Rep Power: 0

hello again everyone

about 2 weeks ago i had a valve adjustment at my local honda dealership. mind you the car is a 02 honda civic ex with 150100 miles on it. i havnt driven 200 miles and the tapping at idle is LOUD (sounds like its by the valves or the injectors, definatly top of the engine). way more so than before. heres the kicker though. some days the ticking is very loud at idle and other days its practacally silent! and this is at 40+ min of driving so the car is good and warmed up. Today though i go to start my engine and the check engine light comes on and stays on. the idle does not sound good even though it sits at 800 rpm at a standstill clutch in or out after sitting 30 min to warm up. also i can hear the engine knock as i drive it... so i drive for 30 min and the engine light goes out and the car sounds fine again! WTF! ever since ive had the service at the dealership its been making these sounds so I am taking the car back to Brighton Honda dealership in MI. any thoughts or things to look out for? this car has been endless problems (oil is full too, last change was 1000 miles or so ago)

 
Rep Power: 511

Go to an autozone (or similar) and have the code read. Let us know what the code is, then we can start to pinpoint your problem

 
Rep Power: 0

Ok will do! I get out of work in a bit so ill make it to my local autozone and let you know what come up.
Thankyou!

 
Rep Power: 0

Ok every one I went to autozone and they checked my car for codes and P1259 came up... Thoughts? I just had the valves adjusted at the dealership a week ago... Take it back or something worse?

 
Rep Power: 518

Did you actually check the oil, or

just assume it must be full because you had it changed 1000 miles ago?



When the CEL light came on, was this the very first time you got the RPM over 4000 (or whatever the VTEC operating range is) since you had the valves done?
Did they erase the codes?
Have any codes returned yet to confirm the code wasn't a fluke?



The VTEC system isn't tough to troubleshoot with the right tools and knowledge.



Just for laughs, browse these two threads. This is an extremely unusual problem...:

https://www.civicforums.com/forums/3...646-helpp.html

https://www.civicforums.com/forums/3...ing-p1259.html

If you find the same thing both of these folks found, post it.

 
Rep Power: 0

So the engine check light first came on when I started it up one morning. Not while driving. Also the oil level I did check not just assumed (my last car burnt oil like it was its job so I check religiously) and when at autozone I did not have them reset the code. Is that something you would like me to do?
Thankyou!
(Read the first thread. Lol, I wish it was something as simple as a missing bolt!)

 
Rep Power: 518

First startup huh? Hmmm.....


First step:
See if a mouse chewed the wires for the VTEC pressure switch or if the switch got unplugged or something.
Mice aren't covered by warranty.

Get the freeze frame data first, that way we can know what the conditions were when the code set: RPM, vehicle speed, coolant temperature, the entire list of data.

Then erase the code.
See when the code comes back and recheck code and FF data.



This is akin to a doctor asking if you only hurt briefly yesterday when you stubbed your toe, of if the toe STILL hurting because it is broken.




Still no idea about the noise, you need someone to look at that.

 
Rep Power: 0

Thanks ezone! I'm going into work now but I will stop by auto zone tonight and have them do that. But forgive me, where can I find the vtech pressure switch? I'm very new to doing anything to a vehicle.

 
Rep Power: 518

Look for this stuff BEFORE you head to the Zoo.





Different engine, but same place as yours.

Switch and wires look similar to this here

 
Rep Power: 0

Thank you for the pictures ezone it was very helpful. Looked at the wires and checked to see if everything was attached/plugged in. It looked fine (from what i could tell mind you) and I didn't notice any frayed or chewed on wires. I was going to go to the honda dealership tomorrow to have them inspect the valve adjustment they did a week ago (the problems started almost immediately after they worked on it). That was the last thing done to the car and is under warranty. Any thoughts or suggestions?

 
Rep Power: 518

Ummmm, you first said:
I really think you should have been back there first thing bright and early the very next day. For the noise issue.
So start with that first, show the manager or ticket writer what your noise is. Not kidding at all. Demonstrate it so everyone is on the same page and there is NO question.

Then talk about the CEL and code.

The car has 150k, and it's 11 years old.
Your complaints might have nothing to do with what work they did.
Crap happens.



An 02 has no warranty (???) unless someones work was faulty.

You probably aren't going to be able to do much else without real info, work, and tooling.
Since you say the oil is full and you didn't see any wires with problems in that area, then have the dealer see what's going on with it.

 
Rep Power: 0

K thank you ezone. And I appologise I wasn't clear about the warrenty comment. I ment the work they did (valve adjustment) is warrantied not the vehicle it self. Thanks for all of your advice man! Ill let you know how this all plays out

 
Rep Power: 0

Ok so I took the car to the dealership yesterday and explained every thing. Had them sit and listen to what I was hearing and showed them the slip from autozone with the p1259. So they ran there diagnostic on the car and also came up with p1259 but they noticed that I had an aftermarket oil filter they mentioned that it was common for aftermarket oil filters to cause some oil pressure problems (I do not know if this is true) asked if they could change the filter to a honda filter and I said yes. So thy did that and then processed to drive the car. No p1259! They then asked if it would be alright if I left the car overnight and they would inspect the car when cold and see if anything else came up at first start up and and after a drive. I said yes. Called this morning to tell me that after driving the car that there was no p1259 code! Also the car sounds quiter at idle too.
So now what? Call it case closed and put my mind to rest or drive it for a few days and see if that code comes up again?
Alo I want to say thanks ezone for your time and help I really appreciate it brother

 
Rep Power: 518

Hmmmm.

I have only heard of this, never actually witnessed it firsthand and I have seen some real janky looking filters working just fine on these engines.
Answer may be kinda suspicious?
Time will tell.
What else are you gonna do?
You have no other choice at this point.
They think it is cured. You have to verify that by driving it.

When you go pick it up, open the hood and make sure the oil is still in the acceptable range on the dipstick. Drive it hard on the way home. Get the RPM up into VTEC engagement range, exercise the system several times. If it turns on the CEL before you get home, turn around and take it back ASAP (or call them right away).

 
Rep Power: 186

Oil flow/pressure restriction due to sludge built up in the oil filter?

 
Rep Power: 253

What oil filter did you have in there?

 
Rep Power: 0

Yes, that, and what OEM filter did they give you: the newer -A02 (most likely) or the older -A01 (which many say is superior to the -A02)?

 
Rep Power: 0

Sorry everyone for the late reply!
So I took ezones advice an drove the car hard all the way to a autozone and had them check for codes. No p1259! The next day I drove to school and Back wich is about an hour and a half of driving freeway and back roads. When I to into town I went right to a autozone and tested the car again. No p1259, I was breakdancing on top of my car! So I'm happy that's done but I'm not out of the woods yet with this car I just know it lol. Anyway I made a comment that the idle sounded better in my last post. And it does... Sometimes though its ticking just as loudly as before!(at idle with engine at operating temp) So now I need to figure out if the noise I normal valve noise or injector noise or whatever, (puts gun to head)

To awnser the 2 prior post. I'm not sure what oil filter was on there before. Give me a day or two and I will find out what the exact old filter was and what the new one is and post it.

Thanks everyone!

 
Rep Power: 209

im sorry but im gonna call BS on this one.....

i dont care what kind of oil filter you use, or how cheap/crappy it is, it can never cause a CEL/code.....this is just coincidence to me.....your problem is elsewhere and your oil filter has nothing to do with it.....

 
Rep Power: 0

Hey I can completely respect that. What are your thoughts on what the problem may be?

 
Rep Power: 253

I am thinking the same thing..perhaps the oil wasnt changed in a real long time or it was low, or something like that..

 
Rep Power: 0

Hey guys i have a place where they change oil for only $8.99 + Tax? can you guess which oil filter would they use?

remember i do have p1259 code & while i can gurantee the oil level is normal now i am beginning to suspect that the oil filter may have brought about the p1259 code. I also have the drain plug replaced on my oil pan and installed a new oil pan gasket. However, it was always done within the first 2000 miles. guranteed.

Would anyone care to know what Oil & Oil Filter was used?....lol

Get the freeze frame data first, that way we can know what the conditions were when the code set: RPM, vehicle speed, coolant temperature, the entire list of data.
What all is freeze frame data and where do you get it from?

 
Rep Power: 0

so Honda Nate, can you confirm for me that the valve adjustment at the dealership resolved your code p1259. Not exactly the oil filter but the valve adjustment/ work.
Is it just valve adjustment or asking for a major tune-up to include valve adjustment.

 
Rep Power: 518

I'm betting that you have not figured out how they make money from that.

HINT: It's not the cheapo filter.

 
Rep Power: 208

If it's tapping then redo the valve adjustment. Never trust those stealership guys to do it right. also check connections and hoses and stuff around the valve cover, maybe they forgot to reconnect something or is no plugged in all of the way. It sounds like the dealer messed it up.

I also agree that oil/filter would not cause this.

 
Rep Power: 0

i know ezone u wanna "ENLIGHTEN" me with their money making scheme ? so lets have it.

what exactly is it that you mean by frame freeze data?

 
Rep Power: 518

*ahem*

 
Rep Power: 518

How can any business generate necessary profit by giving away services at a loss?

You see a low, low, value shopper price and can't see past that.
What is the COST of that cheap PRICE?


I really shouldn't need to explain more than that.
Freeze Frame Data.
Google it.

 
Rep Power: 0

My business sense tells me ezone, it has a lot to do with volume.
Sell two Oil change at stealership for $24.95 (good luck with that) or

Sell 5 to 10 oil changes in a day at $8.99 to 14.99 & voila.

I beg to differ with your opinion ezone. Its got everything to do with volume. Thats why there r things businesses "PROMOTE" to lure customers into buying at a discount. FYI ;Stealerships also do that.

No one i Know does business at a loss (except the US Government, which technically is not a business. but a collection agency /enforcement agency.)...LOL. sooner or later the business have to either raise their price or get out of that business.

BTW, if i wanted to google freeze frame data i wouldn't be asking. I thought i wanted to hear it from the "U know what" 's mouth directly.

 
Rep Power: 518

So let me get this straight....You are thinking that they give away a service at zero profit or even less (loss leader), and make up for it in volume?

Do explain more about this concept. I'm gonna be a millionaire!