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Hey guys,
I need your help. My ECU has been throwing a code for a long time (about 4 months) and I finally read it. This is what I was able to figure out with a help of a friend, turns out to be a code 9 which in the svc manual for a OBD1 GSR translates to be some type of sensor in the distributor. I think it's shot. I want to replace the distributor and need help finding one. If anyone knows where I might be able to pick one up for a decent price, or if anyone has one for sale, I would greatly appreciate it!
BTW, the reason I took 4 months to finally read the code is becuase around the time I first saw the CEL turn on was when I had a test pipe put on. And all this time I thought that the O2 sensor on the test pipe was bad, so I ignored it. ...turns out not to be the case after all.
Thanks for all your help!
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TRM04,
Save your money.. before you go out and spend big bucks for a distributor do yourself a favor. Pull out your charcoal canister completely. Shake it. If it sounds like a maraca, that is your problem. I as well as many others have been fighting w/ a code 9 for a couple of months. Now you must be asking what do I know huh.. My cel came on, I immediately took it to the dealership, sure enough instead of connecting the computer to diagnos it, the tech shorted the harness and the cel blinked 9 times. So he replaced the distributor under warranty (300.00 distributor), 2 days later the light came on again. I retrieved the code and it blinked 9 times again, I was like WTF?? Took it back to the dealer this time he hooked up the diagnosis computer and it was actually a code 90... There is absoultely no way you could tell by the blinks just so you know. The tech asked me if I ever put gas in the car w/ it running, i honestly said yeah every once in a while when I am in a big hurry. Initially he that that is what the problem was so I said fine, he cleared the code and I went my marry way. 2 days later damned CEL came on again.. 9 blinks take it back and this time, he replaces the gas cap. He said that the black caps had a problem (my is a gray one) but he replaced it anyways. 2 days later, CEL came on again... This time I was pissed, I don't mind going to the dealership but it can be a pain in the rear end. All this keep in mind has been going on for about a month. Just today I was able to take the car in. This time the tech gets the bright idea of checking the charcoal canister. Sure enough it was rattling like it had a bunch of bee bees in it. The charcoal was clogging the valve and venting the vapors into the atmosphere, hence causing the CEL to come on. You need to be sure to take the little valve off of the canister and shake it till it clears the clog. The new canister is solid, nothing inside rattles. So that was just fixed today, I was actually going to wait my infamous "2" days b4 I posted the fix to the code "9" but I would hate to see you waste your money w/o checking the canister first. Fortunetly they covered everything under warranty for me. I also got a free distributor out of it http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/smile.gif Good Luck !
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1998 Super Sonic Blue Gs-r
Jrsc w/ fuel pump upgrade
Autometer boost & air/fuel guage
Advanced Clutch Technology - Heavy Duty
Modified CAI w/ K&N filter
DC Sport 4-2-1 header
Ground Controls (Limited Edition) w/ agx's
Neuspeed front strut bar
Type R rear sway bar
Power slots w/ metal master pads
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Hey gsrev! Thanks for the advice! You possibly saved me a few hundred bux. I'll look at the charcoal canister this weekend. Thanks again!
www.teamronin.net
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S-H-!-T !!!!! Don't get your hopes too high.. my charcoal canister was bad, but damned CEL came back on again today. This is really really starting to bug me. I talked to the tech and he said something about putting a check valve in the emissions line. He thinks possitive pressure is getting thru when under boost. That will be our next attempt at this huge bug. I will keep you posted. Supposed to go back next monday (dont have time this week)
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My mechanic fixed my code 9x CEL problem this weekend. I'm so happy. This code was happening to a few of us. It starts out slowly and you can reset your ECU to get rid of it. After a little while the bugger comes back every time you turn the key.
The CEL hasn't come back so we think we have it licked. The cause was one of the connectors to the Purge Cut Solenoid Valve. If you crimp the connector too tightly it will cut the donor wire. Looking at the connector it looks like everything is OK... but if you wiggle the connector the wire will fall out.
Hope this helps some of the code 9x'ers out. When you take a look at the connector you will see what I mean. We just butt spliced it and may go back to solder it later.
Maybe now my fuel cap hiss will come back... but that's probably another story.
Drive it like you stole it...Greg
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'96 Integra GS-R w/JRSC, JR fuel pump,Iceman Street intake,Axxis Metal Master pads,J&S Safeguard,Eibach Springs,Tokico Illumina shocks,Quaife LSD,Clutch Masters Stage III clutch,CM aluminum flywheel,DC Sports Ceramic Headers,Dunlop SP8000 205/40/17 tires,Enkei 17" wheels,PIAA 1200 lights (so I can see what I'm passing),and 1 sh** eating grin
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Dammit, my connections are already soldered. Today I put in the check valve inbetween the purge cut solenoid and the line that hooks up on the bottom of the blower to keep pos pressure out. Guess I will find out in a cple of days if it worked
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I'm assuming the mechanic who suggested the check valve hasn't seen many JRSC's.
Not to pop your bubble, but the gooseneck where the PCS hose connects to never sees positive pressure.
Good luck with your CEL.
Greg
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Ok...you guys ready for this one? Well this morning, like usual mornings I started my car and the CEL came on. I ignored it and started to drive to work like usual. As I was going the car started to really bog and hesitate, it felt like it didn't want to be driven. I pulled over and turned the ignition off. Started it up and it felt better this time. This has happened before too so I didn't think much of it, thinking that it is related to the code 9 or 9x. Off I went to work...
At work, I decided to call a local Acura dealer to see how much they would charge to diagnose a code 9 or 9x. They said $38 to look at it and that can go towards the repair. I said fine and headed to the dealer.
They read the code again (by jumpers) and the mechanic told me that it is a code 9 for sure. He went ahead and followed the flow charts in the svc manual to troubleshoot a code 9. He found no problems with any type of electrical resistance related to the distributor assembly. He told me that he can plug in another device they have that can check all electrical wiring in the car that reports to the ECU. Which he did then. And again, found no problems. His final conclusion was that I might have a possible bad ECU. At this point I mentioned to him the charcoal canister and solenoid valve and anything related. But he ensured me that those would not be it...since it was a code 9.
Now before you guys jump to anything...let me tell you that this was one of the coolest Acura Techs I have ever met. He told me that he tried his best and that he thinks it's a bad ECU. He also told me that if the dealer takes a GSR in for trade that he will pull the ECU out of that car and swap it with mine so I don't pick up the cost of a new ECU. That was pretty nice of him, not legal, but nice. At this point, he proceeded to put everything back together and plug the stock ECU back in. I paid the $38 and went back to work.
The only thing I noticed on the way back to work was that my Vtec Controller had no power. I thought nothing of it...maybe when he pulled the ECU out, he might have accidentally pulled the power with it.
Now, on the way back home from work, I stopped off to get gas and as I merge back onto the street I hammer the throttle to pick up speed (and to feel 8000 http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif ). But the car picked up soooo slow and it choked at 6200 rpms! Almost as if fuel cut off was set to 6200 rpms! I let off and then tried it one more time...and it did it again. So now I'm a bit concerned.
As this tech worked on my car, I stood beside him the entire time, so I know he didn't do anything intentionally. What do you think might be wrong? I know nothing about the ECU and him getting in there was my first time seeing it open. That's when I noticed that there are a few plugs that connect into it. I'm thinking that he might have plugged them in the wrong places???
I need help! I already called the dealer and told them this and they will let the tech know first thing in the morning and they have me scheduled to come back around noon tomorrow.
Should I be very concerned? Is it indeed a bad ECU? Is it on the verge of it's death? Why is my car picking up so slow and limiting at 6200 rpms?
Please help.
TIA
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www.teamronin.net
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sounds like a wiring problem on the VTEC controller!
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I've had the vtec controllor for nearly 2 years. I have had no problems with it until the tech touched the ECU. I think he might have spliced a wire or something of that nature.
My biggest worry is that I will take him the car this afternoon and he will tell me that the ECU is shot and that there is nothing he can do about it. Then I'm in real trouble...
Thanks for all the help.
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www.teamronin.net
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Holden,
I kinda figured the Check valve wouldnt work, CEL cam on again today.. but that is what he wanted prior to jumping into hefty stuff. Guess I will find out friday what will be next.
