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Author Topic: Engine light coming on  (Read 1086 times)

Offline epicurien

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Engine light coming on
« on: August 08, 2005, 11:12:13 pm »
The engine light has been lighting up occasionally after I start my 95 Civic. It eventually goes off and it doesn't happen every time. Any suggestions on what this could be indicating?
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Offline froggy

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Engine light coming on
« Reply #1 on: August 08, 2005, 11:25:49 pm »
Gas cap? I remember being told that if the integrity test passes 3 times in a row after a failure, the CEL comes off.
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Offline epicurien

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Engine light coming on
« Reply #2 on: August 09, 2005, 03:07:59 am »
what the fack does that mean froggy?!!
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Offline tpl

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Engine light coming on
« Reply #3 on: August 09, 2005, 06:29:00 am »
If the gas cap does not seal tight, the evaporative emission control gear will not be able to make a partial vacuum in the fuel system and will flash the light on.   This is the most common cause.  However I am not sure if '95 isn't too old for that as this came in with OBDII.

Another possibility is a stretched timing belt so that the engine cam timing is off on start up, this happened to me on a Golf once.

Misfire detected although that usually leaves the light on.

and many other possibilities
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Offline safristi

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Engine light coming on
« Reply #4 on: August 09, 2005, 09:26:40 am »
..YUP and it means $75 buckaroos ta get yer 'black box" read....to get THE REST OF THE STORY!!!"
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Offline articsteve

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Engine light coming on
« Reply #5 on: August 09, 2005, 01:18:03 pm »
Another possibility is a stretched timing belt so that the engine cam timing is off on start up, this happened to me on a Golf once.

I'm with that possibility or just a faulty cam sensor which can reset. When was your timing belt last done?
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Offline froggy

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Engine light coming on
« Reply #6 on: August 09, 2005, 04:23:28 pm »
Sorry DOfB, I guess my message was a little cryptic... but Tpl explained it better!
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Offline kmak

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Engine light coming on
« Reply #7 on: August 09, 2005, 11:47:04 pm »
D of B, check your plugs, make sure they are proper type and gapped.  Civics can get intermittant misfires from this, CEL will flash.
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Offline tpl

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Engine light coming on
« Reply #8 on: August 10, 2005, 06:35:19 am »
In fact check anything that can cause a misfire.  According to the EPA OBD site the light will turn on if any misfire is detected and then clear itself if the misfire goes away.  As this car is 10 years old it is a) early OBD technology and b) all kinds of things could be imperfect with age!

Another thing I have seen ( years ago) was a tiny headgasket leak which cause enough coolant to foul a plug as the engine cooled but cured itself after start up as the engine warmed up. There was no visible loss of coolant.  

so checking the plugs is an excellent plan
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Offline epicurien

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Engine light coming on
« Reply #9 on: August 12, 2005, 11:37:07 pm »
once again, excellent support and advice from your community, thanks a million
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