So I've had this car (1988 CRX HF) since the 28th and I've noticed there is this occasional problem I encounter. It's kind of weird.

Sometimes when I'm in first and maybe once or twice while I've been in second, I'll get this weird hesitation. Doesn't seem to matter if I'm being light or heavy on the accelerator.

You know how it feels if you floor an automatic and it sort of bogs and bucks for a second? It feels like that. Very brief. Just one hiccup and then it's back to normal.

The IACV was just replaced with a nice clean one (has a screen in it, no rust). It has done this the entire time I've owned the car though.

Any ideas?

The battery light does pop sometimes on due to a slipping alternator belt. This will be remedied in the next few days.

 

check your timing belt might have slipped a tooth

 

Wouldn't that be strange for the only symptom of a timing belt being off a tooth to be that on rare occasions the car hiccups in only first and second at low rpm?

Any other ideas?

 

Since I've gotten the car (remember, the car has had this problem the entire time I've had it as far as I can tell - it didn't start happening after I did anything to it).

- Seafoam
- oil/filter change
- plugs
- inspected wires (I have some NGK wires, but the Sumitomos aka OE wires on it seem perfect)
- ignition rotor
- distributor cap
- changed IACV (to fix rare hunting idle, mine was rusty inside and had no screen)
- brake pads
- axles
- wipers
- detailed car
- washed engine bay

Remember. The car has had this problem the whole time.

This does not seem like a misfire. The CEL (check engine light) does pop on and test like normal when I turn the car on. Then it flips back off. When I Seafoamed the car the CEL came on and read code 17 iirc (whatever it was I looked it up and it said VSS).

Everything otherwise operates fine on the car besides there's a taillight issue with one bulb and there are a few small body parts that should be replaced (interior vent, side view mirror). Oh, and the resonator on the b-pipe is bad (never got a call back about the price for a new one) and I need to put an OE muffler on since I don't like hte aftermarket muffler.

Oh, and the car has 161k miles with the original motor.

 

i'm trying to remember back to when i had such issues...

mal-adjusted/faulty TPS (or plug/wiring), coolant temp sensor and ripped fuel pressure regulator diaphragm come to mind. it's been a while though.

it's out of Ron's normal gen range, but he might have some input.

 

Thanks, builthatch. I've never had this issue besides this car either. It's not very often, but still bothersome when it happens and I sure as hell don't want it to get any worse.

 

check the tps voltage. make sure you are set at .45 volts at closed throttle. Also get the alt. belt issue fixed. It can cause some weird problems of its own.

 

Should have updated about the belt. Replaced it yesterday. Also replaced the muffler with an OE one.

Haven't experienced the problem since the belt has been replaced, but like I said, it's not a constant problem.

Getting the resonator replaced this morning. I'll report back if I experience the hesitation again.

 

TPS has been changed (using the Blox one now, which came with new screws and everything). Tried swapping out the old alternator brushes but one of the nuts seems to be internally stripped.

 

Any sign of the problem?

 

I don't think so...

Thing is, I still haven't been able to do the alternator brushes and the fuel filter needs done as well.