Here's one for all of you...

First a little background info:
I have a 96 Civic LX that's pretty close to bone stock. When the car had 75,000 miles on it, Honda replaced the cat converter and both O2 sensors. There was a lot of problems with that series of converters and O2 sensors because Honda extended the warranty to 100K for that model.

Now, my problem. Ever sense they replaced those components, I can't run gas with the 10% ethanol in it with out the check engine light coming on. If I burn 87 or 91 I'm fine. In case you were wondering, in Wisconsin, 89 has the 10% ethanol in it. If the codes are run, it comes up with a transmission code. WTF??? I pull the fuse and it's fine again until I put in the 89 with ethanol again.

I know what you are going to say, "don't put it in there then." Well, right now, the 89 is five cents CHEAPER per gallon than 87. Can anyone explain this or have any ideas why my CEL keeps coming on with only the ethanol based fuel??

 

If you still have the warranty, I'd give Honda a call.

 

No, I don't, it's up to 125k now...

 

Still, I think they'd maybe be able to give you a hint. I call my service place all the time and harass them. :chuckles:

 

Yeah, I'm gonna give him a call and also call a little larger dealership to harass them a bit to see if I can find any info. I'm guessing it's just a finicky O2 sensor. Just curious if anyone has had this problem or know why it's doing it.

 

just run 87. u dont need to run 89. its pretty much a waste of money, unless ur car is pinging or knocking

 

As I stated earlier in the post:

I know what you are going to say, "don't put it in there then." Well, right now, the 89 is five cents CHEAPER per gallon than 87. Can anyone explain this or have any ideas why my CEL keeps coming on with only the ethanol based fuel??

 

wned:

 

Irregardless of what the owners manual might say, your car wasn't designed for ethanol.

The O2 sensor measures and reports oxygen levels back to the systems ECU.

It's all about chemistry - pure and simple - the ethanol burns in such a way as to produce readings engine mgt. doesn't like.

Use gas that does not have ethanol.

 

Sounds like an O2 sensor then. I'd rather put 87 in at $0.05 more a gallon than replace an O2 sensor. Either that or ignore the CEL.