Hi All, My Civic's check engine light came on yesterday. I extracted the MIL-blink code, 5 longs 4 shorts. But I'm having problem deciphering the meaning. Is this plain 54, which reportedly is the "CKF Sensor (Crankshaft Speed Fluctuation) defective circuit or unplugged / defective sensor" or P0054 which means "HO2S Bank 1 Sen 2 Heater Resistance"? If it is the CKF Sensor. Anyway to check the sensor? Do these go bad often? Thank you
No. The MIL-flash is not part of the OBD-II specification and does not return OBD-complaint codes. FIRST: Clear the code from the ECM. You need to use an OBD-II scanner to do that properly. Alternatively, you can disconnect the battery for thirty seconds, but then you need to have your radio anti-theft code handy. Also you'd need to wait a few days (or longer) for all the readiness flags to be reset before you could bring it in for a smog check. If you clear the code and the error does not recur, then it was just intermittent and may be ignored. It is highly likely that you will discover the error does not come back. The CKF is at the rear of the block, just inboard of the timing belt cover, about in line with the crankshaft's axis. The electrical connector has three wires. You check it by unplugging the sensor, then checking for 1.6 to 3.3 K ohms between the two outboard wires.
Note that in my experience, any problems reported about the CKF sensor could mean problems with timing belt. Code was thrown on my sister's 99 civic, cleared the code, next day the timing belt snapped. My theory is that the t-belt must have been fraying, and contacted the CKF sensor causing a fault. t
PS, when the t-belt popped, it took out the whole CKF assembly, BIG BUCKS from honda and not available anywhere else. Like $260 for the sensor.
About 4yr. and 40k miles on this belt. The belt didn't looked frayed couple of months ago, when I had the top timing belt cover and valve cover off. Not that really means anything... I wonder though how does a failing belt trip up a magnetic sensor? Was hoping it was the O2 sensor, if anthing.
It might flap around and hit the sensor (guessing here). In your case I'd say the belt is not the problem, unless it's incorrectly installed. Incorrect installation can be diagnosed by removing the valve cover so you can look at the belt. Not with that code. Before you panic and empty your wallet in the nearest auto parts emporium, try clearing the code and see if it comes back.
