Emissions and TCS warning light

[kevinpsw]

Yesterday both lights came on. The Emissions light comes on after about 5 seconds of the car running and the TCS light joins it a half second or so later.

I have tried to go through the test sequence to read the flashes without success - I get no response yet I am sure that the paperclip is correctly fitted.

My car was bought in 97 although it must have been a 96 build date. It is 3.0l manual, RHD.

Any suggestions as to why I can't get a reading? Is a 96 too late a model for the flashing light diagnosis to work?
Is the fault likely to be an O2 sensor?
Any recommendations on source for a O2 sensor? Is a generic 4 wire one OK?
How difficult are they to change?
Note that the Honda OEM part is ~$500 UK price (seriously).

 

[ftuhy]

About 2 weeks ago my '96 had the same symptons - CEL & TCS lights on at the same time. I was able to pull the code (42) - O2 heater failure on rear primary O2 sensor.

I just came back this morning from the dealer replacing my bank 1 (rear), sensor one (primary) under the extended US emissions warranty. It cleared the problem.

A curious side effect while the sensor was defective was it actually disabled the TCS. I was able to spin the rear tires under even slightly agressive acceleration.

I don't know if the car also uses heated sensors in hte UK. If you go for a generic sensor, make sure its the 4-wire heated type, not a 2-wire sensor.

Search for other links on DSL Prime for O2 sensor generic replacment info. The concensus was most of the high cost is because they have different lead lengths per sensor. You can buy a good gneric replacement and just splice on the connector & leads from the old sensor.

Frank
'96 NSX-T, red/tan

 

[kevinpsw]

Thanks.

I gave up trying to get a flashing code so I went to a local Honda dealer who diagnosed 42.1 B1 O2 Sensor failure.

It was not a NSX accredited garage and the mechanic did not seem certain when I asked him which sensor it was. He said Front Bank 1.

Do you think he had it right?

I have ordered a pair of generic Denso sensors from the US at $46 each although I was able to find a 'cheap' Honda version at $350

 

[ftuhy]

There's a very good chance he got it right. That's the exact code mine kicked out. But, make sure he is installing a 4-wire heated sensor, not a 2-wire (non-heated) one.

As an FYI, Ray Laks or www.magauto.com, for example, will discount the Honda sensors at least 25%, but I don't know if they ship outside the US.

I'm not sure why you couldn't get a reading. Did you follow the procedure detailed in the DIY section of NSX prime? Did you find the right connector? I knew what I was looking for and it still took me a half hour to find the connector. :frown: Once I found the connector, the procedure to read the code & look it up in the table (supplied in the DIY article) took under two minutes.

 

[kevinpsw]

It is possible that I got mixed up with some of the surplus stereo wiring that remains following the fitting of an aftermarket stereo.

Do you have a feel for how difficult the fitting of the O2 sensor was? I have to decide whether to travel to the nearest NSX accredited Honda dealer or whether to use a run of the mill local garage.

 

[enkrypt3d]

Its a bad O2 sensor. Just drop it off at the dealer and they'll fix it for free. I just had this done on mine and had the same Check Engine Light and TCS light on at the same time. btw any emissions work will be covered under the Honda extended warranty. Parts and labor.

 

[kevinpsw]

Sadly, the emissions warranty is not valid in the UK. I thought it was too good to be true.

I am hoping that someone out there has got a service manual that shows where the 4 sensor fits are. How do I get to bank 1 forward sensor? Ideally, has someone got a later service manual who would be prepared to scan in the relevant page(s)?

Honda UK want $800 to supply and fit a new part!

 

[Larry Bastanza]

The service manual can be downloaded from the front page of this site. But....it is 1991-1994, and 02 sensors are different 1995+, at least in the US. All the sensors in a 1995-96 car are the same, with the exception of the wire length, so if you ordered generic ones you can splice them in with little issue. The biggest challange is getting them out. You will need an 02 sensor wrench and a breaker bar.

Be careful on this. You say Bank 1, and that is the REAR bank of the engine, cylinders 1-3. Let's hope it is, since the front one will require more work to get to it.

HTH,
LarryB

 

[kevinpsw]

Thanks for your help.

I have been confused by the varying terminology, front, rear, primary, secondary, bank 1 or 2, left or right.

I have concluded that I should be getting a front/primary (i.e. before the cat) on bank 1 (rear of car / left side looking at the engine from the right side of the car) of the engine and I will order a part form the US on this basis - (Front Left). Fingers crossed that I will have got it right.

 

[Larry Bastanza]

36532-PR7-J02 SENSOR, RR. OXYGEN This is Bank 1(rear), Primary(front)


HTH,
LarryB