Hiya. I stumbled upon this forum for a solution and hopefully the pros here can help! Im a young guy that got his dream car, a beautiful black honda si-prelude Gen 4 with a sexy Vtec engine, imported from japan by the previous owner...

only one problem...

You see, when i test drove the car i had NO problems. Drove the car for about 2-3 Ks and had zip problems.

Then, i got the car after much haggling and took it for a cruise and really enjoy Honda technology. Then after about 1k the engine light popped up. WHat? i just got the car!!! I drove it back asap to my house, stopped the car and tried to start the engine again. I had problems doing so. This as a problem i did not encounter when i checked the car (i checked the car twice with my father, had no start problems.) This problem seems to happen very rarely (the starting anyway) but every 1km or so of driving the car, the check engine light will blink on. Engine runs fine however, excellenty pickup, smooth ride, no vibrations, quiet ride.

My mechanic believes it could be the sensors on the car, but is having problems as all the parts are written on in japanese

PLEASE HELP! I've got some other prelude enthusiasts coming to take a look but i would truly appreciate the help from more experienced and older drivers and techs of this forum. Thankyou for reading in the first place!!! hope to hear from someone soon as i want to drive this babe!


Modified by sweetchilliphil at 7:14 AM 11/2/2007

 

if the CEL light blinks while you are driving, its a misfire. Pull your plugs and have a look at them.

 

sexy Vtec huh?

I think I just popped a wood under my desk.

Read the CEL and get back to us. Blake I think he just means it turns on. I'm betting o2 sensor.

Cosworth engineering

 

hm, no it doesn't blink. just stays on. thanks tho... any other ideas?

 

read out the code.

 

Read the CEL? forgive my ignorance but what do you mean by read it? im assuming by how the light flashes. it pretty much just stays on until i stop the engine.

can you explain the start-up problems at random moments as well? usually happens after the engine check light comes up.

thanks a lot. this is great help!

 

Search and read the faq.

When the CEL comes on it means that the ecu has stored a code for what exactly went wrong. There is a procedure for reading the code out.

 

ah, ok. it get it now (just asked my dad... good 'ol dad...)

read the code means the flashing light (like morse code), do you know where the diagnostics cable is bundled on the prelude?

man, ths is great.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sweetchilliphil &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ah, ok. it get it now (just asked my dad... good 'ol dad...)

read the code means the flashing light (like morse code), do you know where the diagnostics cable is bundled on the prelude?

man, ths is great.</TD></TR></TABLE>

behind center console, blue connector.

 

thankyou my friend! I bow to you! from Oz!

darn, blocked from making more posts...

anyway, if ANYONE has more advice i would love to hear from you! I'm more than happy to accept more experienced advice and even better if its pro! Thankyou all for your help so far.

ill check the CEL code this weekend and post up what ive found. thanks!


Modified by sweetchilliphil at 7:59 AM 11/2/2007

 

EGR

 

not sure what year your car is. my cel is on as well, i have check the code and it is the EGR valve. mine has similar symptoms as yours. i believe all you have to do is take it out and clean it out. buying a new one is quite expensive. hope this helps.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by 98vtec &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">if the CEL light blinks while you are driving, its a misfire. Pull your plugs and have a look at them.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes I believe it actually blinks to warn of possible catalyst damage. Which a misfire will do. Besides misfire or extremely rich condition idk what else would cause catalyst failure though.

 

O2, had the same issue on my old stock engine.