Hambone

Here's what I have:

1998 Civic EX with intake, header, exhaust.

On my way home tonight my check engine light came on, the car started running like poop, and the speedometer started dancing all over the place. It rained pretty hard today so I'm not sure if something could have gotten wet. I popped the hood and everything looked dry, my air filter was dry, distributer cap was dry, all the plug wires were tight, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. I disconnected the battery for a good half hour and then started it back up again. At first it ran like normal, but then the check engine light popped back on and back to running like poop. Any guesses on what I could check next?

PDiggityDogg

Well, uh...How about the code, rather than just resetting it before you know whats wrong???
http://www.hstuners.com/forums/showt...threadid=23007
Whatever it is, its putting you into "limp mode", a safety feature that inhibits the car so it doesnt get damaged. Not all cel's will put the car into limp mode, only serious ones (ie not 2ndary o2, iat, etc)
Once you know what the code is, you can go about fixing it.

Hambone

It appears to be throwing 3 codes:

20 - Electrical load detector
41 - Primary oxygen sensor heater
65 - Secondary oxygen sensor heater wire (black wires)

Hambone

Ok, code #20 was caused by a blown alternator fuse.

PDiggityDogg

That does that (and its crap)
You probably need to replace the primary o2 sensor (I HIGHLY recommend against getting a bosch - denso is oem and is noy expensive @ sparkplugs.com)
The 2ndary, hook a multimeter to it and double check its conductivity - or just replace it too. You dont really need the 2ndary o2 - it doesnt send anything crucial back to the ecu, and will not cause limp mode. (Id still replace it, but if you dont feel like spending the cash, you can get away with not bothering for awhile, if at all)

Hambone

Thanks


If I say "screw it" to the secondary O2 sensor, will it still keep the check engine light on?

PDiggityDogg

yes

Running925

yes, unless you chip u'r ECU & shut it off!

glad you figured out your electrical prob.

PDiggityDogg

...you cant chip obd2 (unless you want to spend hundreds doing it)

Hambone

Well my code #20 wasn't caused by the blown fuse after all. I changed the fuse and it popped again. I hate electrical stuff especially after going thru everything trying to find a bad connection, short, etc. And I still haven't cured it yet.