1992 Honda prelude problem

[roy_lude]

hiya, i have a 2.2vtec 4th generation prelude. The engine management light is now coming on after 5mins of starting from cold & then starts mis-firing & generally running really rough with a lot less power. I think it could be a temperature sensor somewhere but not to sure. could anyone give me advise on what could be causing this problem or what best to check 1st? thanks.

[joesnow]

may be something more serious, but I'd start with an ECU reset and go from there. We had a similar problem with a Cavalier some years ago, and funnily enough the earth strap sorted the light and rough running.

[skinnyboy]

Pull the CEL code from the ecu, and that should give you the answer.

To do this, theres a little blue 2 pin plug behind the radio in the centre console, get a paper clip and jumper the plug sockets.

Now turn your ignition key to ACC, and count the flashes the MIL engine light does.

Post up the final code number here and I can tell you what it is then.

Cheers..

Skin!

[roy_lude]

i managed to get the code...which was cel 9 which, i believe is the cylinder/crank sensors which are located in the distributer. i recently had the distributer replaced so iv taken it back to the garage...so im just going to have to wait & see what they say. its just a pain in the arse really. I think they've given me a faulty distributer. if they say that the distributer was fine, is there anything else that could be wrong with the car that is causing the distributer to become faulty? thanks

[roy_lude]

well, sods law....the garage came back & said there was not a problem with the distributer. the cel is still on & car is still running rough & mis-firing. could anybody help me in what to check now?

the ecu was mentioned in earlir post, how would i check this?

thanks

[skinnyboy]

Top Dead Centre sensor hmmm, has the timing belt been changed recently? if its due, get it done sharpish. When i changed the timing belt on mine, i managed to get mine out by a tooth, ran like a bag of cats. Realigned it and now shes sweet as a nut. A few more teeth out and i'd be looking at a new set of valves and posibly pistons... time for an upgrade to some Ferrer Ti ones me thinks, and some Type S Mahle Golds....

[smhmotorsport]

Might be wrong on this as it was a while since ive worked on hondas, is your 2.2 a twin cam? If so the crank sensor is in the dizzy and theres a cam sensor on the back of one of the cams. Dont quote me on this! all from memory ( 8 yrs ago!)

[greybeard]

To comment on Skinnyboy's post of 10/17 re effects of timing belt mischance, there would be no need for new valves or pistons; the Prelude's engine is of the type that does not permit contact. I know this from personal experience. Owing to a technician's malfeasance the belt broke on my '85 and a simple (but expensive) belt replacement got me on my way again.