98ekb18c

I'm working on a 1992 accord dx. Completely stock. When hitting the gas both in park and in gear the engine breaks up starting around 2000rpm and on up. If you lightly get on the gas it's fine, if you get on it hard it's like the ignition is cutting out. So far I've replaced the cap, rotor, plugs, wires, distributor, coil, fuel filter, injector resistor box, and fuel pump, all either new or from known running cars. There is no CEL stored or lit up. Any ideas?

GhostAccord

Have you checked the fuel pressure?

When was the last known valve adjustment?

You could try a compression test and or leak down test on the engine.

98ekb18c

I have not checked the fuel pressure and I have no idea about the valve adjustment. I was thinking maybe a valve adjustment would help, or maybe the timing belt jumped. As it's breaking up, the tach jumps around erratically, so I'm inclined to think its an electrical problem tho.

History is I was told by the owner of the car that it broke down and stopped running. I towed it to the junk yard I work at (hence all the parts just swapped instead of tested) for the mechanics there to sort it out. When we got the car there, it fired up fine but had the breaking up problem.

The two mechanics there were messing with the car for a while and the car stopped running, acting like a main relay problem. They swapped that (I forgot to mention that earlier) along with some ignition parts and it was running again but still breaking up. They found a cracked fuel line, fixed that, and decided it wasn't getting enough fuel so they did the pump. No change, so they do the plugs, coil and distributor. Nothing.

Today one of the mechanics has me change the fuel filter, cap, rotor and wires, still no improvement. On to the injector resistor box. No change. I was told to swap the distributor again. Car ran worse. Every time it was stumbling this time, I could hear a few relays under the dash clicking rapidly, then the car would smooth out and the relays stopped making noise.

At this point I swap back to the prior distributor and try to start the car. It stumbled once and now is acting like the main relay is bad again. When I turn the key I rarely hear the fuel pump, and when I do it sounds way too quiet and the car still won't start. Now I'm thinking the ECU went bad.

holmesnmanny

Tach jumping around tends to point to ignitor being bad but you said you replaced the distributor. Check the mechanical timing it may have jumped a tooth.

98ekb18c

We figured out the problem and I'm almost embarrassed to say what it was. One of the ground wires had loosened up and caused the issue. Always check the simple things first. Thanks for the help guys.