Hello all,
I have a '99 Accord automatic that just hit 100,000 miles. I bought it with 93k, so I'm not too familiar with how this particular one drives, but it appeared to be in good mechanical shape when I bought it. After driving it for a while, I started having problems with power. When I give it gas, most of the time it takes right off. Sometimes though I'll give it gas on a takeoff and and the rpms drop from its usual 1000 and the car refuses to move. Its never died for me, but it keeps dropping the rpms until it gets down to about 250 and shakes the car around pretty good. When I let off the gas, it goes back up. Its like the gas pedal works exactly the opposite as it should. If I give it the amount of gas it would usually take to get it to about 1500 rpms from 1000, it'll drop by 500 instead of raise.

I've tried flooring it right when I notice the problem starting. This only makes the problem worse, however being "careful" doesn't really help matters either. I usually just have to wait it out.

This problem seems to happen more often when the car has been driven and then parked for about an hour. However, it does this at stop lights and has the dangerous habit of doing this while the car is rolling but I've let up on the gas, like at on ramps and while merging.

The check engine light came on several days ago, but the problem has been happening on and off for about 4 months. I'm about to go to parts america and see what their engine light reader says, but I don't have any way of deciphering that code. I'll be back on the board, hopefully tonight, to tell what the error is and if the problem surfaces while I'm driving around town on my fresh pan of oil.

In the mean time, anybody got any possible solutions?

 

First thing is to post the engine code. It's very easy to read yourself. Follow the directions on this page and then post the code.

http://www.c-speedracing.com/faq/06.php

 

my experience with this problem lead possible problems:
MAP sensor
TPS sensor
blown head gasket

white smoke out the exhaust? head gasket
black smoke out the exhaust? MAP sensor
no smoke? no idea lol

 

crapola. Right after I finished typing my post, I hopped in my car to go to Parts America for the code reading, and looked closer at that annoying check engine light. I realized that it just said "maintainance required"................
What a let down. I was over eager for a quick diagnostic, and didn't bother to look at the light before I got all excited over it. Look twice, ask once, I guess.
My service manual says all I need to do is hold down the tripometer select button while I turn the car on and the light will go away. It does tell me that, thanks to whoever owned the car before I got it from the dealership, I'm at least 7500 miles past time to do the scheduled 93k maintnance. No telling what else they left undone.
Anyway, that is obviously not an indicator of the problem, and as a cruel coincidence happened at the same time as the real problem of random rediculous power loss.

So, anybody have experience with this type of power loss.

While I'm under the hood:
As far as routine maintnance, what do you guys use for air filters that fit in a stock filter slot. Mine is starting to look kinda crusty. (Or maybe I'm just imagining crustyness as an excuse to buy something fun.)
How often do you change the oil on a modern honda with just >100k? My Accord book says every 7500, but I hear people swear by the 3000 rule. I just changed it today because it was time, so it'll be a while before I need to again.

Edit// My car doesn't smoke. Keem em coming though. Thankx