EML light. Civic 1.8. Can you guess what's up?

EML light. Civic 1.8. Can you guess what's up?

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Discussion

Torquey

Original Poster:

1,917 posts

235 months

Monday 24th October 2022
quotequote all
Hi. The car in question is a 1.8 petrol civic. 2015.
I have a number of warning lights appearing at start up and before it's gets diagnosed tomorrow im wondering if anyone has any advice or guesses as to what it could be.

Warning lights are: check system (assuming this is the main etl warning), check tyre pressure system, check traction control/stability system, check power steering system.
There is nothing untoward on the engine but it does stink of petrol when idling and very lumpy at idle and when driving (e.g like a misfire).

https://youtube.com/shorts/llzruoJy5os?feature=sha...

If anyone has any ideas or things I can try before tomorrow if be greatful
Thanks.

craig511

430 posts

117 months

Monday 24th October 2022
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Just buy a scanner.

Cost buttons from Amazon etc.

Saves you a diagnostic fee and puts you in some control.


SuperPav

1,125 posts

132 months

Monday 24th October 2022
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Shagged battery (and alternator?)?

Those seem like unrelated warnings, which on all cars I've had similar issues on have been caused by a duff battery, so when it's low and struggles to turn over/at idle when flat, it triggers low voltage DTC's on virtually all the modules.


Dr Interceptor

8,046 posts

203 months

Monday 24th October 2022
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It sounds like you possibly have multiple faults, but im going with... Cam position sensor.

ScoobyChris

1,812 posts

209 months

Monday 24th October 2022
quotequote all
SuperPav said:
Shagged battery (and alternator?)?

Those seem like unrelated warnings, which on all cars I've had similar issues on have been caused by a duff battery, so when it's low and struggles to turn over/at idle when flat, it triggers low voltage DTC's on virtually all the modules.
This was my first thought (had similar Christmas tree dash on a Skoda Fabia) and easy enough to check!

Chris

Torquey

Original Poster:

1,917 posts

235 months

Monday 24th October 2022
quotequote all
Just checked the battery and it rises to 14v on a multimeter when started. 12v when engine is off.

Good suggestion though. Thanks.

I'll report back when I know what it is.

Scrump

22,944 posts

165 months

Monday 24th October 2022
quotequote all
Torquey said:
Just checked the battery and it rises to 14v on a multimeter when started. 12v when engine is off.

Good suggestion though. Thanks.

I'll report back when I know what it is.
That shows your alternator is working. 12.0 volts with engine off is low.

paintman

7,765 posts

197 months

Monday 24th October 2022
quotequote all
12.0 is a discharged battery - and cranking to start will pull it down even further.

Not beyond the realms of possibility that that's part of your problem as low battery voltage is a common cause of modern cars throwing all sorts of odd fault codes.
A very rough guide: www.thebatteryshop.co.uk/car-battery-voltage-guide...

Torquey

Original Poster:

1,917 posts

235 months

Tuesday 25th October 2022
quotequote all
OK. I jump started it off another car. 14v on the battery when turning it over, and didn't help unfortunately.
Looks like it's off to the garage.

gotoPzero

18,190 posts

196 months

Tuesday 25th October 2022
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Abs and tc could be Abs fault, I.e a sensor or steering position sensor if there is one.

The lumpy drive sounds more like a coil pack or bad maf.

Has it been left sat around ? Might just need codes clearing or a re learn on steering angle try going lock to lock.


Torquey

Original Poster:

1,917 posts

235 months

Saturday 29th October 2022
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Op here.
The latest update from the garage is that the problem is an injector. I'm waiting for a new 1 to arrive on Wednesday.

They say this is quite common since the introduction of E10 fuel. I also recall an RAC mech telling me this about Honda engines a while ago, which I dismissed at BS at the time.

- Is E10 fuel really likely to be the problem?
- Also - are injectors generally replaced 1 at a time? At £240 each im not sure I fancy doing all 4!
- Should i start running it on E5 every other refill?

Of course. The garage could still be wrong, until a replacement injector is in and proves to be correct.
Thanks for ask the advice so far.

stevieturbo

17,535 posts

254 months

Saturday 29th October 2022
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If it is just a regular petrol injection engine, which pretty sure it is....you're getting seriously ripped off at £240 for one injector.

It isn't direct injection ?

As to whether that is your actual problem....

Did they send the injectors to the likes of ASNU to have them tested ? Would only cost a few quid.

Torquey

Original Poster:

1,917 posts

235 months

Sunday 6th November 2022
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Just to wrap this up in case it comes up in a search.

It turned out to be a faulty injector. Once it was replaced a second injector failed pretty much straight after. So I decided to change all 4 anyway.

The injectors are only available from Honda at a cost of £270 each. Other owners have searched extensively and failed to get them cheaper.

Having read up a lot and had the opinion of several mechanics, I'm 80% convinced this was caused by E10 fuel. From now on I'll be using E5.

stevieturbo

17,535 posts

254 months

Sunday 6th November 2022
quotequote all
Send the injectors to ASNU for testing.

Torquey

Original Poster:

1,917 posts

235 months

Monday 7th November 2022
quotequote all
stevieturbo said:
Send the injectors to ASNU for testing.
Thank you. I'm just looking into doing that now. Never heard of them but it makes sense if they can do anything with them.