Check engine light after exhaust modified

[Pocketz]

Hey guys just an update, so I took it to an auto
electrician and he tested usin his gadget and concluded there was an o2 sensor fault code. he could not tell me what was wrong unless he spent the time to take it apart to check it out. i wasn't ready to fork out the dosh for him to just check it out because he said a replacemen sensor could cost from 50 to $700 :/. went back to the exhaust shop and they utterly denied any damages to the car (typical). they said they would not pay for any damages unless there were any physical damages that caused the o2 sensor to stuff up.the autoelectrician can't determine wether it's their fault or 'wear and tear' unless he takes a look at it and he said he'd need my car for a day. there's probly little chance of there being physical damage so I'll prolly be pinned for his services of checking the sensor... sigh

so I'm stuck in a messed up position now. the auto electrician said it was still safe to drive the car, just the light will be annoying. so what should I do now guys? I'm so fken stressed from work and this shit just causes more grief, I totally regret even touching my exhaust now..

does anybody know how much these sensors cost to replace realistically? coz I dotn wanna fork out so much money to fix the car, looking at trading it in/selling it for a new car mid/endof the year anyway. would the dealer accept the trade with this check engine light?

really appreciate any input from
u guys thanks.

Dude the o2 sensore shouldnt really go more that a few hundread ($350-$400) and you can replace it yourself either using a shifter or a sensor socket that you can buy from repco for like $12 bucks

[qstoria]

dont waste anymore time with average joe garages/exhaust shops or auto electricians. Im sure they are good at their jobs but unless they specialise in Hondas then I wouldnt bother. especially since its stressing you now at this point. you run a higher risk of increasing that stress.

where abouts are u located? try and find a reputable workshop in your area, take it there and explain what happened. hoepfully the exhaust shop hasnt physically damaged any of the o2 sensors. perhaps it can be tested with the same sensor from another civic like yours before ordering in something etc etc..

at worst take it to a honda dealership. if it looks like it was obviously damaged when the exhaust shop did their work then go back firmly but politely and let them know. They should know to take extreme care given that they specialise in a particular service. They of course will try and get out of it at first and say they have checked everything and even turn it back on you. Part of their basic procedure should be to check for a CEL on cars before they begin work (like a hire car person checks cars for scratches and dents on their vehicles with you)

Anyway you have nothing to lose by going back to see them if it turns out they are at fault. least you know u have done your best. Good luck & keep us informed

[aaronng]

Agreed with finding a reputable specialist.

With regards to the O2 sensor failing it can either be coincidence (happens more often than you think) or they might have snagged on the O2 sensor wire while working on your exhaust. Either way, I would just get a new or used working O2 sensor and replace it. No point building bad blood, especially if the exhaust shop knows your number plate and where you live (if you provided them an address) and you don't have 100% proof that it was their fault.

[clem]

Yeah... Just very frustrated and disappointed that I put myself in this position in the first place by modifying the exhaust. Never again am i going to modify from stock! And never going back to that exhaust place *cough reputable place in slacks creek *

Anyways I've taken it to my trusted mechanic of 5yrs and he also reckons that the exhaust dude snagged on the wire. He will replace the sensor for ~300 mark labour incld. time to starve myself for a couple weeks

Thanks for the input guys!

[clem]

Hey guys sorry to dig up an old thread, but I need some advice on reading this readout of the diagnostic tool my mechanic gave me.

---------------------------------------------
CODE001:
65-02 HO2S S2 HEATER CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION
---------------------------------------------

The only reference I can find from the Code reference provided in the thread is this:
61 Primary oxygen sensor
63 Secondary oxygen sensor
65 Secondary oxygen sensor heater

Can someone correct me if I'm wrong? But will I need to source a secondary oxygen sensor? I've called Honda and they've quoted me $620.36 for each Front and Rear oxygen sensors. I asked if they were the same sensor, he said no, different. Asked him for the part number and he refused, "buy the part get the part number".. what a knob.

Can I ask any Honda guru's out there which one I need? I dont understand the difference between Front and Rear oxygen sensors? Front is primary rear is secondary? or other way around? Front as in infront of the Cat converter where the header is? CONFUSED!

I'm trying to source a cheaper one online and only found this website selling one for 67USD 'after catalytic converter', but it doesnt specify if it is a Front or Rear, secondary or primary one... help! i dont want to spend 600 odd bucks on a single sensor!

After cat converter:
http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/de...RBH960912.html

Before cat converter:
http://www.autopartswarehouse.com/sk...%26+Drivetrain

In desperate need of help! Plz tell me if this is the one I should buy, thank you!

[SHU-ES1]

hey clem,

im glad you found an answer to your problem. front is usually the one on the header, rear should be the one after the cat converter. good luck with it mate!

[aaronng]

Did you by any chance install an aftermarket high flow cat?

[clem]

Hey guys, just wanted to give you an update to this saga. Initially, i blew the heater sensor on my secondary o2 sensor, my car would have a CEL 5 seconds after starting car and stay on.

So I ordered some aftermarket o2 sensors (prim and sec) for $100 delivered from the US instead of paying for Honda 'OEM' ones $600 ea. Got them fitted and codes cleared. Drove off and all was dandy, after an hours worth of driving, I pulled over to the servo to grab a drink. Got back into the car, and since the servo was on a 100km/h zone, I took the car to 4-4.5k RPM on 1st and 2nd to bring myself to 100km/h. Car felt good. 500 meters after, my check engine light pops back up, I thought oh F*%K.

I pull over and turn off the car and wait a couple minutes. Turn it back on again... wait about 30secs OK no light, jump back onto the road. Drive on for another 500m's and the light comes on again. ARGH.

Ok so I get home, go to bed, wake up next morning, start the car, drive back onto the highway to go to work, cross my fingers. NO check engine light. Bring my car up to 4.5k RPM a couple times, NO check engine light. Havent received a CEL since after leaving the servo last night.

I'm not quite sure if there's still a problem, because the CEL symptom I got differed alot from my initial one (It would come up literally 5sec after starting engine). I cannot reproduce the CEL (bringing it up to high revs). And i'm not keen on paying for another diagnostic test. Can any guru's here comment or make any recommendation? My feeling is that the car is getting used to the new o2 sensors and brought up the light when I revved it hard, but got used to it after..

[SHU-ES1]

hey clem,

did you try resetting your ECU after changing over the o2 sensor? just take the fuse out from the engine bay fuse box for 10 secs, and go through the warm up procedure again and see if that helps mate. good lcuk!

[aaronng]

So I ordered some aftermarket o2 sensors (prim and sec) for $100 delivered from the US instead of paying for Honda 'OEM' ones $600 ea.

This is why you got a CEL after full throttle heavy acceleration. Aftermarket sensors can put out signals slightly beyond the range of the OEM sensor, thus confusing the ECU.

You can solve it by using the original primary sensor (the one in front) together with the aftermarket secondary sensor (the one that was stuffed originally).

[clem]

Hey, so I went back to the mech who serviced my car and put in the sensors, he plugged his device in and we got the code:

P0131 Primary Heated Oxygen Sensor (Primary HO2S) (Sensor 1) Circuit Low Voltage

He said since it only came on once after installation, it meant that my engine management was getting used to the aftermarket sensor and making adjustments. He cleared my code, and it hasn't CEL'd for two days. Hope he's right!. I kept my old primary sensor just in case, but upon inspecting it, it didn't look like it would last much longer (Cars got 162,000km on the clock).

[CHUBZ]

Hey Clem,
I know this issue happens on occasions due to the sensor being in direct path of the highflow Exhuast system and therefore the sensor thinks it is reading too much carbon.
There is work around to stop the CEL light coming up by purchasing a CEL eliminator.
So if your issue isnt fixed and the light keeps coming up, this could be a cheap fix for you.


http://www.weapon-r.com/product-cata...eliminator-kit