My engine light just came on in the middle of a drive I know that this light is mis-named as "engine" light and it really usually means something not directly to do with the engine, such as gas cap, etc.

So before I take it to get scanned for fault code, etc. What should I be checking for in some kind of logical troubleshooting sequence?

I just re-did, re-tighten the gas cap in drove another 6km or so but light is still on... did I drive far enough to clear the light it it was gas cap not tightened before?

What is the next thing I should check? I briefly looked under the hood and things look OK to my not-trained eyes.

By the way the car drives well still, doesn't feel any different - except I have not rev'ed hard or even past 4000rpm since the light came on (just in case it will "blow up").

 

If you have a solid CEL light, then it isn't as bad as a blinking CEL light.

https://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=378792

Use this thread as a starting point.

 

I would recomend gettin a OBD2 scanner... It is very handy to have being able to see what code it throws...

 

Save your money and use the paper clip trick. It does the same thing as an OBDII reader.

 

Paper clip trick? Must be something I haven't fully read up on yet in that thread you pointed me to...

I won't be able to follow-up on this with my car for few days. Thanks for the pointers for the time being. I'll loop back to ask for more advise and/or update you guys.

Thanks!

 

S2000's are OBDII. The port is just behind the center console on the driver side.

I can't remeber specifically with 2 pins to connect, but once you do that, it puts the ECU in diagnostics mode and the CEL will blink when you turn the key to the ON position. Read the blinks, it is usually long blinks followed by three sets of short blinks. 1 blink = 1 and 10 blinks = 0. Blinks range from 1 to 10.

Read all the blinks as there might be more than one trouble code.

Becareful though. If you connect the wrong pins, you can blow out you ECU and that is no fun.

The OBDII in our cars is the same on the RSX.

 

http://www.k-series.com/tech_document.php?id=37

 

Post a pic of your cluster..., sometimes it is just a maintenance indicator.

 

haha, Dave - I am not that big of a noob, haha... it is NOT the maintenance light. I may still post a pic just to show you

Anyway, I will probably try to get a local shop to pull the code(s) for me first. I don't want to just start by screwing around with paperclip risking blowing the ECU.

Anyone local to the Vancouver/Burnaby/Richmond area recommends a good shop I can go get the code(s) pulled for free? Is Lordco OK for that?

Thanks!

 

Sorry..., no disrespect intended..., Just trying the obvious first...,