Won't start followed by CEL & TCS - any thoughts?

[crispin]

Turned the key this morning - nothing, not even a click. I tried again, and she roared into life as per normal. Now the CEL is on , and the TCS light was on (until I stopped / restarted, then the TCS light went off but CEL remains stubbornly lit)

Everything else seems normal. Taking off the gas cap and re-sealing failed to have any effect. I haven't got an OBDII - I guess I either need to buy one or schmooze a local garage to pull the codes for me.

Does this sound familiar to anyone?

thanks for any advice anyone can offer!

 

[Briank]

Get the code, most auto parts stores will do it for free. Also check you battery terminals, my guess is the negative is loose.

 

[Larry Bastanza]

Also check you battery terminals, my guess is the negative is loose.

What he said^^^^^^

LarryB

 

[spider2k]

the two bolts that hold the main wiring harness onto the key cylinder might be loose. mine were.

 

[StmpoRaceProducts]

none of the above should cause a check light

as for the lazy start up, its possible, or the bat. is dying.

 

[crispin]

update...

local auto shop wanted $70 to pull the codes. No Autozone within easy distance (several people told me they will do it for free) so I opted to buy the reader. A little Amazon research showed there are some cheaper ones, I ordered an Equus 3030 that seemed to get a pretty good set of reviews and should do the simple task of code pulling that I require. So I should know for sure in a couple of days what the CEL is all about.

Meantime the symptoms are multiplying...today the TCS light came on, making me wonder if it is an O2 sensor (although at list visit to Davis Acura they told me they had replaced under warranty..maybe they didn't replace them all?)

In addition the SRS light stays on for 5-10 secs after start up.

I'm still driving it when the weather is nice, everything seems to run fine as far as I can tell although clearly some lurking problem, just hope it's not expensive!

 

[drew]

update...

local auto shop wanted $70 to pull the codes.

Translation: I have no idea how to check the battery or the battery cables.


FYI: computers are very sensitive to voltage. Without the proper V all you'll get is errors. The idiot lights are [likely] a symptom and not the cause.

If I deprive you of oxygen, I'll bet you give a bunch of nonsensical answers too.

Drew

 

[crispin]

Thanks to everyone for the helpful comments.

The battery cables were fine, thanks for the suggestion. In the end I got myself a cheap OBDII, and it showed me a single error code, P0135. This is an O2 sensor code, which should be under warranty, so it looks like there is going to be a happy ending. I am booked in to have this replaced on Friday

By the way, out of curiosity, the error definition "is Rear Primary HO2S Heater Circuit - can anyone explain what purpose the heater circuit fulfills / what the error really means? thanks

 

[Larry Bastanza]

The heater is like a filiament in a bulb. It is used inside the 02 sensor to pre-heat it, so it will operate as the car is warming up and control the emissions regardless fo operating temp of the engine.

HTH,
LarryB