Acura Check Engine Light On Troubleshoot Guide

Symptoms

Common symptoms that Acura owners notice when CEL comes on are:

• Engine Missifre
• Car Shakes
• Poor Acceleration
• Variable Torque Managemen VTM-4 Light On
• Check engine light flashing on and off
• Check engine light and TCS come on
• Check engine light blinking

What does Acura check engine light mean?

Acura check engine light (CEL) turns on to let you know that the engine control unit (ECU) has detected a problem.

A fault code is stored in the Engine Control Unit (ECU) and can be retrieved with an OBD-II scanner, as shown below.

When your Acura check engine light remains on, the problem could be something as simple as a loose gas cap.

It can also indicate a serious engine issue, a problem with the emission system, or in some cases, even an indication of a problem with the automatic transmission.

What problems trigger the check engine light on an Acura? 

While many possible problems will trigger the Acura check engine light, you will find some of the most common problems below.

1. Worn spark plugs
2. Defective Ignition Coil
3. Bad Mass Air Flow Sensor
4. Oxygen Sensor
5. Catalytic Converter
6. Loose Gas Cap
7. Crankshaft Position Sensor
8. Bad thermostat
9. A defective coolant temperature sensor
10. EVAP issue

Why is Acura Check Engine Light Flashing On and Off? 

If your Acura check engine light is blinking, it usually means there is an engine misfire.

Fuel is not getting burned in the cylinder. In such cases, the engine will also shake noticeably.

How to Diagnose and Reset Acura Check Engine Light

To understand why the ACURA check engine light is on, you need to read the codes. This is a simple procedure that you can perform yourself using an OBD-II scanner.

What You Need

• OBD-II Scanner

Procedure

The following procedure will allow you to read codes and reset the check engine light on Acura cars.

1. Locate OBD-II Port under the dashboard on the driver's side. This is a 16-pin port. All 1996 and newer ACURA vehicles have this port under the dashboard.

2. Plugin your handheld scanner into the OBD-II port.

3. Turn key to position II. All the dashboard lights will turn on. Do not start the engine. If your ACURA has a Start/Stop button, you will need to press the Start button without pressing the brakes.
4. Allow the OBD-II scanner to turn on and connect to your ACURA Engine Control Unit (ECU). 
   
5. Read Codes. Read ACURA check engine light codes from the Engine Control Unit (ECU) using your OBD-II scanner.
6. Write down the codes and research the problem before you replace any parts. Once you fix the problems that you found, come back to the main menu, and instead of Reading Codes, choose Clear Codes and press OK. 

What does it mean when Acura checks the engine light flashes five times? 

Acura check engine light may flash five times when you turn the key to position II but don't start the car. This happens when the fault codes are cleared with an OBD-II scanner or if the battery was disconnected.

• It means that the emission systems are not checked by the ECU self-test, also known as the emission readiness test.
• After a few driving cycles (usually within a week), emission readiness (I/M) is complete, and you can pass the emissions test.
• If the Acura light is flashing five times, you won't pass a state emission test until the emission readiness test is completed.
• Drive the vehicle for a few days, and your Acura check engine light should stop blinking once the I/M test is complete.