Wdpfreak145

Okay guys so in the last two months or so I have had to do a lot of maintenance to my civic. I have gone through a lot of different areas of the motor as there was a lot of things that needed fixed. The problem now is I will develop a miss every so often that tends to bother me. I only notice the miss when the car is going uphill, and I'm thinking accessories might have something to do with it (like the A/C running). The motor also seems to do this when it wants to idle REALLY low, like in the 5-600 RPM range. It got so bad that I went to roll up my windows before going into the grocery store and the extra load killed my engine...

Things I have replaced:
New timing belt.
New water pump.
New (reman'ed) distributor
New rotor.
New cap.
New wires.
New NGK V-power spark plugs, gapped to .043
Swapped IACV out from my parts car and cleaned it.
Cleaned and reseated FITV.
New all aluminum GodSpeed radiator.
Converted p28 automatic ecu to standard ecu by removing the resistors.
New ebay exhaust from the header all the way back.

The car:
95 civic ex, originally an automatic transmission, converted (poorly) to a standard.

It got bad enough to make me worry yesterday so I pulled my spark plugs at my sisters house. Keep in mind, these are all under two months old.

Spark plug 1:


Number 2:


Number 3:


Number 4:


There seems to be a uniform carbon build up around the threads of all the plugs, but nothing on the conductor or the electrode or anything. This problem doesn't happen every day, it's just bothersome when it does!

Silvertune

Have you noticed any change in fuel consumption since the job? You should get a new o2 sensor and clean the MAP and IAT sensors. Makes a world of a difference.

Mr. EG

I'm assuming there are no CEL codes and they MIL light works properly? Reman'd distributors tend to crap out quite quickly. Was the ignition timing set after the new distributor was installed?

Wdpfreak145

My cel was constantly throwing the code 14 for the iacv. I pulled into work today and the car died again on me. I decided to pull the codes and the only one coming up is code 41 which is for the primary o2 sensor heater. I'll be pickin up a new one when I get off work.

But do you guys think that a primary o2 sensor heater could cause these kinds of symptoms?

Wdpfreak145

Oh and I tried my best to set the ignition timing to what felt right but I don't have a timing light to test it with. What are you referring to with the MIL light?

motegicivic

Rent a light if you have to. Timing could be off. In the stickies tells you how to check it.

Also check your FPR

Check your ECT sensor

Wdpfreak145

I'm familiar with setting the ignition timing.

I replaced the o2 sensor this evening which seemed to cure the problem, but only somewhat... My CEL is completely resolved and after a 20 minute drive, still has not come back on. This is a huge victory for me because I had to put up with that pesky light for over 2 years.

However, the car still seems to sputter a little bit at idle. It's not nearly as bad as before, and not enough to kill the engine, but i can still feel/hear it. So tomorrow I will be going through and checking the sensors like you guys recommended.

beecee18

Nice,
dont associate the problem you just fixed with the remaining small roughness unless the MIL illuminates again(malfunction indicator lamp) cause you asked lol,
Theres just probably another small issue or fault remaining but give it a week or to monitor for CEL's and other issues then move onto troubleshooting anything remaing, and chop em down

Wdpfreak145

Lol I will, thank you. I've just never heard it referred to as a MIL. I'll be making my normal drive to town tomorrow to help a friend with his 300z and that will be a good test for it.

I'm so happy to have finally resolved all my CEL codes. I'll go through and clean my sensors tomorrow and verify the proper voltages and resistance. I'm sure if nothing else I'll feel better about it, since I've never gone through and cleaned them. Thanks so much for everyone's help thus far, it's reason like this why I love this community.

Wdpfreak145

Still missing just as bad now... No cel though...

Wdpfreak145

Turns out the rotor in my distributor is loose and it doesn't have a screw in it. Anyone know the thread pitch and bolt length?!?

motegicivic

Might be able to get it from the dealer.

fungus mungus

I'd just get a replacement rotor from the dealer...it'll come with the correct set screw. Avoid aftermarket unless you're planning on changing the cap with an aftermarket cap. I found out the hard way that mixing and matching rotors/caps doesn't always work.

fm

motegicivic

When I got my rotor from the dealer it did not have the screw, I think it is separate.

fungus mungus

OK, so just go to the dealer and get a 5x12 screw-washer. 73 cents.

fm