My car (03 Honda Civic) has been off the road for the past year. Last
week I had it MOTd and taxed. The second time I drove it after this, a
warning light appeared indicating a problem with the engine management
system, specifically connected with emissions control. This seems to
mee to be a rather obscure problem, certainly not one I can solve. Has
anybody any suggestions?

Alan Mills (in Devon, England)

Alan Mills gurgled happily, sounding much like they
were saying:

Has anybody any suggestions?

Read the fault codes.

Adrian wrote:
Alan Mills gurgled happily, sounding much like they
were saying:

Has anybody any suggestions?

Read the fault codes.

I'm taking it to the guy who does my MOTs; he has some diagnostic kit
but I'm not totally convinced he knows what's what. It may have to be a
Honda dealer but the nearest one is 30 miles away.

Alan Mills (in Devon, England)

Alan Mills wrote:

The second time I drove it after this, a
warning light appeared indicating a problem with the engine management
system, specifically connected with emissions control. This seems to
mee to be a rather obscure problem, certainly not one I can solve. Has
anybody any suggestions?

Probably the lambda sensor after being laid up. But as Adrian says you
need to read the fault codes.

Alan Mills wrote:
Adrian wrote:
Alan Mills gurgled happily, sounding much like
they
were saying:

Has anybody any suggestions?

Read the fault codes.

I'm taking it to the guy who does my MOTs; he has some diagnostic kit
but I'm not totally convinced he knows what's what. It may have to be a
Honda dealer but the nearest one is 30 miles away.

It certainly doesn't have to be the dealer. Anything in the last ten
years has a standard OBD connector and you can get a basic box to read the
fault code and reset the light for as little as 20 pounds. Many small
garages will have a more professional box and charge about 20 pounds to
plug it in. Of course, you are then likely to want someone to replace the
sensor which the ECU is having problems with, and then reset the light again.

"Alan Mills" wrote in message
...
Adrian wrote:
Alan Mills gurgled happily, sounding much like
they
were saying:

Has anybody any suggestions?

Read the fault codes.

I'm taking it to the guy who does my MOTs; he has some diagnostic kit but
I'm not totally convinced he knows what's what. It may have to be a Honda
dealer but the nearest one is 30 miles away.

Alan Mills (in Devon, England)

Find a good specialist if need be, but believe it or not there are good
mechanics out there

Thanks to all who ressponded. I took the car to my local man today. he
diagnosed the error signal as coming from the lambda sensor, cleared the
error signal and told me to keep my fingers crossed. He said that other
customers with similar problems have not had the error signal re-occur
so I'm hoping for the best. He didn't charge me anyway so that's good.

Alan Mills (in Devon, England)

On 12/03/2010 19:38, Alan Mills wrote:
Thanks to all who ressponded. I took the car to my local man today. he
diagnosed the error signal as coming from the lambda sensor, cleared the
error signal and told me to keep my fingers crossed. He said that other
customers with similar problems have not had the error signal re-occur
so I'm hoping for the best. He didn't charge me anyway so that's good.

Alan Mills (in Devon, England)

Lambda sensors aren't very expensive. The problem is getting them out
without shagging the threads and needing a new CAT/downpipe/whatever bit
its screwed into.

--
Conor
I'm not prejudiced. I hate everyone equally.

Conor wrote:
On 12/03/2010 19:38, Alan Mills wrote:
Thanks to all who ressponded. I took the car to my local man today. he
diagnosed the error signal as coming from the lambda sensor, cleared the
error signal and told me to keep my fingers crossed. He said that other
customers with similar problems have not had the error signal re-occur
so I'm hoping for the best. He didn't charge me anyway so that's good.

Alan Mills (in Devon, England)

Lambda sensors aren't very expensive. The problem is getting them out
without shagging the threads and needing a new CAT/downpipe/whatever bit
its screwed into.

Aye - I had to change one on my prelude a few years back. Couldn't move
the bugger - it was an arse to get to. In the end I discovered that
trying it with the exhaust still after a run hot eased things up just
enough, although there was a certain amount of singeing and swearing
involved.

Conor wrote:
On 12/03/2010 19:38, Alan Mills wrote:
Thanks to all who ressponded. I took the car to my local man today.
he diagnosed the error signal as coming from the lambda sensor,
cleared the error signal and told me to keep my fingers crossed. He
said that other customers with similar problems have not had the
error signal re-occur so I'm hoping for the best. He didn't charge
me anyway so that's good. Alan Mills (in Devon, England)

Lambda sensors aren't very expensive.

Bit of a generalization there Conor - my motor has 4 of the buggers at £120
each!!