"TeGGeR®" <tegger@tegger.c0m> wrote in message news:Xns96ED57238DFA4tegger@207.14.113.17...
> "Michael Pardee" <michaeltnull@cybertrails.com> wrote in
> news:auydnWmuZtwypdHeRVn-vQ@sedona.net:
> > "jim beam" <nospam@example.net> wrote in message
> > newsoCdnYKelv5iJtbeRVn-qQ@speakeasy.net...

> >> indeed. my test was limited to "drivability" which meant two things
> >> on my automatic: hesitation and smoothness of gear shifts. the
> >> first, i kinda hoped for, the second i was not expecting at all.
> >> when i first got this 89, it had been filled with non-honda atf and
> >> had the old "shift like a door slamming" feeling. i'd changed the
> >> atf back to honda three times and the shift was a lot better, but
> >> still a little harsh and i figured it was probably due to permanent
> >> contamination of the clutches. when i changed the sensor however,
> >> suddenly, the harsh shifting improved dramatically!!!

> > Interesting! I hadn't considered the effect of O2 sensor response time
> > on changes like throttle changes or shifting. It makes sense, though.
> > That also means that old O2 sensors are likely to affect shift
> > smoothness and throttle response, since slowness is a common "failure"
> > mode.

> Could this be "Jez's" RPM oscillating problem?

Or could be that the O2 sensors are making the car run a little lean (instead
of slowness in response.) Second generation Hondas tend to not shift
well under lower horsepower. You could try advancing your timing and
you can feel the slamming door shift. My original O2 sensors at 270K
miles does a good job with accelerations and shift smoothness.