A Little Help Understanding CELs

[Ghetto_Accord]

To start things off, no my car is not throwing a CEL so please don't just post a link telling me how to pull a code for a CEL. That's not what I am asking about.

What I AM asking about is just how Accords notify you of a CEL. I noticed that on my dash there is a standard engine symbol light that looks like a lot of other CELs I have seen but there is also the light under the Tach, under which it says "maintenance required". Is THIS where you should look for a CEL? Mine is green but i have seen other accords with red ones.

Also, If your car is throwing more then one CEL, how do you know that there are 2 problems and how do you distinguish between codes when decoding CELs?

Thanks for the help.

[turbo90accord]

The check engine light and the mantenance required thing are separate deals. the main. req. is just a dial that spins around and tells you when its time for service per honda standards.

The check engine light is what will turn on when your car sets a relevent code that requires the light to come one. as far as reading the code depending on the year of your car if its an early cb you can watch the light on the ecu under the passenger side carpet and watch the light sequence later cb's you have to use the service jumper and watch the check engine light flash.

as far as reading the code it will flash the code in succession. so for instance the code is a twenty three so youll get two long flashes ____ _____ and three short ones __ __ __ then a long pause before it flashes the next one.

[Da1andonlyJinx]

very nice[borat]

I was gonna say the same thing but you beat me to it.

*edit
also when the code or codes are finished blinking it will start the whole process again, be sure to watch it again to be sure you have read the codes correctly.

[deevergote]

As said before, the CEL is just that... the Check Engine light.


Maintenance Required is just a counter. I leave mine red because I like the color better I freaked out when it first turned red, though. Took it to Pep Boys, and they tried to charge me $400 for a diagnostic and a tune up... Thankfully, I learned what it was on da intrawebz that night and didn't bring the car in the following morning

[mozzandherb]

But I live in Hull too! Pm me if you need any parts as I have a few nice things lying around somewhere