I have a 2006 ex coupe and upon going outside this morning in -3 degrees i started my car. It hesitated to turn over and after 10 seconds of cranking it finally turned over and warmed up.

After it had warmed up and i left the house (approx 20 mins) i was driving normally no abnormal noises or hesitation in driving. 3 miles into my morning commute the check engine light comes on!

Now i did have my oil changed yesterday so i figured maybe the light just wasn't reset... YET it does say oil level 100%.

The garage (a respectable local garage i might add) also did a multi point inspection and everything on my car came back green (good) in condition. Minus a left front inner tie rod i'm having replaced monday.

Suggestions i was given this morning.

1: it's a "ghost code" and was just thrown because of the hard start in sub freezing temps disconnect the battery and turn the car back on.

2: the garage mistakingly didn't put any oil in for some reason yesterday.

2 is false DEFINITELY as i checked my levels and they were fine new oil and no leaking.

I've never heard of a "ghost code" either...

 

If the code is still present, go get the code read. Autozone does it free or go back to the shop to check it.

 

I'm gonna try the battery disconnect after getting home tonight. If that doesn't work i do have someone that has a code reader stopping by tomorrow.

 

it is best just to go get the code pulled. pepboys, kragen, etc etc pull codes for free and it takes probably a shorter amount of time than to disconnect the battery, wait and bit, and reconnect it.

your car does not tell you "oil level". it tells you "oil life". a light on your dash will turn on when your oil level is low.

 

I agree that you should get the code read instead of disconnecting the battery, always better to know what the code is.

There is no light that tells you when the oil level is low on a civic. You have an oil pressure light. That light only comes on when there is no oil pressure. If you are waiting for that light to come on to check your oil then you are causing damage to your engine. Never wait for the pressure light to come on to add oil.

 

The light was still on last night, so we used the code reader and nothing came up!! Disconnected the battery then restarted the car and drove to work this morning the light did not return. Tried the code reader again nothing still... (i do know the light most of the time has to be visible for a code to actually read)

I mis-worded that I meant oil life not level. I also realize now that the check engine light has/had nothing to do with oil. Whenever you need an oil change there's a notification in the odometer screen for an A1 service.

So far no problems (no light) after a 25 min ride to work, I do however have a lengthy ride tonight so we'll see.... Maybe that'll change, i hope not.

 

So upon leaving work saturday, the light returned!!!

Sunday i went to autozone as i was out anyway (nearest autozone is 20 miles).
Codes showing were. Pa200 and p1172 AF sensor or aka 02 sensor!

I brought my car to the shop yesterday to get an inner tie-rod replaced, and updated them as to what the issue was.

They did the service i came in for and plugged in my car to their computer system. It came back the same thing as what autozone had said. Then they told me something about having to go to honda specifically because they have more "specific equipment" to handle this 02 sensor replacement.

I then proceeded to show them my receipt from their shop for having the same 02 sensor replaced on 7/21/10 5,000 miles ago! After looking at the receipt and looking at their new paper work, they removed the $40 fee to check the light. Now I'm waiting as their gonna call honda today and figure out what to do. The replacement o2 sensor used and apparently has failed was a bosch sensor (which i've read are the best aftermarket besides OEM).

I'm waiting to hear today what is gonna happen.

 

There is a honda service bulletin for these codes.

the shop, unless they have a Honda HDS, will not be able to fix it.

A summary of the bulletin:
SYMPTOM
The MIL is on with PGM-FI DTC P1172 (air fuel sensor
[sensor 1] circuit out of range, high) and/or P2A00 (air
fuel sensor [sensor 1] circuit range/performance problem

Probable Cause
The air/fuel sensor is damaged by moisture in the
exhaust system during engine warm-up.

CORRECTIVE ACTION
Update the ECM/PCM PGM-FI software, then replace
the air/fuel sensor. NOTE: The PGM-FI software has been changed to
delay A/F sensor heater operation when there is a high
probability of moisture on the A/F sensor.

 

I kind of having the same problem with my 2010 civic 4dr, hard to start one morning and afternoon, but no check engine light, and now intermittently i have a vibration at idle that feels like I have a bad motor mount??

 

Being a service bulletin is that a free of charge kinda thing??

I should say does that qualify as a recall item? and therefore free of charge to me?

If so i need to get a refund from the garage that did the 02 sensor initially in july! Which also is strange because the light did not return until last week, the day after an oil change. I'll call my local honda place today.

Edit: after reading further into the code, it appears that it's up to the discretion of the dealership if they want to repair it at not cost to me or not. As my car is well out of warranty!

 

Still waiting for the local shop to call me back. i called them briefly after my last post for an update and they hadn't looked into it yet...

I called the area honda dealer i've gone to in the past and the service would cost $200 to replace the sensor and another $40 to update the software.

So it cost me $237.65 through my local shop and $2.35 more to go to honda... just waiting for a call back now to see what the local shop is gonna say.

 

Computer updates are covered under factory warranty for 8yrs or 80,000 miles. I haven't dealt with a situation where there is a part needed and an update needed at the same time. I would see if you could pay for the part and they pay for the update-if of course you are under the 80,000 miles.

 

I'm not the original owner and the car hasn't always been serviced at a honda dealership.

I've scheduled a time to have the update done, now it's waiting time to see if the update will in fact fix the issue (check engine codes) or not. If NOT the local garage has got more problems ahead of them.

 

Had my software update done yesterday. No change! light is still on! Honda however graciously did not charge me the $40 fee.

Called the garage and told them!

*garages response\/

We'll change the part at no cost...

Me: no charge whatsoever correct??!

Garage: OH no! you'll be charged labor! that's how it normally works in the automotive business

Me: I don't think so. Considering you only just changed this part 5,000 miles/6months ago and you shouldn't have in the first place! you showed me a service bulletin the second time the light came on and told me to go directly to honda. YOU didn't tell me that the first time like you should have!

Garage: we'll talk when the owner is here tomorrow.

Me: Fine!

The nightmare continues! I was calm on the phone the whole time! YELLING gets you no where fast.

 

Went to the garage this morning. I didn't say much but had my paper work with me, just in case.

They fixed the o2 sensor NO charge.

Problem resolved.