So my brothers 2001 Civic LX is having some serious issues. The other day when he went to start it and it started very rough and all of the internal lights starting flashing. Ever since the green "key" looking light on the dash has been flashing, check engine light is on, in first gear at 10 mph 2nd at 20 mph etc. it sounds like it hits the rev limit and just starts farting out and bucking almost like the car is choking. I went to go try and pick it up for him to work on it today and made it about 15 miles before the car starting stalling out every time I gave it any gas. It has almost 200,000 on it and this is the first serious issues it has had. This just randomly started doing this last night when it was raining if that has anything to do with it. Any help other than saying junk it is greatly appreciated.

 

the RPM gauge also stopped working.. i think thats about it.

 

Is the air intake connected to the box. I know this sounds funny, but my Volkswagen Golf (sorry, but I have a Civic and a Golf lol ) and I had the same symptoms. If that doesn't work then my guess would be the Mass Air Flow Sensor.

 

im hoping its something stupid like that or an o2 sensor. I have an srt4 and stupid little things are always whats wrong. My buddy is bringing his code reader either today or tomorrow to see what engine code is popping up. If its something major than hes getting a new car and this will be a project car.

 

All the lights blinking and the tach not working suggests a fundamental electrical problem with the power or grounds. Check the battery voltage with engine running. Check the main battery and ground wire connections. Check the ECU grounds on the engine (thermostat housing).

The "key" light flashing means the car doesn't detect or recognize the RFID chip in the key-- so it thinks that you are someone trying to steal it by breaking the lock instead of being the owner with the real key. In that mode performance is severely degraded on purpose by the software. There is a reader module near the keyhole and I think the MCU module is also involved in passing the key code to the ECU. If the MCU has quit there will likely be other things not working such as the dome light and the A/C.

 

soundz like the speed sensor or the ecu..throw an obd2 up to it and see what the code is

 

well taking half the car apart so far ive found one ground wire that broke in half pretty much when i touched it. the one that broke goes from right next to the thermostat on the inside of the engine to underneath part of the stock air box. if its that reader module im saying **** it his car his problems.. i cant imagine that its fun to do a new one of them. Im still hoping its just something stupid like a ground.. that would be much easier to do.