Hoping someone can help me here...

The MIL is on and I cannot find or feel a problem with the car. I checked the gas cap and made sure it was tight, but not past 3 clicks...no help. Manual says it takes 3 driving trips for it to clear. What is a driving trip? I took it as turning the car on/off 3x, so I drove, turned it off, started, drove, off, etc...MIL stayed on.

Any suggestions?????

Thanks

 

You mean the CEL right? What is a MIL?

 

MIL = Malfunction Indicator Lamp...that is how it is listed in the manual. But it is the CEL.

 

Matrix,

:cracks seal on $80 service manual:

Er.... I don't know if you should just aim to turn this thing off, Matrix. Just a few steps in to the MIL circuit troubleshooting section it starts talking about connecting to OBD and doing some diagnostics...

OK, reading on for you... Will post again soon. Now I'm curious.

 

Just checking here, are you sure you mean the MIL, or could you mean the maintenance required indicator, Matrix? The maintenance lamp is two positions to the left of the MIL.

 

It's the one with the engine and with the word check in it...not sure why the owners manual calls it the Malfunction Indicator Lamp. I usually call it the Check Engine Light, but thought I should get the right term...

 

You're right. That's the MIL, matrix.

I think the reason they don't call this a check engine light anymore is because it applies to the entire car.

I'm reading the manual, and the MIL is telling you that some subsystem in the car has detected a problem.

The trick (I can't quite figure this out) will be to coax the computer to spit out the "DTC" (failure codes, documented in the shop manual).. My '88 prelude had a way to make the computer flash an LED with the code, but I don't know if there's anything like that in the S. Arrrrrrgh!

Still looking, matrix!

 

Yes, the owners manual says it could be something in the emission system or the gas cap...well I checked the gas cap...

 

I think this thing is triggered by many more things than that, matrix. DTCs can come from ABS, heating/ventilation, SRS (airbag), fuel/emissions, and of course engine management.

I'm just reading this first time, tho, matrix... Do you have the shop (service) manual (textbook-sized blue book)?

 

No, I don't Chazmo...thanks for taking the time to read this for me .