so i was driving my friend around for a few hours looking for a new car for him and his girl..well on my way home i had to drop his brother off and my CEL came on...car didnt drive/idle/accelerate any differently..so after i dropped him off i shut my car off just to see if the CEL would go away and the car wouldnt start..
it sounded completely normal while it was turning over but wouldn't come on.
so i took my - terminal off the battery and let it sit for a minute popped it back on started right up and no CEL..drove home no CEL

so since the CEL is no longer there i cant pull a code or get a scan done so..what kind of possibilities do i have here?
i do use 87octane if that matters ..i know 91 is recommended cause its semi high compression and i live in hott a$$ florida so i was thinking this might cause and issue but not 100% ..i tried doing some searches didnt turn up much so any info is appreciated as always..thanks

 

it could be anything. MAF sensor, 02, TPS, cam or crank position sensors

you really need to pull the codes before you reset the computer next time.

what year is your sc?

 

1992..wasnt sure if there was a certain number of things that could keep it from not starting..usually when i hear of ppl having cel's car still starts and runs ..first time its happened to me with the sc300 and wouldn't start..thought it might be an indicator..
if i had more time i would of pulled them then but i had to get home so i really just rushed to get it started and home

thx for the response though.

 

do you know how to "jumper" the te and te1 terminals on the diagnostic port under the hood? it's very quick and easy to get the codes

 

no didnt know exactly how to do so ..i mean ive done things like this before to pull codes but never with this car so i didnt know the correct way of doing so ..

 

here ya go, after you jump the terminals the check engine light will flash a sequence on the dash

This link is a overview of the diagnostic system and also has a list of the OBD-1 codes
http://www.mkiv.com/techarticles/eng...bd1_codes.html

heres a pic i made showing how to jump the terminals

 

thanks man really appreciate it..next time it comes on ill be sure to do this..im hoping it does so i can figure it out but at the same time i just hope it goes away..already got another issue im dealing with that has me pretty angry at the car haha ..

 

actually you may want to go try it, depending on how long you had the battery disconnected the code may have not completely cleared.

 

ok thanks will do

 

ok..i checked it today and the cel is constantly blinking..ive done code pulls before on hondas and theres either something like 3 short blinks 2 longs..or some sort of hiccup or something to distinguish a difference to get the code..
all im getting is CONSTANT blinking of the CEL and some blinking from the O/D off light..itll blink 6 times then 2 times then long pause..

 

the constant steady blinking means there are not any codes being thrown. The O/D light should have a steady blink. that could mean the transmission is throwing a code... ill have to do a little digging

 

thanks i really appreciate the help..car has been running fine lately and im pretty sure the tranny is throwing a code..i believe a solenoid is going bad..sometimes it doesnt downshift and i have to do it manually....which ill get around too..but something else is bothering me worse and its a damn creak sometimes clunk while steering..

the steering rack is tightened the brakes aren't after market and were just recently done
i tried tightening up the bolts suggested by a thread that said it was the issue with creaking/clunking..i could of missed some ..but i mainly hear it from the driver side..im starting to think it could possibly be the ball joint ...so im trying to work on this as well

 

yea i found that 62 for the OD off is the first solenoid on the tranny is bad

 

My 97 SC400 has the same Cluncking noises you described and mine seems to be driver side aswell... I have check and double checked all the bolts and cant seem to get to the bottom of the sound... Let me know what you find out about the clunk!

And just an FYI... I had a 92 SC400 before my 97 and my 92 had simular "phantom CELs" and I spent a ton replacing all kinds of sensors, coil packs, wires and plugs and it ended up being a bad ecu... if you arent the original owner you may want to pull your carpet back and make sure you dont have a refurbished ecu.

 

originally i had a reman. ecu but then i bought one off a member here because my old on had issues going into OD. now that problem is fixed and this is/was the first time and hasn't happened since..

as far as the noise..yea im still not 100% i have a few mechanic friends ill let look at it soon to see if they know what it is before i start replacing stuff