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I bought my wife a 97 civic lx auto about 5 years ago. To be honest it is one of the best cars I have ever bought. Thats a compliment coming from me considering I build classic muscle cars for a living. Anyway its the craziest thing the car wants to act like its slipping if u just leave it in d4 and try to drive it,but if u shift it manually the transmission pulls fine. The check engine light is on and on occasion the D4 light will start to flash. We have been driving it like this for quite some time because everything seemed to be fine except for having to shift it manually. Recently it has begun to run the battery dead everything in the car starts to surge. sometimes it will just stop surging and start charging again. Im having to drive the car at the moment while my wife is in my big block 68 camaro and its killing me. I have put two ECM units in it with no change. At one time it threw a code for a speed sensor I put one in it,that cost me a hundred and twenty bucks I might add, with absloutely no change. I have been over the whole harness looking for problem areas. Ive even put two alternators on it grabbin at straws.You know goin on what those know nothin kids at the parts store want to tell you. No offense to anybody out there I know some parts store guys do have a clue.If anybody out there can help It would be most greatly appreciated.

 
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Someone who builds classic muscle cars registering on a ricer forum, wow!

Just kidding

When the transmission indicator lights begin flashing that's the indication something is wrong with the transmission, and the ecu is picking it up. Since manually shifting allows it to drive normally, I'd lean toward the problem being with the shift solenoids, which I suspect you think may be the problem as well given the alternator replacements. The alternator replacements not alleviating the problem though, combined with the battery running dead, it could be something as stupidly simple as a ground wire making a bad connection? maybe you checked that when going over the harness already, though..

 
Rep Power: 188

Doesn't this year civic us a TCM? pull the code from that since it is a different computer and find out what is wrong with the tranny. The slipping could be a pressure related issue with in the transmission.


Locate the two-pin female diagnostic connector behind the glove box. Use a very small jumper wire or paper clip to connect the two pins. Turn key on, (do not start the engine). The D4 light should start flashing. Note that it may do long and short flashes. The long flashes mean 10. (Example, three long flashes followed by two short flashes means trouble code 32.) Possibly it could pause and display several codes, so be sure and let it run through it's cycle a few times and carefully count the flashes.

There are more than 40 codes listed in the service manual. This should help with what is wrong.. also find out what code you are throwing with your check engine light.

 
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I had a similar problem... Try to replace the fuse it's a 7.5 it's called Alternator/SP Censer and the trans was slipping and lights were flashing and i replaced it and the car runs perfect now. try replacing that replay if it works

 
Rep Power: 188

^ I have also heard of the fuse being the culprit..

 
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Hey I appreciate all the input guys. I have checked the codes its throwing,by chance I did it again today. Its throwing a code for the speed sensor still and for the lower O2 sensor . Like I said beforeI just replaced that guy. And like someone else mentioned I did go over and even replace several of the ground wires.I'm gonna check the fuse in the morning and hope and pray that is the problem. Thanks for the help guys ill let u know what I figure out.

 
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I really wanna know if it is the fuses because the guy i bought it from had a 5A in a 7.5 and it was blown and everything the Headlights/In sidelights (dash lights) would flash and everything like it was suringing or shorting out. goodluck

 
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Hey guys what's up? I'm ashamed as hell to admit this cisidering I've never took a car to a mechanic in my entire life. But in the same breath I'm so damn happy I could cut a backflip. I mean I have been chasing this ghost for six months in my spare time
I swear I had every fuse out of this thing more than once. Anyway the problem turned out being that godforsaken fuse. And to top it all off there's a spare 7.5 in the slot fir the spare right next to rhe little factory fuse puller. I can't believe it a 10 second,10 cent fix the whole time. UNBELIEVABLE! Thanks a lot guys hope I can return the favor someday.!

 
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At least it is fixed. Sometimes the little things are easy to over look.

 
Rep Power: 188

Im Happy to hear it was something small. Sorry you replaced stuff already but at least now you can move on and enjoy the car..

 
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WOOT! Good job man when i fixed my car i was so happy i also know how you feel