Honda Car Forum

In article <70u810pll7c6m4qrueuh9dqkp8sgsaqr77@4ax.com>, JXStern
<JXSternChangeX2R@gte.net> wrote:

> I have a nice, new Accord EX4 sedan with the automatic, which I am
> very happy with, but would like one thing -- some indication of which
> gear it is in!
>
> I can look at the tach and guess, do some math in my head from the
> mph, but a simple indicator would be much better.
>
> Anyone else have this idea? Is there a product available? Any way to
> trick out the engine computer to use the existing display for current
> gear instead of shift handle position (which is clear enough without
> displaying it on the dash)?
>
> Thanx.
>
> J.

There is no way for you to determine what gear you are in unless you trade
your car in an Accord with a manual transmission. It's really not
important--there are more important things to worry about than this
subject.

It is easy. If you have a 4-speed auto with overdrive, here's all you do.
Put it in D4 and go the nearest intersection where you can begin from a
complete stop. When you initially start, the tranny will be in first gear.
Press the gas pedal about ½ way to the floor while accelerating for best
results. You'll notice the tach will climb and then suddenly drop. That's
when it's shifting. The tranny will never skip a gear, so everytime the
tach drops from a climb, count up one gear. When you get to 55MPH, let off
the gas enough to where you maintain a constant 55MPH. The tach should be
(or drop to) somewhere between 2k-3k RPM. That should be overdrive. On
average, an Acord will shift gears between 3000 and 3500RPM when driven
normally. All you have to do is count. Based on my wife's '88 Accord,
here's a rough-estimate "cheat-sheet": (Using the method I mentioned above)
0-20MPH = first; 20-40 = second; 40-50 = 3rd; above 50 = 4th, and whenever
you let off the gas to "cruise", or at about 65MPH, it will go into
overdrive. The lowest speed I've ever seen it go into overdrive is at about
45MPH. Any lower, it should be in 4th if you're "cruising", unless you're
cruising at 35MPH or less...then it should be in 3rd.

Hope this helps...

Jonathan

"JXStern" <JXSternChangeX2R@gte.net> wrote in message
news:70u810pll7c6m4qrueuh9dqkp8sgsaqr77@4ax.com...
> I have a nice, new Accord EX4 sedan with the automatic, which I am
> very happy with, but would like one thing -- some indication of which
> gear it is in!
>
> I can look at the tach and guess, do some math in my head from the
> mph, but a simple indicator would be much better.
>
> Anyone else have this idea? Is there a product available? Any way to
> trick out the engine computer to use the existing display for current
> gear instead of shift handle position (which is clear enough without
> displaying it on the dash)?
>
> Thanx.
>
> J.
>

That's not overdrive you are shifting into when you let up at 55 on an '88
Accord, its the lock up clutch engaging. On a four speed automatic with
overdrive, 4th gear is an overdrive gear. Direct drive is always 3rd. If
your Honda has a 5 speed automatic, both 4 and 5 are overdrive gears.

On 1/26/04 11:34 AM, in article
7dcRb.18115$YG.1034114@twister.southeast.rr.com, "Jonathan Upright"
<qaesar1@hotmail.com> wrote:

> It is easy. If you have a 4-speed auto with overdrive, here's all you do.
> Put it in D4 and go the nearest intersection where you can begin from a
> complete stop. When you initially start, the tranny will be in first gear.
> Press the gas pedal about ½ way to the floor while accelerating for best
> results. You'll notice the tach will climb and then suddenly drop. That's
> when it's shifting. The tranny will never skip a gear, so everytime the
> tach drops from a climb, count up one gear. When you get to 55MPH, let off
> the gas enough to where you maintain a constant 55MPH. The tach should be
> (or drop to) somewhere between 2k-3k RPM. That should be overdrive. On
> average, an Acord will shift gears between 3000 and 3500RPM when driven
> normally. All you have to do is count. Based on my wife's '88 Accord,
> here's a rough-estimate "cheat-sheet": (Using the method I mentioned above)
> 0-20MPH = first; 20-40 = second; 40-50 = 3rd; above 50 = 4th, and whenever
> you let off the gas to "cruise", or at about 65MPH, it will go into
> overdrive. The lowest speed I've ever seen it go into overdrive is at about
> 45MPH. Any lower, it should be in 4th if you're "cruising", unless you're
> cruising at 35MPH or less...then it should be in 3rd.
>
> Hope this helps...
>
> Jonathan
>
> "JXStern" <JXSternChangeX2R@gte.net> wrote in message
> news:70u810pll7c6m4qrueuh9dqkp8sgsaqr77@4ax.com...
>> I have a nice, new Accord EX4 sedan with the automatic, which I am
>> very happy with, but would like one thing -- some indication of which
>> gear it is in!
>>
>> I can look at the tach and guess, do some math in my head from the
>> mph, but a simple indicator would be much better.
>>
>> Anyone else have this idea? Is there a product available? Any way to
>> trick out the engine computer to use the existing display for current
>> gear instead of shift handle position (which is clear enough without
>> displaying it on the dash)?
>>
>> Thanx.
>>
>> J.
>>
>
>

You are correct, but I figured, based on "JXStern's" question, the
information you just provided was inconsequential in reference to his
knowledge (or lack thereof) of AT's. But since you posted it, you're point
is taken. ;-)

Jonathan

"E. Meyer" <e.meyerNOSPAM@ieee.org> wrote in message
news:BC3AECAD.41388%e.meyerNOSPAM@ieee.org...
> That's not overdrive you are shifting into when you let up at 55 on an '88
> Accord, its the lock up clutch engaging. On a four speed automatic with
> overdrive, 4th gear is an overdrive gear. Direct drive is always 3rd. If
> your Honda has a 5 speed automatic, both 4 and 5 are overdrive gears.
>
> On 1/26/04 11:34 AM, in article
> 7dcRb.18115$YG.1034114@twister.southeast.rr.com, "Jonathan Upright"
> <qaesar1@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> > It is easy. If you have a 4-speed auto with overdrive, here's all you
do.
> > Put it in D4 and go the nearest intersection where you can begin from a
> > complete stop. When you initially start, the tranny will be in first
gear.
> > Press the gas pedal about ½ way to the floor while accelerating for best
> > results. You'll notice the tach will climb and then suddenly drop.
That's
> > when it's shifting. The tranny will never skip a gear, so everytime the
> > tach drops from a climb, count up one gear. When you get to 55MPH, let
off
> > the gas enough to where you maintain a constant 55MPH. The tach should
be
> > (or drop to) somewhere between 2k-3k RPM. That should be overdrive. On
> > average, an Acord will shift gears between 3000 and 3500RPM when driven
> > normally. All you have to do is count. Based on my wife's '88 Accord,
> > here's a rough-estimate "cheat-sheet": (Using the method I mentioned
above)
> > 0-20MPH = first; 20-40 = second; 40-50 = 3rd; above 50 = 4th, and
whenever
> > you let off the gas to "cruise", or at about 65MPH, it will go into
> > overdrive. The lowest speed I've ever seen it go into overdrive is at
about
> > 45MPH. Any lower, it should be in 4th if you're "cruising", unless
you're
> > cruising at 35MPH or less...then it should be in 3rd.
> >
> > Hope this helps...
> >
> > Jonathan
> >
> > "JXStern" <JXSternChangeX2R@gte.net> wrote in message
> > news:70u810pll7c6m4qrueuh9dqkp8sgsaqr77@4ax.com...
> >> I have a nice, new Accord EX4 sedan with the automatic, which I am
> >> very happy with, but would like one thing -- some indication of which
> >> gear it is in!
> >>
> >> I can look at the tach and guess, do some math in my head from the
> >> mph, but a simple indicator would be much better.
> >>
> >> Anyone else have this idea? Is there a product available? Any way to
> >> trick out the engine computer to use the existing display for current
> >> gear instead of shift handle position (which is clear enough without
> >> displaying it on the dash)?
> >>
> >> Thanx.
> >>
> >> J.
> >>
> >
> >
>

On Mon, 26 Jan 2004 22:43:35 GMT, "Jonathan Upright"
<qaesar1@hotmail.com> wrote:
>You are correct, but I figured, based on "JXStern's" question, the
>information you just provided was inconsequential in reference to his
>knowledge (or lack thereof) of AT's. But since you posted it, you're point
>is taken. ;-)

FYI, I'm in a 2004 Accord EX4. I don't have the owners manual here,
but they call it a 5-speed auto.

BTW, simply accelerating and marking shift points is not enough to
determine numbers, since (I assume) the shift points move according to
load, not to mention the torque converter, and for all I know the time
of day and phase of the moon.

Let's see, google is my friend, so:
http://www.new-cars.com/2004/honda/h...dan-specs.html

2.652, 1.517, 1.037, 0.738, 0.566. Final drive 4.438.

I'm sure these convert simply to MPH, but there will still be the
fudge factors. I'm guessing that at a given MPH between about 30 and
70, the car might be in any of three different gears at any moment.

Hence, it would be easier to have a simple indicator, hey?

FWIW, two of these appear to be overdrive, as far as the transmission
cares, and the third one is barely under straight-thru. This ain't my
father's 4-banger!

J.

"JXStern" <JXSternChangeX2R@gte.net> wrote in message
news:t5ab10p4j9qtm8at500nagjheqi6d4i7j5@4ax.com...
>
> Hence, it would be easier to have a simple indicator, hey?

For what purpose?

--
Brian
www.accesswave.ca/~orion

On Mon, 26 Jan 2004 20:27:57 -0400, "Brian Smith"
<Halifax@NovaScotia.Canada> wrote:
>> Hence, it would be easier to have a simple indicator, hey?
>
>For what purpose?

Curiosity is sufficient.

Why have a tach in a car with an auto?

It's valuable information in some driving situations, that's why.

I'd like to have the entire diagnostic state of the engine displayed
on the LCD instead of the radio station and time of day. Or along
with the radio station and time of day. But I thought I'd start
small.

I find the skeptical answers about why anyone would want this, at
least as amusing as they pretend to find my question.

Yes, I know automatic transmission drivers are supposed to be drooling
idiots, but some of us are simply lazy most of the time, and frankly,
this new 5-speed auto is slick as can be and makes it hard to justify
a stick. But out of habit, I like to know what the car thinks it's
doing, in case I need to hit the accelerator, it's nice to know if I
have one or two downshifts available, and what engine load I can ask
for before it shifts more than I want, and such.

J.

Very simple formula. Get a piece of string. Count the number of trea
blocks in each tire. Divide length of string into the number of carpe
fibres on the front passengers side. Don't think of a pin
elephant......and......presto, you've just determined that you have to
much time on your hands!!:

-
Robiliou
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I hear that the Acura TL tells you which gear you are in. Maybe that's only
in the sport mode. I don't know.

"JXStern" <JXSternChangeX2R@gte.net> wrote in message
news:aseb109btnovoaojjr31ubdke5s51g0mdc@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 26 Jan 2004 20:27:57 -0400, "Brian Smith"
> <Halifax@NovaScotia.Canada> wrote:
> >> Hence, it would be easier to have a simple indicator, hey?
> >
> >For what purpose?
>
> Curiosity is sufficient.
>
> Why have a tach in a car with an auto?
>
> It's valuable information in some driving situations, that's why.
>
> I'd like to have the entire diagnostic state of the engine displayed
> on the LCD instead of the radio station and time of day. Or along
> with the radio station and time of day. But I thought I'd start
> small.
>
> I find the skeptical answers about why anyone would want this, at
> least as amusing as they pretend to find my question.
>
> Yes, I know automatic transmission drivers are supposed to be drooling
> idiots, but some of us are simply lazy most of the time, and frankly,
> this new 5-speed auto is slick as can be and makes it hard to justify
> a stick. But out of habit, I like to know what the car thinks it's
> doing, in case I need to hit the accelerator, it's nice to know if I
> have one or two downshifts available, and what engine load I can ask
> for before it shifts more than I want, and such.
>
> J.
>

If you want an automatic, but really want to know what gear you're in, you
should have gotten a model with the "auto-stick" feature on it.

Jon

"JXStern" <JXSternChangeX2R@gte.net> wrote in message
news:70u810pll7c6m4qrueuh9dqkp8sgsaqr77@4ax.com...
> I have a nice, new Accord EX4 sedan with the automatic, which I am
> very happy with, but would like one thing -- some indication of which
> gear it is in!
>
> I can look at the tach and guess, do some math in my head from the
> mph, but a simple indicator would be much better.
>
> Anyone else have this idea? Is there a product available? Any way to
> trick out the engine computer to use the existing display for current
> gear instead of shift handle position (which is clear enough without
> displaying it on the dash)?
>
> Thanx.
>
> J.
>