Just bought a 94 prelude from a friend who just rebuilt parts of the engine after he hydrolocked it. (the flap that is supposed to sit in front of the cai to prevent splashing is gone!) Anyway, i was driving home from work and of course its raining hard. On my way home all i could think about was what if i hydrolock this... Well, I was doing ok, steered clear of all puddles and made it to the interstate. At about 5 miles from home the check engine light comes on and I have a pretty good idea why. I make it home with no problems and i didnt notice any difference in the engine, but of course i dont know it that well yet. So i get home and pop the hood and it feels quite hot (at least compared to what im used to in my 92 civic dx (its stock)). I wait a while, come back out and check the oil, the level is normal but it looks a little more clear than normal.. ill double check this in the morning. Then I pull the service connector on the ecu and stick a piece of copper wire in each of the holes to check for codes. But when i turn the key (not starting it) the engine light doesnt even turn on. I wasnt sure wtf was going on so I started it up and sure enough the check engine light, lights back up. If that check engine light is on shouldnt i be able to check for the code? I'm a noob so bear with me Any help at all would be appreciated.
(i plan on pulling the plugs and draining the oil to check for level/color. Also plan on a compression test.)

 

Yes it should come on if the CEL has been on for more than 30 secs IIRC.

Have you pulled codes from this car before?
If so check your fuses. Maybe the radio fuse is blown causing the ECU to not be able to store codes...

 

you can pull the code with the car on, wont hurt anything.

 

no ive never pulled codes from this car, but i havent tried it when its started either. I'll see what happens, thanks.

 

I did it while my car was on the dyno, so no worries. Post the code in this thread when you figure it out.

 

Yeah, definitely try and pull the codes with the car running. But I really doubt that you hydrolocked the engine. If you did, well, you lucked out. Because most of the time, when an engine is hydrolocked, it'll sputter out, die, then refuse to start up again.

Seems to me that it could be something rather small if the car runs normally, but just throws a CEL light.

 

It wont matter if your oil is cleaner looking. Oil and water dont mix. If i remeber right the water will go to the bottom and oil on top.

 

if your car got that hot it sounds more like you couldve blown your head gasket, if you had water in the motor it wouldnt have started it wouldve locked up

 

Checked the ecu and it gave me codes 43 and 7. The TPS thing im told is ok, but not sure about numbe 43 which is Fuel Supply System...
And i totally forgot about that little principle Meatwad, thanks
But anyway, back to the code. I'm not sure what that means exactly, is it any cause for alarm? Im just about out of posts for the day (trial user) so if i dont respond, thats why. But believe me im listening.
Thanks again for the help


Modified by Turck at 12:32 PM 8/24/2004

 

you deffinatley didnt hydrolock you would know it if you did. your motor wont turn over and your rods will look like wet noodles

 

this should help you with the codes http://www.hondaprelude.to/art....html

7 Throttle Position Circuit High/Low Signal


:edit: i didnt see a code 43

 

sounds fuel pump related if its that weird *** fuel supply code. and if the previous owner says the TPS is fine, why is it a throwing a code now? doesnt sound fine to me.

Does the car sputter or anything of that nature ?
edit: i couldent find it eaither, still searching.

Modified by 98TypeSH at 12:58 PM 8/24/2004


Modified by 98TypeSH at 1:41 PM 8/24/2004

 

If the TPS is messed up it doesnt give it the right amount of fuel. It gives it a constant amount because it cant tell if you have it WOT or no throttle at all. Could be running lean. Making it run hotter, exhuast would be really hot. When i went from prelude to mustang it felt like the stang was way hotter that the prelude, but it was normal.