My engine sputters when I rev up, kind a loss power a bit then goes well again. It does'nt happen very often but it's alarming to me. It's a 2000 civic ex with 178,000 miles. 'bought it 2 years ago and I haven't have a problem ever since until only now. any guess ???

 

whens the last time you serviced it? try getting new spark plugs, rotor, cap and fuel filter. if that dosent cure it you ignition timing may need adjusting

 

Thanks for the info robby...I'll give that a try.

 

02 sensor?
any cels?

I had that problem with no cel for a while then the cel came up a couple weeks later; it was the 02 sensor

 

Where should I find the 02 sensor?....and what do you mean by cel..sorry i'm not very familiar with some terms here, but I do appreciate your input. Thanks

 

cel stands for check engine light. you know the yellow light on your dash with a engine on it(dosent really look like 1 though lol) your 02 sensor is on you exhaust manifold

 

ok...my cel has been lit for over a year now. It happened when I travelled From VA. to Illinois. I had my catalytic converter changed in Illinois, when I got back to VA. that's when the cel started to go on.
I had the engine oil changed a couple of months ago w/ mobil 1 high mileage 10/30 15,000 mi. I'll start working on my spark plugs today if I have enough time. any idea on how much torque I need to tighten the pugs?.thanks for all the help.

 

well you will first want to see what that engine light is for. check out the FAQs in this section and find the how to on cel codes. that will explane all. spark plugs ar 13lbf ft

 

I just tuned up my car....I changed distbr cap, rotor, spark plug wires and spark plugs....now it won't start...it crank up real good but no start..checked if wires are all snapped to spk plugs and distbr cap, still won't start.....I replaced back the old cap, wires and spk plugs, still won't start.....what have gone wrong...any idea?

 

Double check that spark plug wires are connected to the proper terminals for each cylinder. Also make sure the wiring harness to the distributer is plugged in fully.

 

You said you had your catalytic converter go bad and replaced.

Dude you ALMOST answered your own question (hopefully)

When your catalytic converter goes bad it will ruin your O2 sensor if you run it for a while. bad 02 sensor will also cause the symptoms your car is suffering.

But yeah, get your car started back up and then check your cel.
Then we'll go from there. Good Luck

 

make sure you didnt loose the little spring that goes in between the ignition coil and distributor cap. take the cap off and see if theres a little spring sticking out from the neck of the ignition coil. it happens. that will cause no spark

 

coil spring is in place .....I did not remove the battery terminals during the whole procedure and I vacuumed the spk plug socket too due to powdery sooth around the brim w/ hand held car vac....did I do more wrong than fix the problem?...need guidance..Thanks.

 

then see if it'll start..

Then go here..




Long blinks = 10
short blinks = 1

then look up number under "mil" on this page
http://www.troublecodes.net/honda/hondaobd2.shtml

If you have trouble figuring it out, go here..
http://www.troublecodes.net/honda/

Then report back to me sir..

 

im sure you didnt do any harm. its gota be something small seen as the car was starting before. what were you last at before the car wouldent start. did you do bits at a time or all together? like doin the cap rotor and filter. dont forget too get that code

 

I did all together at once, rotor, cap, wires and plug except the fuel filter, I don't know where it's located. do I have to adjust the plugs gap too.... what's the right gap?

I exchanged the wires today because the tube socket is too soft that I felt it's not snugging to the plugs. I got the bosch wires and it really snaps in there but still no spark at all....do you think I might have damaged my ignition coil since I did not removed the battery terminals? I'm thinking of changing that for my next step...Thanks for putting up w/ me man...I appreciate it.

 

yeah try changing the coil and go over all connections. i think the gap for the sparks is 1.1 but you shoudent have to adjust them seen as they come made with that gap, unless they were dropped. the fuel filter is behind the engine mounted to the wall. you will see a fuel line goin from it in2 the fuel rail

 

I thought the spark plug gap for civics and ls's were all the same 0.44

That's what I had on my d16y8/ d16y7/ d16y5 and now on my b18b

 

.044 and 1.1 are both the same....if you look at the gapper it says .044 on one side and 1.1 on the other side. the other side says inches and the other says mm.

 

^^^ you learn something new everyday. Thanks man

 

I got my car running and the culprit is ignition coil...I must have fried it when I cranked my engine w/out my dstbr cap on....I learned that in the new faq index in the civic/del sol thread. I know I had everything in place properly and I'm a little hesitant in pointing out to my IC 'coz I was very careful when I was prying on my rotor. But before I even removed the rotor I had to align the notch so I can get to the screw, the only way I know to align it is to crank your engine so the rotor will turn, but that was a bad idea if you did not disconnect your dizzy harness or your bat terminal especially if the mileage is high. I learned from my experience and for those novie out there like me who wants to diy your car maintenance and to avoid hassles and overpricing of the car repair shop owners, this thread could help you out a lot.....I hate car repair shops, I had so many bad experiences...they are all rip offs!!! Thanks guys.