Ok, so this story is long and frankly don't want to explain everything that happened in detail but I'll try for your benefit. About Fall last year, I bought this car from a guy who claimed it was his project, but hasn't put a penny towards anything. He said the timing belt and waterpump were replaced, but I found out the hard way - when it snapped and bent the valves. Before this broke, I had good power for a 1.6 liter. I bought a used head with only 137K to get the valves so I could replace them.

I took it into a repair shop called *******'s Garage (http://gaylordsgarage.com/) to have it fixed. They charged roughly $1,180 to replace the timing belt, grind the head, install new valves, and all of the labour. After this, the car ran fine and I had no problems for like 3 months. Gradually, my car started smoking more and one day, it seemed like a piston or two wasn't firing when I started it up. After a minute or two, the smoking would lessen and the engine would run fine. Thankfully, I had a warranty on the work and they pulled off the head. In between the two middle pistons, radiator fluid had leaked in. They replaced the head gasket and charged me nothing (it was $1,100 in parts and labor that was covered by the warranty).

When I came to pick it up, the clutch seemed really easy to push down and there wasn't much power. At first, there was a lag when i pushed the petal down in between 2,000-3,000 rpm. It doesn't do this much anymore but there isn't as much power or pull.

WHY ARE THESE THINGS HAPPENING????

1. The lag when I accelerate
2. Why I don't have power now but did before the repair

 

First, you took it to a place called *******'s garage?

I'd love to go there.

Second,

i've never heard of a cable operated throttle being laggy. That's a first for me.

Take it back, try to get it fixed

 

Have you replaced the fuel filter? Spark plugs? Plug wires? Distributor cap and Rotor? PCV Valve?

All of these could be a place to start and help hondas run smoothly. Do you have any check engine lights?

 

haha yeah... ******* is the owner's last name.

 

And the spark plugs, ditributor, and spark plug wires are all new. Not sure what the "rotor" or "PCV valve" is sadly.

 

Oh, and no Engine light at all. These problems happened after the repair so whatever it is, it must have happened during the repair. The lever that controls the trottle body seems loose and I thought that the lag was because it was loose.

 

Any oil on the spark plugs?

 

I haven't checked, but wouldn't that simple burn off? The performance varies, like yesturday it was performing greatly and today not so much.

 

When you say lag, do you mean the engine itself isn't producing power? OR is the engine speed (RPMs) going up BUT the car itself is accelerating slowly? Because it sounds like you could be describing a slipping clutch. When they pulled the head they more than likely disconnected the clutch cable and if they did, it's completely possible that they didn't tighten it down all the way. Try tightening that cable and see if it helps.

 

Wait a minute ... U have 89 Si with D16A6? Is it stock engine for 89 Si model? I have the same car like urs ... Does that means I have a D16A6 too? This is my first civic so don't know much about it

 

No, the engine doesn't produce as much power and the RPM's don't increase. The clutch is also pretty clean and never grinds.

Yes, the 89-91 Civic Si's and CRX Si's have the D16A6 standard. The DX and STD Civic Hatch is equipped with a 1.5L D15B2.

 

Oh no ... Every time I go to to buy parts I always told them the engine is 1.5L ... Dang u make me nervous now cus all the parts that I bought and installed was for 1.5 not D16 like u said .

Ok so D16A6 is 1.6L and D15 is 1.5?

 

D16A6 is 1.6L.
D = Engine Series "D"
16 = Displacement, 1.6L
A6 = Exact Engine Model

Now get off this thread and get your own.

OP, check your spark plugs. They can have no oil on them and the car runs fine then suddenly start leaking. It's something you want to rule out though, as it can cause strange problems.

 

Thanks for the info but chill man.

 

What could be the causes of this?

 

Also, in te last week, a clicking or "knocking" has developed and seems to be coming from under the valve cover. I heard it could be the screws the push down on the valves have too big of a gap and are chattering. Any ideas?

 

I just got an 91 SI with a b20b swap... For what car do I need to order axles for so they can fit my car?!!!! Right?! And left?! Please help!!!

 

Judging by your build thread, that doesn't surprise me in the slightest.