Rep Power: 0

Hi CivicForums!

I posted a thread a few days ago about an over heating issue i had been having. Going to work on her this weekend and see if it's the head gasket finally.
Here's the thread for those interested.

I've had the Code P1457 for a while now, says its the Evap canister. Hasn't affected performance or anything so i've let it go for the last few months.

Yesterday I started the car as i left work and when i turned the engine the light blinked 5 times, but wasn't on anymore. I figured the code cleared itself. Checked the manual and it says when it blinks 5 times at start your ECU is not ready. Okay, so i plugged in my OBD reader and launched Torque. The readings said that all my systems were ready.

Just out of curiosity since the light was no longer on I decided to pull the codes (if any). The results came back with P1457 (figures) and to my dismay, P0300, P0301, and P0302. The car doesn't seem to have any issues driving idling or anything. I only notice it starts a tad rough after it's sat for a little bit. Nothing extreme, only a few jitters for the first second or two the car starts.

Since it blinked and went out yesterday, it hasn't come back at all. I just went out and turned the key to I to make sure the light is still functioning, haha. It's there, doesn't blink or come on after starting but i'm still pulling those codes.

Anyone have any ideas why it would be pulling those codes with no CEL and no noticeable difference in performance? I'm going to have to check the head this weekend for my coolant loss, what else should i be looking for while i'm in there?

 
Rep Power: 518

You have a blown head gasket.


Coolant is probably entering a cylinder through the blown head gasket after you shut it off, then the spark plug gets wet the next time you to start it. That cylinder is now "dead" until the plug gets dried enough to fire again.



Um, reread what you wrote in the other quote above. That's enough for me.




I'm not gonna try to guess why the CEL is doing what you say here.
I have personally witnessed a couple of Hondas cars do seemingly odd things while obvious misfire issues were happening, yet codes had mysteriously disappeared by the time codes could be checked. Had to read code while the light was on.

 
Rep Power: 0

ezone! you're great, thank you very much

I know the first part does indicate a performance issue. but i meant it as in it only happens for 1 second starting and no problems driving or stopping.

thanks for the reply, i will do the head this weekend.

 
Rep Power: 518

Working pressures within the cylinders is keeping the antifreeze out while the engine is running. That, and speed. It takes time for the coolant to move through the breached spot in the head gasket.



Cooling system (radiator and all) is under pressure while it is hot, plus the head gasket leakage keeps it pressurized while the engine is running.

After shutoff, the pressure remaining in the cooling system pushes the antifreeze past the blown head gasket into a cylinder.

Make more sense?



At any rate, this is what I'd expect is happening, based on what I have read about the car.