Freaked the hell out of me. My CEL randomly comes on, but it doesn't seem like anything is wrong. It drives just like it always does, and there are no extra shakes/shudders/noises/leaks. The car is a non-VTEC 1998 Civic LX sedan automatic. Any suggestions?

 

Pull the code(s) from the ECU as detailed here.

 

Just because theres no shakes/shutters/noises/leaks... doesnt mean you dont have a problem... that is the most primitive way of saying my car is in good condition ever lol.

when it comes on... take it to autozone or a autoparts store like that, that will read your check engine light for free. If the light is coming on. that means the ecu is throwing an error code and its detecting a problem. If the light is on and theres no code present... maybe it just needs to be reset or you may have a bad ecu. have the codes read first before any assumptions are made.

 

pull the code when the light comes on if its just random, you can do it with it on. its called a soft code if it doesnt stay all the time

 

Autozone doesnt check anymore.


Count the lights.

 

Cool. Thanks for the tips, guys.
Hopefully, I can get it checked out tomorrow.

 

damn... that sucks. hooray for me and OBD1

 

Yeah they said the code reader manufacturers banned them from checking lights for free. If it's the same type of computer as my 94 dx then there should be a small plug coming out of the computer. While the car is off insert a wire into both holes of the plug to create a circuit. Then turn the car on just to accessory mode, count the pulses of the light, long pulses equal ten and shorts are one, add up them up and look up the number you get in the cel thread. Thats how I found out my vtec was out when I first got the car. Reattached a clipped wire and it runs a ton better. Good luck.