Hi guys, I'm new here and hoping someone can help me. Hopefully I'm posting in the right place..

I have a 97 Honda Civic EX 2 DR coupe with a 1.6 dy168 motor, with vtec. I have been having problems with it anyway, and the CEL came on a few months ago. Took it to ASE certified master mechanic, claims after he re set the timing the codes 'went away'. I took it to Autozone a few weeks ago and it was throwing a P1259 code. I've read this one means vtec system malfunction, right? Anyway, my mechanic said that before the error codes 'went away', he was getting the vtec code and a code about a misfire between cylindars 2 and 4 I believe. Yesterday, I took the vtec solenoid off and cleaned the screen (read that on another forum) and put it back together. Checked the connections going to and from the oil pressure switch and vtec solenoid. On the paper I printed out that was out of some guys Civic book, it said pull the ECM fuse to reset the ECM. I did that and also pulled the negative battery cable, to make sure the code was gone. I made sure everything was hooked back up and went for a test drive. Car did fine at first, 2-3 minutes into drive I attempted to hit vtec and the light came back on and the car starting shaking like it was going to die, and eventually did die three times at stop lights. Got it back home and was messing with it and the CEL starting blinking. I don't see how just removing the solenoid to clean the screen and replacing everything as it was would of caused this. Does anyone have any ideas as to what the problem might be? I really don't want to have to take it to the shop if its something I can do myself. Thanks in advance.

 

Blinking CEL means the on board computer has detected a misfire severe enough to damage the catalyst($MORE MONEY$).
The first "master mechanic" should have spent a little more time diagnosing why the codes were set in the first place. ESPECIALLY if you paid him. The ECU doesnt just store a fault for no reason.
From what youve described, the car barely runs at all. Cleaning out your VTEC solenoid screen did nothing to hurt your engine.
Props to you for doing your own investigative work

 

Thank you.

Yeah, that guy never fixes anything right the first time. I have had it in there several times for the same things. I've decided to find another mechanic, or take it to the Honda Service Center. I'm tired of wasting a ton of money on his idiotic explanations.

Yeah, it's not running right now. It starts but attempts to die, and most of the time succeeds. What can I do, if anything, to fix the problem on my own? Or is this something that needs to be taken to the shop for repair? Thank you for your input.

 

Also, do you think that pulling the ECM fuse could of caused this, or at least had something to do with it?

 

Pulling the ecm fuse did not hurt anything. It just cuts power to the ecm and erases its fault memory...
Any faults that come back should be diagnosed individually. It is possible that 1 failed part can cause multiple faults.
So it runs fine when you stay out of vtec?
Are you using any oil?
Using any coolant?
Whats the mileage on the car?

 

BTW, Honda dealerships should know your car better than anyone else. You might pay a little more but they should do the job right the first time. Dont take it back to that guy. Seems he doesnt know hondas too well.

Read this...https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-civic-del-sol-1992-2000-1/how-pull-cel-d4-srs-abs-codes-code-lists-1901557/

 

It runs fine until I try to use vtec, and anything after that seems to upset it.
The mileage of the car is right over 140,000 miles
There is an oil leak, it's not as bad as it was, although I think we narrowed it down to leaking by the vtec solenoid (I explained the oil leak as well as the coolant question in the PM I sent you)


I don't plan on taking anything back to him. He doesn't know anything well, especially not Hondas though. My moms Buick was in there 5 times before he got it fixed. My dads Ford was in there God only knows how many times before it was fixed.

I did send you a PM though, with more details. Thanks again.

 

sounds like a master mechanic

 

I have a dumb question..When you say hit v-tec, what does that mean? I have a 96 w/v-tec and am wandering if theres something I am dumb to. Thanks

 

Hi. That isn't a dumb question at all. There isn't a button or anything if that is what you mean. Hitting vtec is just getting the motor up to a certain RPM and your vtec engages and makes the car get louder and go faster. Hope that helped.

 

Honda dealer mechanics are just as bad as other mechanics. I took my car in TOLD them a man pulled in front of me and officer gave him a ticket. He caused 5 people to hit him. Anyway an ac line got slightly bent and ac would not hold coolant. Took it to Honda and they said "it is the compressor, $1200", even paid them to put in the paint to check but they NEVER checked where the paint went. Took it to another mechanic and he said "it is the condenser, $600" Called Honda and talked to the service manager told him about paying for the paint and not even getting shown where the leak was. He had me come down showed me the leak..... IN THE LINE THAT WAS BENT THAT I TOLD THEM IT WAS IN THE FIRST PLACE. I bought the line came home and attached it myself and filled my own coolant from autozone. I cannot trust a mechanic again. Anyway my p1259 error code is on. Changed oil replaced valve gasket replaced pvc valve, new oil and filter. Replaced both gaskets on the solenoid ... still the cel is on. What next?

 

if i were you try to check your plugs and wires. seems like when you put a high enough load on your engine is when it decides to crap out. unplug your vtec solenoid take it for a rip and go pass vtec rpm see what happens.

 

99 Civic EX cel on and stays on error code 1259 vtech. Was low on oil. Changed valve cover gasket, pvc valve, oil and filter change. Reset light and cel came back on and stayed on. Opened the solenoid and found the top gasket broken but went ahead and changed both of them. Reset battery for cel to go off drove 100 yards and light came back on.... I am at a loss on what else to do, thanks for any input

 

Changed plugs and wires about 2 weeks ago.

 

Try and go to scrap yard and pick up a diff vtec solinoid. Put it on and reset code again. Might just be a screwed up solinoid. Scrap yard shouldnt charge much for it

 

what plugs were put in it?