Picture this. It's the weekend, you're out enjoying the open road, and WHAM, your "Check Engine" light rears it's ugly head. Ever wondered what was wrong with the engine? Not have enough money to take it to your mechanic and let him decipher the enigma? Well here's how you can learn what you're Electronic Control Unit (ECU) is trying to tell you.

Like the code machines of old, the ECU loves to talk in code. The only problem is deciphering it. Fortunately, you have this article to help you interpret it.

The '86-'91 Honda and '86-'93 Acura were equipped with a window on the ECU. On the other side of this window is an LED. This little LED would flash the code when the key was in the ON position. But unfortunately, the '92-'00 Honda and '94-'00 ECU was upgraded without an access window or LED. Replacing the LED though is a flashing check engine light. All that you need now is to pull the trouble codes, and you can do it with a jumper wire.

Locate the factory diagnostic plug next to the ECU for the Integra and Civic. You'll find this plug in the passenger side foot well underneath the far right hand side of the glove box. There is a two-pin connector that contains a brown and black wire.



Jump these two wires together and turn your key to the ON position.

Here is where it gets tricky. Deciphering the code requires reading the light sequences. When the car is in the ON position, the check engine light emits two different flashes; a long extended flash means 10, and a rapid flash means 1. So, one long flash, another long flash, followed by 3 quick flash stands for...................23! Equipped with that information, here are the codes for the '92-'00 Honda and '94-'00 Acura.