I have worn the search function to death. I've read every single limp mode post there is.

1995 Civic EX
200,300 Miles
New plugs/wires/rotor about 300 miles ago.
This is my daily driver.
Car is 100% till:

Thursday 8pm: I chip my ECU using the kit from Moates.net. Everything is good.

9pm: Put back in car. Turn key and get a solid Cel. I'm in limp mode. Car wont rev past 4k and its running very rich.

9:05 pm - I am pissed.


So I go to work in the morning, driving in limpmode sucks. I get to the shop, etc. Call around getting prices on p28's. I figure I smoked my ECU with the soldering gun.

For ***** and giggles , I call honda to get a price on a new one.
762$

Napa has remanufactured ones for 252.
I call some junkyards and find one in south phoenix for 200.

Then I start to ask the Techs at our shop. They make the jokes, etc. Its not throwing a code, I jump the cable and the cel stays lit, but the SRS light blinks. Keep in mind, the car was running fine before I did this. A little flucuation in idle, but running great.

I started to talk to one of the guys at the honda service center. He tells me to let it sit for several hours with the battery and fuse unplugged.

That was 12 noon on friday.
I do what he says and before I go home at 6Pm. I plug it all back in.
She works 100%.
No Cel, No limp Mode, etc.

I am happy. I drive the 22 miles to home, Running great.

So Saturday afternoon rolls around and I jump in to go to the store. Omfgbbqshitfuck.
Cel has returned, Limp mode activated.

I don't know what to do guys. I can't figure out Wtf the problem is.

Its a 95 EX civic like my name implies. Completely stock except for a fuel cut switch I put in. And a vtec indicator led I put in on a rainy day. And a magnaflow muffler.

Nothing else. No Upgraded Headunit, no nothing. I was chipping to prepare for the turbo that will be going in.

My dad just told me to get another computer. But If it ran fine once with the chip in. Why is it just tossing the Cel again? Keep in mind, that the J1 is cut, so its just an empty chip.


Modified by 1995Ex_Sedan at 10:12 PM 7/9/2005

 

A couple questions for you.

What chip did you put in? And next did you bother to check the code, if so what code is it?

My bet is that you did chip something wrong, did you follow any instructions?

 

Thanks for the quick reply Luser.

I put in the Uber1 Kit from Moates.net
I read exstensivly about chipping my ecu. Keeblers write up and about 10 others. I've soldered before. I made a point to do it quickly and nicely.
I jumped the 2 pin cable and the cel would just stay lit. The srs light however, flashes when its jumped. The chips are in correct. I am 100% Sure of it. Checked, and double checked, Plus the J1 is cut. Also, Why would it start up fine on Friday afternoon AFTER throwing the cel?
I will not let this deter me from turboing. Its just a problem that I need to fix. And annoying pain in the *** problem though. =\

 

How is the Uber1 kit? I have mine coming in the mail along with the Ostrich and burner so its good to know ahead of time.

Are you suppose to cut or jump J1, i heard different things about it. You should PM: 93turbo16 he did my ecu and did a great job. But he used a P05 ecu i dont think its that much off from a P28 just a different map.

 

-Laughs- The kit is great. Comes with everything you need. Don't know about the ostrich. I'm going to buy the chip burner, myself. If the jumper is CUT. Its supposed to be stock. Thats what I was doing. Put in all the chips and whatnot, but leave the jumper cut till I get the burner.

 

I should also add that I'm on hour 2 of it being unplugged outside. Hondas reset procedure or whatever. We'll see. Still though, Please help with any advice anyone has.

 

Well, Gonna go plug it all back in now, See what happens. Wish me luck.

 

Your not alone dude I need a p30 ecu and I called honda they wanted $770 !! thats crazy I can go on ebay and get it cheaper ya know

 

Went and gave it a whirl. No go. Still solid Cel.

I think I'll just buy an already chipped and datalogged ECU from 93turbo16. Seems like a good guy. Thanks for the info Luser. I don't know whats up with mine. Maybe I'll send it to him after I buy one. -Shrugs- Driving 22 miles in Limp mode sucks.

I also unplugged it again. I'll leave it that way all night , Just incase.

93turbo16 , Sending you a pm.

 

Left it unplugged all night. Went out this morning and still, CEL.

Talked to John, Buying one pre-chipped through him. Awesome guy to deal with.

 

Okay, Got one coming to me in the mail. BUT. I've found out somemore about my ECU.

I went and checked all my soldering. A-ok there. I plugged it back into the car and Viola. No CEL. She purrs fine. Now, I start to give it a little gas, bring the revs up. I go past 5k and the natural vibration of the car causes the ecu to move on the carpeting. The cel comes on. Aha!. So I turn off the car and push the ecu towards the plugs and wires again. I start the car and no CEL.

No for the interesting part. As its running 100% fine, I reach over and just give the ecu a tiny little nudge towards me. Away from the plugs. The CEL flickers slightly then goes solid and the car coughs as its thrown into limp.

So my friends, I believe that one of the wires in the harness, close to the ecu is not connecting 100%. My questions.

How do I go about seeing which one it is?

Do they sell the harness to the ecu? Where exactly do all those wires go? Are there 3 plugs on the other end?

 

Why not just mount your ECU so it can't move?

I would try a contact cleaner on both the ECU and harness before doing anything drastic, one of the connections is probably oxidized and not making a good connection.

 

I will do that, I mean, I had been chipping it. Thats why its not mounted. I don't drive with it just laying on the floor. John (93turbo16) told me how to take apart the plugs. I'll do that in a bit and see if anythings up. There is a splice in one of the wires I found. From the previous owner. I'll have to look at what color combo it is and go from there. Its all wrapped in electrical tape, but who knows.

 

Alright. I'm needing some help with this one. I took apart the black sleeve that houses all the wires. Inside I found like a bridge someone made.

Does honda just have the entire harness intact or is anything spliced? I found this a wire from plug 2 going to a wire on plug 3 and a wire on plug one running to another wire on plug 1. Here are some pics. Please help me out with this guys. The adhesive on the electrical tape was all sticky and nasty. Maybe that was causing the problem. I still have to pull apart the plugs and look at the pins. One second while I get these pics up.

 

Okay, I've found that the wire on plug D for the TPS signal is spliced to the wire on plug A:

A19- White, Intake control solenoid, Battery Voltage with KOEO..

My question is...What the **** for?

 

Oops. Double post. Bump?

 

My baby seems to be fixed. I cut both of the jumper/grounds that someone put in there. I started her up and she was happy. Moved the comp while running, played with the wires , etc. Still no CEL.

I'm omfg happy. I hope that was it.
Thanks Luser for the advice, and thanks the rest of you.

 

Are you sure that is the original motor?