MGBej1503

97 ex coupe. When starting from.a cold start usually has a ruff idle for a bit nut eventually sounds normal. Now if I started driving right away and dis not let it warm up it will drive fine until you hit higher rim's then feels like something is restricting it and suddenly wont ho any farther. So I have to baby it for a lil bit and it will eventually let me go high enough to.shift gears. Anyone had this problem.?? NOTE-- my stock 97 header has a crack in one of the tubes. Do you think.this would be the cause?? I have s new aftermarket header waiting to be installed but was not trying to further the problem by pushing more air thru. Basically im truing to.figure out if mu header is the cause or some sensor somewhere?? Also my coolant seems to b decreasing but im not seeing any leaks anywhere or cracks.. no puddle on my pass side floor.. any suggestions??

Gamble_wrx

A few Things you may not have checked, look around the head gasket (where the head mates the block, theres a seam) and if its wet, you need a headgasket. (ill edit in a minute after i reread your post) does the EX have vtec?? im not sure off the top of my head whats in it. i believe its a d16y8? if so, the reason you seem to be lacking power is because honda does not allow an engine to hit vtec until the car is warm, to assure proper lubrication of the valvetrain and such. as for the idle, youll have to describe it for me a little bit better. is it bouncing?

and i wouldnt worry about the aftermarket header. on a D series, it doesnt do much. i just picked up a Del sol Si, with a d16z6, and my jeep cherokee would put it to shame. absolutely gutless. thats with a full header back exhaust, and a short ram intake.

MGBej1503

Yeah its got vtec an yes the y8 and it was just the same process about to buy a decent header as it was to buy a oem one not all rusted up. An idle not so much bouncing but it starts out a lil higher an the quiets down usually about 1500 rpm is that normal? Mostly the loss of power from a cold start. I am not starting the car and trying to pop v. Simply driving normal through the gears and at a certain point it will just feel like I hit a wall

MGBej1503

Any ideas as to what could b going on with my coolant? Ii had this problem with my old civic bit I needed a heater core so I would have a puddle on my floorboard. No leaks underneath

MGBej1503

But sometimes when I first start it it makes kinda like a sputtering idle that's what it was

MGBej1503

You can def feel air coming out if the crack if the header when I rev it up u don't think the leak would cause this? Cuz once it warms up it stops and everything floes just fine

Former User

Replace the header.

CEL codes?

Last full tune up?

MGBej1503

No cel. Not sure just bought car. Trying to do tune up asap