hey everyone, im just on here tryin to help out one of my friends with his 93 prelude vtec. this thing has some serious issues and im just trying to get some ideas as to where to start. first off, the check engine light doesnt even work, i dont know wheather this is because the bulb is burnt out or what but it doesnt come on when you turn the key to the 2 position like it is supposed to. when he brought it in to honda to have diagnostics run on it, the tech said he spent 3 hours trying to figure out why the light wasnt coming on and he couldnt figure it out. second, there is some sort of loud slapping/intermitent clicking noise coming from somewhere under the timing belt cover. i dont know if something broke off and is being flug around in there or if a bearing on the water pump or an idler or something is shot but it doesnt sound good at all. the wierd thing about this noise is that it goes away once u rev past about 2500rpm. next, the thing likes to stall out, which leads me to believe that if the ecu was working it would be throwing a code. also, vtec doesnt work and rev limiter hits at 6500rpm, does this mean the car is in limp mode?? im guessing we should start by trying to fix the ecu but how should we go about doing this?? any help is much appreciated. Thanks!!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by g2gsr376 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> . when he brought it in to honda to have diagnostics run on it, the tech said he spent 3 hours trying to figure out why the light wasnt coming on and he couldnt figure it out. </TD></TR></TABLE>



<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by g2gsr376 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> second, there is some sort of loud slapping/intermitent clicking noise coming from somewhere under the timing belt cover. i dont know if something broke off and is being flug around in there or if a bearing on the water pump or an idler or something is shot but it doesnt sound good at all. the wierd thing about this noise is that it goes away once u rev past about 2500rpm. </TD></TR></TABLE>

This sounds like a failed auto tensioner, I would stop driving the car until you can replace this. Do a search in the archives for auto tensioner. IF the belt breaks you can cause serious damage. Fixing This should be your number one priority.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by g2gsr376 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> also, vtec doesnt work and rev limiter hits at 6500rpm, does this mean the car is in limp mode?? im guessing we should start by trying to fix the ecu but how should we go about doing this?? any help is much appreciated. Thanks!!</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes that is limp mode and you are most likely throwing codes you can't see as a result of the bad cel light.

My advice would be too get the wiring diagrams related to the cel light and start troubleshooting. You need to get that cel light fixed before you think about "fixing" the ecu. You need to know what codes he is throwing.

 

as far as this auto tensioner, i looked it up and is it more expensive to go to a manual tensioner vs. replacing the auto one. and how would we troubleshoot a bad cel light, if the tech at honda actually spent 3 hrs. lookin at it im worried its more than just simple troubleshotting. would u say rip apart the dash and see if power is going to the light or what?? also, where is the plug located that you put a jumper into to pull the codes out of the ecu. i was lookin under the carpet for a couple minutes and i didnt see it. thanks!!

 

manual tensioner isn't more expensive..not much anyway

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by satan_srv &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">manual tensioner isn't more expensive..not much anyway</TD></TR></TABLE>

especially if his timing belt goes.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by g2gsr376 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
im guessing we should start by trying to fix the ecu but how should we go about doing this?? any help is much appreciated. Thanks!!</TD></TR></TABLE>

swap ecu's with a friend if you can and you think this is the problem

but by the sounds of it i'm leaning towards the pos auto tensioner myself

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by g2gsr376 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">as far as this auto tensioner, i looked it up and is it more expensive to go to a manual tensioner vs. replacing the auto one. </TD></TR></TABLE>

As Joel stated its not much more, i made a price list and all parts needed from teh write-up. if you want i can find it for you. i beleive its on my home pc.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by g2gsr376 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> and how would we troubleshoot a bad cel light, if the tech at honda actually spent 3 hrs. lookin at it im worried its more than just simple troubleshotting. would u say rip apart the dash and see if power is going to the light or what?? </TD></TR></TABLE>

Get the wiring diagram for the cel light and follow the voltage. Use a multimeter and make sure everything has voltage where its supposed too, etc. I'm not going to explain the basics of electrical troubleshooting, it would take too long and people pay good money for that instruction.

Yes you are most likely going to have take the dash apart.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by g2gsr376 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"> also, where is the plug located that you put a jumper into to pull the codes out of the ecu. i was lookin under the carpet for a couple minutes and i didnt see it. thanks!!</TD></TR></TABLE>

https://honda-tech.com/zerothread?id=875214