Having spent most of the day searching for advice I have resorted to being a newbie and asking you wise individuals. Sorry if you hate posters like me...I promise I'm helpful on every other forum I use!
For the last 5 months my engine light has sporadically been coming on a few minutes into my drive (has become every journey now), sometimes I thought it was when my revs were high (I assumed a VTEC solenoid problem), sometimes when low, however today I noticed when the revs dropped suddenly the light would come on (which would make sense if revs are high as they drop when I inevitably hit traffic), today it came on either when I was riding the clutch gong round a corner or just coming to a stop. (so perhaps oxygen/oil sensor??)
The problem I have is that the check engine light comes off the moment the car is turned off and so I am having trouble getting a reading using the paper clip method, I assume you can't paperclip when the car is on!!! I would get someone to check it but it's expensive in the UK and probably a waste of time if the light doesn't come on anyway?!
Btw contrary to many other internet posts my 1999 LX Accord has the blue 2 pin OBD rather than the brown wide one....I believe the brown one is ODB2...baffled me for ages that one.
Can anyone think of a reason the CEL would only come on into a drive and come off when the engine is turned off? It has never come on when I start the car, well not since the thermo was replaced.
My thermostat went 3 months ago so I replaced it, bloody fiddle for my fat hands, and it has had no overheating problems since, (though don't Honda's run hot!!) though I do sometimes think hmmm, that's a strange feeling when it idles/I stop revving, it doesn't splutter as such but it does feel a tad like it's revving low and some revs perks it up. No problems caused because of it.
I have noticed one other thing that has been prevalent for a while, sometimes in first gear I will accelerate, the car will go, then suddenly the revs will drop to nothing and I'll either have to change to second and rev or take the car out of gear and put it back into first. Works fine after that. This happens very infrequently, perhaps once in every 20 journeys, and only in 1st gear.
So now I am in a horrible position of diagnosing a cheap cars fault and trying not to spend, spend, spend.
My plan of action is -
1. Oil change, needs it desperately (I've been a naughty boy and probably mixed oils...)
2. Get a service from a 'mechanic' friend to change the rocker cover gasket (seems to be oil v v slowly penetrating around the bottom of the rocker) and clean the VTEC solenoid screen...? Ask if he can check the solenoid is working using the 12v clicking method.
3. Find someone with a CEL reader and hope they find something.
As a side note I did just have the exhaust changed (ripped me off, my fault) and it seems to still be blowing a tad so I'll go back and get them have a look....could that be a CEL cause?...
I know this is all vague but perhaps some of you smarties might have an idea/suggestion for me, this is my first Honda and I'm sold. Despite the niggles Honda's are amazing cars and much better than the variety of cars I have had. (I was an accident prone youth).
If you stuck with me this far thank you, and hopefully you might have a suggestion or two....
Feel free to tell me to or call me a ....my don't you guys have some fancy emoticons!
For the last 5 months my engine light has sporadically been coming on a few minutes into my drive (has become every journey now), sometimes I thought it was when my revs were high (I assumed a VTEC solenoid problem), sometimes when low, however today I noticed when the revs dropped suddenly the light would come on (which would make sense if revs are high as they drop when I inevitably hit traffic), today it came on either when I was riding the clutch gong round a corner or just coming to a stop. (so perhaps oxygen/oil sensor??)
The problem I have is that the check engine light comes off the moment the car is turned off and so I am having trouble getting a reading using the paper clip method, I assume you can't paperclip when the car is on!!! I would get someone to check it but it's expensive in the UK and probably a waste of time if the light doesn't come on anyway?!
Btw contrary to many other internet posts my 1999 LX Accord has the blue 2 pin OBD rather than the brown wide one....I believe the brown one is ODB2...baffled me for ages that one.
Can anyone think of a reason the CEL would only come on into a drive and come off when the engine is turned off? It has never come on when I start the car, well not since the thermo was replaced.
My thermostat went 3 months ago so I replaced it, bloody fiddle for my fat hands, and it has had no overheating problems since, (though don't Honda's run hot!!) though I do sometimes think hmmm, that's a strange feeling when it idles/I stop revving, it doesn't splutter as such but it does feel a tad like it's revving low and some revs perks it up. No problems caused because of it.
I have noticed one other thing that has been prevalent for a while, sometimes in first gear I will accelerate, the car will go, then suddenly the revs will drop to nothing and I'll either have to change to second and rev or take the car out of gear and put it back into first. Works fine after that. This happens very infrequently, perhaps once in every 20 journeys, and only in 1st gear.
So now I am in a horrible position of diagnosing a cheap cars fault and trying not to spend, spend, spend.
My plan of action is -
1. Oil change, needs it desperately (I've been a naughty boy and probably mixed oils...)
2. Get a service from a 'mechanic' friend to change the rocker cover gasket (seems to be oil v v slowly penetrating around the bottom of the rocker) and clean the VTEC solenoid screen...? Ask if he can check the solenoid is working using the 12v clicking method.
3. Find someone with a CEL reader and hope they find something.
As a side note I did just have the exhaust changed (ripped me off, my fault) and it seems to still be blowing a tad so I'll go back and get them have a look....could that be a CEL cause?...
I know this is all vague but perhaps some of you smarties might have an idea/suggestion for me, this is my first Honda and I'm sold. Despite the niggles Honda's are amazing cars and much better than the variety of cars I have had. (I was an accident prone youth).
If you stuck with me this far thank you, and hopefully you might have a suggestion or two....
Feel free to tell me to or call me a ....my don't you guys have some fancy emoticons!