HELP! 2002 Honda Civic 1.7 ex. While driving car suddenly popped a check engine light, car immediately wouldn’t run above 2000 rpm super sluggish. Exhaust manifold was cherry red. After about 20 minutes I could start the car and would work just fine. Until it happened again soon after. Suspected cat converter and replaced. Worked fine until about 30 minutes driving and same problem. Code was for a Top dead center sensor. Replaced that camshaft sensor after some research pointing to that. Struggled to start the car again but finally it started. Same problem still exists. There is a slight oil leak from the front of the engine as well (that’s been ongoing) What could be causing this?!

 

Is the Check Engine Light on? What is the code?

 

That no running above 2000 rpm is called "limp mode". Not a very good thing if you are on the freeway or even on some city streets, because you cant accelerate like normal. I had the same problem, cat was red hot. I got it to a lighted parking lot, opened the hood, and sat there for 30 minutes waiting for a tow truck. But I was able to restart after things cooled down. Initially the TDC sensor was bad. Got it replaced and timing belt done at same time. Little did it know the camshaft sensor was going to get me in a few months. but I was low on funds anyways. Crankshaft is lower on timing cover and camshaft sensor, I replaced my self with a little help from youtube.So check both sensors and their respective wiring. Good luck.As for your oil leak, I would check your valve cover gasket, because when I researched the camshaft sensor, some referenced the valve cover gasket set.