The starter motor on my wife's 1998 Accord EX (4 cyl automatic) is going out. My son and I went today to remove the starter to have it rebuilt and found two different air leaks.

1. The air intake bellows is split open
2. There is a small diameter (like the diameter of a pencil) air hose running under/around the starter which is only attached at the end closest to the passenger side fender.

Nevertheless, yesterday when I read the codes before starting any work there were none stored, and no CEL. How can the car not throw a code with two vacuum leaks?

The 2nd hose is a mystery. It disappears under the air filter box so we cannot see where it is attached, but it is, because tugging on it lightly does not pull it out. The other end was clearly not attached since the hose was floppy and loose under/next to the starter motor, and that end appeared when he picked it up, with no resistance. Anybody know where it is supposed to be attached? Maybe it isn't even a vacuum line - the rubber was pretty flimsy. My son said he smelled gas, faintly, so maybe it goes to the evaporation canister, if that is in that general vicinity?

Edit: here is a picture after the air intake hose and starter motor were removed. The block of wood is holding a plastic lid over the hole where the starter plugged in. The end of the mystery hose is right behind the distributor. The hose goes under the motor mount which was more or less in line with the starter. (Turns out the distributor is slowly leaking oil too. Never would have noticed that had we not taken out the starter.)

 

Hello Friends,
I am troubleshooting Honda Civic 2002 with 1.7 L Engine. Main issue is misfire on various cylinders and pesky oil leak. I have changed spark plugs, coils , PCV valve, gaskets on Vtec valve. I have disconnected the EGR valve. Engine lacks power going up hill. I am suspecting vacuum leak. However when i connect scanner and look at fuel trim data, i don't see any vacuum or fuel system problems.
If there is vacuum leak why is scanner not detecting it? Is this normal? What should be my next step?
Thanks in advance for your answers.

 

The small air hose is apparently the breather for the transmission.

https://www.hondaaccordforum.com/for...lx-2-3l-60489/

It looks like there are no sensors upstream of the ripped bellows on the air intake, so the car could not tell it was sucking air in the side, bypassing the filter. Consequently, no code.