NotoriouSH

My 98 SH recently put out a CEL, I pulled the code and I got MIL code 9 and ATTS codes 72, 43, and 23. The ATTS codes seem to be the same ones I've had before, but they always went away with an ECU reset. I tried that this time, and after 15 miles the MIL code came back, so this time I must actually have a problem.

The car drives fine, but I am a little down on power since I moved to Colorado (6,500 feet above sea level). I drove the car 800 miles to get here with no CELs, after living here for 2 weeks it popped up with no change in driveability.

I pulled the spark plugs and they look good, light brown with no carbon deposits near the electrode. I also opened up the distributor cap and the contacts looked good there as well, but I was able to scrape some kind of a residue off them. The rotor also looked good and all of these parts have less than 20k miles on them.

Accoding to the MIL, it could be my distributor, but since the car drives the same as always and my plugs look good, is that really the problem? Anyone have any ideas?

NotoriouSH

Anyone who's had a CEL 9, what did you do to fix it?

kellyk75

Sorry, no help here. Free Bump.

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NotoriouSH

I checked the distributor plug and ECM connections as per the Helms manual, I got an OHM reading that was within the right range, but I couldn't get a ground signal on the plug connections or on the ECM. I don't think I was using the tool correctly though so who knows.

Anyway having the ECU unplugged cleared the code (for now at least) and I still can't believe how great the car runs, so I have no idea what's up with this. If the light comes back on I'm going to be

NotoriouSH

Thanks to advice from VPNOH I ended up buying a new distributor through Distributor King on ebay. The part is high quality (made in Taiwan but exactly like OEM except with a stronger ignitor) and bolted right up perfectly. The CEL 9 and all ATTS codes instantly cleared and the car feels strong, I think the ecu is increasing the timing now that it knows the position on cylinder 1.

Paperclip scan tool= $0.01
DIY labor= $0.00
New distributor= $156
Not having to bend over and pay a Honda dealership big bucks= priceless

MugenNeuspeed

get a generic scanner and pull the codes

kellyk75

=paperclip=$0.01

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NotoriouSH

After 10+ days of driving with the new distributor the light came back on. Mil 9, along with ATTS codes 23, 42, 43, and 72.

I don't know what it could be at this point.