I recently bought a 97 Honda Civic and took it to be smogged. I just got my driver's license and this is my first car. When I took it to be smogged all areas passed but the system malfunction light, so my car failed on that one error. However, the check engine light never comes on and I feel the mechanic is just trying to get me to come back and make money off of unnecessary repairs. The mechanic told me that the system malfunction light came on because I had just changed the cars battery and the Honda's computer had no memory, to drive it around for 100 miles to build a memory and bring it back, it should pass, according to the Smog Technician. I think this sounds ludicrous. Anyone with knowledge please leave some feedback. Thanks.
2006-08-28 09:18:21 · 7 answers · asked by clovischik2001@sbcglobal.net 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
What the technician told you to do was entirely correct. *you also need to take the car out somewhere and run it up to at least 60mph*
2006-08-28 09:22:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
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The mechanic is absolutely correct. You have to clear the computer first so light goes out.
Make sure the bulb isn't burned out. It should light when you turn the key and not start the engine.
Driving the car allows the computer to relearn the sensor inputs. It could take up to 100 miles and three or four driving cycles ( start, drive, shut off.)
Even clearing the computer codes requires the same driving cycles to let the emissions tester get a reading.
2006-08-28 09:33:06 · answer #2 · answered by R1volta 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Andrea:
He's probably right.
When you disconnect the battery the computer loses all of its "learned" information ad reverts back to base programming. On a car that old, you have some wear 'n tear that the computer has to "learn" its way around. Hence the sysmal code.
Drive it around at varying speeds and make sure you get it up past 60 MPH at least 3 times. Stop, restart and run it up through the gears to at least 3,000 RPM several times.
2006-08-28 10:25:31 · answer #3 · answered by Tim B 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Correct the car should be run at all speeds though in everyday conditions and the computer learns how you drive and makes adjustments to the engine control.
He should retest for free.
If all goes well you will be on the road but if it fails then there should be codes stored in the computer relating to the suspected problem.
2006-08-28 09:27:24 · answer #4 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
yea, dump some carb/fuelinjector cleaner in the gas tank too, run that around to get through the system. Give it some hard accelerations too, help blow out the system.
2006-08-28 09:24:38 · answer #5 · answered by BooYah! 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
must be any sort of issues. it ought to even propose your gas cap isn't closed each and each of ways. circulate to an vehicle factors save and get them to earnings the code - they are able to assist you to already know precisely what it refers to.
2016-10-01 00:27:27 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
he is right it has to go through what is called a drive cycle
2006-08-28 09:27:18 · answer #7 · answered by momo2765 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋