Emissions NOT READY?
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Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 147
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From: nyc
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Emissions NOT READY?
2003 civic coupe ex auto 1.7
(if you dont want to read all this, just tel me where to find the computer test connector to check for codes)
I've been to this Honda Service before so I was expecting to get the same great service. But not this time!
Anyways I needed an inspection. So I worked on the brakes & suspension, etc so it would pass NYS INSPECTION.
Turns out i passed Safety but fail Emissions because it was NOT READY.
What Happened??
Well I also bought a key from them made from the Vin code because I thought all I had was 1 Valet key.
After I received the car back I was outside the dealership and I tried the new key and the car wouldnt start. Not even the horn worked, so I knew there was a serious battery problem or a bad fusible link.
They did test the battery and they said it tested Ok. So I asked them then why do I need a boost?? "I donno"
I got the boost and prayed all the way home from the dealership.
Turns out The NEG battery Terminal was a universal replacement and it had some corrosion inside against the wire. I changed that and cleaned it all up -all was good.
So why Not Ready from a car that was running good? Well I could only guess that the load test they did zapped power from the ECM and it cleared all the info from the ECM so that it went into a not ready state.
The dealer told me to drive around a few days so the computer will go ready. The civic manual says if the Engine light doesnt blink when you turn on the key, The computer is READY. So it was ready after about 20 miles (of hiding from the cops because I had an expired temporary Inspection sticker).
Anyways I need help finding the computer test connector. Please help!
(if you dont want to read all this, just tel me where to find the computer test connector to check for codes)
I've been to this Honda Service before so I was expecting to get the same great service. But not this time!
Anyways I needed an inspection. So I worked on the brakes & suspension, etc so it would pass NYS INSPECTION.
Turns out i passed Safety but fail Emissions because it was NOT READY.
What Happened??
Well I also bought a key from them made from the Vin code because I thought all I had was 1 Valet key.
After I received the car back I was outside the dealership and I tried the new key and the car wouldnt start. Not even the horn worked, so I knew there was a serious battery problem or a bad fusible link.
They did test the battery and they said it tested Ok. So I asked them then why do I need a boost?? "I donno"
I got the boost and prayed all the way home from the dealership.
Turns out The NEG battery Terminal was a universal replacement and it had some corrosion inside against the wire. I changed that and cleaned it all up -all was good.
So why Not Ready from a car that was running good? Well I could only guess that the load test they did zapped power from the ECM and it cleared all the info from the ECM so that it went into a not ready state.
The dealer told me to drive around a few days so the computer will go ready. The civic manual says if the Engine light doesnt blink when you turn on the key, The computer is READY. So it was ready after about 20 miles (of hiding from the cops because I had an expired temporary Inspection sticker).
Anyways I need help finding the computer test connector. Please help!
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 32,017
Likes: 256
From: Midwest. Aiming about mid-chest
Rep Power: 517 
Re: Emissions NOT READY?
The PCM lost its memory when the battery cable lost connection. That includes the readiness monitors that you have been looking for.
Read the label on the bottom of the steering column cover. It tells you where the DLC (data link connector) is. (In front of your right knee under the corner of the dash).
Shaped like this:
Read the label on the bottom of the steering column cover. It tells you where the DLC (data link connector) is. (In front of your right knee under the corner of the dash).
Shaped like this:
Thread Starter
Registered!!
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 147
Likes: 1
From: nyc
Rep Power: 0 Re: Emissions NOT READY?
The PCM lost its memory when the battery cable lost connection. That includes the readiness monitors that you have been looking for.
Read the label on the bottom of the steering column cover. It tells you where the DLC (data link connector) is. (In front of your right knee under the corner of the dash).
Shaped like this:
Read the label on the bottom of the steering column cover. It tells you where the DLC (data link connector) is. (In front of your right knee under the corner of the dash).
Shaped like this:
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 32,017
Likes: 256
From: Midwest. Aiming about mid-chest
Rep Power: 517 Re: Emissions NOT READY?
They probably did not load test it.
We all have capacitance or conductance testers now (made by Midtronics), not the old carbon-pile load testers.
These testers do not place a huge load on the battery.
You might get a printout similar to this:
(couldn't find an actual Honda specific example in a quick GIS)
Your cable problem was apparently already an issue, it just happened to manifest itself on their lot. (Those dang things are supposed to only be a temporary fix anyway.)
We all have capacitance or conductance testers now (made by Midtronics), not the old carbon-pile load testers.
These testers do not place a huge load on the battery.
You might get a printout similar to this:
(couldn't find an actual Honda specific example in a quick GIS)
Your cable problem was apparently already an issue, it just happened to manifest itself on their lot. (Those dang things are supposed to only be a temporary fix anyway.)
If you think a good mechanic is expensive, try hiring a bad one
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 32,017
Likes: 256
From: Midwest. Aiming about mid-chest
Rep Power: 517 Re: Emissions NOT READY?
Thread Starter
Registered!!
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 147
Likes: 1
From: nyc
Rep Power: 0 
Registered!!
Joined: May 2020
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Rep Power: 0 Re: Emissions NOT READY?
2003 civic coupe ex auto 1.7
(if you dont want to read all this, just tel me where to find the computer test connector to check for codes)
I've been to this Honda Service before so I was expecting to get the same great service. But not this time!
Anyways I needed an inspection. So I worked on the brakes & suspension, etc so it would pass NYS INSPECTION.
Turns out i passed Safety but fail Emissions because it was NOT READY.
What Happened??
Well I also bought a key from them made from the Vin code because I thought all I had was 1 Valet key.
After I received the car back I was outside the dealership and I tried the new key and the car wouldnt start. Not even the horn worked, so I knew there was a serious battery problem or a bad fusible link.
They did test the battery and they said it tested Ok. So I asked them then why do I need a boost?? "I donno"
I got the boost and prayed all the way home from the dealership.
Turns out The NEG battery Terminal was a universal replacement and it had some corrosion inside against the wire. I changed that and cleaned it all up -all was good.
So why Not Ready from a car that was running good? Well I could only guess that the load test they did zapped power from the ECM and it cleared all the info from the ECM so that it went into a not ready state.
The dealer told me to drive around a few days so the computer will go ready. The civic manual says if the Engine light doesnt blink when you turn on the key, The computer is READY. So it was ready after about 20 miles (of hiding from the cops because I had an expired temporary Inspection sticker).
Anyways I need help finding the computer test connector. Please help!
(if you dont want to read all this, just tel me where to find the computer test connector to check for codes)
I've been to this Honda Service before so I was expecting to get the same great service. But not this time!
Anyways I needed an inspection. So I worked on the brakes & suspension, etc so it would pass NYS INSPECTION.
Turns out i passed Safety but fail Emissions because it was NOT READY.
What Happened??
Well I also bought a key from them made from the Vin code because I thought all I had was 1 Valet key.
After I received the car back I was outside the dealership and I tried the new key and the car wouldnt start. Not even the horn worked, so I knew there was a serious battery problem or a bad fusible link.
They did test the battery and they said it tested Ok. So I asked them then why do I need a boost?? "I donno"
I got the boost and prayed all the way home from the dealership.
Turns out The NEG battery Terminal was a universal replacement and it had some corrosion inside against the wire. I changed that and cleaned it all up -all was good.
So why Not Ready from a car that was running good? Well I could only guess that the load test they did zapped power from the ECM and it cleared all the info from the ECM so that it went into a not ready state.
The dealer told me to drive around a few days so the computer will go ready. The civic manual says if the Engine light doesnt blink when you turn on the key, The computer is READY. So it was ready after about 20 miles (of hiding from the cops because I had an expired temporary Inspection sticker).
Anyways I need help finding the computer test connector. Please help!
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