I have 2 97 Civic Hatches with the 1.6L (stock no v-tec). They both lose power, spit and sputter under 3000rps sometimes. Does not happen all the time. Within a 500km drive they might act up a few times for random amounts of time. Both engines are very high mileage but they don't burn much oil so i'm assuming its electrical or fuel. The idle is surges and rises to 2000 sometimes too. After reading many post on similar problems I would like to adjust my idle and check the intake sensors. I have the old style intake that faces the intake bore upwards. I might also put some water remover in the fuel just to be safe but i doubt that is the problem.

Symptoms:
1 Random power loss with hard starting
2 Random surging and high idle with easy starting

What Ive Done To Get By:
Unplug an intake sensor to lower idle to temporarily cure symptom 2 ( i keep it unplugged, starts easy idles 1000-1200rmp )

I am thinking it has something to do with the intake sensors because most of the time they drive great with good power.

I am a mechanic with tools but i have little experience with the civics intake system. I am having trouble finding the idle adjustment too.

PLEASE HELP. Thanks for reading!

 

Cleaning the throttle body and IAC would be a good start.

 

Cleaned the throttle body and it works great! Thank you