Check Engine P0740 on '99 Honda Accord

[KOPELLl]

I have a 1999 Honda Accord coupe EX V6. I got the car 2 years ago, and I put about 26k miles on it, which makes it a total of 62,000. I've been taking good care of it and it has been paying off. Recently I noticed that whenever I start the car and drive off, it has difficulty switching gears. First, I thought that I don't warm up the engine enough. But then I noticed that whenever I press the gas pedal after slowing down or coming to a full stop, the RPM's would jump up to about 3-4k and the car would just stand there, as if I'm in neutral. At that point, I either needed to gently apply gas in order to get it to run, or switch to D1, and then D2, and so forth, as if I'm driving a stick. Approximately after 300miles of noticing these issues, Check Engine light came on and the code was P0740 which means Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Malfunction. Having cleared the error, it didnt help much. Last time I drove my car, I saw light smoke coming from under the hood, so I parked it near my house and haven't touched it in few days. Next time I started my car and attempted to drive off, it wouldn't switch gears, and I couldn't drive it at all. I checked my transmission fluid, and it seemed as if the level was very low. Is my transmission completely hosed, or what is the next thing I should do to get this problem resolved?

Thanks

[HONDA_99]

P0740 is Torque Converter Lock-up Solinoid Valve.
i just went thru repair manual for 98-00 accord V6, and problem could be solinoid. but at same time it could be dead transmission.

BTW, Is it v6 or it's I4?

[KOPELLl]

Thanks for the quick reply. Its a V6. Also, when i checked my transmission fluid level, it was pretty low. I'm not sure how much I need to add...

[HONDA_99]

try to add some to bring level up. most likely you will need one quart of Z1 ATF.

Z1 ATF is honda's fluid and it's avalable only from honda's dealers. don't use any other ATF, they're not suitable for your transmission.

once you add ATF, reset ECU by removing fuse #13 (backup-clock) on passenger side, put it back after 30sec.

what color is fluid, is it pinkish? if its brown, it needs to be replaced ASAP.

[KOPELLl]

Thanks. I will try doing that.

[ffavian]

Hey Kopelli, I have the same problem, what happened with your car?

[KOPELLl]

Did you also get Check Engine with a code P0740?

[ffavian]

I don't know what code I got, but I got the check engine light too.

[KOPELLl]

How is the car behaving?

[ffavian]

When the weather is cold the car will stay in 1st or 2nd gear, the rpm's would would go really high as I increased my speed then, I have to shift between d3 and d4 so it would go in to 3rd gear. This doesn't happen as often when the weather is warmer.

[KOPELLl]

Get a reading on your "Check Engine" sign, if its still on, and check your ATF level.