Hey all, hopefully someone can help since I've been researching this for weeks to no avail. I have a 1996 Honda Accord EX, auto, 2.2 vtec. (not a 1995 like the post indicates).

A few weeks ago, I started the car and it felt like it was running on three cylinders. I was about 5 miles from the house and drove home...chugging all the way. The check engine light came on during the drive home. Two years ago when this happened, I replaced the plugs, wires, rotor and distributor cap and it fixed it.

Again, I replaced the air filter, plugs (NGK), PCV valve, rotor (honda) and distributor cap (Honda). The car starts and idles fine when cold. Once it gets to operating temperature and the idle drops to 700rpm, I have a random idle misfire. Also, the engine bogs if I accelerate quickly...from any speed. However, the car runs fine at higher rpms and cruising speed with no misfire. I do have an Equus 3110 code scanner and it does not show that codes are being been thrown.

After viewing dozens of posts on this matter, I also changed the fuel filter, cleaned the throttlebody with some Intake cleaner, cleaned the IACV and EGR valves, and adjusted the valves (and double checked). I listened to the injectors and they all appear to be clicking the same. I double checked the gap on the spark plugs.

One bone-headed thing that I did do was follow the recommendation of a post to spray injection cleaner into the throttle body while it was running. The car ran really rough for a few seconds, it leveled out, but the idle miss remained. The scanner now shows an emissions issue (yellow light rather than green), but does not indicate why. However, the symptoms seem the same.

When I originally bought the car two years ago, I had a mechanic replace all the belts (including the timing belt) and the water pump. Only 20k miles has been put on the car since we have owned it and it has been driven mostly in town.

I have not replaced the plug wires as they are only two years old and have not checked compression.

Any experienced suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks...

 

I finally got a code to trip on this: P0301 #1 Cylinder misfire. I found that the spark plug wire was arcing out the side of the boot into the spark plug tube. Replacing spark plug wires resolved.