Dreaded CEL light...need help!!!!!!
 

Okay, it's a long story but I'll make it short. I have a 98 civic hatch CX, stock engine. 2 years ago, I had Ractive headers on my car and I took it out and put the stock headers back in because I was annoyed with how loud my car was, plus I had to do an emissions test and as you know, the cat is part of the stock headers.

Anyway, when I had the Ractive headers installed, the mechanic couldn't remove the one of the o2 censors (can't remember if it was the top or bottom one) so he only connected one of the two o2 censors onto the Ractive headers and split it so that it could connect to both connectors on the wiring harness of the car. So basically one censor was installed and connected to BOTH connectors on the wiring harness. This OBVIOUSLY would cause the CEL to come on.

So, when putting back the stock headers for the emissions test, I bought 2 new NTK o2 censors and had them installed at the same time. When all was said and done, the CEL light remained. I cannot remember the CEL codes, it was either 1 and 2 or 41 and 65. Either way the codes were regarding BOTH o2 censors even though they were brand new censors!!! I was eventually told that it was a wiring harness problem, not the censors themselves!

My question is, how can I fix this wiring harness problem? Is it something that can be done easily, or do I have to take it to Honda? I'd hate to have to take it to Honda because they're gonna charge me an arm and a leg to fix it!!!

It's been two years and the CEL is still on. I have to do an emissions test at the end of this year and I know my car will fail if the CEL light remains on because of this problem.

Please help!!

bad wiring or zapped ecu

So, how can I go about fixing it??

did u try resetting the ecu? unhook the battery for a few minutes then re attach it

yeah, several times!! I've even had someone connect a scanning tool, then reset the ecu with it, but no luck....then CEL came on again!!

Any other suggestions?? I'm desperate!!

anyone??? :banghead:

follow the wiring and see if there are any shorts. Test the ECU into another car and see if it spits the code

Yeah, all you can do is look for shorts and get your ecu tested.

Although I don't think your ecu is busted. What code exactly are you throwing?

why not just rewire new wires going straight from the o2 sensors to the ecu?

I would love to rewire the o2 censors to the ecu. Or even rewire the entire wiring harness from the ecu!! Does anyone have any DIY instructions on how to do so?? Or pics??

Thanks so far for the advice!! I really appreciate it!!!

do yourself a favour and pick up a repair manual (helms or chiltons)

I wonder if the CEL light would come on without a bulb behind it? :shrugs:

If your CEL is o2 related your car is running in limp mode, and is running richer, meaning you have less power.

I read you put on headers, and thats a result of the problem due to removing one of the o2's. That was kinda pointless.

Follow the wire and just re-wire it.

My o2 sensors are plug and play....they just plugged directly into the plugs.....just like a stock replacement....no soldering....these were not universal sensors, they're made for my car.

i can scan your car and tell you what the problem is
pm me if interested

Does anyone know someone who can change the wiring harness on my car? I definitely know the wiring's the problem!

Oh, by the way, I'm getting codes 41 and 65 thrown! Like I said, my o2's are new!!

Help!!:banghead:

Change the Harness??

LOL Follow the wire that was spliced and your fine buddy!

LOL

Alright, so I've been following steps in the Honda repair manual, and I think I've traced the problem to the ecu.

Does anyone have a stock p2e ecu that I can try on my car, so I can make sure that the ecu is the problem, and if so, I'll buy it off of you (if you're willing to sell it).

Thanks for all your help so far guys!!!!!