Rep Power: 0

Seriously need some help as I'm really at my wits end on this deal. I have a 2002 civic LX. My daughters first car. She never checked the oil and blew the motor. The motor was replaced with one bought at a salvage yard. It is a 2003 1.7L SOHC. A mechanic friend of ours installed the motor but it never ran right. A shop in town looked at it and said the ECU needed to be rekeyed or reprogrammed. Either way, when we got it back, the car ran great and it still does. Here is my issue:

The Check Engine Light is on and stays on. I've reset it a couple time but after about 30 miles, it comes right back on. I've had it hooked up three different times and it keeps reading P1491. When we look this up, it says faulty EGR Valve. There isn't an EGR valve on this motor anywhere, I've looked very hard for it and can't find one. What am I missing here? Again, the car runs great. Not sure if it matters but the car does leak oil from somewhere on the upper portion of the motor. Please advise. The ECU that is in the car is 37820-PLR-L58

 
Rep Power: 256

yes there is aEGR valve look at this thread
https://www.civicforums.com/forums/1...e-up-mods.html

 
Rep Power: 352

there's ur [possible] first problem.

the engines for the EX and LX/DX/VP are different.

the EX has the D17a2 where the LX/DX/VP have the D17a1.

and therefore the ECU will differ because one has vtec with abs and the other has neither (just one of the many differences)

 
Rep Power: 0

I really appreciate the responses and I did go to the recommended thread. There was an EGR Valve on that motor but I'm telling you, my D17A2 doesn't have one which is really throwing me off. Take a look at the pics and tell me what you think. Where the ^&%$ is the EGR Valve? Also, do you see where that oil is standing? I just cleaned that about an hour ago, where is that leak coming from?

I appreciate all the help I can get. Thanks

 
Rep Power: 352

Are u using the stock 2002lx ecu friend? If you are, u needa use the d17a2 ecu.

 
Rep Power: 256

i guess it didn't come on all d17s so yeah the problem is the newer ecu your using thinks the egr is malfunctioning . and the oil looks like its coming from the valve cover gaskit thats a easy fix.

 
Rep Power: 291

how did you end up with an EX ECU in an LX car? you didn't say anything about changing the ECU. did you do that?

 
Rep Power: 0

After the new motor was installed (D17A2), the car ran terrible so we took it to a shop out of town who specialized in Honda Civics. He charged 85.00 for an ECU and 65.00 to have it reflashed, at least that is what the receipt says.

I've taken pictures of the ECU to show the model number and I guess the VIN number the ECU came out of. (pictures are of the currently installed ECU)

If this is the wrong ECU, please tell me which one I need and I will get a new ECU. If a new ECU is purchased, I will assume that I need to take it in to have it programmed for my vehicle. The question would then become, does it get flashed for the car or to the motor. As you can probably tell, I know just enough to get me in trouble here so if I'm asking stupid questions, please bare with me.

This has really been a great car and we are almost finished with all the issues. This is going to be a great DFW commuter car once we tackle the ECU issue.

thanks in advance for all the help.

 
Rep Power: 235

There's no way you shouldn't have an EGR. All of them came with an EGR, even the hybrid. If you have an emission inspection there is no way your gonna pass. I suspect there was an attempted EGR delete cause it's wired into every factory harness.

This is a pic of mine.

See how the connector wires come out of the spark plug wire bundle?

Open up the spark plug wire channel and look in this area for where they cut/capped the wires.

Your harness going into the wire channel still looks factory so, they would have had to cut the connector out in the wire channel. If your mechanic used your original harness then they ripped you off trying to save themselves money 'cause EGRs are expensive to replace.

---------
For the oil leak inspect the valve cover gasket.

 
Rep Power: 291

ahah...that wasn't in the first post, so that's why i was confused.

 
Rep Power: 0

Well I talked with the original mechanic that installed the 2003 D17A2 and it seems that the salvage yard never delivered a wiring harness with the motor. He had to add the wires for the VTEC. I think that this is why there isn't a connector for the EGR valve either because the 2002 LX Wiring Harness doesn't require the connector because there isn' an EGR Valve. Am I correct here?

Does the EGR Valve actually connect to the coolant housing? I think the one that is on there was from the 02 LX.

Plan moving forward is:

Get a wiring harness for the 03 D17A2
Get a used Coolant Thermostat Housing
Get an EGR Valve.

Am I correct here or am I in left field?

 
Rep Power: 235

Kinda left field but, not really. I'm sorry, I posted earlier that they all came with an EGR but, I'm wrong.

You need an EX ECU, EX wire harness, EGR valve and gasket. As for the housing, you should have the same housing. Look for where the EGR should be and you should see a plate covering the EGR passages. If not, you'll need an EX housing. Also, using the LX exhaust with the EX stuff may cause some problems too but, one problem at a time.