| SiriusHog |
| today i was driving my wife's '03 with 61,000 miles on it. As I pulled into the garage, the check engine light came on. I got in the garage, shut off the engine. I then noticed that we are about 1000 miles overdue for an oil change. So i check the oil and it is just below the lower mark on the dipstick. I put oil in the motor up to the appropriate level. Could the low oil trigger a check engine light? I'm gonna take it to the dealer or maybe to Autozone on Monday and get the code checked out.. thanks.. |
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| rocky |
Check engine light could be from one of many different reasons. I am unaware of Honda having any sensor for its engines.
Commonest reason for the check engine light is a loose gas cap (p0446 I think). |
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| SiriusHog |
| i thought about the loose gas cap... and my wife did fill up the pilot yesterday, so i took it off and put it back on and tightened it 4 or 5 clicks and the light is still on... would putting the gas cap back on right reset it or not? |
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| SiriusHog |
went to Autozone and got the code. It is P0420. "The PCM has determined that the catalyst system efficiency for bank 1 is below threshold for the current engine operating conditions. (Bank 1 identifies the location of cylinder #1, while bank 2 identifies the cylinders on the opposite bank)"
i have no idea what that means... does anyone? |
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| jl_ss |
| Catalytic converter problems: Link |
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| SiriusHog |
| man... that's a little out of my league... i guess i should take to the dealer next week... is it still ok to drive for a few days before i get it looked at?? |
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| jl_ss |
quote:
Originally posted by SiriusHog
man... that's a little out of my league... i guess i should take to the dealer next week... is it still ok to drive for a few days before i get it looked at??
It should be OK. It just means your Cat Converter may not be operating as efficiently as it is supposed to. I believe the emmisions warranty is 8/80K so it should be covered. |
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| SiriusHog |
| wow.. i have 61,000 miles and it should still be covered?? did they extend the warranty on emissions because of previous problems?? |
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| jl_ss |
quote:
Originally posted by SiriusHog
wow.. i have 61,000 miles and it should still be covered?? did they extend the warranty on emissions because of previous problems??
No the emissions warranty is longer than the powertrain/B to B warranty for major emissions components. |
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| SiriusHog |
quote:
Originally posted by jl_ss
No the emissions warranty is longer than the powertrain/B to B warranty for major emissions components.
so Honda has a factory 8 year/80,000 mile warranty on emissions? i didnt know that.. man thanks for your help.. i'm really a novice when it comes to cars.. i know a little, but not much.. |
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| jl_ss |
quote:
Originally posted by SiriusHog
so Honda has a factory 8 year/80,000 mile warranty on emissions? i didnt know that.. man thanks for your help.. i'm really a novice when it comes to cars.. i know a little, but not much..
Check your warranty booklet - mine is a 2005 and the list of Emisions parts covered is at the back of the book. The cat converter warranty is listed as 8/80K under both federal and CA/CT/MA/ME/VT catagories. |
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| SiriusHog |
| ok I'll look.. thanks man, I gotta run, I'll be back later.. |
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| whizmo |
quote:
Originally posted by jl_ss
Check your warranty booklet - mine is a 2005 and the list of Emisions parts covered is at the back of the book. The cat converter warranty is listed as 8/80K under both federal and CA/CT/MA/ME/VT catagories.
This is correct.
People have the mistaken impression that because a check engine light is a failure in something related to the catalytic convertor and emissions control systems, that it is automatically covered by the 8-yr/80K emissions warranty.
The only things covered by the longer warranty are the things specifically listed in the table, effectively the catalytic convertors and the engine computer. Everything else is only covered by the 3/36 warranty.
While it's possible, it's highly unlikely this CEL is caused by bad cats or a faulty engine computer. It's probably an oxygen sensor (or another sensor or sensor system) and this won't be covered.
Effectively, these longer emissions warranties are a safety net so you won't get burned for buying $3K catalytic convertors during the first 80K miles. With current cat technology, this almost never happens. Other than this, they're worthelss.
- Mark |
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| SiriusHog |
| I'm thinking that the converter is probably fine. The car runs just like normal and there is no nasty smell from the exhaust. More than likely an oxygen sensor... |
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| jl_ss |
quote:
Originally posted by whizmo
This is correct.
People have the mistaken impression that because a check engine light is a failure in something related to the catalytic convertor and emissions control systems, that it is automatically covered by the 8-yr/80K emissions warranty.
The only things covered by the longer warranty are the things specifically listed in the table, effectively the catalytic convertors and the engine computer. Everything else is only covered by the 3/36 warranty.
While it's possible, it's highly unlikely this CEL is caused by bad cats or a faulty engine computer. It's probably an oxygen sensor (or another sensor or sensor system) and this won't be covered.
Effectively, these longer emissions warranties are a safety net so you won't get burned for buying $3K catalytic convertors during the first 80K miles. With current cat technology, this almost never happens. Other than this, they're worthelss.
- Mark
There are actually a number of posts in other Honda/Acura forums that discuss the P0420 code and troubleshooting usually started by replacing O2 sensors. In a number of cases it was actually the converter. I would assume there would also be an O2 sensor failure code along with the cat converter code if there was an O2 sensor problem.
Owners in MA/ME/VT/CA/CT get mileage extensions (3yr/50K) over the factory warranty as well as 7/70 and extensions on 4 other items as well as the two you listed. |
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| jl_ss |
quote:
Originally posted by SiriusHog
I'm thinking that the converter is probably fine. The car runs just like normal and there is no nasty smell from the exhaust. More than likely an oxygen sensor...
You wouldn't necessarily notice an difference in the way the vehicle runs or smells if it was the cat. If it is, then the CEL just indicates that the cat efficiency has just dropped below some percentage that would adversely effect emissions.
Either a cat problem or an O2 sensor problem would be rare at the low mileage/age of your vehicle. There are things that can cause either to fail prematurely, though. I believe most of the posts that I found regarding the P0420 code were for higher mileage/age vehicles than yours.
I've bought numerous Acuras/Hondas that I have kept for long periods. The longest was probably 8 years/180K miles. I haven't had to replace the cat or an O2 sensor in any of them. |
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| SiriusHog |
quote:
Originally posted by jl_ss
You wouldn't necessarily notice an difference in the way the vehicle runs or smells if it was the cat. If it is, then the CEL just indicates that the cat efficiency has just dropped below some percentage that would adversely effect emissions.
Either a cat problem or an O2 sensor problem would be rare at the low mileage/age of your vehicle. There are things that can cause either to fail prematurely, though. I believe most of the posts that I found regarding the P0420 code were for higher mileage/age vehicles than yours.
I've bought numerous Acuras/Hondas that I have kept for long periods. The longest was probably 8 years/180K miles. I haven't had to replace the cat or an O2 sensor in any of them.
well if its not an O2 Sensor or the converter... what else could it be?? |
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| msdelasalle |
quote:
Originally posted by jl_ss
You wouldn't necessarily notice an difference in the way the vehicle runs or smells if it was the cat. If it is, then the CEL just indicates that the cat efficiency has just dropped below some percentage that would adversely effect emissions.
I once complained that my Pilot was running sluggishly. It was so annoyingly consistent that I had to bring it to the dealer. Their prognosis was a "clogged catalytic converter". They replaced the CAT and since then, the Pilot ran and accelerated smoothly. |
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| jl_ss |
quote:
Originally posted by SiriusHog
well if its not an O2 Sensor or the converter... what else could it be??
It's likely one or the other - I was just stating that a problem with either is not all that common for Honda. I did have a cat converter go bad on a Ford at 49,000 miles though. |
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| rocky |
| If it is clogged, don't run it long as there is excess backpressure on the engine, which could lead to damage. |
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| SiriusHog |
quote:
Originally posted by rocky
If it is clogged, don't run it long as there is excess backpressure on the engine, which could lead to damage.
if the cat is clogged would it trigger the check engine light? |
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| whizmo |
quote:
Originally posted by SiriusHog
if the cat is clogged would it trigger the check engine light?
It could, but the typical symptoms of a clogged cat are a poor-running engine and a lack of power.
I have no data but I'd bet a dollar to a donut the that for every cat that fails, 100 O2 sensors fail. And there are a hundred other things that could be wrong. The odds are against it being a cat problem.
- Mark |
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| SiriusHog |
| OK I finally had time to fool with the Pilot yesterday. I disconnected the battery and reset the system. Pilot has been driven probably 50 miles since then and the light hasnt come back on yet... does this mean everything is ok... or will it take some time before the light comes back on? |
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| N_Jay |
quote:
Originally posted by SiriusHog
OK I finally had time to fool with the Pilot yesterday. I disconnected the battery and reset the system. Pilot has been driven probably 50 miles since then and the light hasnt come back on yet... does this mean everything is ok... or will it take some time before the light comes back on?
It depends on the type and severity of the problem. |
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| SiriusHog |
| well, my wife just called me and said the check engine light is back on... so I guess I'm gonna take it to Honda tomorrow... we are supposed to be leaving for a 5 hour trip on saturday, but now if i cant get it fixed tomorrow, I'm afraid to drive it in fear of tearing something up.. |
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| whizmo |
quote:
Originally posted by SiriusHog
well, my wife just called me and said the check engine light is back on... so I guess I'm gonna take it to Honda tomorrow... we are supposed to be leaving for a 5 hour trip on saturday, but now if i cant get it fixed tomorrow, I'm afraid to drive it in fear of tearing something up..
You're not going to hurt a thing. The cheapest fix, done by thousands of drivers, is a piece of tape over the light. But if you want the light off (or want to pass most emission tests if your locale has such tests) you've got to go read the code and fix whatever is causing it.
My bet would be on an O2 sensor preheater.
- Mark |
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| SiriusHog |
quote:
Originally posted by whizmo
You're not going to hurt a thing. The cheapest fix, done by thousands of drivers, is a piece of tape over the light. But if you want the light off (or want to pass most emission tests if your locale has such tests) you've got to go read the code and fix whatever is causing it.
My bet would be on an O2 sensor preheater.
- Mark
as I was driving to the dealer this morning, the freaking light went OFF... so i went in anyway, and talked to the service manager. He said more than likely I have gotten some water in my fuel tank. He said he has seen quite a bit of that lately. He recommended I get a bottle of "Heet" and pour it in the fuel tank.. |
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