Just got a 2001 Accord LX and love it. About a week in the check engine light came on. I had been planning on taking it in to the dealership to have it looked over for upcoming problems so I took it in. They say it's a bad catalytic converter. About a day after that the check engine light went off. Talked to a few other long time Honda owners and they said that's typical. Strangely enough the light went off after running my gas down past E and then filling up again.

I am not seeing any exhaust issues, like a smell or being overly dirty, so I'm curious if others have seen this. Don't want to spend $1000 if I don't have to, at least not right now. I'd rather focus on the little things that need to be done like battery maintenance, etc.

 

Put in your signature whether it's a 4-cyl or V-6 (yes the LX was available either way). Auto trans?

Next time the CEL comes on, go to someplace like AutoZone. They'll plug in a reader & read the error code for free (maybe you have to pick a time when they're not real busy). Make sure you get the actual code number like P1234 or something like that. Post the error number, because sometimes they can get creative with the explanations.

For now, you can reset your ECU by pulling the #13 fuse in the right-end of the dashboard. Kinda alongside the right-front-door hinges. Pull out that fuse for a minute or 2 then put it back in.

 

Thanks! It is a 4-cylinder automatic. I'll keep an eye out for the CEL again. Since it went off, it's now been 3 days or so, and hasn't come back on.

 

unless you already have a aftermarket cat on, it should be a honey comb. if it was failing you would almost certainly hear the ticking while at certain rpms or even idling. I would suggest getting a OBDII port scanner, there literally like 20-50bucks depending on what u want, and plug right in and will give you a code.

*if ur car backfires, as in a pop in the exhaust from gas not being burned completely, then ur cat will be more likely to fail before its time expectancy.

 

I have a 05 Accord V6 automatic and this occurs to me as well. On and off and on consistently. I have a scanner and it reports a bad converter as well. p0420