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Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » Civic engine acting up BIGTIME--blind diagnosis???

Jan. 22, 2011 11:50 p.m. gamby SuperDork

...before I limp it to my mechanic's, I'm wondering a) if there's something I can check for or b) what I'm in for...

Car is a 2000 Civic DX

SO

Left a restaurant on this 8 degree evening. Driving up a hill and suddenly the car starts stuttering hard and the check engine light starts flashing.

I limped it home because I wasn't about to wait for a tow.

Here's what's happening: engine is stuttering bigtime both at idle and under acceleration. At idle, the once smooth exhuast note is now a putt-putt-putt-putt

No knocks out of the engine (guessing it's not a rod), no peculiar smoke out of the exhaust that I could tell--tough to judge on such a frigid night. The exhaust smells a bit different, though.

I dunno if something as simple as a bad injector or bad spark plug could make it react so violently.

What should I check for before I try to limp it to my mechanic's???

It's been a banner week--my garage door opener crapped out on Sunday and now my daily driver is taking a royal E36 M3.
Jan. 22, 2011 11:54 p.m. Sonic Dork

d00d - what code is it throwing?

email or call me, we can figure this one out.

Sounds like you are misfiring on more than 1 cyl. My guess is something in the dizzy from what you posted.

I have a few spares here, I'll have to look to see if any are what you need. I think they are all B series of OBD0 D series.
Jan. 23, 2011 12:05 a.m. gamby SuperDork

In reply to Sonic:

You've got mail

BTW--I don't think I have your current cell number--mine's the same if it's still in your phone.
Jan. 23, 2011 7:55 a.m. red5_02 Reader

Sounds like a misfire
Jan. 23, 2011 8:06 a.m. Dr. Hess SuperDork

Yeah, check the code first. Do Honduhs still get Honda Disease? (Intake ices up, let it sit, ice melts, car runs fine.)
Jan. 23, 2011 8:20 a.m. DaveEstey Reader

red5_02 wrote:

Sounds like a misfire
Jan. 23, 2011 8:30 a.m. Tyler H Dork

My experience with Hondas is that they have a strong preference for OEM ignition components. I bet that will fix you right up.
Jan. 23, 2011 8:44 a.m. LopRacer New Reader

Agree based on what little info you have to share at present the Distributor going bad would be top of my list, then I would look at things like Map Sensor, but not until i read the code and did the obligatory inter-web search for what does a "P2xxx code really mean." Sux man Hondas are generally dirt reliable and give you a hint before they carp out.
Jan. 23, 2011 10:40 a.m. DILYSI Dave SuperDork

Something in the dizzy. Quite possibly just a loose rotor screw.
Jan. 23, 2011 12:37 p.m. paul Reader

Sometimes the k series engines can skip a timing tooth or two on cold startup before the oil pressure brings up the timing chain tension (if the tensioner spring is not to spec)...

I know it's not a k series, nor a timing chain engine, but maybe a timing issue?
Jan. 24, 2011 4:37 p.m. digdug18 HalfDork

how many miles on engine? I would guess a timing issue as well. perhaps jumped a tooth or two.
Jan. 24, 2011 4:38 p.m. digdug18 HalfDork

LopRacer wrote:

Agree based on what little info you have to share at present the Distributor going bad would be top of my list, then I would look at things like Map Sensor, but not until i read the code and did the obligatory inter-web search for what does a "P2xxx code really mean." Sux man Hondas are generally dirt reliable and give you a hint before they carp out.

Wow, CARP out......
Jan. 24, 2011 4:40 p.m. corytate Reader

digdug18 wrote:

Wow, CARP out......

I lol'd
Jan. 24, 2011 5:14 p.m. LopRacer New Reader

Um so I admit to having a mild case lysdexia. or drunken typing finger, one or the other.
Jan. 25, 2011 12:18 a.m. digdug18 HalfDork

LopRacer wrote:

Um so I admit to having a mild case lysdexia. or drunken typing finger, one or the other.

my wife loves drunken typing finger. gotta get her in the mood first though
Jan. 25, 2011 10:01 a.m. sobe_death Reader

DILYSI Dave wrote:

Something in the dizzy. Quite possibly just a loose rotor screw.

This is the most likely and simplest fix. You may even get lucky and have the screw caught on the hall-sensor magnet so it doesn't fall into oblivion when you open the distributor cap!
Jan. 25, 2011 3:40 p.m. pilotbraden HalfDork

Ice in the fuel filter?

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