I am looking at buying a 97 Civic HX with 128k miles on it. The lady said she was driving home from work and the car just started slowing down and she barely made it home. The car starts right up and seems to run okay - but when you put it in gear (auto tranny) and hit the gas it just slips and barely moves. You can eventually get it to go - and you can get up to highway speed if you have enough time! Anyway - it seems like it is in some sort of limp mode and it has a check engine light and blinking "D" gear indicator light. I pulled the codes but I am not finding them anywhere so I need some help:

CEL:
60 (I cannot find this code anywhere?)
70 (this one indicates a problem with the A/T)

TCU codes (blinking D):
31
33
42

Obviously I realize the tranny could be shot - but since the car actually still moves and drives it just seems like there may be a bad sensor or something really stupid that I fix for cheap. Please help asap!

 

I can't find the majority of the codes listed. Take the car to AutoZone so they can retrieve the codes with a scan tool. Alternatively, ask whether you can borrow a scan tool from AutoZone.

Here's how to read the D4 codes:

 

Unfortunately I don't think that is an option since this is super cheap car that I am trying to buy - not mine yet! I have already been there 2 times and pulled the codes on my 2nd trip. The nearest Auto Zone is pretty far away - and I need to make a decision on the car today so things aren't looking too good at this point.

The car is $1500 as is and there are other people looking at it.

 

Check the fluid level in the transmission. Maybe she just ran out. But continuing to drive with the fluid low so the transmission slips will quickly burn up the clutches in the transmission.