Help - ECU Light on
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 287
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From: The Beautiful South
Can anyone help me ? its the best weekend of the year so far four days of potential motoring bliss and my ECU light came on when I was at Sainsburys. The car was OK and I parked up to do my shopping. Came back, started up and the ECU light came on and won't go out !!!!! I noticed thatwhen I started the car thet the temp gauge read "three bars" even as I started up - would re-setting the ECU help ? how do I do this ? which fuse is it ? I drove the car home carefully and now it is in my garage - the sun is shining - I can't stand the thought of a whole weekend wothout my S2K - top down motoring aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh h!!!!!!!!
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 3,332
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From: On a fencepost
If you want to try resetting the ECU, it's the 7.5amp fuse marked 'backup' in the cabine fuse box. (By the driver's right knee.). Pull it for about 30 seconds to reset the fuse.
If the ECU light comes on straight away, then I wouldn't drive except to go see the dealer. Most faults will only cause a CEL (check engine light) after a few starts. If the light doesn't come straight back on, then you're probably fine - just keep an eye out for it coming back on again.
I've had one CEL from fuel - after the slow, careful drive to the dealer it showed up as a momentary misfire, probably due to dodgy fuel. I don't buy supermarket fuel, but it still happened. Oh well....
-Brian.
If the ECU light comes on straight away, then I wouldn't drive except to go see the dealer. Most faults will only cause a CEL (check engine light) after a few starts. If the light doesn't come straight back on, then you're probably fine - just keep an eye out for it coming back on again.
I've had one CEL from fuel - after the slow, careful drive to the dealer it showed up as a momentary misfire, probably due to dodgy fuel. I don't buy supermarket fuel, but it still happened. Oh well....
-Brian.
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 287
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From: The Beautiful South
Originally posted by bmarshall
If you want to try resetting the ECU, it's the 7.5amp fuse marked 'backup' in the cabine fuse box. (By the driver's right knee.). Pull it for about 30 seconds to reset the fuse.
If the ECU light comes on straight away, then I wouldn't drive except to go see the dealer. Most faults will only cause a CEL (check engine light) after a few starts. If the light doesn't come straight back on, then you're probably fine - just keep an eye out for it coming back on again.
I've had one CEL from fuel - after the slow, careful drive to the dealer it showed up as a momentary misfire, probably due to dodgy fuel. I don't buy supermarket fuel, but it still happened. Oh well....
-Brian.
If you want to try resetting the ECU, it's the 7.5amp fuse marked 'backup' in the cabine fuse box. (By the driver's right knee.). Pull it for about 30 seconds to reset the fuse.
If the ECU light comes on straight away, then I wouldn't drive except to go see the dealer. Most faults will only cause a CEL (check engine light) after a few starts. If the light doesn't come straight back on, then you're probably fine - just keep an eye out for it coming back on again.
I've had one CEL from fuel - after the slow, careful drive to the dealer it showed up as a momentary misfire, probably due to dodgy fuel. I don't buy supermarket fuel, but it still happened. Oh well....
-Brian.
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,110
Likes: 1
From: Henfield, West Sussex
The light will come on if an error repeats itself, I think it does a check on stored errors when the engine is started. Some errors will stay on, even if they clear themselves. IIRC the errors are stored as pre-alerts, before the second instance which turns on the MIL light.
It is possible to check the error(s) without a tester, but probably the easiest way is by reading the OBD stored error codes. I don't know where you are, but I have a OBD scanner if it's any help? I've also invested in some books on the subject. There are a few other owners with OBD scanners about as well.
It is possible to check the error(s) without a tester, but probably the easiest way is by reading the OBD stored error codes. I don't know where you are, but I have a OBD scanner if it's any help? I've also invested in some books on the subject. There are a few other owners with OBD scanners about as well.
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 287
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From: The Beautiful South
Originally posted by S2000RJ
The light will come on if an error repeats itself, I think it does a check on stored errors when the engine is started. Some errors will stay on, even if they clear themselves. IIRC the errors are stored as pre-alerts, before the second instance which turns on the MIL light.
It is possible to check the error(s) without a tester, but probably the easiest way is by reading the OBD stored error codes. I don't know where you are, but I have a OBD scanner if it's any help? I've also invested in some books on the subject. There are a few other owners with OBD scanners about as well.
The light will come on if an error repeats itself, I think it does a check on stored errors when the engine is started. Some errors will stay on, even if they clear themselves. IIRC the errors are stored as pre-alerts, before the second instance which turns on the MIL light.
It is possible to check the error(s) without a tester, but probably the easiest way is by reading the OBD stored error codes. I don't know where you are, but I have a OBD scanner if it's any help? I've also invested in some books on the subject. There are a few other owners with OBD scanners about as well.
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,110
Likes: 1
From: Henfield, West Sussex
Originally posted by Shabby
I am in South Hampshire - where is Henfield West
I am in South Hampshire - where is Henfield West
I'm just north of Shoreham if that helps (between Brighton and Worthing). I'd be glad to meet up if it helps you, but I'm afraid it wouldn't classify as a mini-meet, as I'm still using Honda's Accord 
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Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: The Beautiful South
well its back - I had the car out for a shopping trip to Southampton and suffered some bad kangarooing when pulling away when the engine was hot (parking up for 5 minutes and then coming back to the car before the engine had a chance to cool). now the CEL has come back on - to the dealer I say and see what they say - hope they don't bullshit too much and just sort it out. Will have to wait until next saturday though as I am unable to do it myself so my friend has volunteered to take it for me.
Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: The Beautiful South
Well Thanks to Rob (S2000RJ) who came around a couple of weeks ago and diagnosed the problem as PO 132 - primary oxygen sensor high voltage. I went to the Honda dealer and as Rob and I predicted they merely reset the ECM - this is the first step in the diagnostics checks in the Honda shop manual. They told me to keep an eye on it and see if it happens again - and three days ago it did. Called the Honda garage and they said they would change the Oxygen sensor - booked in Tuesday. I will post results.
Just for a recap this is how the problem manifested itself. I was driving normally and then parked up to go to the shops - maybe 1/2 hour. Got back into the car and drove away and at first all seemed normal for about 100 metres or so (I am assuming this is how long it takes for the O2 sensors to go into closed loop) then lots of kangarooing and after a short time the engine picked up as normal - then the light came on.
Hope changing the O2 sensor cures this.
Just for a recap this is how the problem manifested itself. I was driving normally and then parked up to go to the shops - maybe 1/2 hour. Got back into the car and drove away and at first all seemed normal for about 100 metres or so (I am assuming this is how long it takes for the O2 sensors to go into closed loop) then lots of kangarooing and after a short time the engine picked up as normal - then the light came on.
Hope changing the O2 sensor cures this.
