Thunder Cat

when a manual stalls it has the sudden feeling from the engine as it twitches and dies.


well,this automatic suddenly felt that. at a stop sign i felt that feeling of it twitching,altho it didnt die. thereon after,even while accellerating i felt that twitching. its does it for a second or so until it stops. then after a few moments it'll do it again. and so on. maybe after a bit of a long drive it'll stop.

what can be the problem?

P_Adams

I'm the 19th person (and the first to venture to open my mouth) to look at this and even I wounder just what you're asking.

I'll guess:
A) You're trying to describe an uneven flow of power from the engine on acceleration / cruise
B) You're trying to describe the feeling one gets when you don't release the clutch soon enough as you stop (Chug's and almost stalls)
or
C) You're describing how some of us get in these forums from time to time.

If you could elaborate a little more, maybe I can get a handle on it for you.

P

Thunder Cat

well the first thing you have to know is what the engine FEELS like on a manual when its about to stall. it sorta shakes a bit before the car shuts off.


well my automatic car has been doing that since yesterday. i was at a stop sign when i first felt that feeling. i was at the stop then i felt the sudden shaking. it would stop then moments later do it again. i dont see how else i can describe it because i never felt that before. i just remember my friend learning to drive standard and i remembered the feeling of that shake.

im only saying i felt that kind of shake on my automatic lately.

P_Adams

Does this shake go away if you put the car in neutral, or Park?

I'm trying to determine if it's transmission related, or engine.

P

SlowAccordEX

Does the tach seem to be bogging? Could be sensors.

If it seems to be losing power inconsistantly while driving also, I could almost guarantee it's an oxygen sensor.

Thunder Cat

^how do i check and fix my 02 sensors?

and P:

it does not go away in neutral or park,it remains. until a long drive it will stop. but after the car has been off a bit,after i start her up,it will start all over again. someone said my transmission MIGHT be slipping? on the highway im steady on 60 or whatever and SOMETIMES she will act if i floored the pedal cause alot of power comes out of nowhere.

but that shaking,i have never felt it before and i drove her for over two yrs now.

P_Adams

By determining that it does it while in neutral or park, you've eliminated the Transmission as the source of your complaint.

It's engine related.
I suspect spark plug(s) or ignition wire(s) between the Distributor cap and the Spark Plugs. It sounds like you've got a cylinder that occasionally doesn't contribute (Miss-fires), until the plug starts firing after it starts to heat up.

Does it do it only when it rains, or anytime is possible.

P

Thunder Cat

funny you ask about the rain. the FIRST time i noticed it was this saturday which was actually raining. so i dont know man

i was in the process of replacing the spark plugs and its wires with some new NGK's. but what are ignition wires? ima newbie so i dont know ****. and how do i check on the cylinders? i was planning to get a compression and leak down test. ima former RI CRANSTON head ^_^ show love

P_Adams

Ah, a Former "Kraanstin" resident hey? What happened, didn't want to pay the property taxes?? LOL

Ignition wires: = Yup, those things you were about to replace

A quick rule of thumb:
Skips all the time:
1) compression loss, single cylinder
2) broken/cracked Spark Plug
3) Burned Intake or Exhaust Valve
4) Cracked / Burned Distributor cap

Skips some of the time:
1) Cracked Spark Plug insulator
2) Pourous Spark Plug Wires
3) Pourous Distributor Cap

We're slowly narrowing it down

P

Thunder Cat

pourous? is that a mis-spelled word?

if its the cylinder,what are my options to check it,and fix it? just curious cause it sounds expensive. and i rather tackle the big bucks that are critical first

P_Adams

No, I think you're right (Hey, I'm from Rogue Island ? Aren't I?

Porous= unsealed, able to absorb moisture thru it's outer surface.

Spark plug wires are a marvel of engineering. Lightweight, flexible and capable of carrying mega currents of electricity. But over time, and the ravages of engine heat and contaminants, they become porous and can absorb water, either as rain water or high humidity (foggy night).
When this happens, it compromises the insulating properties of the wire case, and allows the spark energy to find an easier path to ground (Rather than the intended Spark Plug); causing the skip you've been experiencing.
Be aware that a marginal Distributor Cap can show the same conditions.

I think it's a little too early about getting warm & fuzzy about cylinder worries yet....

Thunder Cat

THANK GOD ^

i hope it isnt a cylinder. but yes i will surely replace the sparks and wires this weekend. how can i be sure if the dizzy needs to be fixed/replaced. it looks kind of new compared to the rest of the parts under the hood. it actually has fresh looking color so i assume her mom replaced that. lol@me giving her ANY CREDIT

P_Adams

What you're looking for in the distributor cap is any indications of water condensing on the inside (dried water spots). You should also look carefully (in bright sunlight) for either what looks like someone drew a line from one of the terminal posts with a pencil, or a 'bluish" area (if the cap's black) that indicates a 'corona" effect indicating voltage leakage.
If you see neither, and the contacts don't look corroded, reuse the cap.

P

P_Adams

Yup, I answered it. How did it turn out?

P

Thunder Cat

i was going to,but shop closed and couldnt get the parts. i made an appointment with Honda to get a full tune-up though. so i'll just get pieces now or get whatever else i need from them.

markski037

check if you have water in the gas tank, i remember my moms old as hell lemans would stall on stop signs or red lights, becase her tank would be somehow collecting water, when the mechanic unscrewed the screw on the bottom of the tank atleast half of tank was filled with water