I recently had to have my timing belt changed because it was too close to the engine and started to have material shaved off. It ran great two hours before the T-belt change, though it felt like it lacked a little power at low rpm. On the way home, I noticed the car sputtering. I took it back to the original shop and another reputable shop.. both have verified that the cam, crank and ignition timing are near perfect. The 2nd shop also re-adjusted the valves and checked the injector resistance.

Symptoms:

- From idle to around 2800 rpm, if I give it more than 1/4 throttle it sputters, misfires and I believe I hear a ping if I'm too deep in the throttle. After 2800 rpm, it pulls fairly decent and smooths out.

- It idles perfect without the a/c on but idles rough and almost dies with the a/c on.

I have replaced the:

- Distributor and fuel filter. I've also checked every electrical connection and vacuum hose.

I have not yet replaced the:

- fuel pump, fuel injectors, cap, rotor, plugs or wires. I don't have that much spare cash on me to replace everything only to find out its something else.

Any suggestions besides the replace everything trial-and-error method would be greatly appreciated.

edit- The car is a '97 Integra Gsr body with '94 B18B obd1 engine. I have an obd2a-obd1 jumper harness and an unmodified obd1 p75 LS ecu. No check engine lights.

 

Ok, well I feel a lot like an idiot now.

I was sitting here stewing over my car troubles and decided to splurge a little on a cap, rotor and plugs. Spent an hour trying to get the rotor off of the distributor shaft. Put all of my parts on and replaced the fuses under-hood with the suggested fuse. Start 'er up and pulled her around the block...runs and drives a hundred times better. Still lacking a little low end, but no hesitation or sputtering and no almost-dying with the a/c on.

Awesome