False Service Indicator Triggering

Wondering if any one else has experience something similar
to the following.

On 12/22 I drove through the Security gate at the local airport
(it's the type gate requiring a card to be placed against a reader
to trigger the gate open). As I drove I noticed the Service Indicator
light on my 2000 Honda CRV.

I ended up paying more than $300 for the replacement of the O2
Sensor unit.

On 12/27 I drove to the airport again .... after exiting the airport
through the security gate .... you guessed it ... the Service
Indicator light came on.

At this writing I am convincing the auto service establishment
that the original O2 Sensor did not have to be replaced as the
Service Indicator was false from the get-go.

I have heard that some cell phones and radar detector units can
trigger Service Indicators .... anyone heard of Security Gates
causing the same???

Thanks.

Ed B.

 

I have not heard of that. Everything in in your car is hardwired, I
believe, and shouldn't be prey to stray radio signals.

Perhaps as you left the airport the time period between starting your car
and arriving at the gate was such that the car had warmed up enough to go
into the closed loop mode from the open loop mode. ( I think I have those
right) After going into the new mode it then takes information from engine
sensors for engine management, as opposed to relying on the preprogrammed
computer,
and as such there was a fault that triggered the light.

CaptainKrunch

 

There is no "service indicator". There's the MAINT REQD light, which is
mileage based and indicates an oil change is due, and then there's the
check engine light, which indicates a problem that needs immediate
attention.

Which one was it?

 

Just because things are "hard wired" doesn't mean they are necessarily
immune to external RF or magnetic fields. The security gate he mentions
transmits RF to activate the circuitry in the card. It is not outside the
realm of possibility that the RF is also triggering a spurious signal in one
of the on-board processors in his car, causing the problem he is describing.

 

You should take your car immediately to a dealer. They are the only ones who
are experienced enough to be able to deal with this problem.

 

The automotive electrical environment is one of the toughest around.Very
noisy from all those relays,solenoids,ignition noise,widely varying load
changes.I doubt the low level RF from a card reader or E-Pass system is
going to trigger such things.The normal spikes,surges and noise present
would be MUCH greater,so the control processors would have a large EMI
immunity designed in.

The OBDII system does record the fault codes.That should be a clue.

More likely that a connector problem or corroded/frayed/cut wire or
intermittent sensor is the source of the problem.Even a loose ground
somewhere.

It will be hard to duplicate this problem!
(or lots of trips to the airport!)

 

OK, just once I'll bite. Bill, would you be willing to tell me (and by
extension 'us') what your motive is here? It doesn't make sense that
you are a shill for any particular dealer, as this is an international
group.

Are you trying to make people resent dealers, stir up controversy, get
these kind of replies, some combination, something I haven't thought of,
or are you simply fucking stupid?

Inquiring minds want to know.


RFT!!!
Dave Kelsen

 

I decided to try going through the airport security gate a few more
times.....could not trigger the Check Engine light again ... until
this lunchtime. Bingo! Check Engine light appeared just as I
drove through the gate ... It cannot be just a coincidence that
this happened 3 times. Gotta be the electronics in the gate.
One other factor: there is an array of antennas nearby (about
75 feet away) that may contribute to or be the actual cause.

Ed B.

 

Are you the guy that was holding up traffic at the airport that kept going
thru the gate, backing up and going thru it over and over?