Alright here's whats up. Since moving up to nyc I don't drive my car too often, however today I drove down to Jones Beach for the day (30 miles each way). While driving back I noticed something wrong with my car. Around 4000rpm when I floor it in 5th gear (around 70mph) the power delivery isn't smooth. It'll pull, then jerk, pull again, and maybe jerk again. I downshifted to 4th and tried it again (at a slightly lower speed). It did it again, but not every time I tried it. I haven't noticed this problem under full throttle in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd gears.

When I got off the parkway, I noticed the engine stuttering around 2000rpm in first or second gear. It would stutter and emit a different exhaust note. It sounded like a boxer engine for a few hundred rpms. After that it'd return to normal. It felt to me like it wasn't running on all 4 cylinders for a sec.

What could be the cause of this? I've thought maybe bad gas (tank's been half full for 2 weeks) but that doesn't seem too likely. Maybe one of my spark plugs has gone bad? There hasn't been any smoke coming out of my exhaust.

I'd like to figure out the problem before I drive to NC next weekend

8/28/2005 4:43:09 PM

if i were you id buy a set of plug wires and swap it on, wont take more than 15 minutes

8/28/2005 4:53:05 PM

Driving back and forth is a pain.. I did it last weekend eh.. but besides that.. you should pull your plugs and see how they look. Maybe compare it to the pictures for sparkplugs in a haynes or chiltons book for your car. Check your aif filter too. May be as simple as a tune up. Should do the little things first. But if that doesnt help any..probably going to have to bring it into a shop so they
can put it on a computer.

8/28/2005 4:55:14 PM

^I'll probably end up yanking the plugs. Although if I recall correctly they're not that old (less than a year I think). Also, the plugs are platinum. However, my plug wires are about 5 years old (NGKs)

I cleaned my K&N filter back in April, so that should be fine.

[Edited on August 28, 2005 at 5:09 PM. Reason : d]

8/28/2005 5:04:25 PM

Quote :

"However, my plug wires are about 5 years old"

once again, go buy a set of plug wires from kmart or something. swap them on, if it fixes the problem then take them back off and return them after you get you some new NGK wires, or whatever you choose

8/28/2005 5:29:46 PM

alright, before anyone bitches about me not checking the plugs or wires. I didn't do it b/c its a PITA to work on my car out on the street here, even for that.

However, after 1600 miles of driving this weekend the condition has gotten worse.

Here's whats I've noticed on that drive. The condition does not present itself when the engine is cold, or even up to 30 minutes of driving after being cold. The longer I drive the worse it gets. The engine now stumbles almost anytime whenever under a heavy load, be it accelerating anything more than 1/4 throttle in 1st gear, or 1/2 throttle in 2nd when starting from a standstill. Additionally, when applying more than 60% throttle going 70mph + in 5th or 4th gear will also cause the engine to stumble.

Gas mileage hasn't suffered, in fact its just as good as ever. I'm not burning oil, and the temperature gauge has been showing normal readings.

With more evidence I now think that it is something to do with my ignition timing or fuel delivery. Is it possible for a loose timing belt to make the engine behave this way? I think I'm due to have my timing belt replaced (80k since the last one). I'm just looking for a probable diagnosis at the moment. I can't afford to fix the car at the moment, gonna be a few weeks most likely. Of course I don't need the car really so its just gonna be sitting out there.

Any insight is greatly appreciated, thanks fellas

9/6/2005 11:26:08 AM

plug wires

[Edited on September 6, 2005 at 11:34 AM. Reason : takes 15 minutes... if that]

9/6/2005 11:33:54 AM

Been 90,000 miles since the timing belt's been changed...uh oh

9/6/2005 4:57:12 PM

if you dont even want to check your plug wires why are you even asking here? just take it to a mechanic, you arent going to get a magic solution

9/6/2005 5:04:17 PM

you cant afford plug wires?

9/6/2005 6:26:04 PM

have you checked the condition of the catalytic converter?

9/6/2005 10:49:22 PM

^could be...

But I was definitely thinking ignition related. You've got a breakdown somewhere causing a misfire under load. I'd bet two big-ass pepperoni pizzas on it.

I bet one of your plug wires is arcing to ground...maybe around the actual boot. Either that or your cap and rotor are worn the fuck out. What about your coil? It resides under the cap...what's that terminal look like?

And how about your plugs? Reckon the electrodes are worn to nubs yet?

9/6/2005 11:05:39 PM

well, the reason i suggested the cat is because of the way he described the situation:

Quote :

"Here's whats I've noticed on that drive. The condition does not present itself when the engine is cold, or even up to 30 minutes of driving after being cold. The longer I drive the worse it gets. The engine now stumbles almost anytime whenever under a heavy load, be it accelerating anything more than 1/4 throttle in 1st gear, or 1/2 throttle in 2nd when starting from a standstill. Additionally, when applying more than 60% throttle going 70mph + in 5th or 4th gear will also cause the engine to stumble."

i didn't pay too much attention to the word "stumble" but i figured pat would have enough common sense to know what a misfire feels like. if he had an arching wiring, i would think it would do it constantly, not after it warms up.

9/6/2005 11:14:07 PM

Mayhap you be correck. I think you got a point...Pat oughta know what a misfire feels like.

9/6/2005 11:15:42 PM

pat dont need no cat

9/6/2005 11:20:57 PM

take off your cat and put your test pipe back on. see if that makes a difference.

or that cat flow test that someone mentioned earlier in another thread.

9/9/2005 12:05:39 AM

the only possible way he could need a cat is if 1600 miles of driving with a misfire (from his faulty plug wires) passed enough unburnt fuel to ruin it.

9/9/2005 12:15:11 AM

I would guess a coil going south.

9/9/2005 12:25:15 AM

He doesn't even have a place to work on the shit up there, so this thread is a waste almost.

9/9/2005 7:49:53 AM

you dont need "a place" to swap out some honda plug wires.

9/9/2005 4:13:04 PM

^ parking lot of pep boys

Quote :

"I bet one of your plug wires is arcing to ground"

[Edited on September 9, 2005 at 4:16 PM. Reason : quote]

9/9/2005 4:15:51 PM

^yeah, but....

Quote :

"Pat oughta know what a misfire feels like."

9/9/2005 7:58:17 PM

he also "ought" to have taken care of this piddling shit

9/9/2005 8:03:21 PM

^you and ^^ are both true, and its pathetic that I haven't taken the time to work to attend to this, but its NOT easy, trust me!

Anyways, I'm pretty "fucking" sure that its my timing belt, but I WILL try out the plug wires first before going to the shop

9/9/2005 11:10:40 PM

Is this still a problem after what, 2 weeks? Do what ^x? said and fix your shit

Also please trash your platinum plugs and replace with NGKs

[Edited on September 9, 2005 at 11:52 PM. Reason : 2]

9/9/2005 11:49:16 PM

fuel filter?

9/10/2005 12:38:48 AM

^^I don't drive often at all...and I only brought this back to the top once

9/10/2005 8:03:55 AM