Hello,

I just purchased a 1990 STD Civic Hatchback. I have had it in the shop since purchasing it and have had a new catback installed and all maintenance done, since the car had probably been sitting out in a yard for a year or 2 before I purchased it. One thing that we cannot figure out is that the Check Engine light keeps coming on once the car has been driven about 4 or 5 blocks. The Honda techs working on it suggested that I put in a new speedometer cluster, which we did, but the light still comes on. They thought that they had to reset the ECU memory, which they did, but the light still came on after driving. They then suggested that it may be a problem with the ECU. Yesterday, after swapping out the ECU with another one, they determined that that was not the problem. Does anyone have any idea how to fix this?

 

Yeah - stop taking it to shops who have NO CLUE what they are doing. If you are taking it to a shop to begin with I have a hard time believing you can fix it. Regardless, read the codes and see what they are (pull carpet up on passenger side, turn key forward to II, watch the red LED blink).

 

Thanks for the reply. As for me fixing it, naw, I am not qualified for that. The shop that I brought it to, and where it still is, is a Honda Service center run by Honda. They did show me the ECU blinking and they are researching it. I didn't have time to see how many times it blinked. I just wanted to see if anyone else had an idea of what it could be.

 

I agree with "Neva evasatisfied" these people obviously dont know what they're doing......and it's sad that they are Honda qualified or certified. If they would have just gotten the code it would've told them what was wrong and you would be that much closer to having your car back. And I dont know how much money they're charging you for all this but any kind of money spent on something irrelevant to your problem is too much.

 

You don't have time?? Are you fukcing kidding me?? It take ten seconds!

Just let those dumb asses at honda keep taking your money

 

Dude, the car is in a shop in another city since I purchased it and dropped it immediately off. I went down last weekend to pick up the car since they said it was ready. After driving it away, that is when the light went off again. They showed me the code, but I had my wife in the other car, a screaming baby with her and they showed it to me really fast. They said that it could be the ECU so I didn't pay attention or ask them to show me again, since they are the experts. They called me 2 days later and said it was not the ECU. I can look it up again when I drive the 100 + miles back to the shop and pay more attention. Also, they are checking all this for free since a friend or a friend works there. I am only paying for parts. Just thought I could get some advice so I could send it off their way.

 

Regardless, then this thread is pointless. Throwing parts at it is just as bad, and you are OK with it. Unfortunately gone are the days of diagnosing and "tuned ears". Most mechanics (dealerships alike) couldn't figure out how to use a tire gauge let alone diagnose a vehicle. If it doesn't pop up on their screen when they "plug the car in", then there "isn't" a problem. They are mere parts changers and can barely change oil correctly. You are welcome for the "help", but if YOU can't get your hands on the vehicle - how in the world are we supposed to help you through a computer screen?

Diagnosing over a computer involves you telling, in detail, exactly what is wrong/going on with the vehicle. We make recommendations on what to look at/try, and you go do it and report back. The cycle continues indefinitely until the problem is solved or you give up. This is how it goes, and I am excellent at it. 80% of the problems on the Forum that can't be solved are typically because of the following: laziness of the poster, incompetence of the poster, lack of description due to laziness or incompetence, poster doesn't follow directions exactly, lack of tools to properly diagnose, ect... Rarely is it because people don't know how or won't help on the other end of the spectrum. Good luck.