Frustrated!!

[Kristopher1129]

Kind of went overboard today, ha.

My car (shown below) is no prize. It's a 99 Civic LX that I picked up about two years ago for $2,900. Paid cash for it, and it has given me no issues since.

Recently...the check engine light popped on (which always sucks). Of course...it's the usual useless code for an O2 sensor. It's never the O2 sensor! Always something different.

I brought it to my mechanic, and said just put a new sensor in, and inspect it so I can be on my way. Come to find out, my exhaust manifold is cracked. Mechanic gives me a quote for $950! Obviously...I said no thanks, I'll take it from here.

Of course, the manifold is connected to the catalytic converter, which is also connected to two different O2 sensors. All of which have to be replaced! So I did ALL that work today.

Replaced the Catalytic converter, both O2 sensors, the exhaust manifold, and shut off the engine light. I take it to get inspected...and I get a temporary sticker! Why? Because the O2 sensors are too new!!! Yeah, so I have to drive it around to make sure they're good to go, ha. After all that, I was extremely frustrated to not get my sticker.

I was so mad, that I cleaned her up, ha. Even did the headlights. The end.

 

[davey g-force]

Well done doing all that work yourself!

Oh well, at least you got to detail her for some therapy..

 

[Twister]

I know how you feel. I fight with O2 codes around inspection time every year. Mine is a tuning issue that I need to get worked out.

 

[Kristopher1129]

Well done doing all that work yourself!

Oh well, at least you got to detail her for some therapy..

It really was therapy. I was like, I'm just gonna wash it up so I feel better about it. Before I knew it, the clay was out, the 105 came out, had the GG6 out, the 3" out, the WGDGPS, the tireshine, headlight restore, I went to Autozone for wipers, etc, etc, etc. lol

I was clearly upset, ha.

I know how you feel. I fight with O2 codes around inspection time every year. Mine is a tuning issue that I need to get worked out.

Anytime an engine light goes off, I always assume it's either going to be for O2 sensor. But it's never the sensor. It's always something more like the cat, or a exhaust leak somewhere. Those sensors gotta go, ha.

 

[Bigpat]

Dang man.... well now you just have to drive your clean car lol..... might want to find out if there are any procedures to ht before you bring it back, ie. Drive certain speed then speed up to certain speed for x miles, or hard accel....you get the idea, I had to run my expedition through the ringer to get the o2 to reset.... not saying it was the right or only way but floored it from a stop numerous times..... 85+mph a few times and it finally reset... but most people say you can drive like 50 miles and be good.... good luck

 

[Kristopher1129]

Dang man.... well now you just have to drive your clean car lol..... might want to find out if there are any procedures to ht before you bring it back, ie. Drive certain speed then speed up to certain speed for x miles, or hard accel....you get the idea, I had to run my expedition through the ringer to get the o2 to reset.... not saying it was the right or only way but floored it from a stop numerous times..... 85+mph a few times and it finally reset... but most people say you can drive like 50 miles and be good.... good luck

They told me I just had to drive it for 60-100 miles. Don't know if that's true or not.

 

[Bigpat]

They told me I just had to drive it for 60-100 miles. Don't know if that's true or not.

Very possible...I may have beat the hell out of my ex wife's truck for no reason lmao Im the MAN

 

[Kristopher1129]

Very possible...I may have beat the hell out of my ex wife's truck for no reason lmao Im the MAN

Nah, I'm sure it was fun, haha.:xyxthumbs:

 

[TS656577]

Civics ftw! They run and run. You're right about the exhaust though. It stinks because the LX is set up like that. You should turbo it so then you can totally remove the cat and turn off the O2 sensors

 

[CamaroSS27]

I know how you feel. I fight with O2 codes around inspection time every year. Mine is a tuning issue that I need to get worked out.

same here, must just be and fbody thing!

looks good though OP

 

[alko]

Man...I've NEVER heard someone say they can't pass inspections because of a new O2 sensor. That sucks! What if you hadn't replaced them...they would have told you that you need new ones. Would they still have given you a temp sticker for replacing the old ones? Atleast you have a nice shiney car! LOL!

 

[SkateForGirl]

I hate when they quote you something ridiculous. Same thing happened to my friends 98 ex and he got quoted over $1000. I obtained a brand new one for him for 350 and we picked put it in and wallah. Glad you went and did it yourself because that's just ridiculous.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Man, those NH inspection rules are just as screwy as here in NJ. How do you get a new car inspection sticker if the O2 sensors aren't "broken in" yet?

 

[BobbyG]

Kris,

I'm a believer in the saying; "If you want it done right and for the right price do it yourself."

You did, and it's done correctly, and you saved yourself a boatload of money. Now your car not only runs like new it looks like new too!

Nice work!! rops:

 

[Porsche Pilot]

I am so thankful I live in an inspection free state. Florida, smogging up the U.S. one car at a time!

My Porsche throws O2 codes for all kinds of stupid reasons. Outside air temp too high, different gas station gas, it's Tuesday...there never seems to be a legit reason or problem.

 

[CEE DOG]

Great work! Now to correct the messed up phony inspection rules!! So glad we don't deal with that down here!

 

[BobbyG]

Man...I've NEVER heard someone say they can't pass inspections because of a new O2 sensor. That sucks! What if you hadn't replaced them...they would have told you that you need new ones. Would they still have given you a temp sticker for replacing the old ones? Atleast you have a nice shiney car! LOL!

Hey Alex,

If an O2 sensor throws a fault code it's generally displayed on the dash.

The inspection stations here in MA, or at least the ones I go to must hook their computer to the connection beneath the dash in order for the inspection to valid... This is what the tech at the garage told me anyway.

He also told me that he can tell if the fault codes had need erased or reset and how long ago. I guess if it was within so many minutes it flags him to that too...again, This is what the tech at the garage told me.

The O2 sensor thing can be frustrating.....

 

[mikep288]

Sorry to hear about the mechanical issues and glad their behind you now. The car came out great!

 

[Kristopher1129]

Civics ftw! They run and run. You're right about the exhaust though. It stinks because the LX is set up like that. You should turbo it so then you can totally remove the cat and turn off the O2 sensors

I like your style! Unfortunately...there's no way I'm gonna turbo this thing, lol.

Man...I've NEVER heard someone say they can't pass inspections because of a new O2 sensor. That sucks! What if you hadn't replaced them...they would have told you that you need new ones. Would they still have given you a temp sticker for replacing the old ones? Atleast you have a nice shiney car! LOL!

I thought the same thing! You see that they're brand new...then why would there be an O2 sensor problem!? I don't get it, ha.

I hate when they quote you something ridiculous. Same thing happened to my friends 98 ex and he got quoted over $1000. I obtained a brand new one for him for 350 and we picked put it in and wallah. Glad you went and did it yourself because that's just ridiculous.

That's exactly what I did. I bought the manifold kit on ebay which came with the cat and manifold. Paid $350 with free shipping. Then I bought the O2 sensors and slapped them in. Done deal. Saved about $500! And the guy that did the mechanic work threw in a free exterior detailing, ha. :dblthumb2:

Man, those NH inspection rules are just as screwy as here in NJ. How do you get a new car inspection sticker if the O2 sensors aren't "broken in" yet?

Good point...

Kris,

I'm a believer in the saying; "If you want it done right and for the right price do it yourself."

You did, and it's done correctly, and you saved yourself a boatload of money. Now your car not only runs like new it looks like new too!

Nice work!! rops:

I don't know about looks like new, ha. But, definitely better. There's a lot of problems with the paint. Not visible at about 10 feet away...but they're there. I wanted to paint it this winter, but I haven't had any free time.

I am so thankful I live in an inspection free state. Florida, smogging up the U.S. one car at a time!

My Porsche throws O2 codes for all kinds of stupid reasons. Outside air temp too high, different gas station gas, it's Tuesday...there never seems to be a legit reason or problem.

Yeah, you guys can ride around on a rusty axle with wheels and nobody cares, ha. My brother lives in FLA, and he's telling me "Yeah dude just throw in some performance headers, exhaust, turbo, and rims!". I said "Man, I live in NH. That thing won't pass inspection off the headers alone, ha.".

Hey Alex,

If an O2 sensor throws a fault code it's generally displayed on the dash.

The inspection stations here in MA, or at least the ones I go to must hook their computer to the connection beneath the dash in order for the inspection to valid... This is what the tech at the garage told me anyway.

He also told me that he can tell if the fault codes had need erased or reset and how long ago. I guess if it was within so many minutes it flags him to that too...again, This is what the tech at the garage told me.

The O2 sensor thing can be frustrating.....

I'm not sure about that. Unless there's a specific machine that will tell you if a code has been erased...not sure. But, I've erased my engine code multiple times for just emission problems, then brought it and got it inspected without an issue. It comes back on...but by then it doesn't matter, ha.

In this case, I tried shutting it off, and it came right back on within seconds. Had no choice.

Sorry to hear about the mechanical issues and glad their behind you now. The car came out great!

It's got snow all over it already, ha.

 

[Bacon]

The inspector was correct; the new O2 sensors have to be reset and this can only happen through driving the car. The same thing can happen if you disconect the battery. But sometimes even ALOT of driving doesnt reset them, the system sequence is very tricky.

You can ask them to do a manual test; its the old fashion method where they put the monitor on the exhaust pipe

good luck!