I know this forum gets beat to death with "what's wrong with my car?" threads but hopefully you guys won't mind one more... I have a 2000 Civic Si.

I was cruising along at 60'sh in 5th gear today. Felt a gradual loss of power and noticed my rpm's and volt gauge start to drop. I took it out of gear and planned to put it in forth, but anticipated the car stalling in between however it didn't, it idled fine.

I put it in 4th and pressed the gas, it gave a small acceleration then dropped just like in 5th.

I pulled to the side of the road, noticed my power steering was going out as well. I got to the side of the road and put it in neutral, and it idled fine and did not stall. No CEL.

I shut the car off, thought about it for a second, and started it right up. It drove fine for the rest of my 5 minute drive to my destination.

I thought it might be my alternator BUT the car only has 50k miles and I had no electrical symptoms ie radio going out etc. I checked all the connections on the alternator as well as snooped all around my engine bay and came up empty.

Any suggestions??

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JoshuaVTEC &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I thought it might be my alternator BUT the car only has 50k miles and I had no electrical symptoms ie radio going out etc. I checked all the connections on the alternator as well as snooped all around my engine bay and came up empty.

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The voltage drop is probably a symptom of the engine bogging, not the other way around. I've had this issue on a few other cars that I've worked on, and it's always tough to find a solution. It's alot of trial and error.

Since this is only under load, have you done any fuel filter changes since you've owned the car? It could be clogging, so when more fuel is needed, it can't deliver. Have you revved it in neutral? Does it still bog?

You also may want to check for any vacuum leaks with a can of carb cleaner or quick start spray. It may be a small enough leak that the car can idle, but becomes a problem whith a greater vacuum created when into the pedal.

Does this only happen in the upper gears, or did it happen the rest of your drive home?

 

Also systoms of a Failing Dizzy. they are nitorious for failing in a honda.

 

I've never done anything with the fuel system, stock or aftermarket. I would think it wouldn't be the filter though as it only has 50k miles.

I got to my destination fine after I had pulled off. Then a few hours later I drove all the way home with no problems, and used all gears just fine.

This has stumped everyone I know, and it's freaking me out

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by JDMlyfestyle &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Also systoms of a Failing Dizzy. they are nitorious for failing in a honda.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Distributor?

 

do you have a kill switch? if yes, then the kill switch is wore out. if not check fuel pump sounded like the fuel pump is dying.

 

No kill switch. Lots of other security though

 

I'm being told to change the cap/rotor/plugs, what do you guys think?

 

i had a 94 del slow vtec and it would do the same things you just said. It would do it about once a month or once every two months. Never figured it out.

replaced dizzy, ecu, injectors, alternator, o2, engine harness, checked grounds. still would do it. must have been a relay in my case. never would do it when i was close to my shop always happened at the worse times(like the time iwas going up the grapevine)

good luck

 

One quick way to rule out your alternator as bein' the culprit is to start up your car and then disconnect your battery. If your car dies you have a bad alternator.

 

Our 99 SI does wierd things like that. But its because there is a short somewhere in the ecu harness. You hit a bump, or somebody hits the kick panel where the ecu is, the car throws a CEL. Its hella annoying. Stupid honda.

liam

 

I have the same year si and I also had the same problem but mine would throw a cell for the o2 sensor and that all happened awhile after installing my aem 4 inyo 1 stainless header since then I have gone turbo and the problem dissapeared I also replaced the cap rotor wires plugs and fuel filter to no success the only thing I didnt replace was the o2 hope this helps !!!

 

Thanks for the info guys. Anybody else?

The more info the better, more stuff for me to try...!!

 

I would guess maybe the ground wires, but im not positive on that because my brother had kinda the same problem with his car. Everytime he gave it up in high rpms or in 5th gear it would decline if lose of power. By the way nice valve cover, is that the vision carbon fiber wire cover?

 

Invidia!