kanav.katyal

2000 Honda Accord

Hi, I have a 2000 honda accord and it has engine check light on. I went to a mechanic and he gave a code of P1381. Now when I drive the car it works normally and drives well at low speed. When I increase the speed the rpm does not go beyond 3000. I have read on websites about this and some says its the alternator and some say its the distributor.

Can someone guide me what might be the possible issue here? I read that alternator diode might be not working in this case. Is that correct?

Help is really appreciated.

kanav.katyal

I just don't want to spend on both the parts. So if someone can tell what the real problem is then I can spend wisely.

holmesnmanny

could be both but more towards a new alternator, especially if you got other electrical gremlins going on, i would just pull one from the junkyard

JustaHondaguy

I have the same issue.
The lamp comes on whenever it wants. No rhyme or reason.
That code has several possible fixes.
Replace the distributor (which I did, no cure), possible alternator, or bad ecu.
There was a way to test the resistance between certain ports of the ECU, but I don't remember which ones.
I just reset the light with my $25 scan tool for now.
A junkyard ecu will run about $100 with an hour of labor for the dealer to reprogram the ECU to your VIN.
I would try the alternator first, since it is a diy project.

bestofthe80s

I had this same problem, I threw 3 distributors in it before i realized it was the PCM/ECU under the center console. Check resistance between PCM and Dizzy. My PCM had gone bad and I had to source one from a yard and have it reprogrammed at my dealership ($150).

Leave the old PCM in the car until your ready to have the new one reprogrammed. If you throw in a replacement PCM it will immobilize the vehicle (literally, it locks up the brakes).