Honda Car Forum

I know most American vehicles have a way to check trouble codes using the MIL/Check Engine Light by cycling the ignition switch from off to on three times, then counting the number of times the light flashes. What I'm curious about though is does Honda have any similar feature? I've got a friend who insists on buying Honda Accords because they're such a great vehicle (his opinion) but he always has problems with them. One blew up at 100k miles so he bought a new one about 5 years ago. Now at 90k miles the check engine light is coming on.He took it to the dealership, where they obviously are morons and replaced the computer for $800...naturally, the light still comes on. My guess is it's actually an O2 sensor as that's a common problem for vehicles at high altitude (Colorado)I'm sure it's not a maintenance problem because he's the type of person who refuses to drive the car more than 90 days or even 3000 miles between oil changes. The car also gets the scheduled "services" at every mileage marker that the manufacturer suggests.Since I've never owned a foreign vehicle, I'm not sure how good a Chilton's manual would be for a Honda. I'd guess it should be as good as those for American vehicles. I just don't want to spend that much money on one just to find out there's no simple way to check trouble codes.Cycling the ignition works on older Chryslers, Olds (when they still existed) and Dodge as well. Of the last 4 times a check engine light has come on on any of my friends and families vehicles, it's been an O2 sensor 4 of those times. (Pretty good record if I do say so)The idiots in the dealership changing a computer to make themselves feel better and make money obviously wasn't the right choice either.As for the transmission, the car runs and shifts perfectly.My car throws a code occasionally for an engine misfire, at 192k miles, I expect it...besides, I haven't changed spark plugs in two years.

If the car is a 1996 or later and is in the U.S. then take it to an Autozone parts store or an AAMCO transmission shop and they will retrieve the diagnostic trouble code for free. AAMCO will try to sell you a diagnostic but just say no, you only want to know what the code is.the code will identify what system is causing the problem that was picked up by the self-monitoring of the emission control systems. Once you have the code you can then post the code and ask for help. There are over 160 possible reasons that the check engine light can be illuminated; to guess which one it is would be as silly as putting in a computer (the least likely of all things to fail) just because the light is on.Also, when you do find out the code and if you need help at that point, be sure to include the year and model of the car. Pre-1996 cars are different than the 1996 and later; Autozone won't pull the codes on the pre-1996 cars for free.hope that helps.

You are wrong on two counts.MOST all DTCs are NOT O2 sensor issues. O2 sensors detect other issues. You do not use a nad aid on a broken arm, do you? You do not just replace O2 sensors to make yourself feel better than! Only certain year 99-03(?) Chrysler products still could do that key trick after 1995 or so. That method disappeared for a few years then came back.My money is that the transmission blew up on the freind's Accord. 99-03's were awful about that.