DTC Code Help - I have the codes just need to know what they mean...

[mike (archive)]

Hey all and thank you in advance for your help.

I am hoping someone out there has a code book and can look these up and advise me on the proper part.......

I had a local shop hook up a computer and gave me theses codes but I am more interested in fixing the problem myself. Just need to know what parts or be pointed in the right direction.

Here are the codes:
P0141 - Bank 1 Sensor 2
P0171 - System 2 Lean
P0135 - Bank 1 Sensor 1
P1298 - Mfgr Controlled Fuel Fault
P0501 - VSS Sensor Range

The guy that gave me the codes also did a rest but my car is still acting up... The transmission is surging like it is looking for the gears and the speedo is going NUTS !!

All help is appreciated.

 

[Randolph]

It would help to know what year / model car this is.

I would start tracing back the P0501 error. VSS stands for Vehicle Speed Sensor and is a little electronic pickup that goes where the old speedometer cable used to be (on the differential). If the VSS does not work, the speedometer would act up (you said yours does), and the tranny would have a really hard time knowing what gear to select.

Without knowing year/model, this is fairly general, but my VSS ('94 Civic) has three terminals: Ground (black wire on my car), battery voltage when ignition is on (Yellow w/ blue stripe) and pulse signal back to the ECU (yellow w/ white stripe). If you have a multimeter you can do some simple tests.

1. Unplug the connector at the VSS. Turn on ignition (do not start the car). Measure if you have continuity between chassis ground and the black wire at the connector. There should be continuity. Then measure voltage between chassis ground and the yellow/blue wire. There should be battery voltage. If either of these measurements don't give the expected result there is a wiring problem somewhere.

2. Plug the connector back into the VSS. Set the hand brake, block the front and back of the front passenger side tire. Put transmission in neutral. Raise the front driver's side of the car so that the front left tire is off the ground. Turn on ignition and measure voltage between chassis ground and the yellow/white wire while you slowly rotate the front left wheel. The voltage should alternate between something close to 0V and something close to battery voltage (12 - 13 V typically). Probing the yellow/white wire with the connector plugged in can be tricky. I sometimes use a sewing needle to poke down into the connector to reach the metal. If this test fails, you have a bad VSS.

All the above references are to a '94 Civic. Your wire colors may be different. If you have AWD / 4WD and the VSS is on the rear differential (don't know if it is on the rear differential or not, but IF it is), elevate the rear wheel instead of the front.

If you replace the VSS, be aware that there is a tiny drive link in there that may get lost if you are not careful.

I would sort out the VSS problem first, as you know this is a "real" problem. Then I would reset the ECU and drive for a few days and hope that the other error codes go away too.

 

[Barry S.]

Hey all and thank you in advance for your help.

I am hoping someone out there has a code book and can look these up and advise me on the proper part.......

I had a local shop hook up a computer and gave me theses codes but I am more interested in fixing the problem myself. Just need to know what parts or be pointed in the right direction.

Here are the codes:
P0141 - Bank 1 Sensor 2

Oxygen Sensor Heater Circuit

P0171 - System 2 Lean

System TOO Lean (Bank 1)

P0135 - Bank 1 Sensor 1

Oxygen Sensor Heater Circuit

P1298 - Mfgr Controlled Fuel Fault

"A high voltage problem in the Electrical Load Detector" -- 96 Acura Integra manual but expect most the Hondas of that vintage are the same.

P0501 - VSS Sensor Range

The guy that gave me the codes also did a rest but my car is still acting up... The transmission is surging like it is looking for the gears and the speedo is going NUTS !!

All help is appreciated.

I'll take a swing at it.

Sounds like 2 interrelated problems. One Emissions/Fuel and the other VSS.

I'd say start by testing the VSS. The primary control signals for a transmission are vehicle speed and load. (VSS and MAP/Load/ELD?).. If the input from either is missing or bad, you will have a very confused transmission. It may not be getting, or be getting bad information from either or both..

It could also be that the VSS or load signal is causing it not to supply enough fuel and that might also do it.

It could also be a computer or wiring that has failed.

You may want to take this to a professional.

Note: To reply, replace the word 'spam' embedded in return address with 'mail'.
N38.6 W121.4

 

[Chip Stein]

Oxygen Sensor Heater Circuit

System TOO Lean (Bank 1)

Oxygen Sensor Heater Circuit

"A high voltage problem in the Electrical Load Detector" -- 96 Acura Integra manual but expect most the Hondas of that vintage are the same.

this is a civic isn't it?? what you have is a blown fuse. check all of them inside and out. there was a bulletin on this but i can't remember which fuse. i do recognize all the codes though.
Chip

 

[MELSAUTO]

Ihad a similar problem the answer is at this Link:
http://autorepair.about.com/library/a/1d/bl021d.htm

The first thing to do is to pull the codes from the computer. Since all of these problems started when the Check Engine Light (MIL) came on, they are probably related.

If you get a DTC of P1298 (electrical load detector), P0135 (primary heated oxygen sensor), P0141 (secondary heated oxygen sensor), or P0501 (vehicle speed sensor) stored. Fuse 15 in the under-dash fuse box is blown.

If it is blown it is probably because the engine wiring harness is rubbing on the intake manifold bracket.

 

[MELSAUTO]

Ihad a similar problem the answer is at this Link:
http://autorepair.about.com/library/a/1d/bl021d.htm

The first thing to do is to pull the codes from the computer. Since all of these problems started when the Check Engine Light (MIL) came on, they are probably related.

If you get a DTC of P1298 (electrical load detector), P0135 (primary heated oxygen sensor), P0141 (secondary heated oxygen sensor), or P0501 (vehicle speed sensor) stored. Fuse 15 in the under-dash fuse box is blown.

If it is blown it is probably because the engine wiring harness is rubbing on the intake manifold bracket.