how safe to drive my car? - Honda Prelude Forum

KB798 · 08-03-2003, 09:57 AM

i'm getting the infamous hesitation problems on my '94 si. 2 nights ago, i got a CEL while driving home, and it was hesitating from 2k-4k in any gear. yesterday, i didn't drive my car at all. i'm pretty sure it's the knock sensor that's going bad, and i did a search so all the symptons apply. my question is how safe is it to drive the car? i won't be racing or revving high or any of that stuff, so would it be ok to keep driving it as my daily driver?

thanks in advance,

G_Loc · 08-03-2003, 01:43 PM

did you pull the CEL code?

KB798 · 08-03-2003, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by G_Loc
did you pull the CEL code?

nope...i'm guessing it's the knock sensor just by intuition. i know that there are a host of other stuff that can cause hesitation...but i just hope that my car's not gonna blow up if i just use it for 20-40 miles a day.

i plan on taking it to the mechanic either tues or wed of this week...so i just hope it lasts until then.

CrazieLude · 08-03-2003, 03:30 PM

just check the CEL and go from there.

T

KB798 · 08-03-2003, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by CrazieLude
just check the CEL and go from there.

but i don't have anything to pull the CEL from the car

4bidden · 08-03-2003, 06:01 PM

You dont have a paperclip? Thats all you need.

PRelude787 · 08-03-2003, 07:27 PM

Paperclip? What would you do with that? Don't you have to hook it up to a computer or something to find out what code it's sending out?

Absolut · 08-03-2003, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PRelude787
Paperclip? What would you do with that? Don't you have to hook it up to a computer or something to find out what code it's sending out?

Nope, other than directing you to the search function, i'll spell it out for you.

Behind the center console, down near the floor. Basically under the radio, but accessed from behind.

Blue 2 wire connector.

Insert paperclip, shorting the 2 wires.

Turn key to "ON" position, but dont start the car.

Watch the CEL, it will start blinking.

A LONG flash = 10, a SHORT flash = 1, simply add them up when there is a 3 second pause.

ie: *FLAAAAASH* ... *FLAAAAASH* ... *Flash* ... *Flash* would be a code 22.

Understand? Good

Now go get the code and report back.
You could then Search for the meaning of the code, or just post it here and I will let you know what it means.

Absolut · 08-03-2003, 07:51 PM

http://preludeonline.com/showthread....threadid=56108

Look under maintenance. Its even a sticky at the top of this forum.

cantdrive55 · 08-03-2003, 10:36 PM

You are wrong. It's something else, not the Knock sensor. Mine broke. It ran fine with it broken. Hell, I took the damn sensor out of the block when I went to LFW last year. Drove fine. A bad/missing KS will not put the H23 into limp mode. Pull the code, it could be something serious.

munscher · 08-04-2003, 09:05 AM

Mine did basically as you are describing for a few days... I tried to pull a code but none were present (the CEL stayed on while in the ON position, no blinking).

I planned on replacing plugs and wires, but a day or two before i got the chance it just went away. It's been 2 or 3 weeks now and its still running fine. Don't know what it was.

Maybe it will come back, maybe it won't. Bad gas? I don't know.

KB798 · 08-04-2003, 10:07 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by munscher
Mine did basically as you are describing for a few days... I tried to pull a code but none were present (the CEL stayed on while in the ON position, no blinking).

I planned on replacing plugs and wires, but a day or two before i got the chance it just went away. It's been 2 or 3 weeks now and its still running fine. Don't know what it was.

Maybe it will come back, maybe it won't. Bad gas? I don't know.

hm...mine did the same thing. i didn't pull the CEL yet, but i refilled the gas tank and the problem seemed to go away? well...i'm need to get a oil change so i'll have my mechanic check it out this week..hopefully it's nothing serious.