Honda Car Forum

The check engine light comes on occasionally in my stock 1990 honda
civic wagon 2WD 5-spd. This happens about once or twice a month when I
am driving on the highway. Usually it only happens when I am in a hurry
and the car has not been driven in a while (ie overnight). I usually
get to the highway in about 1-2 minutes after starting the car, and
then it's a sprint downtown at 130km/h @ ~3500rpm. Sometimes when I do
this the check engine light comes on after about 1 minute on the
highway. The light then stays on for the rest of the time the engine is
on, but if I turn the engine off and immediately on again, the light is
not on anymore.

Any ideas what might be causing this and if I should be concerned about
this?

Thanks!
Theo

In article <1116798488.526881.17870@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups. com>,
theo.chan@gmail.com wrote:

> The check engine light comes on occasionally in my stock 1990 honda
> civic wagon 2WD 5-spd. This happens about once or twice a month when I
> am driving on the highway. Usually it only happens when I am in a hurry
> and the car has not been driven in a while (ie overnight). I usually
> get to the highway in about 1-2 minutes after starting the car, and
> then it's a sprint downtown at 130km/h @ ~3500rpm. Sometimes when I do
> this the check engine light comes on after about 1 minute on the
> highway. The light then stays on for the rest of the time the engine is
> on, but if I turn the engine off and immediately on again, the light is
> not on anymore.
>
> Any ideas what might be causing this and if I should be concerned about
> this?
>
> Thanks!
> Theo

Theo,
I suggest that when you visit Auto Zone or some other auto store that does
free tests and ask them to determine the code that is displayed. If no
codes are displayed--you may have to wait for the light to come on before
you have it tested. The code should tell you the problem. In most cases,
the light remains on until it is reset. I have my own OBD tester that I
purchased for only $69.00. You might consider buying one. Make sure that
it has a reset button on it.
Jason

--
NEWSGROUP SUBSCRIBERS MOTTO
We respect those subscribers that ask for advice or provide advice.
We do NOT respect the subscribers that enjoy criticizing people.

theo.chan@gmail.com wrote:
> The check engine light comes on occasionally in my stock 1990 honda
> civic wagon 2WD 5-spd. This happens about once or twice a month when I
> am driving on the highway. Usually it only happens when I am in a hurry
> and the car has not been driven in a while (ie overnight). I usually
> get to the highway in about 1-2 minutes after starting the car, and
> then it's a sprint downtown at 130km/h @ ~3500rpm. Sometimes when I do
> this the check engine light comes on after about 1 minute on the
> highway. The light then stays on for the rest of the time the engine is
> on, but if I turn the engine off and immediately on again, the light is
> not on anymore.
>
> Any ideas what might be causing this and if I should be concerned about
> this?
>
> Thanks!
> Theo
>
look under the carpet on the passenger side to see the ecu. turn the
ignition on, [but do not run engine] and count the number of flashes of
the red led visible through the central window of the ecu. then go to
tegger's faq's to translate the code. code allows remedy!

Jason wrote:
> In article <1116798488.526881.17870@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups. com>,
> theo.chan@gmail.com wrote:
>
>
>>The check engine light comes on occasionally in my stock 1990 honda
>>civic wagon 2WD 5-spd. This happens about once or twice a month when I
>>am driving on the highway. Usually it only happens when I am in a hurry
>>and the car has not been driven in a while (ie overnight). I usually
>>get to the highway in about 1-2 minutes after starting the car, and
>>then it's a sprint downtown at 130km/h @ ~3500rpm. Sometimes when I do
>>this the check engine light comes on after about 1 minute on the
>>highway. The light then stays on for the rest of the time the engine is
>>on, but if I turn the engine off and immediately on again, the light is
>>not on anymore.
>>
>>Any ideas what might be causing this and if I should be concerned about
>>this?
>>
>>Thanks!
>>Theo
>
>
> Theo,
> I suggest that when you visit Auto Zone or some other auto store that does
> free tests and ask them to determine the code that is displayed. If no
> codes are displayed--you may have to wait for the light to come on before
> you have it tested. The code should tell you the problem. In most cases,
> the light remains on until it is reset. I have my own OBD tester that I
> purchased for only $69.00. You might consider buying one. Make sure that
> it has a reset button on it.
> Jason
>

don't need obd tester for obd0 - the ecu flashes code readings direct.
reset the computer by pulling the hazard fuse for 20 seconds.

jim beam <nospam@example.net> wrote in news:eeqdndJlPaUNiwzfRVn-
vg@speakeasy.net:

> theo.chan@gmail.com wrote:

>>
>> Any ideas what might be causing this and if I should be concerned about
>> this?
>>
>> Thanks!
>> Theo
>>
> look under the carpet on the passenger side to see the ecu. turn the
> ignition on, [but do not run engine] and count the number of flashes of
> the red led visible through the central window of the ecu. then go to
> tegger's faq's to translate the code. code allows remedy!
>
>


http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/faq.html#errorcodes

--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/