my car has this weird low rpm studder problem thats been happening for awhile but is just now getting worse...i'll explain, the engine/chassis studder only accures between idle and about 2,500 rpms. during the studdering it looses power but once above 2,000-2,500 there is a sudden rush of power. above that it runs like a champ and is one of the fastest sohc in town. it also has a very erratic idle but only sometimes, usealy on really hot days. any suggestions? thanks guys

 

i know it might sound stupid, but check your torque mounts, if there the old stock ones when your at a low rpm it makes ur motor shake, then when u get on it it goes away , thats probaly your problem.

 

Hey there, i had a very similar problem with my 94 civic hatch that i just fixed recently. My problem was the idle control valve... it needed to be replaced. I would head to a local scrapyard and pick one up. It shouldn't cost more than $30. My civic would idling strangely at around 1500 rpm and than shoot up after that. Anyways, good luck !

 

by torque mounts do you mean engine mounts? and my idle problem isn't that bad, it doesn't have a really high idle it's actually really low and will glug off and on?

 

no, torque mounts arent engine mounts, there located on the lower right and left of the motor, one holds the tranny, and hte ohter is on the right

 

aight what am i looking for? what would be broken on it?

 

adjust the idle control valve trust me

 

i just did, tightend it, loosend it, absolutly no change it just stays at the same awkward idle

 

Word.
I am battling this same issue ( '99 civic EX ).
I've replaced motor mounts, dist. cap & rotor, spark plugs..

My electrical system also seems sort of weak in general. ( ie: at idle, headlights dim when utilizing the power steering or moving the power windows up/down )

Car drives kinda like **** 'till 3k rpm.
Quite a mystery.

 

like no power until 3k?

 

yep. I mean the motor is pretty much that way already.. but.. it's bad.

Actually today i cleaned and re-crimped my grounds with new terminals and had fantastic results. Soggy power windows even feel like they have a shitload of torque now. AC blows hard.. interior lights are brighter.. etc etc etc!
Under 3k is pretty good now and getting into gear is no longer such a pain.

I'll make a write-up if anyone's interested.