300KBB6

Hello,

First off, a little intro if anyone cares LoL...I just recently picked up a 98 Prelude base model (auto/tiptronic) with 307k miles!!! And it runs perfect and is pretty damn clean for what it's worth!
I have known the car since it only had about 40k on it, when a good friend of mine bought her. I recently took possession of her for $500!! Sweet deal, right? I love Honda (my 00 S2K has 191k) & bought the car immediately. My friend is not a "car guy" and just couldn't fix the 2 CEL's it currently has, so he couldn't smog the car, so he bought his damn old dream car E46 M3, aaaand he pretty much dumped it off for $500. It's Milano Red (faded, matte 90% pink now), Tein SS coilovers, 17" Racing Hart C5s (1 piece), GReddy EVO exhaust, DC header, AEM V2 CAI, DC front upper, rear upper & rear lower tie bars,...and a MINT interior! And an authentic JDM OEM HP-adding RED valve cover!! woo-hoo!! lol

Anyways, onto the CEL's:
1.) P0401 - EGR... big deal, I can clean it out & all should be well again.
2.) P1709 - This one is a mystery to me, as almost everything I find about this code is that most people have other tranny related problems & CELs & are pretty SOL (car wont shift correctly, go into a certain gear, etc..). However, in my case, the car shifts smoothly in auto & fancy tiptronic mode. It drives perfect!
I found the following 2 posts that lead to believe I may just have to change this sensor:
39550-S30-003 OEM Honda Parts At Shift Lock Solenoid Assy.

The 2 threads I found:
P1709 Problem Transmission Gear Selection Switch Circuit - Club RSX Message Board
I have a 03 acura3.2tl..check eng..D5 - JustAnswer

Also, it is worth noting that my friend is an avid Starbucks drinker. Daily caffeine abuser. AAAAND I remember 1 time he got a leaky cup & his console was literally a pool of hot starbucks liquid goodness.
So Im thinking some of this got down under the console & POSSIBLY destroyed the sensor.

Any insight would be much appreciated!!
Otherwise, I plan on buying the sensor ($65) and giving it a shot!