gian13

sup guys?
just bought this 99 civic dx coupe a week ago. today i went to sears for an oil change, everything good. after this i stopped by autozone because the battery light seems to be kinda blinking. i say kinda because the light is not fully lighted is just a lilttle red (hope this makes sense)
anyways after the guy from autozone hooked its computer to the battery he said there was no problem with the car.
right after this i jumped on the highway, 5 minutes passed and when i hit 50 mph the car stops accelerating (not completely) sounded like tha car was "coughing" and excessive smoke started coming out the tail pipe. i pulled over gave the car a rest and jumped on the hw again. ended up driving home at 35-40 mph with my flashers on. now the engine light is on.

any ideas of what could it be?

thanks

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

Pull the code for the CEL.

furious94ls

Sounds like the alternator is dying.

EsotericImage

iTrader: (8)

This

gian13

What a COINCIDENCE!
The guy at sears mentioned I might need a new alternator because the battery light was kinda blinking when started the car to do the write up. Then he asked me to come back in 45 mins to pick it up.
1 week no problems with the car and then after a sears oil change the alternator starts acting up. I'm really thinking this young kid at sears had something to do with it.
UNLESS ... When the guy at autozone hooked his computer to the battery somehow damaged the alternator???
What do u think?

furious94ls

There really isn't much you can do to destroy an alt on purpose besides messing with the wires, but you would be able to see that. It's an old car and things go. The car won't run at full potential if it's not putting out the correct amps. You can have the alternator tested. If you want to replace it yourself, I believe you can search for an article on here to do it yourself. I suggest getting an OEM replacement because they last a very long time.

gian13

took it to bridge auto parts (local autozone competitors) and they said it was the oxygen sensor. Could it be that with tha heavy fawking rain last night that sensor got messed up somehow?
but still that would cause the car to almost stall on me, lose acceleration and the exessive smoke tru the tailpipe?
wadda u think?

Dioxine

oxygen sensors can cause this. Generally alternators either work or they dont. They can show signs for dying but once they start going its only like a week until they are gone. I would the alternator tested before replacing it. And i would agree that it sounds like a bad o2 sensor or a map sensor. Idk why you haven't pulled the code yet.....

motegicivic

You can test the alternator, run the car, take a multimeter, set to volts, touch the red lead to the positive lead on the battery, touch the black lead the negative on the battery see what the voltage is, should be around 14.1 running.

Advance auto can test it for you as well, not just the battery.

EJ1OverSpool

not long ago i had a similar problem, though i couldnt accel past 15mph. was caused by a combo of 3 sensors - TPS, MAP, and 02 sensor...if i had to guess i would say yourissue IS caused by your 02 sensor.

gian13

Autozone's diagnosed it with code P0131
Bank 1 - sensor 1. I'm about to order an o2 sensor from ebay and try to replace it myself.
When i open the hood i can see 2 sensors. One of top and one at the bottom. Are these 2 sensors exactly the same? Or are they different? For what i read the bank 1 sensor 1 is the one on top, the one before the catalityc right?
Any help will be appreciated

gian13

As previously stated after an oil change i jumped on the hw and when i was going at 55-60 mph the car just loss acceleration, and when i pressed the gas excessive dark smoke started coming out of the tailpipe. I pulled over and gave the car a brake but same thing happened.
Ended up going back home locally doing 25-35 mph.

Autozone's diagnosed it with code P0131
Bank 1 - sensor 1. I'm about to order an o2 sensor from ebay and try to replace it myself.
When i open the hood i can see 2 sensors. One of top and one at the bottom. Are these 2 sensors exactly the same? Or are they different? For what i read the bank 1 sensor 1 is the one on top, the one before the catalityc right?
Any help will be appreciated

Wrona

No they r not thesame u need an upstream sensor if I'm not wrong I reommend denso

jbpnoman

Yes, the primary and secondary O2 sensors are the same.

Former User

Before you buy an O2 sensor, measure the fuel pressure and test the FPR. P0131 can also be caused by a fuel system problem, which sounds like may be the case.
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motegicivic

That is the primary, typically when order get a the primary, I think the wire is a little shorter as well.

Try to get Denso.

gian13

i will install a new o2 sensor and then if this doesn't fix the problem i'll have to take it to my mechanic.
thanks for the replies