Honda Car Forum

Hi, driving through a rainy New Jersey, I noticed that the check
engine light came AND my speedometer/odometer stopped working on my 97
Civic CX. Both issues must have happened at the same time or nearly
so, I usually am checking my speed and such. Could they be related?

Also, the check engine/seatbelt/emergency brake idiot lights are
slightly pulsing, they dim slightly about once a second...??

With check engine light on, the car seemed to run ok, the change in
idle rpms every few seconds, gas mileage didn't seem to bad but I
can't check with the odometer not working!

Is the speedometer a mechanical or electrical driven device on these
cars? My Haynes doesn't have anything...

Any help or info would be appreciated, I am going out now to check
fuses, reset the computer, etc, - hopefully I find something
obvious... thanks!! Tim

On Mon, 23 Jul 2007 15:11:11 -0700, kratz7435@comcast.net wrote:

>Hi, driving through a rainy New Jersey, I noticed that the check
>engine light came AND my speedometer/odometer stopped working on my 97
>Civic CX. Both issues must have happened at the same time or nearly
>so, I usually am checking my speed and such. Could they be related?

Almost certainly. Fix the speedometer and the light will go out.


>Also, the check engine/seatbelt/emergency brake idiot lights are
>slightly pulsing, they dim slightly about once a second...??
>
>With check engine light on, the car seemed to run ok, the change in
>idle rpms every few seconds, gas mileage didn't seem to bad but I
>can't check with the odometer not working!
>
>Is the speedometer a mechanical or electrical driven device on these
>cars? My Haynes doesn't have anything...

It is electrical. The problem may be the Vehicle Speed Sensor which
bolts on to the transmission. Or it could be a loose connection or
broken wire.

>Any help or info would be appreciated, I am going out now to check
>fuses, reset the computer, etc, - hopefully I find something
>obvious... thanks!! Tim

kratz7435@comcast.net wrote in news:1185228671.327302.258840
@n60g2000hse.googlegroups.com:

> Hi, driving through a rainy New Jersey, I noticed that the check
> engine light came AND my speedometer/odometer stopped working on my 97
> Civic CX. Both issues must have happened at the same time or nearly
> so, I usually am checking my speed and such. Could they be related?



I think you'll find this is the Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS). Have the
Check Engine light code read by AutoZone or other place. Report the code
here.


>
> Also, the check engine/seatbelt/emergency brake idiot lights are
> slightly pulsing, they dim slightly about once a second...??
>
> With check engine light on, the car seemed to run ok, the change in
> idle rpms every few seconds, gas mileage didn't seem to bad but I
> can't check with the odometer not working!
>
> Is the speedometer a mechanical or electrical driven device on these
> cars? My Haynes doesn't have anything...



Haynes is crap, sorry.


>
> Any help or info would be appreciated, I am going out now to check
> fuses, reset the computer, etc, - hopefully I find something
> obvious...



Make sure it's the VSS. Fix that first. Most of your other problems
should go away after that, then you can concentrate on the ones that are
left.



--
Tegger

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

On Jul 23, 5:11 pm, kratz7...@comcast.net wrote:
> Hi, driving through a rainy New Jersey, I noticed that the check
> engine light came AND my speedometer/odometer stopped working on my 97
> Civic CX. Both issues must have happened at the same time or nearly
> so, I usually am checking my speed and such. Could they be related?
>
> Also, the check engine/seatbelt/emergency brake idiot lights are
> slightly pulsing, they dim slightly about once a second...??
>
> With check engine light on, the car seemed to run ok, the change in
> idle rpms every few seconds, gas mileage didn't seem to bad but I
> can't check with the odometer not working!
>
> Is the speedometer a mechanical or electrical driven device on these
> cars? My Haynes doesn't have anything...
>
> Any help or info would be appreciated, I am going out now to check
> fuses, reset the computer, etc, - hopefully I find something
> obvious... thanks!! Tim


Actually, Haynes did have a section on testing the VSS, I just wasn't
sure what to look for at that point. I am now sure the VSS and CEL
are related, it is most likely a bad VSS. I displaced any water at
the VSS connection and no improvement.

kratz7435@comcast.net wrote in news:1185235238.563948.320080
@k79g2000hse.googlegroups.com:


>
>
> Actually, Haynes did have a section on testing the VSS, I just wasn't
> sure what to look for at that point. I am now sure the VSS and CEL
> are related



You cannot be "sure". You are guessing. Get the code read.


--
Tegger

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

Tim, see the following bulletin for the likely cause and solution for
this problem:

http://downloads.hondatech.info/Auto...n/x99-029e.pdf

had this problem on my 98 civic, Tegger has pictures of my fix on his website.


rf_uw_engineer@yahoo.com wrote:
>Tim, see the following bulletin for the likely cause and solution for
>this problem:
>
>http://downloads.hondatech.info/Auto...n/x99-029e.pdf

--
Message posted via CarKB.com
http://www.carkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx...-cars/200707/1

On Jul 23, 11:05 pm, "loewent via CarKB.com" <u10197@uwe> wrote:
> had this problem on my 98 civic, Tegger has pictures of my fix on his website.
>
> rf_uw_engin...@yahoo.com wrote:
> >Tim, see the following bulletin for the likely cause and solution for
> >this problem:
>
> >http://downloads.hondatech.info/Auto...n/x99-029e.pdf
>
> --
> Message posted via CarKB.comhttp://www.carkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/honda-cars/200707/1

Thanks to all who recommended this wiring harness fix, it worked
great!! Has been running perfect for 2 weeks now...