Does anybody know what could be wrong with my S2000?

Check Engine (Malfunction) Light came on in my car. The car shakes a little when it is idling (stopped with engine on). Also, when I turned on A/C, I can smell what smells like exhaust.
I think this started to happened when I hit a pothole.

Should I tow my car to the dealer instead of driving it there ( about 2 miles away)?

 

It's probably ok to drive it, sounds like more than one thing, maybe a vacuum leak and some xhaust (maybe from the manifold) getting pulled into the fresh air intake.

 

We've had a few folks post about their MILs turning on in the last couple of months.

1) Is your gas cap loose? If so, that's almost certainly what caused your problem.

2) The engine computer maintains some diagnostic codes which are best read out with an OBDII (on-board diagnostic) scanner. Do you have one of those, Gene?

3) As far as I know, the only real engine risk (that you might wanna tow for) is if your spark plugs are backing off. You might want to check them and make sure their snug. The MIL is mostly about emissions and sensors and I don't think you need to tow if your plugs are OK. Maybe someone else will chime in. I'd just bring it in.

4) Do you have cold air induction? I think some folks have gotten water into their intakes, and that can botch things up a bit.

5) Bad gas, maybe????

Best wishes!

 

Thanks for replying so quickly.

Chazmo,


I checked the fuel cap. It was not loose.
I just had the sparkplug replaced a week ago because of a recall. Could a loose sparkplug cause this? I do not know much about cars. Where would the sparkplug be in S2000?


bluegene

 

The spark plugs are under the cover that says VTEC on it.

Check this link for information on TSB 02-042.

 

Yup, a loose plug could cause it, Gene. Best to check. If you can't get at the plugs (you do need a few tools -- hex wrench and socket wrench) then maybe you should tow. That's safe.

Sorry to hear it, Gene. Where'd you get your work done?

 

Thanks.

I got the work done at Honda Cars of Boston.
I guess I have to call AAA to tow.

 

Make sure it's a flatbed, Gene. No sling towing for the S2000.

Best wishes. Post when you find out.

 

Hmm, wonder if I could be having the same problem. I was just going to work right now. After going up a steep hill, I came to a stop, the motor started idling REALLY rough. The check engine light started flashing and scared the Sh@% out of me. I thought it could've just been a glitch so I just took off normally after the light turned green and it just went away. Check engine light turned off and the idle returned to normal.

Oh, and I did just have the sparkplug TSB done about 2 weeks ago.

Anyone have any thoughts as to what could've caused this?

 

Have someone pull the codes off the car with a PGM scan tool or OBD Explorer. A loose plug is indicated by PO300 series codes (i.e. engine misfire). PO301 is cylinder number 1, P0302 is cylinder number 2, etc.

Utah

P.S. Sounds like a plug/misfire issue in both cases noted.