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My new-to-me '95 Accord LX wagon w/OBD1 had the CEL on on the drive home, so today I shorted out the two terminals in the two terminal plug under the glovebox to count the flashes. The odd thing is the SRS light (which is directly above the check engine light) is the light which flashed when the terminals were shorted, not the CEL. Maybe someone before me had the cluster out and mixed up the two light plugs when reinstalling them?

Assuming the two bulbs/plugs are mixed up and the flashes I saw are correct, I have a second problem-- the code I got was 51. Yes, 51. Five slow flashes and one fast flash, and yes, I did try it at least five times to make sure 51 was correct. Am I reading these flashes wrong somehow? The time between the slow flashes is the same, so it reads like there is only one code, but no OBD1 code 51 seems to exist.

Though I'm new to Hondas, I'm not new to OBD1 ('95 Astro, same procedure) and OBDII ('96 Neon, very similar) code reading, so this has me stumped.

My feeling is that it's a code for the catalytic convertor or one of the O2 sensors, as I think the P.O. may have fouled the upstream 02 sensor when he changed the plugs/spark plug tubes.

Any help appreciated.

MAD_MIKE

Lamps are directly mounted to a circuit board, there is no way to mix them up. Usually the CEL is what will inform you of a sub system issue, when you check for codes the actual subsytems light will then give you a code.
You read the code almost correctly.
SRS codes are two separate digit codes. In your case 5-1.
Verify you have full voltage at the battery, that it holds a complete charge, and that the system is charging the battery.

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Thanks. The P.O. did replace the battery and mentioned it was dead after sitting for an extended period of time (confirmed by corroded front rotors), and I discovered the ground strap from the battery to the trans was almost completely severed (since fixed), so I'm guessing that's why the SRS light was illuminated. I had the battery disconnected when repairing the ground cable issue, so I'll start the car today an see if the SRS and CEL lights are still illuminated.

Is that normal/correct that the SRS would flash when the terminals are shorted to check the CEL codes?

MAD_MIKE

No.
If the SRS is flashing there is a problem with the SRS systems. If there was a problem with the engine/trans(D4)/SRS/ABS then the warning light for that system will flash a code.

CEL may illuminate to indicate there is a problem with the engine or other sub systems(Trans(D4)/SRS/ABS). When you jumper the two wire blue connector, then the appropriate warning lamp will flash a code to indicate the problem area.

CEL will flash codes if there is a problem with the engine.
D4 will flash codes if there is a problem with the transmission.
SRS will flash codes if there is a problem with the SRS system.
ABS will flash codes if there is a problem with the ABS system.

Some issues will crossover to different systems. You may have a CEL and a D4 light warning code(different code) but same issue may be present, bad VSS signal, faulty thermo-resistor, TPS, etc. This is why it is best to make sure the all the warning lights illuminate, and wait to verify no other warning lights will flash a code.

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Thanks, Mike.