What will cure my Honda CR-V?

Although my 2001 Honda CR-V seems to drive very well and it starts easily from both hot and cold, the engine management light (EML) comes on; and from cold the rev counter does not operate. When the rev counter isn't working the engine is a little lumpy. After five minutes if I turn the car off and re-start, the rev counter works and the car drives perfectly.

This is an intermittent problem, sometimes the EML light isn't on, and sometimes it is. This problem has only occurred since the car has been parked up un-used for a couple of months. It doesn't appear to affect daily use once the car has been running for five minutes. The car does not over-heat. Any ideas what could be wrong? And will it be expensive?

Ali Bluck (Bristol)

Apr 2014 Filed under: fault

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Expert answer

Hi Ali,

That sounds to us like the distributor is playing up. It's a common problem on early petrol Hondas.

Let us know if that fixes it.

Shane O' Donoghue - Complete Car Adviser
@Shane_O_D