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. .

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 now 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 valve, and adjusted the valves (and double checked). I listened to the injectors and they all appear to be clicking the same. I also 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...

 

it sounds to me like your coil is gone. as the coil wears out, when it heats up, it will give a weak spark and will bog out until you get up to speed. the emissions code could be due to the o2 sensor getting spattered with unburned fuel. try replacing the coil and 02 sensor. most likely, unless you have replaced it, the coil is original

 

Thanks CDdubz25...I appreciate the input.

Just today I saw a posting suggesting replacing the ICM and coil. Your input confirms that. In your opinion, are Honda OEM parts the only way to go or is there a brand of reliable aftermarket parts?

Thanks.

 

i generally just go to advance auto parts. they are cheaper then pepboys and most of their parts come with lifetime or some other form of warranty. their parts are usually oem quality or better

 

I replaced the ignitor and coil with no improvement. I figured it needed them anyway after 12 years. Once the engine gets warm, I have a random idle miss and the car will bog down on heavy acceleration. But runs fine at cruising speed and higher rpms.

Any other suggestions out there?

 

hmm. that is weird. and you dont hear an weird noises?

my only other thought would be alternator. do you notice any dimming of lights or anything? it could also be the spark plug wires although i kind of doubt it. also if it is throwing an emission code you should go ahead and replace the o2 sensors which are pretty cheap. those will likely help too

 

Well, I guess I had no codes because I was always pulling the battery cable to try a new fix. I drove it around town a few times and a P0301 tripped--Cylinder 1 misfire.

The problem is getting progressively more like it was when it first occurred. The misfires are more frequent and the bogging occurs with anything but light acceleration. I can gradually accelerate to higher RPM smoothly, but if I attempt to push the accelerator in over an inch, it bogs very bad.

Any suggestions are greatly appreciated.

 

i agreed with the other replies right up to the alternator i dont think thats it. i had the same issue with my accord, and i replaced the distributor. but..... i wouldnt buy one new they can be pricy, and at this point, you are throwing money at a diagnosis. the problem either lies in the ignition or injector. find a salvage yard or go to car-part.com , find an accord and do some pillaging a used distributor should be between 50 and 75 bucks, and an injector is cheap enough at advanced they do pretty well. i just dont want to see you throw all the money at a distributor and have it still mis. the coil and ignition control module would have been my first run. i will look to see if i still have any accord parts and if i have a distributor ill send it to you if you dont find one cheap. i had a couple of spares. shoot me an email if you dont get it talltwisted1@yahoo.com

 

Thanks Tall,

I think that we are on the same page on this...I'm not for throwing parts at it either. I didn't mind replacing the ignitor and coil because I was pretty sure that they were original parts and I suspect they would give me trouble eventually.

The distributor or injector were my next attempt. I have read that a good way to localize an injector problem would be to swap it with another and if the problem follows the injector it should be replaced. I may try inspecting, cleaning, and swapping the injectors first.

We do have a pick-and-pull about 35 minutes away. So, if it comes to the distributor, I may try that.

thanks...schotz

 

Just a thought, I believe you said that you cleaned your EGR valve, but did you check/clean your EGR ports? Maybe you got three clogged ports and all the EGR exhaust flow is going to one cylinder causing the misfire.

 

Hey all,

I appreciate all the input into this problem. However, it turned out to be the #1 spark plug wire. Tonight, I pulled the plug wire while it was running and it was arcing out the side of the boot inside the spark plug tube.

I never considered the plug wires because they were only a couple of years old and had never been pulled since the last tune up. Looking back, this was probably my problem from the beginning.

On the upside, I've learned alot about Hondas and got alot of maintenance out of the way that probably needed to be done.

I still have a yellow light on my code reader. This appeared after I sprayed intake cleaner. I'll drive it awhile and see if it clears.

Thanks again for all your help.