QuestionQUESTION: Hi,
I have a 1992 Civic, auto, 1.5L non-vtec engine with about 250,000 miles on it. I have had a CEL on for about a year and a half now and I cannot figure out what it is. The last time I checked it, it was throwing either a cyp or cyl 09 code... About six months ago, the car started idling really rough, jerking (especially while idling), surging while driving, etc. I gave the car a full tune up and put on a used distributor-it didn't run much better. I sent the car to a mechanic (I am proud to be a woman who knows how to work on her own car-but I don't do electronics, lol.# I had them check the CEL again and they said that I needed a new part in the distributor #They said the code was for a sensor in the distributor). I had them replace the part in the distributor and the car ran ok, but the CEL was still on and the mechanic could not figure out why. After about a month, the "jerking" while idling started to get bad again. I took it to another mechanic and they told me I needed a new distributor and plug wires (which I had just replaced). I had the distributor and wires replaced, and it ran better-but still "jerked" occasionally and still had the CEL on and this mechanic also said he could not figure out why. I recently upgraded to a better quality set of plug wires, and the car now runs fine, but the CEL is still on. Any ideas as to what I, and two mechanics, are missing? Thanks so much.
ANSWER: Robin, great job on the mechanical repairs on the tune up you did! You were close and as far as the mechanics they were close too. But, if you do not have a lot of expertise with Honda's this is a super easy, commonly misdiagnosed, issue. Whenever you are having "cylinder misfire" codes thrown this is a direct result that the distributor is deteriorating. Replace the distributor with a brand new or re-manufactured distributor with a warranty. Spend the money! (Why? The amount you have spent with the 2 other mechanics, 2 sets of plug wires, etc. exceeds buying 1 brand new at Honda... btw.) So buy a re-manufactured unit with a warranty. If this still doesn't solve the problem you can at least return the unit and get your money back. I am almost certain that this will fix the problem. Also, you need to have the CEL thoroughly scanned. And cleared properly. Then re-evaluated for more codes. If no more codes, then the timing needs to be adjusted due to the fact that the distributor has been replaced and can effect up to 1 to 2.5 degrees of timing that have come out of adjustment. (This is what i would assume the chugging-surging is going on with the car.) If you wanna check the codes at home yourself, there is a blue colored, plug that hangs down near the passenger side lower kick panel. Take a paper clip and plug it into each opening in the 2 pin plug, bridging the gap between them. Key to ignition "on". Then your "CEL" on the dash will flash! Google the CEL code lol easy to do btw... Jus saved you some money on evaluating codes on OBD-1 vehicles. You can also surprise your friends too. Hope this helps you...
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QUESTION: Thanks so much for getting back to me so quickly. As I explained in my original question-I have already replaced the distributor-twice. Once with a used one and then with the new one...so this problem has existed with three different distributors at this point. Thanks for the tip with the paperclip!
ANSWER: Then since they replaced the distributor did they replace the distributor completely? Or just parts to repair the distributor? The distributor is the issue. If replacing the distributor didnt help the problem why replace it and charge you for it w/o fixing the problem? I am a little confused as to what they replaced. Replace the distributor again? You should have a warranty. Why did they replace the plug wires a second time as well? Sounds like they are guessing at the issue instead of trying to understand what the CEL is telling you. BTW used parts are a good way to save money but, can add to your problems. Can you tell me how many CEL codes are being thrown? This would help me solve the problem. There could be up to 3 being thrown... Thank you and whatever info. you can give me would be helpful...
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QUESTION: Ok, lol. When I bought the car it ran fine-then it started having the issues. That's when I did a tune-up and saw that it didn't run any better, and then I purchased a used oem distributor and put it on. It progressively ran worse. I took it to mechanic #1 and they replaced parts in the distributor, but they could not clear CEL light. It starting to run bad again so I took it to mechanic # 2. He put a brand new distributor on it and suggested that I get new plug wires because apparently I bought a bad set...So yes, the distributor has been replaced. Mechanic # 2 also could not clear light. Both said that with the code it was throwing, it shouldn't be running-but it does run, and runs well. I checked the CEL again today with a paperclip, like you said, and it blinked 9 times. So, this is 3 distributors I have been through. The one on the car when I bought it, the used I bought (which they replaced parts in), and the brand new one I recently bought and the mechanic installed. Still have CEL code 9.
AnswerReferenced a friend and asked his opinion. Yet the first thing he said was that this is difficult to diagnose because the car is not physically in front of us. :P We will get to the bottom of this though. Inspect the wiring going into the distributor. Verify plugs are working and are snapped completely together. If need be pull apart both plugs and clean out any gunk-dirt. Di-electric grease should be injected in between the distributor plugs. This prevents any future corrosion as well as providing a barrier against moisture. If this does not repair the problem I would suggest replacing the engine wiring harness. There is definitely a connectivity issue within the harness. Also the ECU could be having an issue. You could borrow a friends or buy 1 off of Ebay or wherever. Check all of your sources for grounds (-) too. Like battery to transmission, core support to valve cover, etc. Clean these well and replace as needed. (The wiring harness on your car takes me like 15 mins to replace BTW. It is all plug and play.)
