TCS Indicator Light (but no others)

[tof]

My TCS Indicator Light (the amber one in the top row of idiot lights) comes on almost immediately after starting the car. No other warning lights are illuminated. The green indicator light on the TCS button is not lit.

According to the TCS troubleshooting section of the service manual, the possible causes include PGM-FI ECU, wiring, or the TCS Control Unit.

I removed and re-installed the throttle body in the course of changing all the coolant hoses and I'm thinking I either left something unplugged or screwed up a wire or connector. There are two wiring connectors that I recall unplugging when I took off the tb and I have checked both. They both are plugged in and show no obvious connector wiring problems. I did disconnect and reconnect them both, inspecting the male plug prongs. I did clean the throttle plate with carb cleaner and the tb housing with simple green and water.

First question: Anybody have any obvious other things to check before I take a volt/ohm meter to the tcs connections?

Second question: Where is the TCS control unit? I'm guessing inside the passenger compartment behind the driver's seat, based on the parts diagram.

 

[EdinKali]

I would check for stored trouble codes before doing anything. Might lead you to the cause right off.

 

[Larry Bastanza]

Just to be sure, this happened post hose change, and was fine before? And I agree see if you get a code.

Regards,
LarryB

 

[syndicate]

I think the TCS module is built into the ECU

 

[TyraNSX]

NO, TCS black box is a separate part. That is how some people disconnect them & the car still runs.

I think the TCS module is built into the ECU

 

[tof]

Just to be sure, this happened post hose change, and was fine before? And I agree see if you get a code.

Regards,
LarryB

Yes, fine before pulling the tb, messed up after. So I'm pretty sure its my fault. :tongue:

I will check for codes this weekend.

 

[tof]

Re: TCS Indicator Light (but no others) SOLVED (And a new riddle for you guys)

SOLVED!

There were two clues that should have lead me and others (Larry? :wink to the problem.

1. I removed and reinstalled the throttle body. The problem started immediately after that.
2. In my original post, I said "There are two wiring connectors that I recall unplugging when I took off the tb and I have checked both. "

Well, it turns out there were, in fact, THREE wiring connectors that I unplugged to remove the tb.

I discovered this when I finally got around to pulling the TCS trouble code: 36 - Abnormal ACP (throttle drum angle sensor - pedal angle sensor). A little poking around in the service manual revealed a device mounted to the bottom of the throttle body called the accelerator pedal opening sensor. Close enough and it has a plug that I had not checked. This particular connector is tucked under the mouth of the throttle body and is hard to see under the intake connector without standing on your head. So I pulled the air box and sure enough, there it was...unplugged. Plugging it in solved the problem, of course.

Now, here is a semi-related challange for Larry and you other NSX pros out there in web-land: While locating the diagnostic port, I noticed an orange connector nearby that was unplugged. A label on the wiring said something like "ABS Fast something or other". The connector was unplugged! Now I had an ABS warning light for awhile a couple months ago but it went away after I drained and refilled the resivoir (much to my surprise). However I couldn't really test the abs to see if it was working after that. Well, our recent tropical storm deposited a lot of beach sand on US Highway 90, four blocks from my house. By this past weekend the highway was clean but some of the turn lanes had not been cleaned yet. They made a perfect surface to work the ABS at low speed. So I plugged the orange connector back in and checked the system out. No ABS warnings and the brake pedal vibrated, indicating ABS was working fine. And no loss of fluid from the ABS resivoir.

So, can anyone explain why I did not seem to have any long term ABS problems when this orange connector was unplugged? I'm pretty sure it was like that when I purchased the car. I did notice that the pedal pulsation was much faster than I remembered from the one time a couple months ago (before the light came on) when I was able to test the ABS. And the wire label did say something about "ABS Fast".

 

[EdinKali]

If you don't get a response on the ABS fast question you might want to post it as a new thread. I am curious on this one as well.

 

[Larry Bastanza]

That is the connector for the factory ABS tester. It allows you to acivate each wheel system separately, so you can trouble shoot it in detail.

HTH,
LarryB

 

[tof]

That is the connector for the factory ABS tester. It allows you to acivate each wheel system separately, so you can trouble shoot it in detail.

HTH,
LarryB

So I guess all I was doing was reinserting it into a protective sheath?

 

[Larry Bastanza]

So I guess all I was doing was reinserting it into a protective sheath?

That is correct

 

[tof]

Well I certainly feel better knowing that the fragile interlals of my ABS diagnostic port are protected. :wink:

Thanks for clearing that up, Larry. Now I have two things to feel dumb about. But this car has done that to me before and probably will again. Part of its charm. Ain't no B16 civic, that's for sure. :biggrin:

 

[Rob4092xx]

Is Larry a freakin' genious or what?

Where do you work Larry?

Are you a NSX mechanic?

You have more info (correct info) than anyone I have ever seen on this site!

That is the connector for the factory ABS tester. It allows you to acivate each wheel system separately, so you can trouble shoot it in detail.

HTH,
LarryB

 

[tof]

Is Larry a freakin' genious or what?

Where do you work Larry?

Are you a NSX mechanic?

You have more info (correct info) than anyone I have ever seen on this site!

Larry may not be a genious, but he's a genius...at least when it comes to NSX's. He's also the president of NSXCA (NSX Club of America). You should join. http://www.nsxca.org/nsxca/join/

According to his profile, Larry B. lives in Warwick, NY so he probably works nearby.

I'm pretty sure Larry has worked on more NSX's than 99% of Acura's mechanics.

If I needed work done on my NSX that I couldn't tackle myself and Larry worked in Mobile, New Orleans, Atlanta, or anywhere else down here, he'd be my first choice.

If you like Larry's posts, click on his screen name on one of his posts, and select "Find more posts by Larry Bastanza".

 

[Briank]

Is Larry a freakin' genious or what?

Where do you work Larry?

Are you a NSX mechanic?

You have more info (correct info) than anyone I have ever seen on this site!

Yes Larry knows his stuff