I'm a new member but have used honda-tech.com as reference in the past....great site, thanks to all involved.

My son has a new (to him) 94 accord ex that dies often when he brakes hard. We love the car, but would sure like to get to the bottom of this issue so he can dare drive it further than 10 miles from the house without having to pull a horse or four wheeler behind (car dies with or without horse or four wheeler in tow)!! Here's the low down:

Running the AC makes the problem worse. He has no check engine or ABS warning lights turning on. The car might be a little gutless (the only thing we really have to compare it to is his previous '90 accord with standard trans) in that it struggles to hold speed of 75 going up a hill if it's too long or too steep. There are no OBVIOUS vacuum leaks. The car always starts back up right after dying. It doesn't sound like it's idling rough or knocking. He recently put new plugs and wires on it. No noise from belts or bearings in hardware spinnin with belts. AC blows cold and runs quiet. We haven't reset the ECU, the low idle, or had the codes read yet to see if the EGR (or something else) is having problems. I'm not completely clear on how to check the power brake assist out yet--plug the hose and the elbow...then what SHOULD I be seeing that's different than when its all hooked up?

I have found a few threads with folks having similar problems but nothing that's quite the same, at least that I can find--ironically I find more on the site using a google search since signing up as a member and using the forum search on the site (??). Probably some cockpit error on my part.

Any help anyone could offer up would be greatly appreciated and my horse, four wheeler, and son thank you in advance.

 

Sounds like its starved for air or fuel. Check those, my 94 EX fuel filter didn't flow AT ALL when I replaced it.

 

If there are low or erratic idle control problems, check out the FITV and IAC, there is the cleaning 'How To:' in the FAQ at the top of the page.

Prior to changing anything else, check the fuel pressure and test the fuel pressure regulator.

If pressure is low, it could be due to a faulty FPR, plugged filter as NZXTInerTia mentioned, plugged sock or dying fuel pump.

 

If you need a fuel pump (that being the issue) just ask! I'll be installing a Walbro 225 in mine soon and will sell my factory one for cheap. Agreed on cleaning the IACV, even though the car idles fine when standing still the activation and correction it provides when aiding the idle could still be sluggish.