how to check your CEL

[skunkdSiR]

This is generally for all that own a 92-00 Civic. Sometime now and then we all will have a check engine light(CEL). The method for checking the 5th gen is the same as the 6th gen. Behind the passenger side kickpanel is your ECU. You may need to move the carpet a little to reach the small plug that sits in a rubber green casing. Pull out the smallest plug that looks like the pic below. One wire is black with a white stripe and the other is red with a black stripe. Now, you can either use a short piece of speaker wire(with the ends exposed) or my favorite, a paper clip to jump the two wires together.



Now, with either the speaker wire or paper clip in place, turn the key to the ON position, but be sure not to start up the car. Now, watch your CEL on the dash to see it flash. One long flash = 10. One short flash = 1. So, if you notice two long flashes and two short flashes, you've got a code 22. This is your vtec pressure valve.

Feel free to refer to this thread whenever you notice the granddaddy orange light on your cluster.


1 O2A - Oxygen sensor #1
2 O2B - Oxygen sensor #2
3 MAP - manifold absolute pressure sensor
4 CKP - crank position sensor
5 MAP - manifold absolute pressure sensor
6 ECT - water temperature sensor
7 TPS - throttle position sensor
8 TDC - top dead centre sensor
9 CYP - cylinder sensor
10 IAT - intake air temperature sensor
12 EGR - exhaust gas recirculation lift valve
13 BARO - atmospheric pressure sensor
14 IAC (EACV) - idle air control valve
15 Ignition output signal
16 Fuel injectors
17 VSS - speed sensor
19 Automatic transmission lockup control valve
20 Electrical load detector
21 VTEC spool solenoid valve
22 VTEC pressure valve
23 Knock sensor
30 Automatic transmission A signal
31 Automatic transmission B signal
36 traction control found on JDM ecu's
41 Primary oxygen sensor heater
43 Fuel supply system
45 Fuel system too rich or lean
48 LAF - lean air fuel sensor
54 CKF - crank fluctuation sensor
58 TDC sensor #2
61 Primary oxygen sensor
63 Secondary oxygen sensor
65 Secondary oxygen sensor heater
71 random misfire cylinder 1
72 random misfire cylinder 2
73 random misfire cylinder 3
74 random misfire cylinder 4