Got a CEL and had the code pulled this a.m. It is a Manf. specific code P1259 Immobilizer to PCM Error.

Has anyone run across this error before or know the fix? Did a quick search on here and Google and came up with nothing. Thought I would try the wise folks of Honda Tech before I take her to the dealer.

 

A little more research turned up the fact that P1259 Immobilizer to PCM Error is a Ford Code. That same P1259 code for a Honda/Acura is a VTEC System Malfunction error.

I know OBD II codes are held in memory until cleared by a reader but does the CEL clear after a point if the cause of the error was a temporary fault? I would like to clear the CEL to see if the prolem is a ongoing one or just a "glitch" this a.m. If it was just a temporary glitch I would rather pay for a code reader to clear it than pay a Dealer/Shop to clear it and charge a diagnostic fee.

 

Clear it by disconnecting your battery for a few minutes. On my '98 sedan I can pull fuse #13 in the passenger's doorjamb fusebox. That's the clock & the ECU backup power. There's gotta be a similar way to do it on yours, someone has to know.

My fuse 13 doesn't interrupt power to the stereo but if you unhook the battery you'll want to know your theft-code for the stereo.

PS... Anything starting with P1... is a mfg. specific code. That's one reason why its good to get the actual fault number, not just some vague description from the guy at AutoZone.

 

did the code show up after an oil change? or did you check the oil level in your car? that code shows low or no oil pressure to the solonoid.or a bad solonoid.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by bill-71SS &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">did the code show up after an oil change? or did you check the oil level in your car? that code shows low or no oil pressure to the solonoid.or a bad solonoid.</TD></TR></TABLE>

recheck your levels and clear out the code, reset the ecu and see:

 

Yes it did turn out to be an oil level situation, but it was odd.

Neither the dealer nor I could find any reason for the low level. No leaks, no oil burning, no previous oil usage history. I changed the oil on 3/28/03 at 50k miles. The car had no issues until the light came on Monday a.m. at 54,876 miles. Last time I checked oil was Easter weekend before a trip so late April for that.

It was not out just low and the light tripped in a corner according to my wife, long cloverleaf exit ramp, so the oil that was in the pan was moved away from the pickup I am sure. I have always run Mobile 1 in it since break in and there were no sounds of obvious damage to the engine. Since it was not out I guess there was enough oil and oil pressure to keep things running smooth and at normal temps, lucky me.

I still have a mostly empty case of Mobile 1 on the shelf from that last oil change and even my wife remembers me adding "lots of oil" as she watched me do the oil change. Despite that I have no other explanation other than I under filled at the last change, that will be the first time in 15+ years of doing my own maintenance that I made a error like that.

I took it to the dealer anyway to have the code cleared and to check for any other problems that could have been caused by the low oil situation. It was an $80 mistake on my part but that is chump change compared to what it could have been I guess.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by solo2crx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I know OBD II codes are held in memory until cleared by a reader but does the CEL clear after a point if the cause of the error was a temporary fault? </TD></TR></TABLE>

the codes do not clear unless the ECU is reset. some of them will stop illuminating the light after a time, but the code is still in memory.

pass side fuse #13 works on all 98 - 02 accords

Reset the ECU, check your oil level, and see if it triggers again.

 

Ok can someone clear this up for me even thought the situation is already taken care of.

My previous reading on the topic of ECU codes and OBDII lead me to belive that the code was not cleared from memory even if the ECU was reset or power was pulled from the ECU. reseting the ECU or removing power would possibly clear the CEL on the dash but not the code in memory. I was under the impression that the code would need to be cleared from an OBDII device, either a reader or one of the many PDA based packages with and OBdII cable. In our area emmisions checks are done and any OBDII car is checked via the port. Any codes in memory what-so-ever = an automatic fail.

Regardless the problem is fixed and the code was cleared so all is well again.