1996 Civic Check Engine Light
 

The Check Engine light came on and it stays on while driving on a
highway two days ago. The car was running fine except in the past 2-3
months in which I had some repairs on it.

1996 Civic, 4DR LX, 239K km
The radiator, fuel line and brakes lines have been replaced 2 months
ago
Distributor and wires were changed less than a month ago.
Most recent oil change was done 2 weeks ago.

Reading from this forum I have got an idea that I should get the code
read and reset and wait if it comes again. Manual says its related to
emission control system.

The car is excellent on gas mileage but recently I have noticed a lack
of power (pressing gas more to get speed).

Any idea will be good. Thanks.

Re: 1996 Civic Check Engine Light
 

ExtremeValue wrote:
> The Check Engine light came on and it stays on while driving on a
> highway two days ago. The car was running fine except in the past 2-3
> months in which I had some repairs on it.
>
> 1996 Civic, 4DR LX, 239K km
> The radiator, fuel line and brakes lines have been replaced 2 months
> ago
> Distributor and wires were changed less than a month ago.
> Most recent oil change was done 2 weeks ago.
>
> Reading from this forum I have got an idea that I should get the code
> read and reset and wait if it comes again. Manual says its related to
> emission control system.
>
> The car is excellent on gas mileage but recently I have noticed a lack
> of power (pressing gas more to get speed).
>
> Any idea will be good. Thanks.

You need to take it so that the codes can be read. Autozone and other
stores do this for free.

Jeff

Re: 1996 Civic Check Engine Light
 

I forgot to mention that I am in Ontario, Canada. Is there any store
like Autozone who does it for free. Googling did not show much.

On Mar 2, 6:36 pm, Jeff <kidsdoc2...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> ExtremeValue wrote:
> > The Check Engine light came on and it stays on while driving on a
> > highway two days ago. The car was running fine except in the past 2-3
> > months in which I had some repairs on it.
>
> > 1996 Civic, 4DR LX, 239K km
> > The radiator, fuel line and brakes lines have been replaced 2 months
> > ago
> > Distributor and wires were changed less than a month ago.
> > Most recent oil change was done 2 weeks ago.
>
> > Reading from this forum I have got an idea that I should get the code
> > read and reset and wait if it comes again. Manual says its related to
> > emission control system.
>
> > The car is excellent on gas mileage but recently I have noticed a lack
> > of power (pressing gas more to get speed).
>
> > Any idea will be good. Thanks.
>
> You need to take it so that the codes can be read. Autozone and other
> stores do this for free.
>
> Jeff

Re: 1996 Civic Check Engine Light
 

Call some of your local auto parts stores and ask them if they can read
codes. Don't reset the code until you have diagnosed the problem since you
have drivability problems.
No parts stores check with local service shops on the cost to read it for
you.


"ExtremeValue" <raheem@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:9cf62ff8-c6ca-48cf-b2c6-9abe4a857a58@x41g2000hsb.googlegroups.com...
>I forgot to mention that I am in Ontario, Canada. Is there any store
> like Autozone who does it for free. Googling did not show much.
>
> On Mar 2, 6:36 pm, Jeff <kidsdoc2...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> ExtremeValue wrote:
>> > The Check Engine light came on and it stays on while driving on a
>> > highway two days ago. The car was running fine except in the past 2-3
>> > months in which I had some repairs on it.
>>
>> > 1996 Civic, 4DR LX, 239K km
>> > The radiator, fuel line and brakes lines have been replaced 2 months
>> > ago
>> > Distributor and wires were changed less than a month ago.
>> > Most recent oil change was done 2 weeks ago.
>>
>> > Reading from this forum I have got an idea that I should get the code
>> > read and reset and wait if it comes again. Manual says its related to
>> > emission control system.
>>
>> > The car is excellent on gas mileage but recently I have noticed a lack
>> > of power (pressing gas more to get speed).
>>
>> > Any idea will be good. Thanks.
>>
>> You need to take it so that the codes can be read. Autozone and other
>> stores do this for free.
>>
>> Jeff
>

Re: 1996 Civic Check Engine Light
 

ExtremeValue <raheem@gmail.com> wrote in news:9cf62ff8-c6ca-48cf-b2c6-
9abe4a857a58@x41g2000hsb.googlegroups.com:

> I forgot to mention that I am in Ontario, Canada. Is there any store
> like Autozone who does it for free. Googling did not show much.
>


PartSource.


--
Tegger

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/

Re: 1996 Civic Check Engine Light
 

On Mar 2, 8:57 pm, Tegger <teg...@tegger.c0m> wrote:
> ExtremeValue <rah...@gmail.com> wrote in news:9cf62ff8-c6ca-48cf-b2c6-
> 9abe4a857...@x41g2000hsb.googlegroups.com:
>
> > I forgot to mention that I am in Ontario, Canada. Is there any store
> > like Autozone who does it for free. Googling did not show much.
>
> PartSource.
>
> --
> Tegger
>
> The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQwww.tegger.com/hondafaq/


Thanks!!
I will talk to my nearest mechanic tomorrow (Monday) if he does it for
free (there is a possibility that he will do it). If not, I will call
PartSource. There seems to be two partsource in my city, nice!

Re: 1996 Civic Check Engine Light
 

On newer models there are as many as 200
causes of check-engine on newer models.
Probably a couple dozen on 1990s models.
Could be anything from a new $15 gas cap
to a couple hndred dollar engine sensor
replacement.

In my state you cant pass the emission tests and get
your new license plate stickers with the yellow light on.

Re: 1996 Civic Check Engine Light
 

Okay, so here is the code:

P0420: Catalytic converter efficiency low on Bank 1.

The mechanic then checked on some website he subscribes to and fond
that it could be anything from O2 sensor to catalytic converter
and ....few more.
I left the car with him to do some specific diagnostics, that he said,
needs to be done to narrow down the exact cause.

Re: 1996 Civic Check Engine Light
 

Copying from Tegger's reply to another post :

*********************
Might not even be the cat, but instead poor connections inside the
igniter
in the distributor.

Believe it or not.

Visit your local Honda dealer and ask them to look up TSB 05-027.
*********************

Could this be applied to my 1996 civic, LX?

Re: 1996 Civic Check Engine Light
 

On Mar 3, 12:00 pm, ExtremeValue <rah...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Copying from Tegger's reply to another post :
>
> *********************
> Might not even be the cat, but instead poor connections inside the
> igniter
> in the distributor.
>
> Believe it or not.
>
> Visit your local Honda dealer and ask them to look up TSB 05-027.
> *********************
>
> Could this be applied to my 1996 civic, LX?

Another update:

My mechanic says I need to replace the catalytic converter costing
around 300 dollars. The code as been reset and I have left with an
option to change the converter at a suitable time (money wise). And he
did all these for free!

Re: 1996 Civic Check Engine Light
 

Treat him well as you found one of the few.....


"ExtremeValue" <raheem@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:29354488-4224-4227-83a2-1002643f4c6c@i7g2000prf.googlegroups.com...
> On Mar 3, 12:00 pm, ExtremeValue <rah...@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Copying from Tegger's reply to another post :
>>
>> *********************
>> Might not even be the cat, but instead poor connections inside the
>> igniter
>> in the distributor.
>>
>> Believe it or not.
>>
>> Visit your local Honda dealer and ask them to look up TSB 05-027.
>> *********************
>>
>> Could this be applied to my 1996 civic, LX?
>
> Another update:
>
> My mechanic says I need to replace the catalytic converter costing
> around 300 dollars. The code as been reset and I have left with an
> option to change the converter at a suitable time (money wise). And he
> did all these for free!
>
>

Re: 1996 Civic Check Engine Light
 

ExtremeValue wrote:
> The Check Engine light came on and it stays on while driving on a
> highway two days ago. The car was running fine except in the past 2-3
> months in which I had some repairs on it.
>
> 1996 Civic, 4DR LX, 239K km
> The radiator, fuel line and brakes lines have been replaced 2 months
> ago
> Distributor and wires were changed less than a month ago.
> Most recent oil change was done 2 weeks ago.
>
> Reading from this forum I have got an idea that I should get the code
> read and reset and wait if it comes again. Manual says its related to
> emission control system.
>
> The car is excellent on gas mileage but recently I have noticed a lack
> of power (pressing gas more to get speed).
>
> Any idea will be good. Thanks.

get the code read, then report back.

Re: 1996 Civic Check Engine Light
 

> get the code read, then report back.

I already posted this, but you somehow overseen it. Here is the code
again:

P0420: Catalytic converter efficiency low on Bank 1.

Re: 1996 Civic Check Engine Light (update)
 

P0420: Catalytic converter efficiency low on Bank 1.

So, the code was reset two days ago and it re-appears today. Thanks.
Last time, as I have mentioned, the mechanic said I have to replace
the catalytic converter. Any thought on this?

Thanks

Re: 1996 Civic Check Engine Light (update)
 

ExtremeValue <raheem@gmail.com> wrote in news:b180c524-6ca9-4c6f-97de-
17f0082d7a90@n75g2000hsh.googlegroups.com:

> P0420: Catalytic converter efficiency low on Bank 1.

A 4cyl. Civic isn't going to have a Bank 2.
>
> So, the code was reset two days ago and it re-appears today. Thanks.
> Last time, as I have mentioned, the mechanic said I have to replace
> the catalytic converter. Any thought on this?
>
> Thanks
>
>
>

I'd want somebody to do an exhaust emissions check before I spent big bucks
on a new cat.It could just be a bad O2 sensor.O2sensors get sluggish when
they get old. But they are much less costly than a new cat.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net