streetmodified

Hey all

I swapped an ITR motor into my 1990 civic about two years ago. I've had a problem with it on and off (very seldom, actually) -- but recently, its come back with a little regularity. let me describe the problelm

i'll be driving in 3rd, 4th or 5th gear... usually around 4500 rpm, and the car (very suddenly) will decelerate as if the car is running out of gas. (i've run out of gas a few times, and its pretty much identical to what that feels like). I will usually be putting very slight pressure on the gas, or slightly accelerating. It has also happened, on occasion, right during a downshift. Once, it happened on a 5-3 downshift, leaving my decelerating in the left lane, like an a**.

A bit about the car. It has run problem free for two years, other than this problem. All wiring seems to have been done correctly, and the engine is not throwing any codes. I am running the correct ITR ecu, with locash jumpers. The car is set up for OBD II.

Im not sure why its doing this. has anyone experienced a similar problem?? HELP!!!

thanks for the responses guys...
SM

TypeSiR

my guess, is the coil in the distributor is going bad, the hot weather helps these problems get worse. i would maybe look into a brand new coil, or if you have the funds, get a newer distributor or a brand new one.

streetmodified

thanks for the response TypeSiR
that was on my short list of ideas for what the problem could be.
The distributor I'm running is an older one that was repinned to be used with the motor -- so i think it might be going.

Any other ideas??
Thanks

TypeSiR

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by streetmodified &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">thanks for the response TypeSiR
that was on my short list of ideas for what the problem could be.
The distributor I'm running is an older one that was repinned to be used with the motor -- so i think it might be going.

Any other ideas??
Thanks</TD></TR></TABLE>

most likely, that is your problem, i would buy a new distributor. there is a place that sells brand new obd0 dizzy's, i dont remember the name. im sure if you search you can find it, or it may be in the FAQs in the ef section. hope that helps.

bluemax189

what about wiring. how did you mod your harness for the ITR motor? did you solder? could be some connections getting loose. Also people dont realize that the spark plug wires go bad eventually too.

streetmodified

hmm, well those are also legit ideas.

i've put roughly 20k miles on the motor since the swap. but we've been having this problem sporadically since the beginning - so i dont think its the wires getting loose. my dad (an engineer with some ee experience) did the wiring -- so im trusting that was all done pretty darn well. the spark plug wires are another idea... but the motor only has 60k total miles on it... so i dont know... isnt that too early to go bad.

(info not given up front - im not trying to be a dick... just completing the picture)

thanks for the input guys. please keep it coming, or chime in if you agree..

thanks!
SM

JDMAppeal

iTrader: (1)

+1 for a new distributor

Andres-eh2

Sounds fuel related to me. Perhaps a clogged injector? did u upgrade the fuel pump or change the filter? how old is the cat? does it ever smell like rotten eggs?

streetmodified

hmm - well heres some info:

i've never changed the injectors on the engine. like stated before, the engine probably has 60k miles on it. is that too early for an injector to clog (from normal wear and tear)..?
no, the fuel pump was not upgraded. i have a FPR on top of the fuel filter that is showing the appropriate fuel pressure (i know that simply measures pressure, and not volume). so maybe this could be AN issue... but i think inadequate fuel flow would cause a MUCH bigger problem.
catalytic converter is as old as the engine - 20k miles..
no odd smells. no codes.

1rude2l

place on ebay called distrubutor king.....i think like 180 new distubutor with a lifetime warranty

streetmodified

hmm, but what if its just the coil? wouldnt that be a bit cheaper?

i should get off my lazy *** and take the cap off the distributor... see if the contacts and rotor are in good condition. if they are, im probably not going to replace it.

H22ACRX

I had the same problem once,and moreover when i drove downhills,or even when i turn my car at high speed .Checked the fuel pump the dis and the injectors,finaly was the PGM relay,replaced it and everything was fine.
So check it might be from it!

havok hybrid

I bet its your main replay.. try and change that first.. its like 25 bucks at autozone.. under your dash by hood release..

sounds like what happens when the replay freaks out while driving..

streetmodified

thats a lot cheaper to try out than a $180 distributor...

streetmodified

im bored, and everyone loves a gratuitous ITR swap photo....

*not current, but still kinda nice* (i have a nice, shiny comptech header in there now)

TypeSiR

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by havok hybrid &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I bet its your main replay.. try and change that first.. its like 25 bucks at autozone.. under your dash by hood release..

sounds like what happens when the replay freaks out while driving.. </TD></TR></TABLE>

i would have to disagree, cuz the main relay wont give you a problem while driving, not normaly anyways, its more that, when you cant turn the car back on once its been turned off. ie getting gas, running in the store, or stalling out.

streetmodified

WEIRD thing happened tonight...

electrical gremlins. started the car (at 11).. turned on the headlights. no dash lights came on. tapped the dash, and they came on. then the "Seat belt off-warning" beep did its thing the whole way home. very weird. seat belt warning thing happens all the time... but the dash lights, thats a new thing for me.

TypeSiR

hey the slap method is always a good method!!!

streetmodified

shiiiiiit..... the dash lights didnt come on the whole way home tonight. what do you think that means??

--othen than "time to buy a daily driver"