I have a 5th gen prelude(stock except for short ram intake) with 191,000 on it and lfor the past 6 months or so I have been getting really bad hesitation mainly on the low end, vtec seems to be working fine. It is most noticeable when it is hot or humid outside but it has happened to me even when the temperature is cold as well.

It is very hard for me to be precise as to when this power loss happens, during the day mostly, on cold nights it seems to run perfectly fine. On occasion during the day if i drive it hard and floor it in vtec it will not hesitate in the lower RPM's for a little while... then start up again almost like random power fluctuation.

Basically when i go for a drive during the day it seems to give me different amounts of power at different times(not a great range of power difference is felt but enough so that it is noticeable) is how I can best explain it.

So to be clear my problem is not 100% of the time.

I have already spent atleast 4-6 hours researching this issue(which seems to be not-so-uncommon ) and am stuck.

I have already tryed new plugs, wires, and pcv valve..no luck so far.

I am going to try replacing the fuel filter next....my best guess is that its an ignition issue, or maybe a sensor (knock or 02)...

 

i had the same prob with 200.000
best fix was a new motor with hondata s300 to tune it.

 

well i dont really have crazy funds to throw at this..maybe 4-500 max.

 

It is prob an issue with your EGR being blocked up. Check out this thread.

https://honda-tech.com/forums/honda-prelude-4/no-more-3k-hesitation-better-gas-milage-smoother-partial-thottle-response-2016969/

 

it could be the EGR ports, knock sensor, 02 sensor or maybe a fuel problem, but from what ive seen its its one of the first 3. Someone said changing the ECU helped in a similar issue..also considering.

 

Another possibility is a partially clogged cat.

 

i hear if i changed my ECU to a p28, i can disable the EGR and knock sensor..which i would suspect eliminate those possiblities...also by disabling or "blocking off" the egr would that make cleaning the EGR ports and valve pointless aswell.