Rep Power: 0

Error codes:
P0303 Cylinder 3 misfire detected
P1259 Vtec system malfunction (bank 1)
P0301 Cylinder 1 misfire detected
P0302 Cylinder 2 misfire detected
P0300 Random misfire detected
P0128 Cooling system malfunction

For Honda Civic 2003 ex 1.7 sohc
Automatic Transmission

I recently Installed new Spark plugs and Ignition coils.
I keep getting check engine lights for the past 8 months now.
I change the oil every 3k miles. Some say it may be faulty fuel Injectors or a bad ecu for the Vtec Malfunction. Whats funny is that the honda mechanic said I have no vtec at all in my car. I can rev past 4k rpms no problem I'm afraid that it will begin to not rev past that part in due time. I need some help please, greatly appreciated.

 
Rep Power: 518

Need to know

1) Mileage on engine

2) Freeze Frame data, and what code the data is associated with (hopefully it's one of the misfire codes)

3) Brand of spark plugs, and gap you set them at (If you installed anything Bosch, throw them away.)

4) Picture of your engine showing the VTEC solenoid, or you need to verify it does in fact have the VTEC valve assembly attached to the cylinder head.


If you erase the codes, which code returns first?
Got freeze frame data for that code?


VTEC code, check oil level first. Add oil if needed.
P0128 code, check coolant level and check if thermostat is bad.

 
Rep Power: 0

1) 143304 mileage
2) I don't have an obd scanner with me so i'll check it later
3) Denso spark plugs with factory gap which is 11 1.1mm tip
I checked oil level and it had barely any oil in there so i bought some 5w20 mobile 1 and added about 3 quarts should be fine its on the 2nd dot. Coolant reservoir seemed dry so I'll need more time to check up on that so ill keep you posted on that. I had my uncle check it today and he said that 3rd fuel injector is bubbling/bad. How do I check if the thermostat is bad? About the vtec solonoid, I do infact have one. I don't know why a honda mugenast mechanic told me otherwise which threw me off a bit, so my car has to be vtec. Next thing I'm doing is all new fuel injectors plus ngk sparks only option I have on my mind im thinking about getting bigger cc so i have more torque.


Pictures at the bottom

 
Rep Power: 518

Denso, great.
Mileage, check.

Now I'd like to get the freeze frame data and I need to know which fault code it's associated with.


If you erase the codes today, then the car sets new code(s) tomorrow, I'd want the freeze frame data for that too.

Freeze Frame Data: It's crucial information to a troubleshooter.

I see the pic of the VTEC valve too. It even screams VTEC in the plastic cover on top of the engine. The mechanic is broken and needs replaced?
Was this guy a real line tech with decades of experience, or a young one working in the quicky lube and tire kicking area?

Mungenast... I know they had at least 3 techs that are top notch, Bommarito has at least 2, and Leta has 2. These are guys I would trust with my own cars if I had to, and I don't trust ANYONE with my cars. There's also a couple good guys at Meyer but that's across the river to the east.
I cannot speak for the rest of their crews though. I know many shops only keep a select few top gun techs who can fix anything and everything, and the rest may be any mixture of lower pay/lower skill mechanics.

If you don't know and ask for the right people, you may get whatever mechanic is available next.

Holy crap. Seriously? So there was only about 0.5 quart of oil left in the engine....that's not good at all. (The honda mechanic missed this too?)

That would be the most likely and immediate cause of the VTEC code....... and you NEED to check and fill the oil level far more often than you have been. Your engine is consuming or leaking oil at a pace that requires you to open the hood far more often than never.

If you can't keep the oil level full, you will be paying "THE TAX" very soon.


Maint Req'd light is on. How far overdue is your oil change? How many miles did it take for the engine to LOSE 3 QUARTS of oil?

Much more important is the fluid level inside the radiator.
Got pics or video of that? I'm interested.
The fault code is a clue, but more supporting evidence is needed. For the moment, let it slide. It will be erased when other codes are eased, you can see if the same code returns later and deal with it then (hopefully without a pile of other codes). First step though, is to make sure the rest of the cooling system is working right--full of proper mix antifreeze, burped of trapped air pockets, fans work right, radiator fins clean, etc.
WHOA-- HOLD IT.. ...
You don't have anything on the engine that would dictate bigger injectors.
Bigger injectors will only cause more fault codes and make it run like crap.

The Denso plugs are fine. Not quite the exact plug called for (PKJ20CR-M11), but probably close enough for government work. No need to buy more.

 
Rep Power: 0

Thanks for replying!
Yeah denso is not a bad spark plug I know what I buy and I always look it up to see if it is great as it is. Freeze frames: I am going to look at that thursday before i buy anything that i need to fix this issue. Better to troubleshoot the problem and find the exact answer.

About mugenast mechanic: Yeah this dude was young and looked like he just got out of a technical college. I think he was just bullshiting and wanted me out of there to go on about to other customers. The fact that it bogles my mind that he would tell me that. I never go there anymore and I try to fix my own work if it's possible, not that hard with a lil help from the internet. Which led me here, a whole forum showing you honda diy stuff which is pretty cool and getting help from people that been through this and know how to tell me to fix it.

Oil: Yes, let me get a little into this. I rarely check the oil level because i never owned a honda and to be suprised i just learned this today, hondas consume more oil than you think because of the vtec system kicking in and spitting out oil everytime you initiate it. I'm not gonna lie I've been getting on it every once in a while i just can't get enough lol. I've checked for any signs of leaks and couldn't find any I thought that too. I was amazed on how i was driving with .5 literally no oil in my car for weeks. I did experience my engine or transmission not wanting to shift into gear and jutting for a second when i begin to accelerate. Good think my uncle schooled me for that and I got it fixed right away. I'm due for an oil change sooner the better I've replaced it at 141500 last time. So it took barely 3k miles to add new oil in the car thank god I had sorted it out!

As for the coolant, I will check that tomorrow and see if it needs to be topped off.

The bad injector issue: My uncle checked it for me and he said he could tell that it was bad from what he understands. He knows a lot about hondas and owned a couple of them too. I don't have pictures/videos of it sadly but all he did was press his thumb on the coil packs and told me that he can feel injector three missfiring and needs to be changed and from looking at the wiring clip of the fuel injector.

Yeah I don't think I'll be able to buy bigger cc fuel injectors from the looks of it.
I'll keep you posted as usual, thanks for replying man you're awesome!

 
Rep Power: 518

McDonalds Hamburger University?


Car with some miles on it? ALL engines consume oil by design. Some just use it faster than others.
ALL manufacturers tell you to check the oil regularly (most say with each fuel fill up), it's in the owners manuals.

You didn't learn this. UNlearn it now. It's wrong.

A quart every 1000 miles or so is not unusual for something with that many miles. But you can't ignore it for 3000 miles, there's no oil left. It only holds about 3.5 quarts in the first place.

 
Rep Power: 0

Quick update:
I reset all the codes today and will be keeping an eye on the mileage when the codes start to pop up. Ill keep u updated on that.

Coolant levels are fine now did not need to put a lot in there.

How am i wrong on the vtec part? Vtec = higher rpms = more load = more chance for blowby = more oil burning ects.

 
Rep Power: 518

Then explain why NON-VTEC engines consume oil just as much as VTEC engines.






VTEC is never the root cause of oil consumption.
"Stuck oil control rings" is the usual cause of excessive oil consumption in most high mileage engines.

 
Rep Power: 0

Oh i gotcha. I looked it up and i am going to replace the pcv valve and see if it keeps losing oil.