Idle Problems, CEL Flashing - Honda Prelude Forum

PuYang · 09-19-2011, 03:13 PM

Hi guys, just today, drove to the gym (~5 minute trip). after gyming, i was about to head home, and started my car.

First thing i noticed, after starting, it felt like it was jerking around a bit, like i was about to stall or something.

on the drive home, it got worse, at every red light i stopped at, the car started rumbling pretty harshly. The CEL then came on. So i kept heading home, and it continutes to rumble on idle.

After a few times, the CEL starts flashing at idle. it stops flashing and stays on when the car is moving.

The CEL also flashes when cruising SLOWLY on neutral.

so basically, rumbling and CEL flashing when car is either idle or moving really really slowly on neutral.

I tried pulling the codes, but its not working for some reason?... the CEL light just stays on (doesnt flash), when i try to pull the codes. I have pulled CEL codes before in the past, so im pretty sure im not doing it wrong.

Any insight would be great! kinda sad, cause i was pretty close to trading my prelude in for a 2012 golf GTI... maybe my car knows im ditching it, and wants to make it hard for me hahaha.

thanks in advance!

EDIT:
just went to confirm the CEL Codes thing again. So, when i Turn the Key to "II", NO CEL LIGHT at all. when i stick in the paperclip to pull the codes, the CEL just stays ON (without flashing).

So my guess is it doesnt throw a CEL until the car is actually on and idling?

bouckarooo · 09-19-2011, 03:25 PM

flashing CEL usually represents erradic misfire; usually if you have just one small instance of issue, the CEl will flash first, then stay on to let you know that the conditions that caused the CEL are gone, but to check the engine. If it remains flashign that is sign of consistant problem that isnt going away. I would advise you to stop driving and make sure to attend to it.

If you cannot get the code to read, then i would disconnect the battery and then reconnect it and try reading it again. This will work good if you have A obd2 diagnpstic tool that displays the freeze frame incident data stored in the ecu as this would alleviate havignt o trun the car on again to get the CEL to pop up again.

PuYang · 09-19-2011, 03:26 PM

thanks! I wont be driving it until i figure this out!

However, I dont have a diagnostics tool. Ive been following kronns guide to pull the codes with a paper clip. (done that before on 2 different CEL occasions, and both worked).

bouckarooo · 09-19-2011, 03:49 PM

Llol, yes i have found that teh few hundred bucks spent on a quality diagnostic tool is worth every red cent and more, as you can earn moeny by fixing other **** for them too. Personally i use a CanOBD2 Innova 1003, this tool has saved me much time and hassle. i would recomend one to any tuner who does their own work.

when you figure it out post up what it is so others are aware of the syptoms and issue.

PuYang · 09-19-2011, 04:35 PM

Hi, thanks for the help so far.

GOOD NEWS! (ish..)

i restarted the car, the light was off. So i drove off my driveway, and back in. And the light came one. I let it idle for a bit, and the light started flashing. (Same as before).

so, i turned off the car, and tried pulling the codes again. SUCCESS! this time, it let me pull the codes.

7 Long, 1 Short
7 Long, 3 Short

71 - Cylinder 1 - P0300 (random misfire), P0301 (misfire detected), P1300 (multipe misfire)
73 - Cylinder 3 - P0300 (random misfire), P0303 (misfire detected), P1300 (multipe misfire)

I'm gonna go read up on problems etc. But any other advice with this info, please advise! thanks!

bouckarooo · 09-19-2011, 05:37 PM

Yep, as i suspected. First thign i woudl check would be the sparkplugs, pull them out and and have look. Then from there i would look into injectors and then the distirbutor, ignition cables.

goodd luck