Check Engine Light?!

[sohc_vtec 2NR]

OK here's the scenario..

I drove to and from work in my 99 civic ex and it was fine but when i had to move the car (it was on the street) to my driveway, problem started.

I started the car and it started fine but as soon as it did the sound was totally different! Before when you listen to the exhaust pulse from the Greddy EVO you can tell the exhaust is close together but now it sounds like its spaced out more. And as soon i was parked in the driveway the CHECK ENGINE LIGHT was blinkin'!! :mad:

The only thing i've done to my car is a short ram intake and a greddy evo cat-back system...never had a problem with the car til now. Any idea??:confused:

[Accord Man]

If you say its spaced out, theres possibly something wrong in 1 of the cylinders -- its missing.. Check the plugs and see what they have to say..

[sohc_vtec 2NR]

that's what i was thinkin'...here's a litttle more info about my car..

99 civic ex, 5 spd, 52,000 miles
aem short ram
greddy evo

[TeriyakiBroccoli]

yea, pull the plugs.. and check spark to each of the cylinders.

but the plugs will say a lot first.

[sohc_vtec 2NR]

well, anybody know how to "retrieve the check engine light code"??

[Accord Man]

Yours is an OBDII, so that wont be possible without an ECU diagnostics tool.

I dont say this very often, but you should take it to a Honda dealer mech. Find a good one and go there, for CELs there can be a zillion things related to a specific code..

[sohc_vtec 2NR]

i'm gonna take it to autzone just so i can see the code....i can't really drive it to the nearest honda dealer mech cuz its too far away..:o i think now is a good time to invest in a ECU diagnostic thing-a-majig

[Accord Man]

umm, I doubt it'll be worth it.. they are expensive, and useless if you dont have much mechanical knowledge..

[TeriyakiBroccoli]

I don't know where you'd be able to find an ECU Diagnostics tool. I thought they were not avail. to the general public?

Maybe HondaTch could explain more.

[sohc_vtec 2NR]

just a little update....

i brought the car to autozone to get the codes and it was all ignition related..all 4 cylinder had misfire and ignition malfunction so i got some spark plug wires and denso plugs..hopefully that'll fix it

on my way to autozone the engine light was flashin'...and after a while it just stayed on and the "misfiring noise" went away...but the engine light is still on, so the car sounds like it was before. is my car in "safe mode" or somethin'? :confused:

[Accord Man]

the mech is supposed to reset it after pulling the code..
Anyways, replace the parts, and reset the ECU, and hopefully that'll be the last of that.
Unfortunately, since all 4 were fukin, the problem is most likely in one of the following compoenents :
-Distro Cap and/or distro housing and/or distro o-ring and/or distro seal rotor
-Igniter unit and/or igniter coil.



Snap-On makes a unit for non commercial use. But its quiet expensive.

[sohc_vtec 2NR]

just another update...

we replaced the plugs and the wires and the CEL went away and i hope it never comes back...this goes to show how important proper maintenance is!

[Accord Man]

Not to burst your bubble, but its likely to be a temp fix.. If the CEL came on, there is probably more to it.