This 2001 Honda Civic came in with a multitude of problems one of which was a code P1298 stored for an ELD fault (electric load detector circuit input high). I had never had to actually test one of these before although I knew that they existed. The ELD sends a signal to the engine control computer so that the computer can adjust the alternator output in relation to power consumption. The ELD is located in the underhood fuse box. I am pointing to it with my screw driver.
To test the ELD I had to lift the underhood fuse box and remove the bottom cover. Once removed I could access the wiring for the ELD. The wire on the far right of the connector is power supply (battery voltage).
The wire in the middle of the connector is battery ground.
The wire on the far left of the connector is a five volt signal sent from the computer. The ELD will pull the voltage lower with increased system load and should vary with a change in load. For example if the blower or headlights are turned on it should drop. This particular unit was stuck at 3.81 volts and would not change with no loads or full loads applied. If the voltage had been near zero I would have had to unplug the connector and see if the five volt reference signal was being sent by the computer and wiring.
After testing and finding a faulty ELD, it was very easy to change. I removed the four adjoining phillips headed screws that held the two PAL fuses in place.
I released the latch on the harness connector and unplugged the connector.
With the wiring removed I simply lifted the unit. Slid the bar out and installed the new unit.
Below are a couple of pictures of the actual ELD part from Honda.
Hi sparky, I have a 97 civic with the pulsating lights and erratic speedometer/ rough shifting. I took the bracket off of the intake manifold and the wires were all good there. But I noticed that my airconditioner fell(the bottom mounts broke off) directly on the 02 sensor and shorted the wires out. So I unplugged the 02 sensor to see if it would cause the lights to stop flickering but nothing changed. Could this short have caused damage to the ecu? I’m kind of lost :S but I know that short has something to do with it, but I thought it would fix itself when I unplugged it. Please help me, my car is in my friends garage out of the snow but I’ll have to take it out really soon.
If the code was not there before,the original alternator had genuinely failed and overcharging was not a previous problem, then there are two logical paths. There is not proper voltage supply voltage at the alternator (blown fuses or poor connections between the alternator and the battery) or the replacement alternator is faulty.
2001 honda civic i replaced the altenator with a reman and its putting out about 15.6 voltage and now its giving me the p1298 code can the alt be the issue.
I am not very familiar with your steering complaint. The ELD and O2 sensor codes and faults should have nothing to do with steering control. Vehicle speed can though. If I understand correctly your speedometer is still not working? If so that could have a bearing on your problem. If the instrument cluster is not receiving the proper speed sensor data, the chances are that the steering control module may not as well.
Hi , sparky i have a 2002 EX Vtec civic and the problem i’m getting is a stiff steering and a buck while coming to a stop and speedometer stopped working, i had it diagnosed and the codes which i cant remember were for transmission and o2 sensors, i had the speed sensor changed but speedo still not work but i havent changed o2 as yet i also changed the steering rack and the steering rack computer and still get stiff steering after car drives for about 10 mins could this be the ELD ? and will o2 sensors cause car to get stiff steering and a bucK ? the transmission code is gone after i changed the VSS sensor but the o2 codes are still there HELP!!!