Hi everyone!


I am overwhelmed by all of the interesting info on this site. I have been reading for 2 hours & only got through less than half of the 27 pages! WOW!
Here's my problem: I have a 2003 Civic Hybrid MAnual transmission. The check engine light has been coming on for about 2 years now. At first the dealer couldn't find anything wrong. Then they replaced the catalytic converter, then I replaced the EGR valve(which greatly improved my mileage & performance), then the light kept coming on, so the system told them to replace the catalytic converter again(they did). Now the light keeps coming on& they can't seem to locate the problem. Last week the computer said there was a misfiring cylinder, but they couldn' t get the light to repeat after resetting it. Then this week the computer said it was a code P0301. So they checked the spark plugs, coils, etc. but could not find anything wrong! They keep telling me that it might be "bad gas", but I never go to the same station all the time and I always use one of the "name brand" stations(Shell, Chevron, BP, Amoco, etc, as opposed to mom & pop stations). I always make sure to hear 3 clicks when I am replacing the gas cap.

Has anyone had similar experiences? I've brought my car in twice this week for that check engine light! I'm sick of this ........ Help!!!

Thanks,

Kim

Did they check the oxigen sensor ? This looks eerly familiar to a past issue of mine.

Regards;

MS

Try the knock sensor.

My other car, a Subaru Forester had a flaky check engine light. Turned out to be the knock sensor. It would intermittently flake out, then start working again..

I have also seen goofy ingition coils and distributor cause such flaky behavior. Somehow I expect the vehicle computer would have a specific error code for such problems. Even for the knock sensor.

A number of things in the vehicle could be causing this though.. but like others are suggesting.. probably a sensor or something in the emissions system.

Maybe try borrowing/buying someone's "Scangauge" and try to observe the error codes for a while? Search google for that device. For the price, one or two $80 'diagnostic' runs at your local garage would pay for one of these devices. I have it on my 'to buy' list.

As I recall..my mechanic said a faulty/intermittent knock sensor can cause weird problems.. such as misfiring, power issues, and such in a vehicle. I had a bit of engine hesitation and less power. Obviously it can hurt your fuel economy.

On a rather different line of thought.. but as we are on the topic of emsisions systems. I read somewhere that changing the PCV valvue evey so often (30k miles?) helps maintain fuel economy. Old valves can get gunked up or jammed. I never changed this on my Subaru.. though I did buy one. I just need to figure out where the heck the sucker is to change it!

My understanding is that excess gasses from the combustion process can be released through the PCV value on the engine block and gets recirculated into the combustion chamber again. In older cars a tube would simply eject uncombusted material/gas.. and was lost.

Anyway.. I diverged from the topic a bit there.

Curlykimba,
Could be something simple like a small vacuum leak in the fuel vapor recovery system. Or the fuel recovery cannister could be damaged (cracked) causing a problem similar to when you don't tighten the gas cap enough. Or a defective gas cap seal. When my wife's accord check engine light comes on, its always the gas cap being loose.
Good luck,

Ralph.

Time to ask for the division service manager to get involved from Honda. If they won't do it, call Honda in Torrance and get them on the case.

Michael

Hi ,
thanks for replying. Yes, the service mgr got involved without me having to ask! They also gave me a free rental. They are going to replace the car's onboard computer(at their expense)! Thye think it is giving false readings. That's what Honda Tech line told them to do. We'll see.....
thanks,

kim

Thanks so much for your reply. What is a PCV valve? The dealer said that Honds told them to replace the onboard computer(at their expense). We'llsee if that helps.

Thanks,

Kim