Yesterday, after a great Spring Fling, three of us headed home. The caravan north consisted of Legal Bill, Connie and myself. I took the lead, Connie followed and Bill was the tail gunner. We were cruising at about 73 mph, about 30 miles out of Winchester and all of a sudden my Check Engine Light came on. With 260 miles to go on a rainy and dreary day, the Check Engine Light is probably the last light you'd want to see. It wasn’t flashing, it was a bright yellow solid glow so Adam and I decided to continue on.

We’ve had a few meetings with the Check Engine Light in the past few years. My older son’s light came on in his 2005 Civic. The problem was diagnosed as Oxygen Sensors. My son being a broke college student bought a set at Autozone (Honda was too expensive), we put the car on stands and he and I got under the car and replaced them. After a quick trip to Autozone to reset the ECU the car was a good as new. As good as new until two weeks ago anyway. Two weeks ago the light came on again. This time we took the car to our Honda dealer and the diagnoses was that the valve in the evaporative canister wasn’t closing. This time we let Honda fix it at considerably more cost.

Back to the S2000. We continued on until our first gas stop. The light was still on but the car was running as well as it ever had. We all used the bathrooms, bought some snacks and got back into our cars. Still dreary and rainy, but only 190 miles left to go. Please don’t break down. Please, please, please.

Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and finally New Jersey, the Garden State. I-78 New Jersey never looked so good. But now the rain was really coming down. So hard that I had to use the windshield wipers. Broke my heart too. It was only the second time since 2002. We’d covered another 100 miles since the first stop and it was time to stop for lunch.

We pulled into a little shopping center where there was supposed to be a Cracker Barrel, but we could find it, so instead we ate in an Italian Pizza/Restaurant. The food was so, so, but the company was great and the five of us ate, talked and laughed. Adam and I tried not to think about the check engine light.

90 miles left to go and rain harder than before. The Check Engine Light was still on taunting us. I-78 East to I-287 North to exit 39B where we waved goodbye to Bill, Barbara and Connie. We felt terrible knowing that they had 5 more hours in the hard rain, but we were glad that our trip home was almost done and our S would soon be sleeping in the garage. Still the check engine light was on.

I buy a lot of tools at Sears. I’ve always liked the feel of Craftsman tools. A few years ago they started a program (I can’t recall what it’s called) with a blue card. Every time you buy something you get points. With enough points you can get merchandise at a discount or if you have a lot of points you can get merchandise for free. Liz and I accumulated a lot of points, and about a year ago they were going to expire. Rather than lose my points I got an Actron Pocket Scan OBD II reader for free. I really didn’t have much use for it, but I didn’t want to lose my points and figured I might need it someday. It took all my points, but didn’t cost me anything.

Well, someday came in the form of the Check Engine Light. I knew how to turn the light off and reset the ECU, but I really wanted to know what was ailing my S2000. I suspected it was the gas cap, but I wasn’t sure. Tonight I finally opened my handy, dandy OBD reader, hooked it up to the car and read code P1456. Code P1456 relates to the fuel evaporative system, the gas cap or something along the way. Satisfied that it was the gas cap, I took the cap off, put it back on and made sure that it was tight (I made sure it was tight after the last fill up too, but it must’ve worked its way loose.)

Next I pulled the appropriate fuse, waited for 10 minutes, put the fuse back in and started the engine. All of the warning lights came on, but as soon as the ECU reset itself all of the warning lights went off including the dastardly Check Engine Light. Now my S is sleeping in the garage.

This weekend I’m going to wash and wax my S. It’s filthy after the long drive in the rain. But for now, tonight, I’m very pleased that everything is back to normal on the dashboard.

Anything like this ever happen to you?

 

No, but I will be sure to call you the next time mine comes on rather than pay through the nose at the dealership. I can hardly concentrate on the road when any dashboard light is on that's not supposed to be. Glad you made it home safe and no damage was done. So good to see you and our all grown up lil' Adam.

Speaking of damage, has anyone heard from Tex? Tex, if you're on, just remember I'm only 2 hours away if you need me. Hope you get home safe and sound as soon as everything is back to normal with the car. Please post up if/when you can.
(sorry Rob)

 

Don't be sorry Granny, I was wondering the same thing. Ironically, Jim's part is coming from New Jersey. I think it's supposed to be there tomorrow, and I think he's supposed to be back on the road by Wednesday.

 

If my body had a check engine light, I'm sure it would be lit. Brilliantly.

Nice story Rob. Glad you made it home safe and sound.

 

Happened to me, but on the way to a Buckeye Run. Thankfully, it came on about 2 miles short of the exit for my dealer. I stopped in, they checked the code, said it was the gas cap, and sent me on my way. They told me that if I didn't want to do the reset., the light would reset itself after about 4 full engine warmup/cool down cycles. Unfortunately, that meant the trip to Marietta didn't count, I gave it one trip on the drive, one trip on the way home, then the rest had to be drives on other days. I think it was a calendar week or two before the light went off.

Glad that's all it was (for you and me).

 

It happened to me once, Rob. Same thing, lose gas cap. Mine binds up short of being properly sealed. The clicker clicks, but if I squeeze the cap I can tighten it another turn. Once I get it seated it works fine.

 

Good news, Rob. I'm very glad that was the code. Sometimes the car will keep running with the check engine light on for only a short time, and then the ECU will put the engine into 'safe mode' and restrict the travel speed to something like 30 mph max until the code is cleared. Fortunately that wasn't the case on your S.

Well, since you guys inquired, I'll find out in the morning if my part came in. I do appreciate all the support and well wishes. Roy <Canberra> has been checking in regularly by cell phone. What a great group of friends!

 

Good to hear it wasn't anything more serious than a P1456 Rob. Thankfully, you didn't use a lighter to check for gas leaks. Sorry, you had to use your wipers - I feel your pain.

So, Jim, what broke?

 

Nobody knows the trouble I've seen.

 

The seals on the clutch slave cylinder caved. It was the weekend, so the local Honda dealer couldn't even order the part until this morning. Should be fixed by noon tomorrow, and I will be back on the hwy.