hi all

just picked up a 05 civic lx 5spd. tach needle says redline at just under 7000rpm and up to just above 8000 rpm. i am new to honda cars but i have a question for more experienced honda owners. it is the 1.7l non vtec engine. it does not want to accelerate above 4000 rpm in any gear. it accelerates moderately below that. the 99 saturn sl 5spd i had before it would smoke this and rev easily to 5500 rpm before losing steam. the saturn was a 1.9l sohc with only two valves per cylinder. the always accurate wikipedia states this:
D17A1
Found in: 2001–2005 Honda Civic DX/LX/VP Displacement : 1,668 cc (101.8 cu in)
Bore and Stroke : 75 × 94.4 mm (3.0 × 3.72 in)
Compression : 9.5:1
Power : 115 hp (85.8 kW, 117 ps) @ 6100 rpm
Torque : 110 ft·lbf (15.2 kg/m, 149 Nm) @ 4500 rpm
RPM redline: 6750 rpm
Rev-limiter : 7200 rpm
Valvetrain : SOHC (4 valves per cylinder)

so all knowing honda-tech members, can you help a noob? my guess is the beginning of a clogged cat. no check engine light. and i thank you in advance.

 

If it won't accelerate beyond 4,000 RPM's, then you're in Limp mode. Something is wrong with your car to cause this. I'd recommend taking it to get scanned (AutoZone, PepBoys, and Advanced Auto Parts do that for free). Your check engine light should be coming on, though.

 

interesting. i have access to a scanner. i'll post up later tonight what i find.

 

just checked it with a scanner, no "dtc's found" so this begs the next question. how does one get it out of limp mode if there is no code? the check engine light does show up when you first turn the ignition on then turns off like it should before you start the engine. and of course it is not on when driving. it is going back to the used car dealer i got it from tomorrow. it was bought with a 30 day warranty on the powertrain. also, i have three days to get out of the sale with no loss of money. i might be going that route. the other issue with the car is a transmission noise whenever the clutch is released. goes away when the clutch is depressed. sounds like an input shaft bearing or something internally in the transmission. so if they can't or don't want to take care of both issues i'm out searching for another car. i really like the car and i know honda's are usually great in quality (i race a 01cr250, had honda bikes since i was 8). again thanks

 

Before I'd do anything, I'd make sure that I had the Code for the stereo (5-digit number used for theft protection). If you don't have it, you'll lose the ability to use your factory radio.

If you do have it, I would pull the battery terminals for 5-10 minutes to see if that doesn't clear up some stored codes. Re-test the engine, and see where it goes from there.

As for your clutch noise, it sounds as if you may have a throw-out bearing that is shot or on its last leg.

 

it has a pioneer aftermarket radio. the dealer got it at an auction. the owners manual is missing. the noise is much worse than a throwout bearing noise. i've worked at a speed shop since i was 14 (i am 34). albeit a speed shop geared mostly towards older and newer domestic muscle cars. i've always admired the performance potential of honda's and this body design was one of a few i liked a lot. in a few years my plan was to do a swap of some kind. and turbo it. my brother fabricates stuff (www.absurdflow.com) so i got the hook up for a tig there. i'll try the battery thing tomorrow before work.

 

Well, if the noise is continual during operation, I'd say it was something like that input shaft bearing... but since its isolated to clutch release, I doubt its something as serious.

 

i tried disconnecting the battery...i gained 500 rpm. i'm not too worried about that issue, i'll figure it out. could be spark plugs being old and the gap grew. stick coils don't like a lot of gap.

as for the main issue, the transmission...

it does continue in every gear. whenever the clutch is disengaged... i came to find out that the warranty from the used car dealer is "out of his pocket". and he said if it winds up being too expensive he is going to give me my money back. for the few following this thread i'll keep you posted. thanks again.