CrxChicken

1990 crx dx auto 1.5

So I got the radiator in today and took it for a drive..

Thought I had a leak for a minute but it was from me bleeding the system heh gees anyway...

I have to go through emissions and sometimes i fail it and then a retest i often pass.. but during the emissions test they make you run the car at about 2500RPM for an extended time about 3 minutes maybe..

when i do that sometimes I throw a check engine.

Coming home from the test drive right now i decided to do that and run the car at 2500RPM for a while.. Check Engine came on and I turned the car off...

Forgot to check the computer light for the blink code and then turned the key back to the on position..

Computer is blinking a steady 1 beat every three seconds or so while running.

Check Engine went off when I shutdown and restarted.

I tried running it 2500RPM again for a real long time .. turned my high beams on and no check engine light.

Not sure what it could be

Wondering when the last time i changed the pcv valve .. not even sure exactly where it is so thats an indicator...

anyway i have to cut the grass before it gets dark

if you have any ideas pass them my way.

v4lu3s

So you read a code 1 on your ecu right? and it is intermittent right?

CrxChicken

i don't know it just blinks steady once every 3 seconds

i dont know if thats a code or just the computer saying its alive

just finished the grass .. i will look that up if i can find a reference chart

CrxChicken

well that was quick the ECU Code for a single blink seems to be O2 sensor
and that would go along with me not passing my emissions test

can you please verify if I am understanding this correctly?

https://honda-tech.com/tech-misc-15/...de%5D-1214478/

thats where I got the code

I am gonna try to find another chart just to be sure

I have a 1990 honda crx base/dx 1.5 automatic

its blinking once every 3 seconds ... about .. i guess heh

CrxChicken

yep found another guide and 1 is O2 sensor... its probably the original one .. everything on my car is original ..

I should keep everything I replace on my car thats original
and build another non working crx

CrxChicken

man i suck so hard

can't believe i didn't change it when i had my radiator out .. heh

CrxChicken

so bought a denso O2 sensor today with the connector on it
$24 at Advance Auto but I had a coupon so it came out to like $17

I have a O2 socket i got at harborfreight its 3/8"
fits but its a standard deep socket with a slot
not the kind many people use .. shorty with a side wrench socket

got home
Tried my craftsman 3/8" wrench on it
slipped a steel pipe over the end .. felt like i was about to waste the wrench

went to harborfreight
picked up a 3/8 breaker bar.. just no room for it even with the radiator fan out

also picked up a 1/2" to 3/8" impact adapter
have been spraying the sensor every couple hours with wd40
I can get my gun in there ok with the fan out.

but my compressor is kinda weak.. haven't tried getting it out yet

maybe tonight or tomorrow.

if you need to pickup some parts

advance auto has a $50 off $125 i used on my radiator
Take $50 Off $125 or more with code WD519 at AdvanceAutoParts.com! Valid 5/10 through 5/16. Valid online only.


or $10 off 30 i used on the O2 sensor

Take $10 off $30, $25 off $70 and $40 off $110 orders with code A124 at AdvanceAutoParts.com! Ends 5/31. Valid online only.

CrxChicken

ok so ...... replaced the O2 sensor

pulled the battery cable after installing to clear the code

ran ok while warming up I didn't feel any difference really

once I held it at 2500 rpm for about 2 minute maybe less

it threw a check engine and is blinking code 1 again.

I didn't clean anything with carb cleaner.
I didn't drop the o2 sensor

all i used was WD40 getting it off and antiseize (not a lot) putting it on.

not sure if i should go get another o2 sensor .. gonna try to do some more reading on this .. pretty bumbed out that it seems to be worse..

I am going to make sure the connector is clean but I thought it was ok i wiped it out before connecting the new one

CrxChicken

ok so this is screwed up

I just went out again .. pulled the connector on the o2 sensor
just to have peace of mind.. its dry and clean

put it back on

run the car at 1500 rpm for 10 minutes until the fan comes on twice

run it up to about 2100 rpm and it check engines with a code 1

then i clear that

for shitsandgiggles I pull the o2 sensor cable at the connector
run the car up to 2500 rpm for a good 4 minutes
NO CHECK ENGINE

I put the cable back on
Run the car for another 4 minutes with the O2 Sensor connected
NO CHECK ENGINE

I got no fricken idea what the.. BLANK is up with this thing...


the no check engine with the O2 sensor disconnected really surprised me

CrxChicken

Ok so i took the car in for the Emissions Test
I passed

Although i was 10 days late on the registration so i had to pay $10
not sure why thats right for them to do but it is what it is.
as a bonus i think my expiration for my next inspection was moved up 2 weeks
so that gives me more time in the spring .. after taxes and other things that are annual that limit my ability to work on the car before i bring it in. so that might help next time.

What I did to get the inspection done

Replaced the following
radiator
o2 sensor
Air Filter
Gas Cap
every vacuum line i could but most were replaced with fuel line and water hoses because no one sells the right size vacuum lines anymore..

I drove the new O2 sensor for about 75 miles before i brought it in
I think the Vacuum lines helped a lot

other than that i probably got real lucky

didn't install the computer i bought off ebay .. i will keep it for the future because those things are getting scarce

When I tried to find a fuel pressure regulator for it .. no one carries it .. Honda parts guy told me good luck because he can't order one.. I think I still can get one from aftermarket but its $100... I might just get one to keep.

It seems a lot of parts on our CRXs that were OEM are no longer being made.

I don't know what the future leads but it seems its going to be a lot of aftermarket stuff and probably in the next 10 years our cars won't be on the road unless they have engine changes and suspension changes..

My car is totally stock except for the paint and aftermarket generic parts i put on it.

I don't think my state would allow me to make an engine change

I did ask and the only other option is to title it as Antique at 25 years old which my car is but it means you can only drive it to shows so unless I can find shows at every store i need to go to .. yeah .. like that..

anyway that was my experience

probably getting time to think of a new vehicle to buy
i've had this for just over 15 years
probably long enough considering everything
either that or move to one of the 15 states that don't have inspections anymore

maybe i can get a bill passed in my state to end inspections or at least end them for cars over 25 years old..

Statistics say inspection related accidents are not a problem in any state for personal vehicles.. mainly only for tractor trailers and heavy load vehicles that require a Class A or B license.