POE

So my wife's civic has started sputtering when she first starts it up in the morning , plugs and plug wires look fine, no check engine light, so I don't think it is the o2 sensor. It just started out of no where. I searched but nothing seems to be the exact symptoms. Any ideas??? I was also thinking fuel filter but it seems to be different than the pre 2000 models.

Thanks in advance for the help.

Former User

Does the CEL work? Have you checked for stored codes in the ECU? Spark plug gap good?

POE

How can I check to make sure it's working and bulb didn't get burned out? And I will be replacing the spark plugs soon anyways and will double check correct gapping .

Former User

Turn key from OFF to ON(II). Does the light come on for six seconds or so and then turn off?

POE

Yeah , it is a maintenance required light, not a check engine , is that the same thing? Forgive the noobie stuff I've been out of the Honda game a while and when I was, it was obd1.

Former User

The maintenance and CEL/MIL are different. You want to check the CEL/MIL:

POE

Wow, thanks ronJ@HT. Looks like its not lighting up then, if the bulb isn't burned out what else could be making it not light up? If I have a buddy with a obd code scanner would he be able to see codes from that?


I'm a bit overwhelmed now and not to sure where to go next.

Former User

Yes, you can hook up the code reader to check for codes.

The CEL is an LED in your car. It's burned out or a previous owner disabled it, possibly by cutting the wire that runs from the CEL in the cluster to the ECU.

POE

Ah I c, so I went outside and turned the ignition and did see the maintenance required came on for 6 seconds or so like you said, and I did see the check engine light when I left the ignition switch on 2. And then when I started the car it went away and the car ran ruff for about 7 seconds or so. But no check engine light. So that fact that it does light up makes me think it should be working.. ( right) ?? It feels like to me the car is running on three cylinders but only for a few seconds and only when cold start up. Any ideas on that? Thanks again for your time and energy !

Former User

Yeah, CEL works. Sounds like possibly a low cold idle spped. You may need to clean the IACV or adjust the idle speed.

Still have your buddy use his code reader to check for codes. You may find a stored code or pending code that is informative.

POE

Awesome I will for sure do that, she has had the car for three years with no issues until this week... Thanks again and I will update here when I figure it out, if u have any other ideas please shoot them my way

Former User

POE

Wow, thanks again