what is this button for?

I have a 91 accord ex automatic and my question is -There is a button on the side of the shifter with 2 options "normal, or sports" and i'm wondering what that is for.

It must be like in the old Camry where they had drive and over drive. Normally from what I've always done was on the highway with less stop and go you put it on overdrive. You'll have less pick up power but you'll get better gas mileage for cruising. Normal in your case gives you more power but it eats more gas but not much. Its mainly used for city driving/stop light to stop light. :)

I'll try to make this simple. Normal allows you to pull revs at a regulars pace that's set up by the ECU and tranny. Sport allows you to rev quicker through the rpm ranges, thus giving you a quicker acceleration. I'm not sure which saves on gas. But it would seem if you go faster your gas does too.

the switch mode helps the tranny decide when to shift...Sport mode will shift later, thus stay in gear longer no matter how hard you press the pedal. Normal mode is for shifting sooner, NOT quicker. just sooner so it can goto the next higher gear & save fuel at lower RPMs. don't even think it's related to VTEC or engine performance, because if you had it on Normal & floored it will still shift at redline, but won't go past redline to shift, it still has limits - IT'S ONLY AN AUTOMATIC, thus SLOW.

i have a 90 accord... so in a race is it better to put it in sports mode or not? and should i have it in d3 or d4???? and should i use the old brake-start method?.... actually how much do you think i would lose by a 2001 eclipse GS? i need to know

I have a 91 accord EX that is a autoamatic with the normal and sport button on it. There is no real difference in gas milage just a little bit better if you use the normal mode. I always have mine in Sport mode. OVer drive is D4 and Drive is D3. It is true it will shift differently depending on what mode it is in. Just test them both out and what ever you like better leave it in that.

Now as for racing Test it out in D3 and D4. Power braking is a good way to get a good jump, but don't give it to many RPMs you will still spin the tires some. I race mine at the track in D4 with my sport button on. Depening on how you like to race, it is really all up to you.

As for racing a Eclipse GS is your car stock?? and is the Eclipse stock?? Automatics might get better off the line because of less wheels spin but sticks are faster because you can shift them when you want.

if Eclipse is 5 spd, the DSM wins...if both of you AUTO, then race & see. if you floor it, it won't matter what mode your in, it'll shift at redline. the mode only affects shifting when partway on throttle...play with it, you'll learn what it does after awhile.

Now that's why I tried to keep it simple. You tranny guru's seem to have the correct answer to the topic, in my opinion that is.
I have a question that I would like to pose also...I've connected a Venom 400 to my MAP and throttle signals that are sent to my ECU, will I do better off the line or will I do better on the top? This isn't a trick question. I'm just trying to determine if it's time for a tune up or new tranny.
:p