True story

"I checked, and the engine is there"

95

I know it's just a meme, but an OBDII dongle --- even a cheap $10 Bluetooth one --- is super useful. You can read and reset the codes, and watch stats in real-time if so inclined.

61

My car doesn't have a reliable km/h gauge so I used an app to poll the speed of the car and show it up on my phone exactly in the way you described.

10
- A GPS speedo would work too.
  
  10
- Are we twins?
  
  3
The Bluetooth ones are definitely not as good as the dedicated ones but 100% better than nothing.

It's vital to know your own shit.

5
- Hi, could you explain why? What's so good about the dedicated ones?
  
  3
For older Hondas you can nab a Honda Interface Module for like $100. Installing the nutty pirated software is another fight entirely.

2

That's how a $50 problem becomes a $2000 problem

55

This is how my buddy blew the engine on his insight. It was burning oil so long that it melted the spark plugs. He could have had it fixed for free but he didn't know about it until that extension had ended.

I actually don't know what was wrong with it because he never let me take a look for him. I offered to have an engine delivered to my house and me and another friend could have slapped a used engine in.

He was hellbent on buying a new car so he traded it in.

15
- A friend of mine had a very reliable car. Then he had to get new spark plugs and brake pads around the same time. He got tired of the car having "problems" so he got a...used mini cooper.
  
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It's only $50 if you can do it yourself, don't value your time, and already have the tools.

6
Exactly. All the memes and stickers about letting the CEL stay on are funny, but if you don't know what code is triggering the light, you are gambling with your car, or even your safety. Seriously people, get a CEL checked out, and then decide if you feel it's worth fixing. Most auto parts stores, dealers, etc. will happily do it for you, often at no cost, but at least be an informed consumer instead of just hoping it will be okay.

2
- Or just buy an obd2 scanner and read the code yourself
  
  3

VW drivers call that a CEL, or “contains engine light.” As long as it’s lit you know your car still contains an engine.

33

As a former Land Rover owner, I panicked when the CEL turned out

7

My Honda check engine light came on and... it was a faulty check engine light bulb, got it replaced, no more check engine light

23

My Honda check engine light came on and... it was a faulty check engine light bulb, got it ~~replaced~~ removed , no more check engine light

7
suspicious_fry.png

2
You need a check check engine light light

2

Get a cheap OBD2 scanner. They cost like €5 for Bluetooth ones and will tell you what error codes you are getting. A lot of them are not serious, and would save you a lot of money.

22

I'll have to remember this one.

4
Seconded. I was freaking out about a week ago. Turns out the gas cap had come unscrewed.

3

I checked; the engines still there. How do I turn the light off?

20

There is no light on the engine so don't worry about it.

You're welcome

2

Lmao. But in all seriousness taking it in right away or getting a code reader could mean the difference between a $100 fix and a $1200 fix

18

Having a 2000s Honda Civic is spending about 70% of your mileage running codes for sensors.

16

sensors

4
98 Camry has joined the chat

Another old girl that refuses to die, but sure likes to keep me busy and my wallet empty. I'll get maybe a few weeks to enjoy the peace before something else decides it needs replacing, but luckily I do all the work myself... easy enough these days with YouTube and Toyota Camry forums.

2
- I like the 90s Camries, they have character.
  
  Can I join in and cry loudly in 95 Honda Legend? And parts?! That's a good one. There are so many dumb little components on this thing that are all taking their turns to die this year.
  
  2

As long as one's bank account balance is lower than one's IQ, the check engine light will never be anything more than a suggestion.

15

Drove the same Jeep for 13 years, the check engine light was on for at least 10. Oxygen sensors are bullshit.

8
- My parents got a brand new 2023 Sienna and the check engine light is already on - because the windshield wiper fluid is empty.
  
  2
- Oxygen sensors are bullshit.
  
  And expensive!
  
  2

In all seriousness, keep up on car maintenance. It's cheaper in the long run that way. And if your CEL ever flashes, get that checked out ASAP. That means there is a much bigger problem such as a misfire or a fueling issue. Both of those could melt or clog your catalytic converters. Those things are big money.

15

And if your CEL ever flashes, get that checked out ASAP. That means there is a much bigger problem such as a misfire or a fueling issue.

And if you get an oil warning light, pull over and shut the car off immediately (as in, within seconds) or else you'll need a new engine.

9
- Seriously. I used to work at a car dealership's service department. One of the technicians was assigned a lady who didn't have any oil in her car because of some issue. The warranty was going to cover the repair. He told her to have the car towed in. But, no, she was able to get the car started, so she decided to drive it in. The car died in the service lane as we were about to check it in. The warranty wasn't going to cover a fried engine that was her fault.
  
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- Sigh More Jeep stories. Despite regular oil changes and maintenance my Jeep would occasionally just fail to build oil pressure all together when starting. Shutting down and starting again always fixed it, never had any crud in the oil pan, happened 3 or 4 times a year for 12 years. New owner says it still does it.
  
  1

The check other just tells you that your car still has an engine. What you REALLY don't want to see is that light randomly disappearing. At that point your car no longer cares about the engine and will get rid of it.

15

Man, I drive an older German car, and they take their warning lights seriously. Like if you're driving to the hospital and the gas light comes on, you're stopping for gas.

11

Got about another 85,000 miles before having to think about it again

11

Or you're driving a Chevy colorado/GMC Canyon and that light basically just means the engine is running, because it's been on since the truck had 45k miles and replacing the parts so that the little princess ECU will stop setting codes over a 0.001 deviation from the norm is just a waste of time.

But I wouldn't know anything about that.

10

I hope OOP drives a pre-2000s Honda because that's entirely untrue for anything made in the last few decades

9

“Last few decades” is a bit of a stretch. The only real issues up until 2005 were regarding the transmissions, and those got fixed in 2006. No significant problems until about 2015 or so when they started to make everything electronic, including key locks and such. The newest generations have been iffy, but my experience with Hondas up until then have been pretty solid, and you’d be hard pressed to find NHTSA recalls of any significant quantity or severity until then. 80% of recalls for Hondas in that era are for airbags (due to age) and exterior light bulbs going out (due to age) and the rest are usually regarding transmissions, with a handful of other parts thrown in.

I won’t say they were as reliable as the 90’s models per se, since those could take significant neglect and still be okay, but most things past that are really down to lack of maintenance for the most part. There will obviously be exceptions to this, but I would still take any Honda from that era over most brands except for Toyota.

1
- Hondas have always had glass transmissions and electrical problems that would make a Jeep blush, they were just so simple and underpowered that it was never much of a problem. That all changed once Toyota kicked them out of the "cheap reliable" bracket and Honda had to make their cars more complex and powerful to compete
  
  0

When I got it on my 2018 Civic last year, it turned out that rats had crawled up to the engine compartment and chewed of a cylinder cable.

I still managed to drive to work and to the car repair shop - albeit on low gears.

9