Guys,

Trying to figure out what's wrong with my wife's 97 civic hx. The CEL light came on so I was just going to change out the O2 sensors;however, when I found out how much they were to replace I thought I would get some help before I dropped the coin on the sensors.

While I was driving the car back from the parts store I noticed that the little green up shift arrow was not illuminating when the engine revs got to the high side. I thought the up shift arrow ran off manifold vacuum (but I'm not sure). I checked the vacuum lines and although it looks like a marder has been chewing on them it, they still appear to be in good repair.

Any help would be great.

P.S. A marder is a small German critter that looks like a weasel only a little bigger. They love to chew on car parts... wiring, spark plug wires (considered by them to be really yummy when brand new), small diameter hoses. My land lord just spent 1200 Euros to repair the anti lock break sensors in his Volvo. We both want this thing dead but they are pretty hard to catch.[:@]

Thanks, G57

Are you guessing that the CEL is indicating a bad O2 sensor or do you know?

If you are not sure, here's how to retrieve and interpret the specific CEL code(s) stored in the ECU:

http://www.honda-tech.com/zerothread/1901557

RonJ,

I was just taking a guess at the 02 sensors. They are 11 years old and I thought they would be about the same price as the one in my SVO mustang, seems how they are both four cylinders and all. I thought they would be just as cheap to replace, but as I found out they are way more. I thought some research was in order, thus my post.

I will try to pull the codes and post my results. Thanks for the honda-tech site. I'm off to see what I find.

G57

I don't know what the "up shift arrow" is, so I can't advise you there. Nonetheless, you might want to check for a blown bulb or fuse.

ORIGINAL: RonJ

I don't know what the "up shift arrow" is, so I can't advise you there. Nonetheless, you might want to check for a blown bulb or fuse.

I think that during 96-00 the models without a tachometer had a factory shift light.

I have a 97 DX 5-speed without a tach, but it doesn't have the up shift light. Maybe other U.S. models have it or it's specific to European models.

ORIGINAL: RonJ

I have a 97 DX 5-speed without a tach, but it doesn't have the up shift light. Maybe other U.S. models have it or it's specific to European models.

my bad, it's the EG CX that has the shift arrow
yea idk about his shift arrow
maybe it's the EK CX and HX that have it too

Guys,

Just pulled the codes using the method off the honda-tech site. It gave me eight one second blinks which according to the chart means that there is a problem with the EGR valve or line.

Can the valve be cleaned like the one on my mustang or should it be replaced?

The up shift arrow is a little green arrow that sits between the tach and speedo on the lower portion of the instrument panel. We have an American spec car bought in Alabama.

Thanks, G57

According to the code list at the website and the 96-98 Civic manual available for download (see below), code 8 actually indicates a problem with sensors in the distributor or with their wiring:

http://i267.photobucket.com/albums/ii320/RonJ_HCF/picture_0823.jpg

http://hondatech.info/downloads/Auto/Manuals/Civic/

If the sensor(s) is indeed bad, then the entire distributor assembly must be replaced; however, troubleshoot as described in the manual prior to replacing.

RonJ

The eight flashes I noted were one second in duration. According to the site a one second flash equals ten, thus counting all eight one-second flashes I thought this would give me a 80 code. If the flashes were a half-second in duration that would be a single one, counting all the half second flashes would equal an eight.

page 11-54

P0401.1 (80) Exhaust Gas Recirculation lnsufficient Flow Detected . EGR line 11-170


If one were to get a code that was three one-second flashes followed by two half-second flashes that would equal a code of 32. Please correct me If I'm reading the flashes wrong.

Thanks again for your help, all this Honda stuff is new to me.

G57

Sorry, if there were eight long flashes, then you are definitely correct.