Hey All!

So i have a 1991 Honda Civic EX that has about 146k on her. I noticed the RANDOMNLY after I start and let her warm up a little I get a strong hesitation when trying to accelerate from a stop. Seems to happen around 1-2.5rpm and will can get the hesitation and lugging to stop by pressing the accelerator further.

Now this doesn't happen all the time it seems to be random and happen whether it is warm or cold. I just got this from the dealer and have ~300 left on the warranty but I can not always recreate this. Anyone have a suggestion so that if they don't fix it I can look into it? Thanks again!!


Nothing has been done yet. I am thinking Spark Plugs but not sure... tempted to seafoam but I am worried about the damage it can do

 

Could be plugs. Wires.loose Throttle cable. Clogged air filter. Or failing dizzy. Mine was a failing dizzy. Seafoam is wasting money if you have not tried to common **** first.

 

What is a dizzy? sorry but this is my first Honda

 

Distributor. Take it back to the dealer and explain your issue.

 

Well here is my problem... I am almost exactly at 1000 mile warranty... I am afraid i will hit it before I get it to them :-/

But I am going to try and run it to them the day after tomorrow just before the 1000 miles!!!

 

if you have a warrenty id go there FIRST

 

take advantage of the warranty. hope that fix the problem otherwise
could also be O2 sensor had similar problems with my crx. something to look into.

 

tow it there..

 

o2 sensor is a big possibility, mines had the same symptoms like it was lacking fuel... Then pulled the plugs and they were white. Replaced the o2 and no more hesitation.

 

So I have bad news... dealer can not recreate the issue so he said sorry but no dice.... I had 30 miles left on the wrranty... no it started acting up again and is over the warranty which he wont honor

MADE A DISCOVERY THOUGH!!!

If I go to start the car from the "Off" position and just go to start ti straight up the "hesitiation" seems to always happen. If I go to start the car and turn it to the "On" position and wait a couple of seconds and then start I get no hesitation?!

How is that possible?! Keep in mind there is no SEL on. But I have a strange feeling it is disconnected since even when I am about too start the call it doesn't flash on. I am going to check OBD tonight...

And I am going to change the spark plugs. I guess if you guys have any other suggestions mention them here. I really love the car but the hesitation sometimes scares me ESPECIALLY when cutting across a intersection with traffic.

 

Also yesterday I have noticed it was alot harder to start. It was cranking but wouldn't turn over. I walked away for about 30 minutes then it worked and started with no problems. I am leaning towards something fuel or spark related but IDK since I am not really a "car" guy lol

 

I sometimes have the hesitation problem. From what I've heard from others, it is the cam position sensor in the distributor. I ran a beat up spare unit just to test and it seemed to go away.

 

I can gurantee you that the dealer was just ****ing with you. He just didnt want to fix the problem for free.


That sounds like the main relay. Look it up in the FAQ sticky.

Your other problem where you start it straight up sounds like your fuel pump is crapping out. Try switching it to the on position "II" mark let it 'prime' and then start it.

And the other situation about the CEL (not SEL) light not coming up probably means the dealer or someone removed the bulb behind the gauge cluster to hide any problems. Sounds like a shady dealer so far.

 

If I ever had a hesitation issue I advanced my dizzy. Helped out. But it sounds more like your fuel pump. Also ...... nooch is probably right!

 

I had the same hesitation from 1-2.5 RPMS on my 2000 CRV. It was struggling to take off from a stop and I was holding up traffic. Replaced the spark plugs and wires and it's perfect again.

 

What was going on with your car with the failed dizzy?