I'm working with a 92 accord with the F22A1 motor. i recently put a new head-gasket on it. I have timed the motor several times. Yet when i drive the car around with will act up, a little loss of power, and it sounds like its missing or something, I'm not sure....but when the engine check light comes on it fixes whatever the issue is and it runs fine. any ideas or suggestions.

 

If I remember correctly (for OBD 1 especially), when the check engine light is on, the computer richens the fuel mixture so that the engine won't run lean due to whatever problem you are having (often called "limp mode"). If the light comes on and the car runs fine after that, your problem may be that you were running too lean. This would explain why you have a misfire. Correct the misfire, and it should be okay after that. Make sure your plugs, wires, and distributor cap and rotor are in cood condition, and that you have 4 clean/operational fuel injectors, and a clean air filter for good measure.

 

thanks, im getting new cap and rotor soon. Could the fuel pump cause the motor to run lean? im wondering since some people have told me mine is going out.

 

Low fuel pressure (weak pump or faulty pressure regulator) could cause a lean misfire, but it would likely affect all cylinders equally. It could cause it to run lean for a short time, then the ECM would take over and richen the mixture due to high voltage output from the o2 sensor, which could be your situation. You could take it in and have the fuel pressure checked to eliminate that possibility. I'm not sure exactly what the pressure is regulated to on your car, but it should be in the 30-40 psi range I would guess. If you are only missing on one cylinder, it's probably a plug wire, plug, or the injector for that cylinder. cap and rotor is good maintenance service is a good starting point. I'd replace the fuel filter if you haven't, then add some system cleaner to the tank.

 

When the check engine light comes on it usually leaves a diagnostic trouble code stored in the ECU's memory. Scan the ECU and retrieve any diagnostic codes and that should tell you what is causing the CEL.

You can have the code read with an OBD code reader or you could try the self-diagnosis procedure aka paper clip method. There are a number of how to threads about this procedure.

 

I guess I just assumed you had any codes that were stored but were still stumped.Once you get the codes, you will have a (slightly) better idea. ODB I doesn't offer much, but it's better than nothing.