Honda Car Forum

I have a 98 Civic.

How do I get the trouble codes?

"Al" <ecarecar@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:111h858lafefs89@corp.supernews.com...
>I have a 98 Civic.
>
> How do I get the trouble codes?

All cars sold new in the US since January 1, 1996 conform to the OBD II
standard. It requires a code reader be connected to the car to retrieve the
codes. (I know - I think it is bad form to not make the information
available to the driver, but the feds didn't ask for my opinion.) Some auto
part chain stores will read the codes for free (call and find out) in hopes
of selling repair parts. The readers are also available for sale, starting
at about $160 US. I broke down and bought one when our Toyota had a "check
engine" light a few months ago.

Some side issues...
1) The light is there to warn you the emission control system is not working
right. Some of the codes are for things that also affect engine operation,
but that isn't their primary reason for reporting. If the engine is running
normally, the car is safe to drive in town and gently on the freeway. A few
failures can make the mixture too rich and potentially damage the catalytic
converter if you drive it hard. Otherwise, there is no problem continuing to
drive.
2) A common (and frustrating) reason for the light to come on is a loose gas
cap. I know, you're probably thinking "I'd never leave the gas cap loose"
but that was why our Toyota had the light on - I'd goofed when I filled it
the day before. If that is the case, tighten the cap and drive it. The light
should go out in a few days.
3) If the code points to an emission-related device and you live in the USA,
find out about whether your problem is covered under a mandatory federal
emission extended warranty. If you are in California, I believe the emission
warranty is extended farther.

Mike

There has been some debate on the Honda forum as
to whether post-96 hondas' codes can be read the
way pre-96 OBDI cars were. I have not done it
myself, but you can use a paperclip to jumper
the 2 pin service connector by the ECU behind
the passenger side kick panel. Then you turn
the key to the 'ON' position (don't start it)
and watch the Check Engine Light flash. Long
flash = 10, short flash = 1. Then use the table
(easily located on the internet or in the shop
manual) to determine what the ECU thinks is
wrong.

As I said, I have not had to try this yet, but
some people have had success with it,
specifically on a 97 civic.

t

disallow wrote:
> There has been some debate on the Honda forum as
> to whether post-96 hondas' codes can be read the
> way pre-96 OBDI cars were. I have not done it
> myself, but you can use a paperclip to jumper
> the 2 pin service connector by the ECU behind
> the passenger side kick panel. Then you turn

Kick Panel? Under the glove box in front of the door?

Pin 2 to Pin what?


> the key to the 'ON' position (don't start it)
> and watch the Check Engine Light flash. Long
> flash = 10, short flash = 1. Then use the table
> (easily located on the internet or in the shop
> manual) to determine what the ECU thinks is
> wrong.

I think I have found the codes. Remarkably specific.

>
> As I said, I have not had to try this yet, but
> some people have had success with it,
> specifically on a 97 civic.
>
> t
>

ya, the kick panel is below the glovebox.

Try goin to the following links, the first one
is a pic of the service connector, you just
jumper it with a paper clip. The next one there
is a video of someone checking the CEL on their
civic.

http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=682412&page=1

http://www.we-todd-did-racing.com/we...ZmQzMXk1NDE%3D

Or try the following:

http://tinyurl.com/5vxfg

http://tinyurl.com/3jgr2

t

YES!!

As I have stated in one of the Honda NG's: I have owned a US 1997
Civic LX sedan since new - purchased in Feb. 1997. I have jumpered the
service connector a few times and have accurately read the codes using
the method explained in this NG and used my Helm manual to reference
the codes. I have successfully read an O2 sensor that went bad and had
a CEL for "loose gas cap". Cap wasn't loose, the seal just wasn't good
anymore. I think this was the last year the Civic would read this way.

Jeff

"thompsonxx" <jeff.thompson@usa.contiteves.com> wrote in message
news:1109000948.678191.98540@z14g2000cwz.googlegro ups.com...
> YES!!
>
> As I have stated in one of the Honda NG's: I have owned a US 1997
> Civic LX sedan since new - purchased in Feb. 1997. I have jumpered the
> service connector a few times and have accurately read the codes using
> the method explained in this NG and used my Helm manual to reference
> the codes. I have successfully read an O2 sensor that went bad and had
> a CEL for "loose gas cap". Cap wasn't loose, the seal just wasn't good
> anymore. I think this was the last year the Civic would read this way.
>
> Jeff
>
Good to know! Do you know if the codes can be cleared by pulling a fuse,
like in the old ones? (And I guess that means the OP is probably SOL with
the '98)

Mike

I haven't tried on my sister's 99 civic yet, but
why would they change this function in the
middle of a generation?

Not to say its impossible, but I think unlikely,
as in my manual for 96-98s it shows how to
jumper the service connector.

Terry
98 Civic LX
215000kms

On 2/21/05 4:57 PM, in article JYudnS0s4dPr-offRVn-tQ@sedona.net, "Michael
Pardee" <michaeltnull@cybertrails.com> wrote:

> "thompsonxx" <jeff.thompson@usa.contiteves.com> wrote in message
> news:1109000948.678191.98540@z14g2000cwz.googlegro ups.com...
>> YES!!
>>
>> As I have stated in one of the Honda NG's: I have owned a US 1997
>> Civic LX sedan since new - purchased in Feb. 1997. I have jumpered the
>> service connector a few times and have accurately read the codes using
>> the method explained in this NG and used my Helm manual to reference
>> the codes. I have successfully read an O2 sensor that went bad and had
>> a CEL for "loose gas cap". Cap wasn't loose, the seal just wasn't good
>> anymore. I think this was the last year the Civic would read this way.
>>
>> Jeff
>>
> Good to know! Do you know if the codes can be cleared by pulling a fuse,
> like in the old ones? (And I guess that means the OP is probably SOL with
> the '98)
>
> Mike
>
>
The codes can still be cleared by pulling a fuse in the '99-'00 TL, so its a
good bet that it also works on the 98 Civic. Not knowing which fuse,
disconnecting the battery for a while should have the same effect.

On my 97 Civic, I disconnected the battery--I was cleaning the cable
connections anyway. That did reset the CEL and cleared any codes.

Jeff