How To Fix Honda Check Engine Light Issues

If the check engine light on your Honda vehicle suddenly comes up while you are driving, this is a warning signal from your car’s computer signal that has detected an issue in your vehicle. A Honda check engine light may come up due to a computer glitch. Although this doesn’t happen very often, we can’t rule out the possibility of a computer glitch occurring in your Honda vehicle.

If the issue is a flashing Honda check engine light then this is a more serious problem and should be checked by your mechanic right away. The blinking Honda check engine light issue should be scanned to derive the appropriate Honda check engine light codes that would help you fix this issue. This issue can range from a loose gas cap to a damaged catalytic converter.

Here in this article, we would briefly discuss how to fix the Honda check engine light.

How To Fix Honda Check Engine Light

Whether you drive a Honda car, SUV, crossover, Sedan, hatchback, minivan, or truck. We would now list the various steps you can follow to fix your Honda check engine light when it comes up.

Replace Gas Cap

Honda Check Engine Light Gas Cap

The most common reason for your Honda check engine light to come up is often due to a loose, broken, or missing gas cap. A loose gas would lead to fuel evaporation which may affect your vehicle emission system or engine. Make sure you tighten a loose gas cap or replace a damaged gas cap as required.

Replace Spark Plug

The function of the spark plug is to create a spark that is enough to start the car engine. Overheating and carbon build-up decreases the lifespan of a spark plug and this can trigger the check engine light to come on your Honda dashboard, A damaged spark plug often leads to your car engine taking too long to respond, a decreased acceleration, and engine misfire. Therefore ensure to check and replace a damaged spark plug.

Faulty Ignition Coils

The Ignition Coil is part of your vehicle ignition system. It converts the voltage from the car battery to the required amount of volts enough to trigger the spark plug which ignites the engine air-fuel mixture.

The check engine light will turn on, whenever your car detects a faulty ignition system, You can use a multi-meter to test the ignition coils of your car or use a spark tester to check the ignition coil.

Replace Oxygen Sensor

A faulty oxygen sensor is one the most common reason your Honda check engine light is on your dashboard. The oxygen sensor measures the concentration of oxygen in the exhaust gas and it sends this information to the electronic control unit  The oxygen sensor also adjusts the air-fuel ratio when required and it determines the performance of the catalytic converters.

The oxygen sensor often gets damaged due to its exposure to the hot air coming from the exhaust gas. A faulty oxygen sensor would trigger the check engine light to turn on, as it would fail to send information to the electronic control system and this could lead to increased fuel consumption, emission failures, rough engine sounds, overheating engine and poor gas mileage.

Replace Mass Airflow Sensors

The mass airflow sensor measures the quantity of air that enters the engine cylinder. It is usually installed between the air filter and the intake manifold of your Honda engine. A faulty airflow sensor will increase emissions and can cause the car to stall out. Ensure you replace the air filter and a damaged airflow sensor,

A faulty mass airflow sensor can lead to your car engine running on too much fuel and less air or too much air and less fuel. Which will trigger the check engine light to turn on due to your Honda car engine failing to operate on a balanced air-fuel ratio.

Replace Catalytic Converter

A catalytic converter is part of the engine exhaust system and serves as an exhaust emission control device. Its function is to convert toxic gases and pollutants coming from your engine into less-toxic pollutants.

The catalytic converter of your vehicle can get clogged with material, a failed or clogged catalytic converter would affect fuel economy and the performance of your vehicle.

Honda Check Engine Light Reset

You can automatically reset your Honda check engine light using an OBD-II diagnostic tool. Follow these steps to reset your Honda check engine light:

• Locate the OBD-II diagnostic connector port in your Honda vehicle. You can locate the connector close to the steering wheels under the driver-side dashboard.
• Firmly connect the OBD 2 dongle with the connector port.
• Turn the ignition key to the on position but ensure you don’t start the engine of your Honda vehicle. The led light on the OBD II dongle should now begin to blink.
• Launch the diagnostic software then choose between the Bluetooth, WiFi, or USB connection options.
• Navigate to the Trouble codes tab.\Navigate to diagnostic trouble codes and Freezer frame to get more detailed information.
• Depending on your OBD II software device. Click on clear the diagnostic trouble codes button in the trouble codes view or click the reset trouble codes and MIL button.
• The reset command will be sent to your vehicle and your Honda check engine light will be cleared.

You can also manually reset your Honda check engine light by disconnecting the negative battery cable. Follow these steps to manually reset your Honda check engine light:

• Turn off the ignition. Put on your safety glasses and gloves for protection.
• Differentiate between the negative and positive terminals of your car battery. The negative terminal has a black cap and a negative (–) symbol. While the positive terminal has a red cap and a positive (+) symbol.
• Then loosen the nut on the negative terminal with a wrench and pull the negative connector away from the battery.
• Leave it out for 30 to 60 seconds.
• Now reconnect the negative terminal and tighten it back with your wrench.
• This should finally reset the check engine light of your Honda vehicle.

Honda Check Engine Light Blinking

A blinking check engine light in your Honda vehicle indicates that there is an issue vehicle’s engine and it requires urgent attention. You should take your Honda vehicle to a mechanic’s workshop for a thorough diagnosis and repair to be carried out.

If your Honda check engine light blinking, this means that the engine is misfiring and unburned fuel is getting into the exhaust system. The temperature of the catalytic converter will be raised and this can cause critical damage.

Honda Check Engine Light Oil Change

If the check engine light of your  Honda vehicle comes up after an oil change it can be due to the following:

• Dipstick not correctly seated.
• The oil fill cap is not correctly installed.
• Low oil pressure.
• Engine filled with too much oil.
• Using the wrong type of oil.
• The sensor is not reset.

Can I Drive My Honda With The Engine Light On

It is not advisable to drive your Honda vehicle with the engine light on. If your check engine light comes on, ensure you properly diagnose your vehicle. But if you ignore the check engine light, it can lead to a blinking check engine light which can lead to irreversible damage and can damage the catalytic converter which is a very expensive part to replace.

Honda Check Engine Light Codes 

The list of Honda check engine lights includes:

• Codes 0 and 11 – Electronic control module (ECM).
• Code 1 – Heated oxygen sensor A.
• Code 2 – Oxygen content B.
• Codes 3 and – Manifold absolute pressure.
• Code 4 – Crank position sensor.
• Code 6 – Engine coolant temperature.
• Code 7 – Throttle position sensor.
• Code 8 – Top dead-center sensor.
• Code 9 – No.1 cylinder position sensor.
• Code 10 – Intake air temperature sensor.
• Code 12 – Exhaust re-circulation system.
• Code 13 – Barometric pressure sensor.
• Code 14 – Idle air control valve or bad ECM.
• Code 15 – Ignition output signal.
• Code 16 – Fuel Injector.
• Code 17 – Vehicle speed sensor.
• Code 19 – A/T lock-up control solenoid.
• Code 20 – Electric load detector.
• Code 21-V-TEC control solenoid.
• Code 22- V-TEC pressure solenoid.
• Code 23- Knock sensor.
• Code 30 – A/T FI signal A.
• Code 30 – A/T FI signal B.
• Code 41- Heated oxygen sensor heater.
• Code 43 – Fuel supply system.
• Code 45- Fuel supply metering.
• Code 48 – Heated oxygen sensor.
• Code 61 – Front heated oxygen sensor.
• Code 63- Rear heated oxygen sensor.
• Code 65- Rear heated oxygen sensor heater.
• Code 67-Catalytic converter system.
• Code 70-Automatic transaxle.
• Code 71- Misfire detected cylinder 1.
• Code 72- Misfire detected cylinder 2.
• Code 73- Misfire detected cylinder 3.
• Code 74- Misfire detected cylinder 4.
• Code 75 -Misfire detected cylinder 5.
• Code 76 – Misfire detected cylinder 6.
• Code 80 – Exhaust re-circulation system.
• Code 86 – Coolant temperature.
• Code 92-Evaporation emission control system.