Rep Power: 0

2001 Civic LX Sedan, Manual Trans, 132k miles

A few months ago, the P1361 errors started. Bought a handheld code reader to wipe the code in order to get the car to drive. Took the car into the shop and told them the error code, the situation it happened during, and what happened. Because they didn't witness the code (since I had to wipe it) they didn't tell me I had to replace the sensor, and advised the timing could have been off slightly.

Had a full tune-up performed where they changed the water pump & timing belt in addition to some other things that needed attention. Retimed, the engine ran amazing and significantly more smoothly than before; RPMs were on average about 200 less at idle than they had been. Fuel economy shot up 7mpg.

2 days later, P1361 error comes back and I had to wipe the code to get the car home. Parked it until I had funds to replace the sensor, and got P1362 on the way to the parts store. Dragged the car home (lol...) and replaced the sensor. YAY! No more errors.

Instead, the engine sounds like ****. It's loud, and it doesn't feel like things are firing correctly. Fuel economy took a crap again, and it's not as quick or responsive when I accelerate as it used to.

My questions are:
1) Is this "normal" after replacing the sensor?
2) Any clue wtf is wrong now?
3) If "yes" to 2, is it a timing issue where I should be able to go back to the shop and make them re-time it since they based the previous servicing on a known faulty sensor?
4) If "yes" to 2, what do I have to do to fix it this time?

Getting sooo frustrated with this car, but it has to last til February which is when I can get a new one.

 
Rep Power: 518

1) No.
2) No. Maybe.
There is no learning, it is either good or bad when it goes in.
The sensor itself, the wiring for the sensor, and cam timing (timing belt timed exactly correct) are the usual players in setting this code.

BUT

Look at the old sensor, and look at the new sensor. If the cam gear has been rubbing on the sensor, you have a big problem--the cam has been walking. There may be other signs too, I don't think I have ever dealt with this particular problem.

Link to the bulletin
http://www.justanswer.com/car/0kz3v-...erruption.html
Pay attention to the VIN ranges, the problem was fixed in the middle of the production run. This may or may not apply to your car.


YOU may not have the timing belt installed correctly. Pull the covers off and recheck it.
One tooth off is all it takes to kill performance and economy.

Now.....is your problem with the sensor, or is it all timing related?
Does it keep jumping time for no apparent reason??

 
Rep Power: 0

Timing was perfect before the new sensor was installed. In fact, we didn't touch the timing belt at all, since it'd been timed in the shop a day or two prior. We pretty much just reached in, unscrewed and pulled out the old sensor, then slipped the new one in, lined it up and screwed it in, reassembled, and took it out for a test drive.

Looking at the old and the new sensor, they look identical, save for a bit of dust on the old one. There is no wear, scratches, or anything on either.

The sensor seems to be fine, and we're getting no CEL's. My husband (who has been driving it) just said that now the fuel economy is OK and it's driving OK, but the sound is just horrid. It's not a knocking or a rattle, it's *almost* always there and occasionally dies out for a short period of time, but the sound is definitely connected with the engine (IE, when the engine revs faster, it "click/ticks" faster, when the engine revs slower, the sound gets slower). Some days it's really loud, other days it's quiet, but at a steady speed, it's generally not noticeable. Accelerating, it's REALLY loud and embarrassing. I wish I could describe the sound better, but I can't think of how to.

Gonna do a valve adjustment and see if that helps. :/

 
Rep Power: 518

Post a video?
Trying to pinpoint noises on video usually ends up crappy sounding too, but it might be a help.