problems doing the self check of my CEL on a 94 ex...

[rhoades]

so I followed the instructions to check the codes on my 94 ex, and when I pulled back the kick panel I did not find a grey 2 wire plug? I found a blue 2 wire plug with a brown and black wire. I can only assume there is an EK wire harness in the car.

Problem is when I try and jump the plug the CEL comes on and stays on...no blinks? however my SRS light continuously blinks.

any idea what i can do the check the CEL now?

 

[SGGilmo]

there is a little 2-pin plug on the passenger side tucked up next to the glove box. (the one you found) pull it down and then jump in with a paperclip. then turn the ignition to "on" (dont start the car) the cel will flash the codes to you. a long flash is 10 short flash is 1. like...... long-short-short-short would be code 13.

here you go. the arrow points to where the plug will be resting under the dash. there will be two plugs there. a 2-pin (circled) and a 3-pin (crossed out) you need the 2-pin.

Here is the list of codes.


0 Engine Control Module (ECM)
1 Heated Oxygen Sensor (HO2S)
3 Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP Sensor)
4 Crankshaft Position (CKP Sensor)
6 Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT Sensor)
7 Throttle Position (TP Sensor)
8 Top Dead Center Position (TDC Sensor)
9 No. 1 Cylinder Position (CYP Sensor)
10 Intake Air Temperature (IAT Sensor)
13 Barometric Pressure (BARO Sensor)
14 Idle Air Control (IAC Valve)
15 Ignition Output Signal
16 Fuel Injector
17 Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS)
20 Electrical Load Detector (ELD)
21 Variable Valve Timing & Valve Lift Electronic Control Solenoid Valve (VTEC Solenoid Valve)
22 Variable Valve Timing & Valve Lift Electronic Control Pressure Switch (VTEC Pressure Switch)
23 Knock Sensor (KS)
30 A/T FI Signal A
31 A/T FI Signal B
41 Heated Oxygen Sensor (HO2S) Heater
43 Fuel Supply System

if the srs is flashing then you have a problem with your srs system. ill see if i can find the codes for that as well.

 

[rhoades]

there is a little 2-pin plug on the passenger side tucked up next to the glove box. (the one you found) pull it down and then jump in with a paperclip. then turn the ignition to "on" (dont start the car) the cel (check engine light) will flash the codes to you. a long flash is 10 short flash is 1. like...... long-short-short-short would be code 13.

here you go. the arrow points to where the plug will be resting under the dash. there will be two plugs there. a 2-pin (circled) and a 3-pin (crossed out) you need the 2-pin.

QUOTE]

thanks for taking the time to respond, however I found the plug. It just isnt a gray plug like it should be. its blue like an ek wire harness.

Then when jumped, it just stays a solid cel, it doesnt flash?

as for the srs light just flashing, there is no indication there is an issue with the srs. the light functions as it should at all other times.

 

[RonJ]

so I followed the instructions to check the codes on my 94 ex, and when I pulled back the kick panel I did not find a grey 2 wire plug? I found a blue 2 wire plug with a brown and black wire. I can only assume there is an EK wire harness in the car.Problem is when I try and jump the plug the CEL comes on and stays on...no blinks?

Prior to jumping the service connector, was the CEL on or off while driving? If it was off, then the CEL will remain on steady as yours did when there are no codes thrown. That's means there are no sensor problems at this time.

however my SRS light continuously blinks.

As for CEL codes, airbag system (SRS) codes are retrieved from the SRS control unit by jumping the same service connector. The fact that the SRS light blinks indicates that an airbag trouble code is being thrown:

 

[rhoades]

ok, now i understand. Thanks so much guys for your help.

Ron here is my issue. At 60 mph I am around 2800rpms after a while it throws a CEL. Once I cut the car off the cel is gone, for an undertermind amount of time.

If it will only read a cel if it is a constantly lit CEL, how can I check it if it clears when i cut off the car?

 

[SGGilmo]

thanks for taking the time to respond, however I found the plug. It just isnt a gray plug like it should be. its blue like an ek wire harness.

Then when jumped, it just stays a solid cel, it doesnt flash?

as for the srs light just flashing, there is no indication there is an issue with the srs. the light functions as it should at all other times.

actually the plug should be blue. the ek has a gray plug. that image is a pic of my old 95 ex when i was reading my codes one day.

there may be no indication to a srs problem but there still may be. i know the codes for it were posted not too long ago. if i cant find it here soon ill just have to dig through the service manual again.


EDIT: Thanks Ron. Saved me some time lol.

 

[rhoades]

as for the srs light, i will mention it just constantly blinks. Its not putting out any codes

 

[rhoades]

thanks for your help gilmo

 

[SGGilmo]

once the cel comes on you should be able to pull the code after you turn the car off. just dont start the car again before pulling it to prevent it from clearing itself. however codes shouldnt clear themselves. you may have a short somewhere in which case you might not have a problem at all. does the car act any different when the cel pops up?

 

[RonJ]

Ron here is my issue. At 60 mph I am around 2800rpms after a while it throws a CEL. Once I cut the car off the cel is gone, for an undertermind amount of time. If it will only read a cel if it is a constantly lit CEL, how can I check it if it clears when i cut off the car?

This is a common problem for 5th generation Civics. The solution is to pull over when the CEL turns on, but DON'T turn the engine off. With the engine still running, jump the service connector and read the code.

 

[RonJ]

as for the srs light, i will mention it just constantly blinks. Its not putting out any codes

It is blinking a code:

 

[rhoades]

once the cel comes on you should be able to pull the code after you turn the car off. just dont start the car again before pulling it to prevent it from clearing itself. however codes shouldnt clear themselves. you may have a short somewhere in which case you might not have a problem at all. does the car act any different when the cel pops up?

no it doesnt act any different when it comes on. However since this thread, and before driving it again I did a full tuneup....no CEL as of yet, and Ive driven 50 miles.

 

[rhoades]

It is blinking a code:

the srs light blinked over 100 times in the same pulse rate? I quit counting at that point.

 

[RonJ]

the srs light blinked over 100 times in the same pulse rate? I quit counting at that point.

The code(s) repeats indefinitely with the service connector jumped. Look for what code is repeating. Is it 1-1?

 

[RonJ]

once the cel comes on you should be able to pull the code after you turn the car off.

Again, this is not always true for 5th generation Civics. Sometimes you must leave the engine running with the CEL on to retrieve code.

 

[rhoades]

if I was to read the srs codes like I would a cel, its just constant short pulses with no long pulses, or pauses between.

 

[RonJ]

if I was to read the srs codes like I would a cel, its just constant short pulses with no long pulses, or pauses between.

Read the diagram in post #4. It tells you exactly how to read a SRS code.

 

[rhoades]

ok so I finally got it to through the code. #23 knock sensor.

Is this becuase of the grs ecu? I dont recal even seeing a knock sensor on my D16.

 

[RonJ]

Yes, your ECU is looking for a knock sensor. What engine do you have?

 

[rhoades]

Sorry for the slow responce.

It is a D16. I don't know why the prior owner didn't swap back in the stock ecu?

Could this gsr ecu be the culpret for my bad gas milage as well? After a full tune up I'm still only getting 25mpg on the highway.

I don't mind getting a p28 if it will help, but if its not going to change any of my issues, ide rather save my money.

Thanks for all the advice!

-Dave