Honda OBD/OBD2 Codes

• Accessing Codes
  • 85 Accord, 85-87 Civic
  • 86-87 Accord and Prelude
  • 88-90 Civic, Accord, and Prelude
  • 88-91 Civic, Accord, and Prelude
  • 92-95 Accord, Civic, Civic Del Sol and Prelude
  • PGM-CARB Accord, Civic, CRX, CR-V, del Sol, Odyssey & Prelude
  • PGM-FI Exc del Sol, Odyssey, 90–98 Accord, 90–91 Prelude 2.1L, 92–98 Prelude & 91–98 Civic
  • 90–95 Accord Four Cylinder, 90–91 Prelude 2.1L, 92–95 Prelude & 91–95 Civic
  • 95–97 Accord V6 & 96–97 Accord 4 Cyl.
  • 98–01 Accord
  • 96–01 Civic
  • CR-V
  • 96–97 del Sol
  • Odyssey
  • 96 Prelude
  • 97–01 Prelude
  • Passport
• Codes by Year
• Codes by Model
• Questions & Answers

NOTE: 96 & later are OBD2 systems and require a scanner. For an OBD2 code list, please see our Honda code list or the appropriate generic list.

Honda: Accessing Diagnostic Trouble Codes

85 Accord, 85-87 Civic

• The ECU is located under the passenger’s seat.
• Codes are displayed on a series of four LEDs.
• With the ignition switch in the “on” position and the engine off, codes will be displayed in ascending order.
• Note: Red * indicates LED on. Blue * indicates LED off.

86-87 Accord and Prelude

• The ECU is located under the driver’s seat.
• With the ignition switch in the “on” position and the engine OFF, the red LED on the ECU will flash the trouble codes.
• For example, 2 flashes, pause, 3 flashes would mean code 23. Codes are displayed in ascending order.

88-90 Civic, Accord, and Prelude

• The ECU is located behind the passenger’s side kick panel.
• Please see the below section for more details of accessing codes

88-91 Civic, Accord, and Prelude

• When the CHECK ENGINE warning light has been reported on,
  1. Turn the ignition ON
  2. Pull down the passenger’s side carpet inspection flap from under the dashboard
  3. Monitor the LED on the top of the control unit.
• The LED indicates a system failure code by its blinking frequency.
• The control unit LED can indicate any number of simultaneous component problems by blinking separate codes, one after another.
• If codes other than those listed are indicated, count the number of blinks again.
• If the indicator is in fact blinking these codes, substitute a known good ECU and recheck.
• If the indication goes away, replace the original ECU.
• The CHECK ENGINE warning light and control unit LED may come on, indicating a system problem, when in fact, there is a poor or intermittent electrical connection. First, check the electrical connections, clean or repair connections if necessary.

92-95 Accord, Civic, Civic Del Sol and Prelude

Retrieving Codes

• With ignition off, insert jumper wire in service check connector terminals, located behind right side of dash on Accord, Civic and Civic Del Sol and near center console on Prelude.
• Turn ignition switch to ON position.
• Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) will be indicated by a series of long and short flashes on MIL.
• The number of long flashes indicates the number in the 10s column.
• The number of short flashes indicates the number in the 1s column.
• For example, 4 long flashes followed by 3 short flashes would indicate DTC 43.

Clearing Codes

Disconnect the negative battery cable for at least 10 seconds to clear codes.

Accord, Civic, CRX, CR-V, del Sol, Odyssey & Prelude PGM-CARB

• If the PGM-CARB warning lamp is lit, turn ignition On, pull passenger side carpet inspection flap downward under instrument panel and observe LED on top of control unit. The LED indicates a system failure by its blinking frequency.
• The control unit LED can indicate any number of simultaneous component conditions by blinking separate codes, one after another.
• If DTCs 7, 9, 11, 12, 13 or any higher than 14 are indicated, count the number of blinks again. If the indicator is in fact blinking these DTCs, substitute a known good control unit and inspect again. If indication goes away, replace the control unit.
• The PGM-CARB warning lamp and control unit LED may light, indicating a system problem when, in fact, there is a poor or intermittent electrical connection. Clean or repair connections as required.

PGM-FI Exc del Sol, Odyssey, 90–98 Accord, 90–91 Prelude 2.1L, 92–98 Prelude & 91–98 Civic

• In the event of a PGM-FI system electrical malfunction, an instrument panel mounted indicator lamp will light and stay lit.
• If the lamp is on, or if a system malfunction is suspected even though the lamp is off, it is necessary to inspect the electronic control unit LED display.
• The LED display is on the ECM (ECU), which is located just below the RH side of the instrument panel.
• The indicator lamps operate whenever the ignition is On and a DTC is stored in the ECM (ECU) memory.
• When an abnormality is detected the ECM (ECU) display blinks. The LED blinks a certain number of times, with the number of blinks indicating the number of the DTC.
• After the LED blinks a number of times there will be a two second pause and the LED will blink out the number of the next DTC.

90–95 Accord Four Cylinder, 90–91 Prelude 2.1L, 92–95 Prelude & 91–95 Civic

• If the malfunction indicator/Check Engine lamp remains lit or lights while the engine is operating, the ECM has detected a malfunction and has stored a DTC in its memory.
• To access the DTC memory, connect a jumper wire between the check connector terminals.
• On Accord and Civic models, the check connector is located under the RH side of the instrument panel.
• On 90–91 Prelude models equipped with 2.1L engine, the check connector is located in the engine compartment.
• On 92–95 Prelude models, the check connector is located in the passenger compartment behind the center console.
• On all models, turn the ignition On.
• The ECM indicates stored DTCs by flashing the malfunction indicator/Check Engine lamp. DTCs one through nine are indicated by individual short blinks.
• DTCs 10 and above are indicated by long and short blinks. One long blink is equivalent to 10 short blinks.
• The DTC can be determined by adding the long and short blinks.

95–97 Accord V6 & 96–97 Accord 4 Cyl.

• If the malfunction indicator/Check Engine lamp remains lit or comes on while the engine is operating, the ECM has detected a malfunction and has stored a DTC in its memory.
• To access the DTC memory using a scan tool, connect the Honda PGM Tester or an OBD II scan tool to the 16-pin DLC.
• The DLC is located in the center console behind the ashtray.
• Turn the ignition On and begin troubleshooting as indicated by the tester, following its prompts to diagnose the error.
• If unsure how to operate the scan tool or PGM tester, refer to the tool user’s manuals for specific operating instructions.
• To access DTC memory using the MIL, connect the SCS service connector to the SCS check connector.
• The SCS 2 pin connector is located under the passengers side of the instrument panel.
• Place ignition switch in the On position begin MIL flash code diagnosis.
• Data Link Connector (DLC) locations. 95-97 Accord V6 & 96-97 Accord 4 cyl. In Console.
• Service check connector location. 95-97 Accord V6 & 96-97 Accord 4 cyl. Passenger side, up under glove box.

98–01 Accord

• If the malfunction indicator/Check Engine lamp remains lit or comes on while the engine is operating, the ECM has detected a malfunction and has stored a DTC in its memory.
• To access the DTC memory using a scan tool, connect the Honda PGM Tester or an OBD II scan tool to the 16-pin DLC.
• The DLC is located under the drivers side of the instrument panel.
• Turn the ignition On and begin troubleshooting as indicated by the tester, following its prompts to diagnose the error.
• If unsure how to operate the scan tool or PGM tester, refer to the tool user’s manuals for specific operating instructions.
• Data Link Connector (DLC) locations. 98–01 Accord Drivers side, up under RH side of dash.

96–01 Civic

• If the malfunction indicator/Check Engine lamp remains lit or comes on while the engine is operating, the ECM has detected a malfunction and has stored a DTC in its memory.
• To access the DTC memory using a scan tool, connect the Honda PGM Tester or an OBD II scan tool to the 16-pin DLC.
• The DLC is located under the drivers side of the instrument panel.
• Turn the ignition On and begin troubleshooting as indicated by the tester, following its prompts to diagnose the error.
• If unsure how to operate the scan tool or PGM tester, refer to the tool user’s manuals for specific operating instructions.
• To access DTC memory using the MIL, connect the SCS service connector to the SCS check connector. The SCS 2 pin connector is located under the passengers side of the instrument panel.
• Place ignition switch in the On position begin MIL flash code diagnosis.
• Data Link Connector (DLC) locations. 96-01 Civic Drivers side, up under RH side of dash.
• Service check connector location. 96-01 Civic Up underneath dash on passenger side, below or behind glove box.

CR-V

• If the malfunction indicator/Check Engine lamp remains lit or comes on while the engine is operating, the ECM has detected a malfunction and has stored a DTC in its memory.
• To access the DTC memory using a scan tool, connect the Honda PGM Tester or an OBD II scan tool to the 16-pin DLC.
• The DLC is located behind the righthand side of the center console.
• Turn the ignition On and begin troubleshooting as indicated by the tester, following its prompts to diagnose the error.
• If unsure how to operate the scan tool or PGM tester, refer to the tool user’s manuals for specific operating instructions.
• To access DTC memory using the MIL, connect the SCS service connector to the SCS check connector. The SCS 2 pin connector is located behind the righthand side of the center console.
• Place ignition switch in the On position begin MIL flash code diagnosis.
• Data Link Connector (DLC) locations. CR-V Behind passenger side of console, below dash to the Right of glove box.
• Service check connector location. CR-V Up underneath dash on passenger side, below or behind glove box.

96–97 del Sol

• If the malfunction indicator/Check Engine lamp remains lit or comes on while the engine is operating, the ECM has detected a malfunction and has stored a DTC in its memory.
• To access the DTC memory using a scan tool, connect the Honda PGM Tester or an OBD II scan tool to the 16-pin DLC.
• The DLC is located on the righthand side of the center console behind a removable cover.
• Turn the ignition On and begin troubleshooting as indicated by the tester, following its prompts to diagnose the error.
• If unsure how to operate the scan tool or PGM tester, refer to the tool user’s manuals for specific operating instructions.
• To access DTC memory using the MIL, connect the SCS service connector to the SCS check connector.
• The SCS 2 pin connector is located under the righthand side of the instrument panel.
• Place ignition switch in the On position begin MIL flash code diagnosis.
• Data Link Connector (DLC) locations. 96-97 del Sol Behind passenger side of console, below dash to the Right of glove box.
• Service check connector location. 96-97 del Sol Passenger side, up under glove box.

Odyssey

• If the malfunction indicator/Check Engine lamp remains lit or comes on while the engine is operating, the ECM has detected a malfunction and has stored a DTC in its memory.
• On 96–01 models, to access the DTC memory using a scan tool, connect the Honda PGM Tester or an OBD II scan tool to the 16-pin DLC.
• The DLC is located behind the righthand side of the center console.
• Turn the ignition On and begin troubleshooting as indicated by the tester, following its prompts to diagnose the error.
• If unsure how to operate the scan tool or PGM tester, refer to the tool user’s manuals for specific operating instructions.
• On 95–98 models, to access DTC memory using the MIL, connect the SCS service connector to the SCS check connector.
• The SCS 2 pin connector is located under the righthand side of the instrument panel.
• Place ignition switch in the On position begin MIL flash code diagnosis.
• Data Link Connector (DLC) locations. 96-98 Odyssey Behind passenger side of console, below dash to the Right of glove box.
• Data Link Connector (DLC) locations. 99-01 Odyssey Driver’s side, up under RH side of dash near the console.
• Service check connector location. 95-98 Odyssey Behind passenger side of console, below dash to the Right of glove box.

96 Prelude

• If the malfunction indicator/Check Engine lamp remains lit or comes on while the engine is operating, the ECM has detected a malfunction and has stored a DTC in its memory.
• To access the DTC memory using a scan tool, connect the Honda PGM Tester or an OBD II scan tool to the 16-pin DLC.
• The DLC is located under the center console beverage holder.
• Turn the ignition On and begin troubleshooting as indicated by the tester, following its prompts to diagnose the error.
• If unsure how to operate the scan tool or PGM tester, refer to the tool user’s manuals for specific operating instructions.
• To access DTC memory using the MIL, connect the SCS service connector to the SCS check connector.
• The SCS 2 pin connector is located behind the front console.
• Place ignition switch in the On position begin MIL flash code diagnosis.
• Data Link Connector (DLC) locations. 96 Prelude In console between seats.
• Service check connector location. 96 Prelude Up under Driver’s side of the dash, on the right near or behind the console.

97–01 Prelude

• If the malfunction indicator/Check Engine lamp remains lit or comes on while the engine is operating, the ECM has detected a malfunction and has stored a DTC in its memory.
• To access the DTC memory using a scan tool, connect the Honda PGM Tester or an OBD II scan tool to the 16-pin DLC.
• The DLC is located on right side of center console behind the access cover.
• Turn the ignition On and begin troubleshooting as indicated by the tester, following its prompts to diagnose the error.
• If unsure how to operate the scan tool or PGM tester, refer to the tool user’s manuals for specific operating instructions.
• To access DTC memory using the MIL, connect the SCS service connector to the SCS check connector.
• The SCS 2 pin connector is located on right side of center console behind the access cover.
• Place ignition switch in the On position begin MIL flash code diagnosis.
• Data Link Connector (DLC) locations. 97–01 Prelude Behind passenger side of console, below dash to the Right of glove box.
• Service check connector location. 97–01 Prelude Behind cover on the passenger side of console.

Passport

For Passport procedure, refer to ‘‘Isuzu’’ Rodeo.

Honda Diagnostic Trouble Codes by Year

Honda Diagnostic Trouble Codes by Model