Honda Car Forum

On two occasions now the check engine light has come on in my 2002
Civic EX under the same conditions.

The car was left in the driveway for a few days and then driven into
the garage for a total travel distance of 7m (23ft). On the following
start-up the check engine light comes on.

I've reset the light both times by disconnecting the battery but I'm
wondering what may be causing the light to come on. I know from
experience that the previous generation Civic has a known problem with
not wanting to start after short distance drives on a cold engine and
I'm wondering if this generation may be a related problem.

Any advice is appreciated

Sebastian wrote:
> On two occasions now the check engine light has come on in my 2002
> Civic EX under the same conditions.
>
> The car was left in the driveway for a few days and then driven into
> the garage for a total travel distance of 7m (23ft). On the following
> start-up the check engine light comes on.
>
> I've reset the light both times by disconnecting the battery but I'm
> wondering what may be causing the light to come on. I know from
> experience that the previous generation Civic has a known problem with
> not wanting to start after short distance drives on a cold engine and
> I'm wondering if this generation may be a related problem.
>
> Any advice is appreciated

+++++++++++++++

Completely different topic than the previous generation's MAIN RELAY
PROBLEM, but I'm sure George MacDonald will confirm: "newer Hondas don't
like short trips" ie: 30 seconds / fifty feet.

He has some insights into a service bulletin, as well as personal
experience...

'Curly'

>> Any advice is appreciated

supposedly, just disconnecting the battery wont erase the code. it needs
to be read and cleared with a code reader, which runs about $100 at pep
boys, if you wanna go that route. if you lived in so cal, id do it for a
small fee

supposedly, autozone does it for free.

Could it be a emission control thing? Even if you reset it, it may come on
again. Go back to the dealer and request a reset (DONT pay them anything).
-Jubin

"SoCalMike" <mikein562athotmail@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:jyzzc.94818$3x.83687@attbi_s54...
>
>
> >> Any advice is appreciated
>
> supposedly, just disconnecting the battery wont erase the code. it needs
> to be read and cleared with a code reader, which runs about $100 at pep
> boys, if you wanna go that route. if you lived in so cal, id do it for a
> small fee
>
> supposedly, autozone does it for free.

On 14 Jun 2004 10:09:39 -0700, sstula@hotmail.com (Sebastian) wrote:

>On two occasions now the check engine light has come on in my 2002
>Civic EX under the same conditions.
>
>The car was left in the driveway for a few days and then driven into
>the garage for a total travel distance of 7m (23ft). On the following
>start-up the check engine light comes on.

You mean the check engine light comes on after you've driven the car till
it's warmed up? If it's staying on when the engine is still cold that'd be
odd, since the system is not in closed loop yet.

>I've reset the light both times by disconnecting the battery but I'm
>wondering what may be causing the light to come on. I know from
>experience that the previous generation Civic has a known problem with
>not wanting to start after short distance drives on a cold engine and
>I'm wondering if this generation may be a related problem.

Every Honda/Acura I've owned has had the starting problem you mention on
the next start after a brief driveway shuffle - less when newer. I just
quit doing that and now drive around the block till the coolant is up to
temp, even if I just want to shuffle the cars. Since it's caused by
flooding and might be aggravated by a slight injector leak, you might try a
bottle of fuel injector cleaner in the tank on the next fill to see if it
helps.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

George Macdonald <fammacd=!SPAM^nothanks@tellurian.com> wrote in message news:<7lguc0l2u35dc11fgp4tjs5ukg57vidjre@4ax.com>. ..
> On 14 Jun 2004 10:09:39 -0700, sstula@hotmail.com (Sebastian) wrote:
>
> >On two occasions now the check engine light has come on in my 2002
> >Civic EX under the same conditions.
> >
> >The car was left in the driveway for a few days and then driven into
> >the garage for a total travel distance of 7m (23ft). On the following
> >start-up the check engine light comes on.
>
> You mean the check engine light comes on after you've driven the car till
> it's warmed up?

No. The car doesn't get a chance to warm up. The Check Engine Light
has never come on when the engine was warm. It only happens on a cold
start (first start of the day) and the engine remains on for 30-60
seconds max.

If it's staying on when the engine is still cold that'd be
> odd, since the system is not in closed loop yet.
>

disconnecting the battery will not clear codes on obd2 vehicles. check to
see if your gas cap is on tight. it might be a simple evap leak code.
"Sebastian" <sstula@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:fdebf8ed.0406140909.49922b53@posting.google.c om...
> On two occasions now the check engine light has come on in my 2002
> Civic EX under the same conditions.
>
> The car was left in the driveway for a few days and then driven into
> the garage for a total travel distance of 7m (23ft). On the following
> start-up the check engine light comes on.
>
> I've reset the light both times by disconnecting the battery but I'm
> wondering what may be causing the light to come on. I know from
> experience that the previous generation Civic has a known problem with
> not wanting to start after short distance drives on a cold engine and
> I'm wondering if this generation may be a related problem.
>
> Any advice is appreciated

On 15 Jun 2004 20:03:43 -0700, sstula@hotmail.com (Sebastian) wrote:

>George Macdonald <fammacd=!SPAM^nothanks@tellurian.com> wrote in message news:<7lguc0l2u35dc11fgp4tjs5ukg57vidjre@4ax.com>. ..
>> On 14 Jun 2004 10:09:39 -0700, sstula@hotmail.com (Sebastian) wrote:
>>
>> >On two occasions now the check engine light has come on in my 2002
>> >Civic EX under the same conditions.
>> >
>> >The car was left in the driveway for a few days and then driven into
>> >the garage for a total travel distance of 7m (23ft). On the following
>> >start-up the check engine light comes on.
>>
>> You mean the check engine light comes on after you've driven the car till
>> it's warmed up?
>
>No. The car doesn't get a chance to warm up. The Check Engine Light
>has never come on when the engine was warm. It only happens on a cold
>start (first start of the day) and the engine remains on for 30-60
>seconds max.

I don't know the details of the latest systems, but that would possibly
indicate that it's not due to engine emissions but more like the
evaporative controls, like the charcoal canister or its valves being out of
whack. Do you know that you should not "top-up" when refilling the tank
with gas? Liquids can get into parts of the system designed to handle
vapors only. As someone else has mentioned it could be as simple as the
gas cap leaking. If it persists, you should get the MIL code read.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

"Lex" <aacevedo4@elp.rr.com> wrote in message news:<FcQzc.13650$ar2.3543@fe2.texas.rr.com>...
> disconnecting the battery will not clear codes on obd2 vehicles.

It's interesting that you and SoCalMike state this because both times
I managed to clear the Check Engine light by disconnecting the
battery.

Sebastian wrote:
> "Lex" <aacevedo4@elp.rr.com> wrote in message news:<FcQzc.13650$ar2.3543@fe2.texas.rr.com>...
>
>>disconnecting the battery will not clear codes on obd2 vehicles.
>
>
> It's interesting that you and SoCalMike state this because both times
> I managed to clear the Check Engine light by disconnecting the
> battery.

ill betcha its still stored in memory.