I just bought this 2002 accord with 124k miles. Has a stack of maintenance records & timing belt changed 13k miles ago. Had to drive 130 miles to get it & driving home it appeared it was doing great on gas despite driving 70-75 at times.
I use it to drive to work; 45 miles round trip; 37 miles of it on the highway doing 65-68. Only have 260 miles on this tank & have only slightly more than 1/4 tank left.
MPG took a nose dive after taking it in for a front end alignment. I was given the printout & all numbers are green. Mechanic also changed the 2 filters that were terrible.
Less than 80 -100 miles later, check engine light comes on steady.
Was going to take it to autozone for their free scan until I saw this:
Hear his comments at 1:20.
It is just too much of a coincidence to me, that shortly after taking to the mechanic, this light comes on.
What say you?

 

Oh yea..........it's a 4 cylinder engine

 

You still need to find out what the code is before you can start diagnosing the problem. I agree that you don't just start throwing parts at a code. You have to do some further diagnostics after you retrieve the code.

The check engine light or diagnostic trouble code is only used to point you in the right direction.

So unless you have access to an OBD2 scan tool you should probably take it somewhere to have the codes read from the ECU. If you want to pay someone to do it that's your choice. I would opt for the free one.... Just make sure to get the exact OBD diagnostic trouble code number from them. A lot of times these places will retrieve and then erase your codes. Don't let them erase them and tell you need this part or that part. Tell them that you want the P#### number(s) and leave the codes.

After you get the codes and diagnose what the issue(s) is/are and fix them. You can reset the ECU and clear the codes yourself. This way you can ensure that the problem is fixed.

 

So, autozone can give me the exact same code that I would get from a Honda dealer?
What would be the easiest way for a crooked mechanic to get the light to come on after less than 100 miles of driving? Or is it possible?
I've been taking my cars to the same place for years, however, the mechanics are paid commission & lately.............

 

Any OBD2 code reader that can read a Honda ECU will show the same DTcodes as the dealership. I have a $100 OBD scan tool that reads all Domestic and Import OBD codes. You don't need an uber expensive tool to read the codes.

There really is no easy way to make the CEL light come on after a certain amount of miles. However, if they were shady, they could swap one of your sensors with a bad one they had.... or unplug a sensor or vacuum line for the EGR or EVAP.

 

Ah hah! "Further diagnostics" ! Please explain..Is there not a code for each of the oxygen sensors? Or, does one have to test each of the sensors?

Or, are you saying, [based on there being a different code for each oxygen sensor] That you then have to test the particular sensor identified by the code to ensure it has failed & not something else, causing it to give a "fail indication."?


So, it's not a matter of hookin' up a tester, getting the code & changin' the part - you then need to know how to test an electrical part to see if it has failed.

 

Thanx!

 

I may have to buy one someday. However, not if I have to troubleshoot electrical components after retrieving the code!

Grrrrrrrrr..... YOu can unplug a sensor, or vacuum line and/or swap a sensor with a bad one & it will take awhile for the check engine light to come on?

If so, do you know when "mechanic season" opens? I never was much into going into the woods during the dead of winter during "deer season" however......

 

Get the code(s) and lets go from there?

 

I feel like this is an introduction to a pornography film. What in the heck do you mean by 'Mechanic Season'?

Just go get the damn code checked, and start doing research. Its really not rocket science.

 

So, all is well! ...maybe... I met Frank at my local advanced auto store. Frank hooked up the gizmo & while it was warmin' up explained why his money was on it being an O2 sensor.

"Why's that Frank?"
"Well, you see Ken....is this cold weather, the downstream sensor will sometimes not warm up quick enough to keep up with the engine's temp." Then he goes on with some high tech "yada yada yada" stuff, and I say:

"Frank, you seem to know a lot about electricity to be working at advanced auto."

"Well, Ken, I have a degree in electrical engineering and am going to college for software engineering." ....lucky frucky me!

Then he proceeds to impress me more by explaining how the electrical signal from an O2 sensor is created.......blew my mind....the way my father blew mine back in the 70s [he was also in electronics] when he explained in detail how a signal becomes a picture on a television. He built our first t.v.

Anyhow, the gizmo says it's the downstream O2 sensor [I didn't get the code, but I saw both the code & the reading]. He smiled..........said he was only able to "guess right" because this is his 3rd winter at advanced auto and he's seen it plenty of times when the cold first sets in.

Now the really cool part: He tells me "You didn't see this" and proceeds to clear the code & reset the light, which he says they are not suppose to do. The CEL didn't come back on & he says "That's an indication that it's not a 'hard fail' so drive it awhile & see if it comes back on."

I tip him.....

No light yet.

 

I can't believe you cannot figure out what I meant by the joke!

I mean....it's not like it's rocket science!!

 

"Son, I'm proud of you, can you sit for a while"
He shook his head and said with a smile
"What I'd really like, Dad, is to borrow the car keys
See you later, can I have them please"

 

You nailed it ......though I'm guessing that shows my/our age.

I'm not sure if the guy explained why to drive it for a while. Usually the 0420 is at least a "two drive cycle" issue.

If it comes back, then the fun begins. Let us know if, if not.......

 

Cats in the Cradle was one of the first 'really hard' songs I learned on acoustic guitar. Bar chords & having to stretch my stub for a pinkie finger....

PLUS: a cheap guitar.

Anyhow, appears I am "lost again" NUTZ!
I put 285 miles on the 1st tank b4 filling up......I still had slightly less than a 1/4 tank left. Worked out to right at 24MPG.
Problem is: At least 65% is on the interstate doing 65-68mph going to & from work. Maybe even 70% but no more.

So anyway, when the last owner had the timing belt changed last December, they recommended changing the plugs, since they were the original....so I changed them today.....CEL came on in less than 3 miles.

Did some searching here & found:
https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-accord-1990-2002-2/ethanol-fuel-economy-2007632/

Turns out the ethanol is a bee-atch! And....I just bought 'run of the mill' autolite plugs. Had all kinds of choices & the guy at the counter was of no help. Frank wasn't there......so I chose the one in the mid-range price.

Old plugs looked awful & it runs smoother........just runs smoother with the CEL light on........

So.......if I gap the plugs per the instructions in the above thread......and it's a lean mixture that is causing the CEL to come on...........does the light go off after X amount of cycles? OR......Am I going to have to buy a different brand plug & trash the $26.00 worth of plugs I just bought?

 

That song was/is one of my favorites....however due to what life has delt me it has taken on a new meaning.

Not looking for any sympathy or any response to this next part......."He was just like me" - I had to burry my "son" at the age of 22 and he was just like me ....but even better......2nd LT USMC, was going to be a pilot for them.

Anyway, back to the Honda.

Was it the same P0420 code? You never did give the actual code that was thrown.....so what is/was it.

Honda's are kind of picky about plugs....wish you would have asked before buying. They seem to like NGK's the best.

 

A parent shouldn't have to bury one of their children. There isn't a more painful loss that I can think of.
My father survived 2 tours in 'Nam as a helicopter pilot with the Army. Tours were 3 1/2 yrs apart. 1st time, Huey's...2nd time Jolly Greens....

We lost my sister in an auto accident when she was in college.....1st time I saw the really 'human' side of my father. Didn't cry in front of me, but I could tell he was crushed. I wasn't the same for 2-3 years.

Anyway, back to the Honda.

It started to drizzle while I was out testing it out & didn't go to advanced auto. I'll find out tomorrow.

You would think I may age, that I woulda' checked here 1st! But no.....had to go "get sum plugz & get my hands dirty, so I could say I did sumpin' mechanical!"
You'd think after 20 years of working on aircraft in the Air Force that I wouldn't 'rush' anymore..........

 

Again, get the code.....I still don't know what we are chasing.....a 0420 or something else (heater circuit, slow response, ect).

I'm willing to help, just don't know where to point you at this time....?

 

I understand & thanx! I'm stopping off at the parts store after work tomorrow.

 

Life's a bee-atch & then I go and buy a 12 yr old accord!

So, it's unusually warm out today & I'm headin' home & gonna' stop off at the auto parts store & have the gizmo hooked up & find out if the plugz caused the CEL light to illuminate, the O2 sensor, or both.....I'm 10 miles out on the hwy & B.I.N.G.O. ! The light goes off.......and....it stayed off.

So...no playin' 'mechanic' for me for the time being.......however, I still don't think I'm gettin' the mileage I should. 45 miles round trip to work & 37.4 of 'em are up to speed on the hwy at 67MPH.

I know the avg is 24 MPG & it's a 2002, but we're talkin' 80% highway drivin' here! Maybe 70-75% with a few short trips here and there in town.

Guess I'll adjust the valves.....when she had the timing belt replaced they recommended it, but she didn't have it done as she had already spent $759.00 & they weren't 'noisy' to her! Wasn't much I could hear either. But it's a fairly simple task & I'll also tighten up the gap on the plugs a tad....

24MPG sux though! I was gettin' 19.5 with my Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo doing 63MPH. However, I drove that puppy as if there was an egg between my foot & the pedal & released the gas and coasted up to stops etc., etc.

Maybe some new tires for Xmas........just what I wanted for Xmas.....4 tires.

To the car's credit: It shifts really smooth & there is absolutely no play in the front end. Need new speakers though........6 speakers & they're loud, but they've got no depth.......12 yrs old........what do you expect!

 

The code is stored, just because the light is not on - the code is still there until someone clears it.....go to the parts store and have them get the code(s)

 

Oh- and off topic.....do you know the song of the "second" line in my signature?

I tell the wife, I'm a music man , she is the dancer.

 

I had to google....never heard of them......but then, I was late learning about Rush. Was into Bernie Taupin's words put to Elton John's music though.