BEWARE THE "CEL" FROM HELL (rant)
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Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Top of the Bay
BEWARE THE "CEL" FROM HELL (rant)
Posted in the hope it may be helpful to one of you…..
In the last week of August, the “Check Engine Light” on the “S” decided to show me it was working. Never having the need to use the OBD port on my ’01 S2000 before, I had to hunt for it (it isn’t where everyone on the internet says it is) and it took me a couple days to find it. OK. Insert my code reader and it comes up with a “P1457”.
It should be noted, the “S” is running fine, in fact, after having Billman do his magic on it, I don’t believe it has ever run stronger or better. Turns out “P1457” refers to a leak somewhere in the evaporative emissions system which has absolutely nothing at all to do with anything related to engine performance, but it has got to be fixed in order to keep the car registered.
The evap emissions system consists of some plumbing, a charcoal canister, and several solenoid controlled valves intended to keep fuel vapors from escaping (gasp) the gas tank into the atmosphere (which of course they do every time you unscrew the filler neck cap to add fuel). In my state, you cannot pass emissions inspection with an evap emissions problem. All of the parts are expensive.
It appears that Honda’s last service bulletin for the S2000 was issued in 2013, and deals specifically with the “P1457” code and how to fix the problem.
The dealer started with that Service Bulletin. To keep a long story from getting even longer, the “S” has been to their shop FIVE (5) times. NONE of the parts needed have been on hand…. all had to be ordered from a Honda parts depot. Thus far, all of the solenoid/valves and the canister have been replaced at a cost in the neighborhood of $2K (that’s S2K with a dollar sign in the “S”). Well over half that sum has been parts. The dealer has already eaten a significant amount of labor time (they have over 22 hours of tech labor invested) including smoking the system three times (so far). They have 'eaten' most of the labor with no help from Honda, so it has been expensive for both of us. Beyond belief.
As a last resort, the tech once again fully disassembled the system and after playing with all the parts found an “O” ring that looked fine… but felt funny. Not deformed and not nicked, but he felt a flat spot on the back side. It has been replaced and I am now six key cycles beyond that replacement and so far the CEL light is quiet.
Interestingly enough, even though this fairly large store probably only sees 3 or 4 S2000s in a year, the day I drove it home with the new “O” ring there was another AP1 sitting on the lot. I made a wisecrack about it, and the service writer told me that believe it or not, it was there for the SAME problem. Go figure.
I hope none of you have this issue present itself, but if you do make sure whoever is working on the car does the simple stuff FIRST. If they simply follow that Service Bulletin, it WILL be expensive.
(rant over)
In the last week of August, the “Check Engine Light” on the “S” decided to show me it was working. Never having the need to use the OBD port on my ’01 S2000 before, I had to hunt for it (it isn’t where everyone on the internet says it is) and it took me a couple days to find it. OK. Insert my code reader and it comes up with a “P1457”.
It should be noted, the “S” is running fine, in fact, after having Billman do his magic on it, I don’t believe it has ever run stronger or better. Turns out “P1457” refers to a leak somewhere in the evaporative emissions system which has absolutely nothing at all to do with anything related to engine performance, but it has got to be fixed in order to keep the car registered.
The evap emissions system consists of some plumbing, a charcoal canister, and several solenoid controlled valves intended to keep fuel vapors from escaping (gasp) the gas tank into the atmosphere (which of course they do every time you unscrew the filler neck cap to add fuel). In my state, you cannot pass emissions inspection with an evap emissions problem. All of the parts are expensive.
It appears that Honda’s last service bulletin for the S2000 was issued in 2013, and deals specifically with the “P1457” code and how to fix the problem.
The dealer started with that Service Bulletin. To keep a long story from getting even longer, the “S” has been to their shop FIVE (5) times. NONE of the parts needed have been on hand…. all had to be ordered from a Honda parts depot. Thus far, all of the solenoid/valves and the canister have been replaced at a cost in the neighborhood of $2K (that’s S2K with a dollar sign in the “S”). Well over half that sum has been parts. The dealer has already eaten a significant amount of labor time (they have over 22 hours of tech labor invested) including smoking the system three times (so far). They have 'eaten' most of the labor with no help from Honda, so it has been expensive for both of us. Beyond belief.
As a last resort, the tech once again fully disassembled the system and after playing with all the parts found an “O” ring that looked fine… but felt funny. Not deformed and not nicked, but he felt a flat spot on the back side. It has been replaced and I am now six key cycles beyond that replacement and so far the CEL light is quiet.
Interestingly enough, even though this fairly large store probably only sees 3 or 4 S2000s in a year, the day I drove it home with the new “O” ring there was another AP1 sitting on the lot. I made a wisecrack about it, and the service writer told me that believe it or not, it was there for the SAME problem. Go figure.
I hope none of you have this issue present itself, but if you do make sure whoever is working on the car does the simple stuff FIRST. If they simply follow that Service Bulletin, it WILL be expensive.
(rant over)
Last edited by canberra; Nov 22, 2019 at 06:30 PM.
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 45,697
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From: Mish-she-gan
Thanks Roy. . . . long time member . . . and seldom poster. 
What a ___________...... what can I say. As you well know these are bullet prove cars except when they are not. A flat spot on an O ring. Damn, those are the kinda stories race car driver's say cost them a win at LeMans. Sorry to hear that Roy. Thanks for sharing.
What a ___________...... what can I say. As you well know these are bullet prove cars except when they are not. A flat spot on an O ring. Damn, those are the kinda stories race car driver's say cost them a win at LeMans. Sorry to hear that Roy. Thanks for sharing.
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 15,006
Likes: 2,291
From: Delawhere???
Roy, I remember discussing this with you at S2KDays in Gettysburg. Glad you got it fixed, but, WOW! The cost and hair-pulling involved. I had the same code and my independent mechanic solved it by replacing one of those solenoids. Still not cheap.
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From: Mid-Atlantic
Roy, sorry to hear about your problems.
I had the same code. I guess I am lucky so far in that I took the car to a local person that Gene recommended and he immediately said it was the solenoids. He ordered the parts from Honda’s “classic” parts warehouse in California. Took about a week and $500 to get the part and job done, but so far so good.
I had the same code. I guess I am lucky so far in that I took the car to a local person that Gene recommended and he immediately said it was the solenoids. He ordered the parts from Honda’s “classic” parts warehouse in California. Took about a week and $500 to get the part and job done, but so far so good.
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 15,006
Likes: 2,291
From: Delawhere???
Roy, sorry to hear about your problems.
I had the same code. I guess I am lucky so far in that I took the car to a local person that Gene recommended and he immediately said it was the solenoids. He ordered the parts from Honda’s “classic” parts warehouse in California. Took about a week and $500 to get the part and job done, but so far so good.
I had the same code. I guess I am lucky so far in that I took the car to a local person that Gene recommended and he immediately said it was the solenoids. He ordered the parts from Honda’s “classic” parts warehouse in California. Took about a week and $500 to get the part and job done, but so far so good.