Suggestions for a problem??

Hello, I have just encountered my first problem with my 1995.5 Honda Passport and could not find anything on this forum that helps to solve it so I thought I would ask somebody for suggestions. The problem is the car begins to run rough once I run it above 3000 rpm for more than a minute or so (going up a hill or a freeway speeds). The weird thing is that the CEL will come on, then it will run great, except it burns gas very fast and it smells like a very rich gas mixture coming from the exhaust. The CEL will turn off if I keep the rpms down for a little bit and will start running rough once the rpms go back up and the check engine light will come back on then it will run fine. It seems to be going into safe mode or something. I have not had the codes checked yet because autozone could only read 1996+ and I didn't want to pay $89 to the Isuzu dealership to get it done. I explained the problem to a service mechanic at the dealership and he said it may be a bad coil, fouling spark plugs or the intake gasket. I was thinking that it may be a bad O2 sensor. Could somebody please give me some of thier thoughts/experience on what the problem might be or how to go about fixing it. Thank you in advance.

Brett

You can read the codes yourself on OBDI systems by counting the flashes of the check engine light. I can't remember how to activate the diagnostic functions. Maybe someone else can remember?

Thanks for your reply. I think today I am going to clean egr, pcv, and maf, and check the spark plugs. Anybody have any additional suggestions?

Brett

Does anyone know where the MAF sensor is located on a 95.5? I have seen photos of it on newer rigs but I am not sure where it is on mine. I know it is usually between the air box and throttle intake, but on mine there does'nt appear to be anything looking close to a MAF.

Does anyone know where the MAF sensor is located on a 95.5? I have seen photos of it on newer rigs but I am not sure where it is on mine. I know it is usually between the air box and throttle intake, but on mine there does'nt appear to be anything looking close to a MAF.

They did not install a MAF sensor on the 1995.5 Rodeo / Passport V6 3.2L.

Additional suggestion:

I would pull the codes as CatFuzz said by using the check engine light, it's easy to do.

Behind the left kick panel, you'll find a three wire diagnostic connector. With the ignition key turned off, use a paper clip and connect the two outermost wires (#1 to #3). Without starting the engine, turn on the ignition and count the number of flashes you see on the check engine light. You should see a code 12 (handshake acknowledgment) flashed 3 times then any trouble codes will follow.

Example:
Code 44- flash, flash, flash, flash, short pause, flash, flash, flash, flash, longer pause, then sequence repeats. Code 44 means the oxygen sensor sees a lean condition.

FWIW, I would start my diagnosis by determining why the check engine light is coming on...


Good Luck,
Dale


Edited to add V6 3.2L to the engine description.

Thanks for the suggestion. I really appreciate the help. I will give that a shot tomorrow when I get the chance. I disconnected the battery to reset the computer when I changed the plugs so I am not sure many codes will pop up. After replacing all of the spark plugs with standard NGK plugs, I drove it around for awhile and keeping the rpm above 3000 rpm as much as I could and it ran great with no CEL. I will cross my fingers on this one but the CEL will probably come back on my next long trip. BTW I did have a K&N filter in airbox before (took it out yesterday). Is there any way that the oil from the filter could have gotten into something it wasn't supposed to? I have seen from this forum that is a common problem that it fouls the MAF sensor. Could it be fouling up something else?

I am running a K&N style filter on my Rodeo without any problem whatsoever, don't worry about it. In fact, when I removed the intake manifold (plenum) to install new valve cover gaskets there was quite a bit of engine oil in there already, due to the PCV valve.

If you see a check engine light, pull the code(s) and let us know what they are.


Good Luck,
Dale

I checked the codes today and it came up only with the code 12 your were telling me about. It just kept blinking code 12 over and over again. I noticed that the check transmission was flashing the whole time while when I was checking the codes. Is that normal? I checked the transmission fluid to make sure there was no major problems and it was like brand new and at a regular level. Also, I drove it around today for about 20 minutes and the CEL never came on. I'm guessing it's only a matter of time before it does.

I checked the codes today and it came up only with the code 12 your were telling me about. It just kept blinking code 12 over and over again. I noticed that the check transmission was flashing the whole time while when I was checking the codes. Is that normal? I checked the transmission fluid to make sure there was no major problems and it was like brand new and at a regular level. Also, I drove it around today for about 20 minutes and the CEL never came on. I'm guessing it's only a matter of time before it does.

It has been a while since I've had to diagnose a problem with my Rodeo, I just don't remember if the check transmission light was flashing while the ALDL was jumped.

Since you disconnected the battery and cleared out all codes, I would expect for you to see only code 12 at this time.


Dale

They did not install a MAF sensor on the 1995.5 Rodeo / Passport.

Additional suggestion:

I would pull the codes as CatFuzz said by using the check engine light, it's easy to do.

Behind the left kick panel, you'll find a three wire diagnostic connector. With the ignition key turned off, use a paper clip and connect the two outermost wires (#1 to #3). Without starting the engine, turn on the ignition and count the number of flashes you see on the check engine light. You should see a code 12 (handshake acknowledgment) flashed 3 times then any trouble codes will follow.

Example:
Code 44- flash, flash, flash, flash, short pause, flash, flash, flash, flash, longer pause, then sequence repeats. Code 44 means the oxygen sensor sees a lean condition.

FWIW, I would start my diagnosis by determining why the check engine light is coming on...


Good Luck,
Dale

I beg to differ... I have a 95.5 Rodeo 4cyl 2wd and it does have a Mass Air Flow Sensor... I was quoted $400 for the sensor plus labor. I took it to a friend and (a Certified Toyota Mech.) and he knew by the symptoms that was the problem. We removed the Sensor and he showed me why it was failing... there was a bunch of black fiber like material interfering with it. I told him I didnt have the money for the part so we tried an experiment... it involved taking a Q-tip and removing this gunk... very gently (the actual sensor appeared to look like the filiment of a light bulb after cleaning). My Truck ran better then ever and my gas milage doubled. What did surprise him though is not only did it have a MAF but also a MAP sensor. But to answer the original question the MAF sensor was located just past the air filter on the intake. Intake was aluminum with a approx 2"x2"x 1/4" box with 3 wires I believe. Hope this helps. BTW Before we cleaned the sensor he strongly suggested that we not try it, that it wasnt a normal proceedure and that we could damage it.

I forgot about the V6s little brother, the 4 cylinder.

I need to clairify myself then:

They did not install a MAF sensor on the 1995.5 Rodeo / Passport V6 3.2L

They did install a MAF sensor on the 1995.5 Rodeo / Passport I4 2.6L

Good to hear you were able to save all that money by cleaning the sensor.


Thanks,
Dale

Sorry I didn't mention this before. I have the 3.2L V6. The good news is I have been driving it around after changing the air filter and spark plugs for about 200 miles, half of which came on the freeway, and I has ran like new.

The same problem is back after putting around 400 miles on my car. It happened as I was going over a mountain pass. CEL came on and then turned off and the car began to run terribly. At one point I had to pump the gas pedal to keep the car from stalling. Whenever the CEL came on, it ran pretty much like normal. When it turned off, it had major problems.

I also checked the codes and 12 and 44 came up. So at this point I am thinking it is an oxygen sensor. Could people that had similar problems or know the source of my problem please help me out here. I want to get the problem fixed without replacing 100 parts that I do not need to. I also noticed in my glove box that the previous owner had replaced one of the oxygen sensors before. Does anyone suggest that I replace both O2 sensors or just the bad one? Any ideas to which one is the bad one? According to other people on this site, I read there is two 02 sensors in a 95.

Brett
95.5 Honda Passport
3.2L V6
141,000 miles

The same problem is back after putting around 400 miles on my car. It happened as I was going over a mountain pass. CEL came on and then turned off and the car began to run terribly. At one point I had to pump the gas pedal to keep the car from stalling. Whenever the CEL came on, it ran pretty much like normal. When it turned off, it had major problems.

I also checked the codes and 12 and 44 came up. So at this point I am thinking it is an oxygen sensor. Could people that had similar problems or know the source of my problem please help me out here. I want to get the problem fixed without replacing 100 parts that I do not need to. I also noticed in my glove box that the previous owner had replaced one of the oxygen sensors before. Does anyone suggest that I replace both O2 sensors or just the bad one? Any ideas to which one is the bad one? According to other people on this site, I read there is two 02 sensors in a 95.

Brett
95.5 Honda Passport
3.2L V6
141,000 miles

Just posting a follow-up to my problem. I replaced the oxygen sensor and it is running great again. Thanks for the help.

For those who want to know how to replace the sensor:
You should warm up the car for a few minutes to make it easier to pull the old sensor out. On a 95.5, the O2 sensor is easily visible if you go under the car from the drivers side door and you should see it entering the exhaust manifold from the top. Take off the old sensor by unplugging the wiring and take off the sensor part by using a 22mm open end wrench (you don't need a O2 plug socket in my opinion). Mine came out without having to soak it in liquid wrench, but I think I just got lucky. Put some anti-seize compound on the new sensor and screw it in tightly. The hardest part of the process is putting the new wire plug from the sensor back into the wire harness. There is not much room to move your hands around. Anyway, I hope this might help someone out some day.

dude, your a life a life saver, i've been having the same problem on my 94 rodeo, v6, it was fine whipping around town, but i took it down to FL from NY last month, after about 4 hours of driving, exact same problems when i hit the mountains of VA, it would buck and shift strange, waste gas and blow black smoke. I learned if I played with the pedal and found the sweet spot for a minute, the check engine light would come on and it would drive fine, but still wasting gas. At first, thought it was a clogged cat, hollowed it out in FL, , but first 2 hour drive later same thing. then figured MAF, but couldnt find one, it did settle down a bit with a good spray down of carb cleaner in the throttle body, but still same, just not as bad. (wouldnt recomend, i remember on my supercoupe that carb cleaner will kill an IAC senser, but at that point i didnt care, it should of cost me 180 in gas from FL to NY, but was looking like it was gona run me over 500 {average 75 miles to a quarter tank, since problem, now I had averaged 28, after spray down, it went up to 42, but yes, it did effect the IAC, it revs high and stays high for a minute at start now, but was neccasary in teh situation).
Now that i finally made it back, glad to see your same situation, now I know the problem, instead of trial and error of a million sensors, thanks man, much... much appreciation.

By the way, rather then ebaying a cheap o2 sensor, is there a way to clean it???? thanks guys.

I am glad I could help out. I am not an expert but I think you are supposed to buy a new one once the old one is bad. I bought mine on autopartswarehouse.com. I bought the Delco brand one because it was only a couple bucks more than the Bosch. There could be cheaper options out there such as St. Charles Isuzu. There are links to it on this message board somewhere. Good luck and I hope it works out for you as well as it did for me.

Brett

Thanks for taking the time to post the solution!