mavshah

Am new here... and just getting in to cars

have a 97 honda civic and engine lights keep coming on. first it was normal tuning.. had that done. then front oxygen sensor... now i need to find out what next. any idea what might be wrong.. anyone who knows abt this....

read somewhere that 97 model came with a bad harness hence the problems? anyone know of this?

EL Vap133

What code/s are you throwing?

Daniel

Bad harness? I drive a '97 and haven't had any sorts of problems like this. And yes, what code are you throwing? Look in the FAQ to find out how to pull it if you don't know how. Pretty simple. Just requires a paperclip.

mavshah

I took it to AutoZone and it gives me a P0420 (i dont exactly remember) but the code description was
" Catalytic Efficiency below threshold level on Bank 1"

I already changed the front oxygen sensor. So can it be the secondary one? At the moment I had it reset so that I can see if I get the same code again..

AzntaggeR

yes it could be, because your second one goes into the cat.

nighttrain33

I didn't know that Autozone does OBD2 checks.

-Shane

undertheradar

Yes...AutoZone has OBD2 Scanners you can borrow.

The code you're getting doesn't relate to the o2 sensor, it is telling you your cat is not working as it should. You need to replace that. You'd be getting a different code for either o2 sensor.

mavshah

so then shoundt think of changing the second O2 sensor and go with the catalytic converter isntead?

hmmm never changed that.... easy deal to do it myself? or better to take it in shop...

is there a post on here somewhere to give me more info on how to change it?

Daniel

If you have an EX, it's pretty simple, just some bolts. They might be rusted on, though, and that will be a bitch to get off. Might have to borrow an impact gun or something. Or if you plan on doing more work, you can just buy and add it to your collection. Not sure how it is for the DX/LX models since I've only worked on my EX.

mavshah

OK let me look around for a cat converter.. and see how much it goes.. for... also might go ahed and do it my self.. ITs an LX model... but all things point towards the converter and not the O2 sensor right... am running out of money...

huertascoupe

there is a small plug above the car computer it's blue . jump the plug with a wire.the check engine light will flash with codes.if you buy a haines manual,look up the codes and that should tell you what's wrong.normally the computer is right.i know it sucks but you might have to spend the money to get it right.keep in mind that new sensors are cheaper on e-bay.

mavshah

I thougt it was the cat that had gone bad and needed to change that? now i am totally confused.. i have already changed the sensor that is before the engine.. so only the second one is remaining... the code given to me by the AUTOZONE scanner was P0420.. which stands for catalyst efficiencie is less then threshold value....
so what woudl it be?

nighttrain33

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by nighttrain33 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I didn't know that Autozone does OBD2 checks.

-Shane</TD></TR></TABLE>

OK, so maybe I was drunk when I wrote that. I can see clearly now that the booze is gone.

-Shane

Daniel

You have two oxygen sensors (02 sensor) and a catalytic converter. If the code says the catalyst efficiency is subpar, change the cat. It's not abnormal for them to get clogged over time, especially since you have a '97. If I go to redline, I can smell rotten eggs a little afterwards (even moreso if I come to a stop since the smell surrounds me then), which is a sign my cat is old. Makes sense since I have 75000 miles, and the cat's still original. Luckily, I still pass smog, though.

undertheradar

Yes...that code is in regards to the catalytic converter, not the 02 sensor. Get a new cat.

undertheradar

Yes...that code is in regards to the catalytic converter, not the 02 sensor. The second 02 sensor is what is sending the signal to the ECU that the exhaust passing by it is still too poluted, which means the cat isn't doing its job. If your secondary o2 sensor wasn't doing its job, you wouldn't be getting that code.