Reading Vehicle Error blink codes

retepsnikrep · 12-14-2010, 01:05 AM

I've borrowed this useful guide from Mike and made it a sticky here as it's something a lot of owners forget. In the abscence of a genuine Honda ODBII tool it is impossible to get the detailed sub P code data from the car any other way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Dabrowski 2000

I have been getting a lot of people asking if grid charging will fix an I1 1449.
Many people do not realize that a P1449 can be any of 4 actual subcodes. The easiest way to tell is to short two pins on the OBDII port and read the long and short blinks of the IMA light:

MIMA Honda Insight Modified Integrated Motor Assist - Reading the blink codes

The list of blink codes are here:

http://99mpg.com/Data/resources/down...nk_code_p1.gif
http://99mpg.com/Data/resources/down...nk_code_p2.gif
http://99mpg.com/Data/resources/down...nk_code_p3.gif

P1449 [72] battery module overheating:
probably looking at excessive overall temp, which is measured by the three thermistors, which could be caused by insufficient air flow, high internal resistance in multiple cells.

P1449 [73] battery cell overheating:
Likely the PTC strip detected a cell or more that exceed the max allowable temp.
likely cause extreme internal resistance, or very low capacity cell that is always in the fully charged condition.

P1449 [74] Battery module individual voltage input deviation:
This is the likely code for an unbalanced pack that should respond well to grid charging.

P1449 [78] Battery module deterioration:
Possibly looks at voltage deviation, and overall capacity.

So to read the blink codes when you turn the ignition on the IMA, EPS, ABS, SRS and CEL/MIL will all flash any stored codes. It will flash longs flashes for the Tens digit and short flashes for last digit. Pause. and repeat. (example: if your IMA light flashes Long-long-long-long-long-long-long-short-short-short-short-short-short-short then you have code 77 which is "battery module deterioration" and you could be getting a new battery.) If multiple codes are stored then it will flash out the first code, then the next code, so on and then repeat. It's not real easy to read the code(s), so after you think you have it, double check.

http://yves.fungiart.com/pages/pcodes.htm

Thanks to previous posters for the info I have just collated and stickied it. Please feel free to add more information.

Mike Dabrowski 2000 · 12-14-2010, 10:49 AM

Nice idea Peter,
A wikipedia for Insights.

gilbertguy · 01-01-2011, 09:47 PM

This will come in handy since the IMA light came on today, hope the rest of 2011 goes better then the first day of the year.

Update: Used the blink method today and got a 77, Battery Module Deterioration.

retepsnikrep · 03-23-2011, 07:11 AM

Found something interesting today.

On UK cars it appears the Brown SCS dtc wire is not populated/present at the ODBII diagnostic connections socket pin 9

Arrrgghh!! It's certainly not there on any of my three cars!

After looking in the manual the brown SCS wire is still populated at the MCM connector A25 so I tied that to ground and all the codes for abs, ima, eps etc are blinked as expected on the dash Phew!

So the diagram in Mike's link below does not appear to apply to UK cars!

Reading the blink codes - MIMA Honda Insight Modified Integrated Motor Assist

Anyone care to check japanese imports?

I think i will install a little switch on dashboard to ground it when reqd and blink codes. Need to see if i can find the wire in the front part of the harness now. I also need to install myself a MCM/BCM reset switch as with all my fiddling I'm always setting codes.