meandino

I have a 96 3.5RL Base.

When I turn the car on its running rough. You can feel it vibrating especially in the steering wheel. Its all most like its running on five of the six cylinders. When you speed up you can really feel it. When you reach your speed and let off the accelerator it really calms down and doesn't seem to be vibrating anymore until you give it some more gas.

I just bought the car and figured its got to be an easy fix. The check engine light doesn't even come on.(it works though) I even drove the car for about 50 miles. It doesn't want to die out or anything. Just robbing some power which isn't much and has the vibration.

So what do you guys think it could be? What should I look for to rule out? I'm not to experienced with the coil pack system. if it was a civic I could probably figure it out on my own. What else do you guys need to know to help me?

1grex

Start by disconnecting each coil pack 1 at a time until you find the cylinder that does not change the RPM. <this will locate the cylinder with the problem. Next, swap the suspect coil pack to a different cylinder and repeat. If the problem moved with the coil pack then the coil pack is the problem. If the same cylinder continues to miss, then you are looking at a fuel or compression problem.

check the plugs too

meandino

I actually started this and when I unpluged one it didn't change to where I would notice it. 6 cylinders are a little harder to notice then the 4 cylinders.

How come there are no check engine light? I figure with as much technology as this car has I would at least let me know.

meandino

Hey can I keep the engine running and unplug one coil pack at a time, or do I risk sending over 40,000 volts through my body?

1grex

^ Yes you can, thats what I was talking about, will not shock you

meandino

sweet. I'm going to put new plugs in today, and try this out then.

YeuEmMaiMai

check our mounts and how many miles on said car?

meandino

169k miles. Yeah I'm thinking mounts. Hope its not going to cost an arm and a leg.

YeuEmMaiMai

if you are good with tools, you can do them yo urself far cheaper than paying the dealer or a local Honda/Acura only shop

Prolly will have to drop the exhaust to get easy access to the rear mount

meandino

Yeah I'm good with tools. No problem there. Do I have to replace any gaskets if the exhaust comes out?

YeuEmMaiMai

with that milage, proabably so you don't need to take the manifold out just the y or j pipe

bkearby2006

hello i have a 98 3.5RL and im having trouble finding the ecu, where is it located. ive been told that it was either under the center console or passenger kick panel? where is it actually located.

your help is appreciated.

blammo98

those 3.5 v6 motors are notorious for popping head gaskets. especially with 169k on the odometer. motor mounts stay good on them except the transmission mount. Check with your local acura dealership cause there is a obd2 inspection recall that they replace the plug/coil for free, but from what i remember it was for only '97's, but i might be wrong. i work at an acura dealership for 2.5 years (so i em a idiot ha).

tophondatech

I have the same problem I will try I too

toasterboy

tune up?