H-T,

I need some advice. I have a 2000 Honda Civic Ex (d16y8 auto 155k miles) and I have had this problem for just over a year now. About a month after buying the car it started bogging down (feels more like its running out of gas/power) at the end of 2nd gear for about 5-10 seconds and it has gotten to the point now where it does it for 2nd 3rd and 4th gear. It does it whenever I start the car, it feels like its timed. It also does the same thing if i just sit in my car in my driveway, it will bog down to the point where it feels like its gonna stall. Usually when this problem happens i just accelerate for a couple seconds and its fine, but its getting annoying and ive searched this problem a million times on multiple forums and cannot figure it out. I really dont wanna go and start changing different sensors unless it could be a fix. Im not very mechanically inclined but ive done quite a few things on this car to try to figure out the problem. Ive also taken this to a Honda dealer that my cousin works at to get the timing belt and water pump done and they don't see the problem. Ive also taken it to 3 different mechanics and none could figure it out. To this point ive done...


O2 sensor (both)
Timing Belt & Water Pump
Tune-up
Checked timing
Fuel Filter
VSS
Sensor that goes into intake (temp sensor?)
Ive had the intake manifold cleaned and checked


There might be more but thats all I can think of currently. Also the car has intake, headers and a catback exhaust. I know you guys are the most knowledgeable when it comes to civics compared to some other forums. Any tips or advice would be well appreciated.

 

How old are the plugs, wires, cap, and rotor?

Any CEL codes?

 

Plugs -2 weeks old-The last mechanic I took my car too made me change those and the fuel filter.

wires cap and rotor- 4 months and have been changed twice since Ive had the car in a year and a half. (mind you i put about 7k miles a year on my car)
thanks

 

Any CEL codes? Does the CEL work?

 

it does work, i had the o2 sensor one go off..for high voltage and low voltage. I have since changed both about 4 months ago and the light went away. Also when i took the car to a mechanic he hooked up to something that showed that my fuel pressure stays the same when it bogs down.

 

bump

 

Measure the fuel pressure and test the FPR, as well as the coil and ICM inside the distributor.

 

Who is the manufacturer on the O2 sensors?

 

How does one go about doing this? I had the guys at Honda do the fuel pressure as well as my mechanic less then a month ago so i know that its fine.
bosch and theyre both a direct fit plug and play type, so theirs no splicing or anything like that

 

could it possibly be a map sensor or a bad ecu? Im assuming that their is no way to check these without replacing since I dont know anyone that owns a car with a d16y8

 

Coil:



ICM:

Take it to an auto parts store for testing.

 

Past reports indicate Bosch O2 sensors are hit-or-miss on Hondas. The CEL will not necessarily be thrown. So the O2 sensors are suspect AFAIC. (Not definite, especially since the control system is supposed to be in open loop on warmup, but I would not rule them out, either.) Use only Denso or NGK (the OEM manufacturer of Honda O2 sensors). You do not need to go to the dealer to get Denso or NGK.

I would not suspect the coil right now, since it will cause problems (and a complete, sudden stall) only after say 15 minutes after running. Still, check it as best you can before, like you wrote, laying out money for any sensors.

I would not suspect the ignitor, either, right now. It tends to fail completely, with no re-start possible.

Are the plugs and wires OEM?

 

I have heard of bad O2 sensor that only caused problems at the crossover point between open and closed loop.

Not sure what body of information has led you to these conclusions about the coil and ICM. There are gradations of fail for these ignition components that can cause mild misfiring to no-start problems.

 

so i should check the coil and the icm? Im sorry im a little dumbfounded when it comes to this stuff...is the ICM the control module? i found this http://www.2carpros.com/forum/2000-h...-vt301226.html on google which should help me. Actually the front o2 sensor is denso and the back one was originally but went bad after 5 days in my car so I returned it to autopartswarehouse.com and decided I didn't want to wait any longer and just bought the bosch one from autozone hoping it would fix the problem. You think that could be it? I mean the car has been exactly the same since changing the o2's both those times. Also the plugs and wires are not oem, neither are. I replaced the spark plugs 2 weeks ago and the wires about a year ago. Same thing before and after. When i bought the car some ricey red ones were on it and my friends dad gave me some oem ones, then I did a tuneup about a year ago and put on the new ones I got from autozone, and theirs been no difference any of the changes. Man this sucks!!!!!!

 

The secondary O2 sensor only serves an emissions function and therefore could not cause the problem you are having.

 

Note I qualified my comments with words like "tends" and did not rule out checking these parts. My experience with Civics, in particular much with the coil and igniter (a.k.a. ICM) and reading others' experiences is why I posted my comments.

 

Since the front O2 sensor is Denso and the rear O2 sensor (1) only barely affects fuel trim and (2) is mostly for indicating how the cat converter is doing, I would eliminate both O2 sensors as the cause of your Civic's problems.

Are the plugs the spec in your owner's manual?

I would replace the Autozone wires with OEM wires. It is amazing how often bad running problems are a result of non-OEM wires.

I am frugal and do not buy OEM casually, btw. But for certain parts on my Civics, especially anything ignition-related (plugs, wires, distributor, igniter, coil), OEM is a must. Also, OEM typically pays for itself in longer life. I buy from bkhondaparts.com or occasionally an OEM dealer on Ebay.

Note: igniter = ICM

 

In my opinion, your comments may have been too strong because they possibly could persuade the OP not to consider the coil and ICM, which may be a mistake.

 

I think you need to re-read my post. Also I am entitled to my opinion based on my experience. Lastly remember that you posted here. Your opinion is being considered by readers.