2002 Civic EX check engine on after very short drive

On two occasions now the check engine light has come on in my 2002
Civic EX under the same conditions.

The car was left in the driveway for a few days and then driven into
the garage for a total travel distance of 7m (23ft). On the following
start-up the check engine light comes on.

I've reset the light both times by disconnecting the battery but I'm
wondering what may be causing the light to come on. I know from
experience that the previous generation Civic has a known problem with
not wanting to start after short distance drives on a cold engine and
I'm wondering if this generation may be a related problem.

Any advice is appreciated

 

+++++++++++++++

Completely different topic than the previous generation's MAIN RELAY
PROBLEM, but I'm sure George MacDonald will confirm: "newer Hondas don't
like short trips" ie: 30 seconds / fifty feet.

He has some insights into a service bulletin, as well as personal
experience...

'Curly'

 

supposedly, just disconnecting the battery wont erase the code. it needs
to be read and cleared with a code reader, which runs about $100 at pep
boys, if you wanna go that route. if you lived in so cal, id do it for a
small fee

supposedly, autozone does it for free.

 

Could it be a emission control thing? Even if you reset it, it may come on
again. Go back to the dealer and request a reset (DONT pay them anything).
-Jubin

 

You mean the check engine light comes on after you've driven the car till
it's warmed up? If it's staying on when the engine is still cold that'd be
odd, since the system is not in closed loop yet.

Every Honda/Acura I've owned has had the starting problem you mention on
the next start after a brief driveway shuffle - less when newer. I just
quit doing that and now drive around the block till the coolant is up to
temp, even if I just want to shuffle the cars. Since it's caused by
flooding and might be aggravated by a slight injector leak, you might try a
bottle of fuel injector cleaner in the tank on the next fill to see if it
helps.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

No. The car doesn't get a chance to warm up. The Check Engine Light
has never come on when the engine was warm. It only happens on a cold
start (first start of the day) and the engine remains on for 30-60
seconds max.

If it's staying on when the engine is still cold that'd be

 

disconnecting the battery will not clear codes on obd2 vehicles. check to
see if your gas cap is on tight. it might be a simple evap leak code.

 

I don't know the details of the latest systems, but that would possibly
indicate that it's not due to engine emissions but more like the
evaporative controls, like the charcoal canister or its valves being out of
whack. Do you know that you should not "top-up" when refilling the tank
with gas? Liquids can get into parts of the system designed to handle
vapors only. As someone else has mentioned it could be as simple as the
gas cap leaking. If it persists, you should get the MIL code read.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

It's interesting that you and SoCalMike state this because both times
I managed to clear the Check Engine light by disconnecting the
battery.

 

ill betcha its still stored in memory.

 

yup, it stays in the ecm dude.

 

that works fine, they remember the DTC but the readiness code
resets. An EVAP code is a two trip code so it' not that. Have the
code reade somewhere and let's see if we can't narrow this down.
Chip

 

I'll get it checked when I go in for my next scheduled maintenance or
if the light comes on again! and I'll keep you posted.

 

I've doing "top-ups" on my "fill-ups" since the car was new
After 178,000KM, I've never had the check engine light come on (I hope the bulb hasn't blown...)

Pars
98 DX Hatch

 

hmm,

If I had the check engine light come on in my car, I'd be in a panic. (instead of trying to get rid of it by
pulling the plug)

Pars

 

I guess you have never owned a GM product. I had a few before I
switched to Honda. If the Check Engine Light was not on... you'd have
to check the bulb to determine if it burned itself out. After driving
a GM you become oblivious to the Check Engine Light.

I'm not too concerned in this situation because both times it came on
under the same conditions which are not "normal driving conditions"
and both occurrences were several months apart. If it was a real
problem the light would likely come on more often.

 

So you're saying it's safe after all?

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

 

In my experience, It's safe. (unless there's obvious crap around gas inlet, which would be unusual
since it's a sealed area and only exposed when you're pumping gas).

I find it funny that my engine light has never come on. Next time I start the car and leave it in
auxiliary, I'm going to have to pay attention to the lights on the dash.

Pars
98 DX Hatch

 

I don't know what you mean by "crap". All it takes is for liquid to get
into the vapor part of the system where it can prevent (vapor) valves from
functioning and eventually get into the charcoal canister which will
promptly turn into a gummy mess. In simple terms, if you take cold gas out
of an underground tank, put it in a car's gas tank, drive a short distance
and park in the hot sun, the gas can expand enough to get into parts of the
system where it's not supposed to go.

The more recent vehicles have much stricter controls on vapor emissions,
the systems to control them and are more sensitive to throwing a
malfunction code. That was what all the fines, and attempts to hold up
Toyota for ransom, were about a coupla years back.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??