1991 ACURA NSX check engine light

Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) System

Description

The Positive Crankcase Ventilation (PCV) system is

designed to prevent blow-by gas from escaping to the

atmosphere. The PCV valve contains a spring-loaded

plunger. When the engine starts, the plunger in the PCV

valve is lifted in proportion to intake manifold vacuum

and the blow-by gas is drawn directly into the intake

manifold.

PCV HOSE

BREATHER PIPE

FRONT OF

VEHICLE

BLOW-BY VAPOR

FRESH AIR

PCV VALVE

If there is no clicking sound, check the PCV

valve grommet for cracks or damage. If the

grommet is OK, replace the PCV valve and

recheck.
Gently pinch here
2. At idle, make sure there is a clicking sound from the

PCV valve when the hose between PCV valve and

intake manifold in lightly pinched with your fingers

or pliers.
BREATHER

PIPE
PCV VALVE PCV HOSE
Inspection

1. Check the PCV hoses and connections for leaks

and clogging.ProCarManuals.com

Symptom-to-Component Chart
Electrical System
Number of indicator light

blinks while Service Check
Connector is jumped.
When the ignition

switch is turned on,
indicator light
1

Blinks

Possible Cause


Symptom

Lock-up clutch does not

engage.
Lock-up clutch does not

disengage.
Unstable idle speed.
Refer to

page

14-54

14-55

14-56

14-57

14-58

14-60
14-62
14-63
14-64
14-66

Lock-up clutch does not

engage.
Lock-up clutch does not

engage.
Fails to shift (stuck in 1 st or 4th

gears).
Fails to shift other than 2nd

4th gears.
Lock-up clutch does not

engage.
Lock-up clutch engages and
disengages alternately. Fails to shift other than 2nd

4th gears.
Lock-up clutch does not

engage.
Lock-up clutch does not

engage.
Lock-up clutch does not

engage.
Lock-up clutch does not

engage.

Disconnected lock-up control
solenoid valve A connector Short or open in lock-up control
solenoid valve A wire
Faulty lock-up control solenoid
valve A
Disconnected lock-up control
solenoid valve B connector Short or open in lock-up control
solenoid valve B wire

Faulty lock-up control solenoid

valve B
Disconnected throttle position(TP) sensor connector
Short or open in TP sensor wire
Faulty TP sensor
Disconnected vehicle speed
sensor (VSS) connector
Short or open in VSS wire
Faulty VSS
Short in A/T gear position
switch wire
Faulty A/T gear position switch
Disconnected A/T gear position
switch connector
Open in A/T gear position
switch wire Faulty A/T gear position switch
Disconnected shift control
solenoid valve A connector Short or open in shift control
solenoid valve A wire
Faulty shift control solenoid
valve A
Disconnected shift control
solenoid valve B connector
Short or open in shift control
solenoid valve B wire
Faulty shift control solenoid
valve B
Disconnected countershaft
speed sensor connector
Short or open in countershaft
speed sensor wire Faulty countershaft speed sen-

sor

Disconnected engine coolant
temperature (ECT) sensor
connectorShort or open in ECT sensor
wire Faulty ECT sensor
Blinks

10

9


Blinks
Blinks

8
7
Blinks

6

OFF

Blinks

5

4


Blinks

3


Blinks or OFF Blinks

2

Fails to shift (between 1 st
4th,
2nd
4th or 2nd

3rd

gears only).
Fails to shift (stuck in 4th gear)ProCarManuals.com

If a customer describes the symptoms for codes 3, 6, 11, 14 or 1 5 yet the indicator light is not blinking, it will
be necessary to recreate the symptom by test driving, and then checking the indicator light with the ignition

still
ON.
If the indicator light displays codes 1,2,3,8, 11, or 16, check first the No. 9, 13 and 18 and fuse before elec-
trical troubleshooting.
If any of the fuses have blown, repair them and then recheck. If the indicator light displays codes other than those listed above or stays lit continuously, the TCM is faulty.
Sometimes the indicator light and the Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MID/Check Engine light may come on
simultaneously. If so, check the PGM-FI system according to the number of blinks on the MIL/Check Engine light,
then reset the memory by removing the CLOCK fuse in the main relay box for more than 10 seconds. Drive the vehicle for several minutes at speed over 30 mph (50 km/h), then recheck the MIL/Check Engine light.PGM-FI system

The PGM-FI system on this model is a sequential multiport fuel injectin system.
The indicator light may comes 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.If the electrical readings are not as specified when using the test harness, check the test harness connections
before proceeding.
Disconnecting the CLOCK fuse also cancels the radio preset stations and the clock setting. Make note of the radio
presets before removing the fuse so you can reset them. If the self-diagnosis indicator light does not blink, perform an inspection according to the table listed below.
Symptom
• Lock-up clutch does not
engage.

• Transmission jerks hard when shifting.
• Transmission jerks hard when
shifting.

• Transmission jerks hard when
shifting

• Lock-up clutch does not

engage.
14-7214-70 14-68
14-67

Refer to

page

Possible Cause
• Disconnected gauge assembly connector
• Short or open in tachometer wire
• Faulty tachometer
• Short or open in FAS (PNK) wire between D16 terminal and

ECM.

• Trouble in ECM
• Disconnected mainshaft speed sensor connector
• Short or open in mainshaft speed sensor wire
• Faulty mainshaft speed sensor
• Disconnected linear solenoid connector
• Short or open in linear solenoid wire
• Faulty linear solenoid
Blinks

OFF

OFF

OFF

When the ignition

switch is turned on,
indicator light
Number of indicator light

blinks while Service CheckConnector is jumped.

11

14

15

16


Ref.page

14-74
14-76
14-77
14-78
NOTE:ProCarManuals.com

Troubleshooting Procedures

Under normal conditions, the EPS indicator light in the gauge assembly comes on when the ignition switch is turned

to the ON position, then goes off after the engine is started. This indicates that the bulb and its circuits are operating

correctly.

EPS INDICATOR LIGHT

When the EPS control unit senses an abnormality in the system, the control unit memorizes the problem, the EPS indica-

tor light blinks at equal intervals, and the power steering assist is turned off.

When the EPS indicator light has been reported on, connect the two terminals of the service check connector with a

jumper wire. Then turn on the ignition switch and observe the blinking frequency.

SERVICE CHECK

CONNECTOR (BLU)

GRN/WHT

SERVICE CHECK CONNECTOR (BLU)
BLUProCarManuals.com

Troubleshooting
TCS Indicator Light

Temporary Driving Conditions:
1. The TCS indicator light will come on and the control unit memorizes the Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) under cer-
tain temporary conditions:
2. If the TCS indicator light does not come back on after correcting the tire or tire pressure problem, the TCS system is
OK.

NOTE: Remove the ABS 2.3 (20 A) fuse for at least 3 seconds to clear the DTC from the TCS control unit memory.
TCS Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) Indication: 1. Stop the engine.
2. Turn the ignition switch on and confirm that the TCS indicator light comes on.
3. Turn the ignition switch off.
4. Connect the two terminals of the Service Check Connector with a jumper wire.
5. Turn the ignition switch on, but do not start the engine.6. Record the blinking frequency of the TCS indicator light. The blinking frequency indicates the DTC. Long blinks in- dicate the main code: short blinks indicate the sub-code.
7. Refer to the Troubleshooting Guide (page 19-84) for repair information. The spare tire is installed, or a tire of the improper size is installed.
The tire pressures are not correct.
SERVICE CHECK CONNECTOR (BLU)
SERVICE CHECK

CONNECTOR (BLU)
INDICATOR LIGHTProCarManuals.com

The TCS control unit has three memory registers. When a problem occurs, the control unit stores the Diagnostic Trou-
ble Code (DTC) in the first memory register. If another problem occurs, or the same problem occurs again, the control
unit moves the first code to the next memory register and stores the second code in the first register. If there's a thirdproblem occurrence, the two existing code are moved up one register and the third code is stored in the first register.
If problems continue to occur, the oldest code is moved out of the last register and lost, and the most recent code is
stored in the first register. The TCS indicator light will not come on again after the engine starts unless another problem occurence is detected.

However, there will still be a code stored in the control unit's memory.

After the repair is completed, disconnect the jumper wire from the Service Check connector and remove the ABS 2.3
fuse (20 A) from the main relay box for at least 3 seconds to erase the control unit's memory. The control unit's memory is erased if the connector is disconnected from the control unit, or if the control unit is
removed from the car.

NOTE:

a: 2.0
sec.
c: 1.2
sec.
e: 0.3
sec.
g: 3.8
sec.

b: 0.5
sec.
d: 1.0
sec.
f: 2.5
sec.

Ignition

switch on

LIGHT

ON

LIGHT

OFF
First inspection Second inspection Third inspection First inspection

DTC 2-1 DTC 2 DTC 4-2 DTC 2-1

Engine start2nd cycle
ProCarManuals.com

Ignition Timing Inspection and Setting

1. Start the engine and allow it to warm up (radiator
fan comes on).
2. Pull out the service check connector located under the middle of the dash. Connector the BLU andGRN/WHT terminals with a jumper wire (see sec-

tion 11).

3. Check the idle speed (see page 23-92).
4. Connect a timing light to the service loop; while the
engine idles, point the light toward the pointer on

the timing belt cover.
SERVICE LOOP

TIMING LIGHT

5. If necessary, adjust ignition timing to the following specifications:
Ignition Timing: 15° ±2° BTDC (RED mark)
Idle Speed (rpm):
NOTE: All electrical systems turned OFF. POINTER
RED MARK
CRANKSHAFT PULLEY
WHITE MARK
6. If necessary, adjust the ignition timing, adjust by turning the adjusting screw on the ignition timingadjuster in the control box.
Remove the control box cover. 7. Remove the jumper wire from the service check
connector.
8. After adjusting, reinstall the cover on the ignition timing adjuster with new rivets.ADJUSTING SCREW
To ADVANCE
To RETARD Reconnect the adjuster to the car, start the
engine, and turn the adjusting screw
counterclockwise to retard the timing, or
clockwise to advance it, as necessary.
CAUTION: Do not damage the adjuster when
removing the rivets. Remove the ignition timing adjuster from the
control box.

Drill the two rivets off with a 3/16 in. drill bit,

then separate the cover from the adjuster. 3-P CONNECTORCONTROL BOX

IGNITION TIMING

ADJUSTER
Remove the two screws from the control box
then disconnect the 3-P connector from the igni-

tion timing adjuster.ProCarManuals.com

Troubleshooting

Troubleshooting Guide
NOTE: Across each row in the chart, the systems that could be sources of a symptom are ranked in the order they should be inspected starting with . Find the symptom in the left column, read across to the most likely source, then
refer to the page listed at the top of that column. If inspection shows the system is OK, try the next most likely system

,
etc.
* If codes other than those listed above 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. : If the Check Engine light is on while the engine is running, jump the service check connector. If no code is
displayed (Check Engine light stays on steady), the back-up system is in operation.
Substitute a known-good ECU and recheck. If the indication goes away, replace the original ECU.

PAGE

26

30, 32, 36

40

46


48

50

52

54

56


6-15ProCarManuals.com