i have an 89 Si that (sometimes) stutters when i accelerate hard. It will cut out for a second and then be back to normal. Any ideas on why??

It is a 5 speed with 171,000 miles. I use 87 octane gas (never had any problems using this before). The distributor cap and rotor and fuel filter have all been replaced in the last year.

 

could be many things. Check your plugs. See how they look. Check your timing.
Do a compression test.

 

plugs

 

I'll check the plugs, I thought they were replaced within the last year as well, but I'll see how they look.

 

also check the gap on them..

 

its probably morelike your ignition timing being backed off too far...that will cause it, im a 3rd genner too...91 and i ahve mine too far retarded and it would sputter a bit a pop from gas not being burned

 

yeah, but i have never changed the timing from stock and it never had this problem before

 

I looked at my plugs (NGK platinum) and they looked fine (tan color and gap was normal on all four of them). The plugs and wires are a couple of years old and have about 35,000 miles on them. It seems to stutter and hesitate more once it is warmed up. I also ran a tank of 89 octane with fuel injector cleaner and no improvement. Gas mileage has remained normal (around 31 mpg) Any other ideas??

 

You have the classic symptoms of a secondary ignition problem. Get yourself a nice set of NGK or OE plug wires and ditch the platinums for a set of NGK V-powers.......3gdude

 

mine does the same thing only when cold..and plugs were changed

 

I changed the plugs and wires and now it runs perfectly. The wires were corroded where they connected to the plugs (cheap autozone stuff), but it turns out I had a lifetime warranty on the wires so they were FREE. Hopefully I can keep driving this thing for awhile

 

changed the plugs...i guess i'll try the wires next

 

Yeah 3gdude never lets us down lol