Looking for help - have an 05 Accord LXSE 4 cylinder - check engine light has gone on and off a couple times - after fixing the gas cap, it has still come on.

Finally took it to autozone to run free diagnostic (is this reliable?) and it came back with Coolant temperature sensor and air intake sensor.

Looking for -

Is this a reliable diagnostic?
Is it likely BOTH?
Is it bad to continue driving it in this condition?
What can I expect to pay to get it fixed?

Thanks for your help.

 

The code means the sensor is giving a bad reading. The coolant sensor may be reading a different temperature because of the sticking thermostat. It could be the sensor itself. It could be a loose connection. You would have to do some testing, to narrow it down. I would not suggest guessing games. They can become very expensive. I doubt both sensors went bad at the same time. Codes do not tell you exactly which part is bad. The Code only points you to a specific system. You have to narrow it down from there. Sorry.

 

Thanks for your assistance - what do you recommend to "narrow it down" - taking it in to a dealership/service for a full diagnostic?

Also, would these problems be leading to poorer gas mileage?

Thanks for the help.

 

Did you get the specific trouble codes? If so, please post the codes.

 

No I didn't, sorry - he just told me thats what it was. (the two of them).

 

If the trouble code was P0116 for the Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) sensor, it may mean that the ECM misinterprets the ECT inputs. The fix if it was this is to update the software; generally through the dealer. Since I can't attach the Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 06-048 due to size restriction, here are excerpts from it.

MIL Comes On With DTC P0116
SYMPTOM
The MIL comes on with DTC P0116 (ECT sensor 1 range/performance problem).

PROBABLE CAUSE
The ECM/PCM misinterprets the engine coolant
temperature inputs.
VEHICLES AFFECTED
2005–06 Accord – ALL
2006 Civic – ALL
2005–06 CR-V – ALL
2006 Element – ALL
2005–06 Odyssey – ALL
2005–06 Pilot – ALL
2006 Ridgeline – ALL
2006 S2000 – ALL

CORRECTIVE ACTION
Update the ECM/PCM PGM-FI software using HDS
software version 2.005.004 (or later)

This may or may not be the problem, as sometimes the trouble code may be caused by something else.


The air intake sensor problem code may be something else.

 

Thanks very much for your help.