,000km.

Scenario: With light throttle application at varied speeds and varied gears, I experience some lurching, as if the trans and/or engine control is calling for a shift that isn't (and shouldn't be) happening. It had mostly been noticable BELOW TC lockup speed. Usually, lockup happens at about 65-67km/h (40-43mph). Lately, at 50-55km/h (31-34mph) the car will appear to want to repeatedly go in and out lockup, it feels like bouncing off a rev limiter, so to speak. The tachometer agrees.

- Driving faster and/or adding more throttle tends to stop the lurching.
- Condition improves, but does not disappear when car warms up and has been driving a while.
- Condition happens at speeds as low as 20-25mph and as high as 70mph, the latter of which is just a one-time hunt out of and back into overdrive
- I'm going to do a little more driving in D3 (non OD) instead of D4 (OD) tomorrow and see how that affects the situation.

Transmission fluid is nice and red, not burnt smelling; levels look OK. I'm also thinking about ignition or fueling related issues, but not sure where to head in terms of that. I know this is not a Honda forum, but any general ideas would be appreciated.

My guess is the torque converter, assuming it'* an auto... That'* exactly what mine did, only it didn't go away when it was hot...
My suggestion is to dump it at a junkyard and pick yourself up a Bonneville

(jkjk)

I was thinking the same, but does a bad TC usually go hand in hand with burnt or telltale problems with fluid?


(a new transmission for me = four doors, a 3800... you know where this going )

Bump for two light throttle vids and one higher speed vid:

In 2nd gear, you can see a double shudder after it shifts into third.



Starting from 1st gear, you will see the same shudder after it shifts into second



At higher speeds: Near the end you'll notice two blips:



In ALL of these vids, throttle is remaining constant. Checked the fluid again today, it looks good.

When my TC failed, my fluid looked fine...

when my car was bouncing off of a rev limiter at random RPMs, it ended up being a bad PCM

this may sound dumb, but how old is the fuel filter?

Fuel filter is unchanged under my ownership. It idles great and does fine under heavier throttle, could it still be it? It is a 1991, 1.5L DX powertrain, as far as I know it has electronic transmission control. There is actually an ECU code that is set off for a failure of the lockup control solenoid valve, code 19, as per this link... but I'm not getting that.

Relatively speaking, it'* been a little warmer the past couple days (near freezing as opposed to well below) and it feels much better, but I still get the occasional pop in-and-out of lockup.

I can hear it whining too just like my old Intrepid before its trans went. Acted just like in your vid. S2 L67 cars are CHEAP now. I'd say pick one up.