Common Problem

The Lovely Harvey's 2002 Civic EX sedan, formerly my Mom's 2002 Civic EX sedan has been throwing a code P1361 (Intermittent TDC Sensor Fault) and going into limp mode.

Because it's intermittent, it was a pain in the ass to nail down the cause.  P1362 is the steady fault.

It boils down to two causes, sensor isn't getting voltage because of a something wrong in the wiring harness and a bad sensor.

Yesterday I cracked things open and replaced the sensor.  The process of exposing the sensor also exposes the wiring loom so as an intermediate step I checked the voltage to the connector while moving the loom every which way.  Voltage was steady so I proceeded to remove the sensor and replace it.

This job entails removing all four coils, the wiring harness, disconnecting and removing about five brackets that hold hoses for the AC and power steering, taking off the "valve" cover and unbolting the the power steering pump to flop around on its lines.  Once all that is done you can get to the plug and cover over the sensor.

The first steps of reassembly would have been greatly simplified if Honda had not placed a giant cube of an antilock brake system right on top of the fender in the way of being able to see into the spot where the sensor sits.  You have to flail around trying to line up the sensor with the tips of three fingers in a tight space until you accidentally get the locating pin in its hole with the bolt hole lined up.  It's very frustrating because in 2001 and earlier there's no ABS module in the way so this part is actually easy!

The same routine follows when you try to plug the sensor back in.

But once those irritations are done, it goes back together pretty simply.

The next problem was the car coming home from Iowa leaking oil everywhere.

Ancient seals be ancient and the exposure to winter cold was too much for them.  Since I had the "valve' cover off, that was an ideal tim to replace that gasket and then once that was done I replaced the "valve" cover end plug.  The plug is a plastic cup with an o-ring in it.  The o-ring was flat and hard as a rock, and there was much evidence that this was the cause of the leak.

Getting to this plug means getting the EGR valve off and and back on and that would have been simple except the tool clearance is just for 1/4" drive sockets and you can't get your fingers on the nuts to start them on their studs.  A lot of fiddling with a snitchy-grabber got things going and back in place.

Sadly, breaking loose the final bolt on the EGR killed the 1/4" drive ratchet I'd had since my first Camaro (part of a 200 piece mechanic's kit) in 1991.  Go Craftsman lifetime warranty!  Sadly (again) Sears no longer makes that model of ratchet so I came home with one of a different style.  The dead on had the selector in the center of the head and a knurled ring that let you turn the whole thing.  It came in handy a few times.  The new one is what I think of as an older style with the selector down on the handle and a release button in the center of the head.  The old style is generally better since the head is smaller and slimmer and it's most definitely stronger.

Comparison in 3/8" because they kept the broken 1/4".