VX CEL Issues

[GasSavers_Crazy88]

Update: 6/9/08 I replaced the distributor and that fixed the code 9. I still have the code 48 (lean fuel sensor) to contend with.


This seems to be the place for VX experts so hopefully someone here can help. Bear with me through my long description:

I have a 1992 Civic VX I picked up a few months ago. It had the check engine light on when I bought it. It was throwing codes 9 (cylinder sensor) and 48 (O2 sensor). I pulled up the diagnostic steps from Mitchell. They showed no problems with the sensors or wiring. The ECU was the only possible issue. So I started looking for another ECU.

Well, it turns out my car is a California emissions car. The difference between Cal. and Federal emissions cars is the Cal. one does not use a 5-wire o2 sensor. I guess lean burn produced too much NOX for California. The thing is, my car has a 5-wire sensor on it. So I did a little research and found out that all '92 VXs came with the 5-wire. The only differences between Cali. and Fed. was the ECU itself. After asking around, I was told a FED. ECU would work on my car and it would give me lean burn.

I found a fed. ecu. I hooked it up, and the car started and ran fine, but the check engine light came back on. It was showing the same two codes: 9 and 48. I ran through the diagnostic checks again, and came to the same conclusion- bad ecu!

So, what do I do now? Is it common for VX ecus to go bad. It seems like too much of a coincidence for both computers to have the same problem.

Has anyone else had this problem? Should I try picking up another ECU?