I have 1993 Del Sol (Civic) and the check engine light recently came on. I disconnected the battery to see if it is just a temporary thing, but the light stayed on. Here are my questions:

1) Where can I go to check the CEL code? I went to a nearby Autozone yesterday, but they can only check cars that are 97 or newer.

2) I need to take an emission test soon and they won't check with the light on. How can I turn this off until I get the problem fixed?

Thanks!!

 

The OBD1 system that you have reads out codes by blinking the light. Find the test jumper on the far right side of the car under the glove box just below the top edge of the carpet. There will be two small plugs there that don't plug into anything. The one with two wires (green and white, and brown I think) is the one you want. Put a paper clip or a small piece of stripped wire into the holes to connect the two pins together. Then turn the key on but don't start the engine. The CEL should start flashing. Count the flashes. The first digit of the code is long flashes, then the second digit is short flashes, then it repeats. See the sticky at the top of the forum for the meaning of the code numbers.

 

Ok, I will try that when I get home. Btw, is there a way I can turn this light off?

 

The light is on because the computer has detected a problem with one of the sensors or something. When you resolve the problem the light goes out. If you just take the bulb out it will fail the smog check because they check if it comes on for the bulb test.