Just found this board with the mighty google search. Seems like there is a lot of know how here.
Just got a 1989 accord from my Pop and im having some problems.
When I push the the gas it seems like it jerks and it does the same thing when I release the gas quickly. I thought perhaps CV, but they were replace less the 2 years ago and has only seem about 30k since then.
The motor was also replaced about the same time. I have to say that it is a real dog.
I have to shift back down to 4th gear to stay up to speed. It also vibrates through the steering wheel a lot at the higher speeds. A lot more then when I used to drive it years ago.
The drums are calipers are only 2 years old and the tires are new.
Could it be the engine/transaxle mounts?
Are they hard to replace?
The air filter was pretty bad so i got a new one, but have not had the time to throw it it yet. Also i will replace the fuel filter.
Is there anything else that i should do that may help it run better?
Without swaping in a prelude engine i mean..
thanks a lot in advance.

I guess i should mention that i have the carb engine and not the FI


[Modified by pablo_max, 6:50 AM 10/4/2002]

 

The jerking could very possibly be worn out front and/or rear motor mounts (seems pretty common on our 3rd gens, not sure about other years). If this is the case, the jerking would be coming from the engine twisting back and forth when you accelerate or decelerate. Mine was pretty bad, and after I replaced the front mount it got alot better. It's still got a little looseness though, so the rear will be replaced in the near future.

As for the sluggishness.....check your brakes to make sure they're not dragging. I would first suspect a frozen caliper, but you said those were replaced, so maybe a master cylinder. Jack it up and make sure each wheel spins freely and isn't dragging (the front's will have slight resistance due to the CV joints, but you should still be able to tell). Also make sure your e-brake isn't adjusted too tight. Other than that, I'm not sure. Maybe a POS carb problem (those damn Keihin's were crap). The steering wheel shaking would either be a front end alignment and/or wheel balance. First check and make sure all balljoints and tierods are tight, and if so take it in and get alignment and balance.

Also sounds like a good tune up would be in order. Air filter, fuel filters (remember, you have 2), PCV valve, clean the carb real good, new plugs and wires (NGK is good stuff), dist cap and rotor, oxygen sensor, ignition timing check and adjust if necessary, and a valve lash adjustment. Also check for vacuum leaks--so many vacuum hoses on those carbs it wasn't even funny, lol

 

Thanks a lot for the reply. thats some great info.
I actually went and got a new cap/rotor and passenger side calliper before i got a chance to read this.
I am pretty sure you are right on the money with the binding brake. My Dad just replace the master cylinder and the driver side calliper. He said he thought that the other side was sticking too.
Today while i was driving i noticed a few things and would like your thoughts on them.
The first thing i noticed was that the break peddle was hard. i was like the brakes were already ingaged before i pushed them and there was very little play in the peddle. Instant pressure. A few times on the way to work i hit the brakes pretty hard then pushed them all the way in. After that the peddle felt normal. Also about that time the vibrations seemed to disipate a lot. They were no where near as bad as they were.
it seemed that each time the peddle was hard that the vibration was much worse and the car ran worse. By that i mean that it was slow to excelerate and it was a little jumpy. It seemed as though once it got to the power band it would pull pretty nice though.
Is fuel filter easy to replace? i got one of those today also. I only got that main one and not the secondary. Should i just do both.

Oh, I was thinking that because the vibration seems to change it cant be the tires. Is it possible that the brakes are causing that?

Thanks a lot.
Patrick