honda civic "check engine light"?

Question

i have a 2000 honda civic, and the check engine light comes off and on, i took it 2 the auto zone , and oreilly's and the machine is not picken up any problems, and suggestions?

Answer 1

Get your own code reader at Wal-Mart for $99 (I prefer the Innova 3100C to the cheaper one). Instructions are included. It is easy to use. Use it after the check engine light has turned on.

Make sure that the gas cap is tightened until you hear at least one click. If it's not tightened, the check engine light will turn on. If it's tightened later, the check engine light will turn off later.

ADDED:
Once you get a code, come back here or go to another automotive forum and ask for suggestions before attempting a repair or going to a mechanic.

Answer 2

There is a difference between the Check engine light and the maintenance light. I think the one that you’re talking about is the maintenance light. to turn this off you need to have the key in the off position, hold the odometer reset button and turn the key to the on position while still holding the reset button, continue holding until the light goes out. Turn the key to the off position and then try turning the car back on to see if it worked. The actual check engine light means that the cars computer has found something wrong with the car. it could be a variety of things from the gas cap not being tight enough to something major. if you know that it was something small and you want to reset it go under the hood and find the fuse box that is located by the battery and remove the fuse for the ecu for about 30 sec and then reinstall it. That should reset the ecu. Before you do this I would try to find out what the problem is. In my case it was just a lose gas cap and after tightening it, the light never went off. So I removed the fuse for 30 sec and the light has not come back on since. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

There are a couple of problems,1 Honda just released special software, for independent repair shops,I would recommend taken it to the dealer just to extract the codes,I don't know how Honda is holding back there information,since the federal law states that all car manufacturers must release info to independents.The software will only cover emissions and nothing else.Knowing this I will not be recommending Honda's, as a good car to bye.The second thing is if you live in an area that salts the roads,the evaporate system will rust and stop working.If your check engine light comes on when you get off the freeway,have the ERG system checked out.

Answer 4

(Check Engine Light)
There are many components that work together in the engine to maintain optimal engine performance and economy.
A service engine soon, or check engine light indicates that there is a sensor that is reading a condition that is "out of range".
Simply resetting the light does not solve the initial cause of the problem.
Replacing a number of parts trying to troubleshoot the problem in the hopes of getting the light to stay off is a tremendous waste of time and money.
The simplest, and most economical way to alleviate your issue, is to have an engine diagnostic done by a reputable shop to determine what caused the computer to signal you to begin with. Just reading the computer codes may not find the "cause".

ADDED:
Check, or have these checked:
1) Engine oil level.
2) Coolant level.
3) Gas cap on tight?
4) Belts tight?

Those are easy and free.

Answer 5

Unless you are having problems, I would ignore it. Check engine lights seems to come on without need, much of the time. If you are keeping up your maintenance/oil changes, and the car is running fine, go by what you know, not by a light that tends to go off.

Answer 6

whenever you put back on the gas cap you should turn until you hear 2-3 clicks or the check engine light will come on...

Answer 7

Get your oil changed. We have a 1997 and the light kept comming on and we got the oil changed and it has not come back on yet..

Answer 8

check the gas cap...take it off and put it back on...silly,I know.but it works sometimes.....