Gauge cluster/check engine light ?????
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 21
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From: Va Beach, VA
Originally posted by Andy
When a CEL (or Check Engine Light) come on, it's because the ECM (Engine Control Module, your car's computer) got a weird message from one of it's sensors (or no reading at all). Basically the computer in your car thinks something is wrong and stores a code (which you can check) about what it's reading that isn't right. The issue with your gauge cluster sounds like to me is that you do have one of these CEL's. However, your old clusters had a burnt out light and never let you know. The new cluster has a working light and is trying to tell you. A CEL don't mean your engine exploded (often it doesn't come on when it does), just a weird sensor reading. What year Civic do you have? '96+ OBD II cars are very sensitive and will throw CEL's more often for emissions related problems than actual engine one's.
When you first turn the key on in the car, some of the dash lights come on, CEL, ABS (if equiped), SRS (your airbag system), and a few others. They all blink out quickly just to let you know they work. Put your old cluster in and see if come on when you first turn the key on. If so, my theory's shot to hell and it may be that your new cluster could be defective. If not, find a website that explains how to check the codes and find out what it's trying to tell you.
Also, the ECM stores the codes in it's memory. By disconnecting the battery for a few minutes, you wipe out the computers memory and it goes back to all it's factory defaults (think of restarting a windows computer, it's still works, but you lost what you were doing before the restart). That will eliminate the code and CEL but if the CEL is coming from some problem that still persists, say a sensors failed or not hooked up, it will come back. Seeya.
When a CEL (or Check Engine Light) come on, it's because the ECM (Engine Control Module, your car's computer) got a weird message from one of it's sensors (or no reading at all). Basically the computer in your car thinks something is wrong and stores a code (which you can check) about what it's reading that isn't right. The issue with your gauge cluster sounds like to me is that you do have one of these CEL's. However, your old clusters had a burnt out light and never let you know. The new cluster has a working light and is trying to tell you. A CEL don't mean your engine exploded (often it doesn't come on when it does), just a weird sensor reading. What year Civic do you have? '96+ OBD II cars are very sensitive and will throw CEL's more often for emissions related problems than actual engine one's.
When you first turn the key on in the car, some of the dash lights come on, CEL, ABS (if equiped), SRS (your airbag system), and a few others. They all blink out quickly just to let you know they work. Put your old cluster in and see if come on when you first turn the key on. If so, my theory's shot to hell and it may be that your new cluster could be defective. If not, find a website that explains how to check the codes and find out what it's trying to tell you.
Also, the ECM stores the codes in it's memory. By disconnecting the battery for a few minutes, you wipe out the computers memory and it goes back to all it's factory defaults (think of restarting a windows computer, it's still works, but you lost what you were doing before the restart). That will eliminate the code and CEL but if the CEL is coming from some problem that still persists, say a sensors failed or not hooked up, it will come back. Seeya.
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From: Southwestern PA
What's up?
Sure, hope it helps. By the way, you still never mentioned what year Civic you have? I'm just curious at this point. Good luck with that cluster. Seeya.
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'06 Subaru Legacy Spec B - Stock, for now
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Andy - Reinstated Hybrid Forum Moderator
'06 Subaru Legacy Spec B - Stock, for now
'98 Civic EX - CTR headlights and grill, Kosei K1's, for sale
'90 240SX - SR20DET that will never get installed, project car.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Va Beach, VA
Re: What's up?
Originally posted by Andy
Sure, hope it helps. By the way, you still never mentioned what year Civic you have? I'm just curious at this point. Good luck with that cluster. Seeya.
Sure, hope it helps. By the way, you still never mentioned what year Civic you have? I'm just curious at this point. Good luck with that cluster. Seeya.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 21
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From: Va Beach, VA
hey guys someone told me that i wont be able to get any codes becuz the CEL doesnt come on when its in accessories. if something was wrong with my car then it would. so since that wont help then i just need to figure out how to get the damn light to go away!!! thanks
Wanderer
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 10,793
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From: Not so Sunny Cali
This might be totally irrelevant, but thought I'd throw it in anyways. Is the cluster that you have match with what you got... I mean, is your car a manual and you got a cluster off an automatic car (or vice versa)?
I know that when I did a cluster swap in my car (93 DX Coupe) that I didn't have any problems with my CEL. I also took the liberty of swapping the speedo (center gauge) so that my milage stayed the same.
I know that when I did a cluster swap in my car (93 DX Coupe) that I didn't have any problems with my CEL. I also took the liberty of swapping the speedo (center gauge) so that my milage stayed the same.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 21
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From: Va Beach, VA
Originally posted by randomtask77
This might be totally irrelevant, but thought I'd throw it in anyways. Is the cluster that you have match with what you got... I mean, is your car a manual and you got a cluster off an automatic car (or vice versa)?
I know that when I did a cluster swap in my car (93 DX Coupe) that I didn't have any problems with my CEL. I also took the liberty of swapping the speedo (center gauge) so that my milage stayed the same.
This might be totally irrelevant, but thought I'd throw it in anyways. Is the cluster that you have match with what you got... I mean, is your car a manual and you got a cluster off an automatic car (or vice versa)?
I know that when I did a cluster swap in my car (93 DX Coupe) that I didn't have any problems with my CEL. I also took the liberty of swapping the speedo (center gauge) so that my milage stayed the same.
mcc racing
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,264
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From: Southern New Jersey
Originally posted by GRLRACR757
the only 92-95 civics that have tachs are the si's. and this cluster was for automatic. does that help ur confusion!?
the only 92-95 civics that have tachs are the si's. and this cluster was for automatic. does that help ur confusion!?
mcc racing
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 3,264
Likes: 0
From: Southern New Jersey
Originally posted by oc_civic
yes it does.. i forgot there was such a creature... BTW there was an EX also this to has a tach..
yes it does.. i forgot there was such a creature... BTW there was an EX also this to has a tach..