HELP - S14 Problem!!!!!

[drivenlegend]

I have a 98 automatic with a really bad problem. I was having an alarm installed, and it didn't really work out. The problem is that since the botched installation, my tranny has been acting really funny. The car......acts almost like it is trying to be a manual. It only has first and second gear, and doesn't shift right. Also, the overdrive button doesn't work, and the service engine light came on. It will not go into overdrive (normal driving use). When I first start accelerating, it feels like when you start from a stop in a manual transmission in second gear, really sluggish, and then it picks up.

I tried replacing the transmission control module, but it didn't help anything. It still only goes into first and second. No help at all.....

Please help me out guys, even the local dealership is pretty worthless so far!

Nate

*UPDATE* - Since the service engine light was on, I used the "resetting engine light" faq, and did that. It blinked 8, then 4, so 84 right? If that is right, it is "84 - Automatic Tranny-to-Fuel Injection Communication Line ", or as is listed on http://www.ka24development.com/ecu_codes.html. If this is truly correct, this could be my problem right? So where is this damn line????

[drivenlegend]

Please help......

[drivenlegend]

Anyone else had ANYTHING like this?

[climo]

I also have a 98 auto but the only thing I can think of is to get the service manual and read up on it. Apparently a wire or something got disconnected during the alarm install. Here is the FSM download.
FSM (http://www.neteasier.com/240sxfsm.zip)

[BillKlineVT]

reviving an old thread but for future reference if anyone is wondering what causes this... this code popped up for me when I cut the consult TX RX and CLK wires (temporary fix to allow for maptrace to work on my bikirom daughterboard) I'm running the auto ecu in a manual car, but before I cut those wires that code never came up, so I'm guessing the auto tranny looks at the consult data to determine when to shift, etc.

[projectRDM]

Slightly different scenarios here. The code 84 is a single wire feed from engine ECU to gearbox ECU, sounds like it was unplugged.
In your case, the ECU saw the CONSULT port signal drop and went into a failsafe type mode. The CONSULT does not directly control anything, it's merely a check function.

[m0rex]

Sorry for bringing this thread back from the dead. After an hour of searching this is the same exact, word for word problem i have on my s14. I left it on my driveway sitting for about 5 months then all of the sudden i drive it and this happens. When its in gear it does small downshift also. Im not too sure what to do now. I was thinking it was my tranny fluid but when i first left it to rest it was working fine so i highly doubt it unless it had a big freaking leak which once again i doubt.

Anyone know the solution to my problem.

[projectRDM]

Is the OD OFF light flashing? If so, there's a procedure outlind in the FSM to pull codes from the transmission control unit, it's much more involved than the ECU set screw but read over it a few times and you'll get it, it involved selecting a gear, stepping on the gas, and turning the ignition on and off. This will also reset the unit so if it was a fluke you should be good.

If not, check the fluid level when hot, check all fuses, and check the harness plugs at the control unit, by the fusebox, and behind the ECU. Highly unlikely anything came unplugged but you never know.

[m0rex]

Alright i'll give it a try. The OD light does not even turn on though. Those little downshifts are hella weird. Im not driving it also because when i step on it it feels like im taking off on 3 gear. Once im up on revs its almost like normal though but it takes 1st gear all the way up to 60 mph.