this post was submitted on 13 Aug 2023
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Memes

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[–] [email protected] 87 points 2 years ago

"I checked, and the engine is there"

[–] [email protected] 55 points 2 years ago (3 children)

I know it's just a meme, but an OBDII dongle


even a cheap $10 Bluetooth one


is super useful. You can read and reset the codes, and watch stats in real-time if so inclined.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 years ago (1 children)

My car doesn't have a reliable km/h gauge so I used an app to poll the speed of the car and show it up on my phone exactly in the way you described.

[–] riodoro1 11 points 2 years ago (1 children)

A GPS speedo would work too.

[–] scottywh 5 points 2 years ago (1 children)

The Bluetooth ones are definitely not as good as the dedicated ones but 100% better than nothing.

It's vital to know your own shit.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Hi, could you explain why? What's so good about the dedicated ones?

[–] scottywh 3 points 2 years ago

They typically offer more features and info for even only a few dollars difference...

...and my Bluetooth one died after a couple months just plugged in... Never had a standalone one do that.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

For older Hondas you can nab a Honda Interface Module for like $100. Installing the nutty pirated software is another fight entirely.

[–] [email protected] 49 points 2 years ago (1 children)

That's how a $50 problem becomes a $2000 problem

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Exactly. All the memes and stickers about letting the CEL stay on are funny, but if you don't know what code is triggering the light, you are gambling with your car, or even your safety. Seriously people, get a CEL checked out, and then decide if you feel it's worth fixing. Most auto parts stores, dealers, etc. will happily do it for you, often at no cost, but at least be an informed consumer instead of just hoping it will be okay.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago

Or just buy an obd2 scanner and read the code yourself

[–] OhStopYellingAtMe 33 points 2 years ago (1 children)

VW drivers call that a CEL, or “contains engine light.” As long as it’s lit you know your car still contains an engine.

[–] PP_BOY_ 7 points 2 years ago

As a former Land Rover owner, I panicked when the CEL turned out

[–] gndagreborn 23 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Bro is getting the most out of his 2006 Honda Civic. He'll be driving it up until the inevitable heat death of the universe.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 years ago

2007 Accord and I need to replace the serpentine then it'll be running perfectly.

[–] Cannibal_MoshpitV3 21 points 2 years ago

Lmao. But in all seriousness taking it in right away or getting a code reader could mean the difference between a $100 fix and a $1200 fix

[–] [email protected] 20 points 2 years ago (2 children)

My Honda check engine light came on and... it was a faulty check engine light bulb, got it replaced, no more check engine light

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 years ago

My Honda check engine light came on and... it was a faulty check engine light bulb, got it ~~replaced~~ removed , no more check engine light

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

suspicious_fry.png

[–] [email protected] 20 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I checked; the engines still there. How do I turn the light off?

[–] wholeofthemoon 2 points 2 years ago

There is no light on the engine so don't worry about it.

You're welcome

[–] [email protected] 19 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Get a cheap OBD2 scanner. They cost like €5 for Bluetooth ones and will tell you what error codes you are getting. A lot of them are not serious, and would save you a lot of money.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

I'll have to remember this one.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

Seconded. I was freaking out about a week ago. Turns out the gas cap had come unscrewed.

[–] owatnext 15 points 2 years ago (1 children)

In all seriousness, keep up on car maintenance. It's cheaper in the long run that way. And if your CEL ever flashes, get that checked out ASAP. That means there is a much bigger problem such as a misfire or a fueling issue. Both of those could melt or clog your catalytic converters. Those things are big money.

[–] grue 9 points 2 years ago (2 children)

And if your CEL ever flashes, get that checked out ASAP. That means there is a much bigger problem such as a misfire or a fueling issue.

And if you get an oil warning light, pull over and shut the car off immediately (as in, within seconds) or else you'll need a new engine.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 years ago

Seriously. I used to work at a car dealership's service department. One of the technicians was assigned a lady who didn't have any oil in her car because of some issue. The warranty was going to cover the repair. He told her to have the car towed in. But, no, she was able to get the car started, so she decided to drive it in. The car died in the service lane as we were about to check it in. The warranty wasn't going to cover a fried engine that was her fault.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 years ago

Sigh More Jeep stories. Despite regular oil changes and maintenance my Jeep would occasionally just fail to build oil pressure all together when starting. Shutting down and starting again always fixed it, never had any crud in the oil pan, happened 3 or 4 times a year for 12 years. New owner says it still does it.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 years ago

The check other just tells you that your car still has an engine. What you REALLY don't want to see is that light randomly disappearing. At that point your car no longer cares about the engine and will get rid of it.

[–] Hotdogman 12 points 2 years ago

Got about another 85,000 miles before having to think about it again

[–] [email protected] 12 points 2 years ago (1 children)

As long as one's bank account balance is lower than one's IQ, the check engine light will never be anything more than a suggestion.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Drove the same Jeep for 13 years, the check engine light was on for at least 10. Oxygen sensors are bullshit.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

Oxygen sensors are bullshit.

And expensive!

[–] CADmonkey 11 points 2 years ago

Or you're driving a Chevy colorado/GMC Canyon and that light basically just means the engine is running, because it's been on since the truck had 45k miles and replacing the parts so that the little princess ECU will stop setting codes over a 0.001 deviation from the norm is just a waste of time.

But I wouldn't know anything about that.

[–] DaCrazyJamez 10 points 2 years ago

Man, I drive an older German car, and they take their warning lights seriously. Like if you're driving to the hospital and the gas light comes on, you're stopping for gas.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 years ago

When I got it on my 2018 Civic last year, it turned out that rats had crawled up to the engine compartment and chewed of a cylinder cable.

I still managed to drive to work and to the car repair shop - albeit on low gears.

[–] PP_BOY_ 9 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I hope OOP drives a pre-2000s Honda because that's entirely untrue for anything made in the last few decades

[–] TeckFire 1 points 2 years ago (2 children)

“Last few decades” is a bit of a stretch. The only real issues up until 2005 were regarding the transmissions, and those got fixed in 2006. No significant problems until about 2015 or so when they started to make everything electronic, including key locks and such. The newest generations have been iffy, but my experience with Hondas up until then have been pretty solid, and you’d be hard pressed to find NHTSA recalls of any significant quantity or severity until then. 80% of recalls for Hondas in that era are for airbags (due to age) and exterior light bulbs going out (due to age) and the rest are usually regarding transmissions, with a handful of other parts thrown in.

I won’t say they were as reliable as the 90’s models per se, since those could take significant neglect and still be okay, but most things past that are really down to lack of maintenance for the most part. There will obviously be exceptions to this, but I would still take any Honda from that era over most brands except for Toyota.

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[–] FrankTheHealer 6 points 2 years ago (1 children)
[–] PP_BOY_ 1 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

See ~~also~~: Toyota

FTFY.

Seriously, Honda hasn't made a truly reliable car since the 90s and I feel sorry for OPs shop bill when he enters the "find out" stage of his current "fucking around"

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 years ago

My GF got around the Honda reliability problem when some jerkoff stole her CRV last week. Guy walked up, did some SDR magic, opened the door, started it up and drove away. Both keys were in the house :/

S-Tier security there, Honda.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I feel this is also true for toyotas.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Someone once told me "FORD = Fix Or Replace Daily". Never owned a Ford but still think it's funny.

[–] flucksy_bango 3 points 2 years ago

Also "Found on road, dead", and "first on race day".

Fiat has "Fix it again, Tony".

There's an extremely racist one for Pontiac.

[–] xX_fnord_Xx 1 points 2 years ago

Flip Over Read Directions