Slow Acceleration..
Slow Acceleration..
Recently, I've been getting slower acceleration and lower gas mileage.. I only have about 24,000 Miles on my 02 Civic...and I don't know what is causing this. I don't know much about cars, but I do get my oil changes done every 5,000 miles... What things can contribute to this....Fuel Injectors, Bad Sparkplugs.? At 16,000 i accidentally had put diesel in my car..but I got it fixed immediately...Does the fact that I put diesel earlier have an effect on the way my car is performing right now?
This Monday I AM planning to go to the Honda Dealer and hopefully get it fixed under warranty. I have never done any warranty work before, so I'm Hoping they will cover this...
..I only have 24,000 miles on this car with 2 yrs of ownership..and acceleration doesn't seem to be as strong..it's just sorta stiff and doesn't punch as much...and gas mileage seems to be lower....Are these problems covered by Warranty... and what would they do on my car to clear up the problems....?
This Monday I AM planning to go to the Honda Dealer and hopefully get it fixed under warranty. I have never done any warranty work before, so I'm Hoping they will cover this...
..I only have 24,000 miles on this car with 2 yrs of ownership..and acceleration doesn't seem to be as strong..it's just sorta stiff and doesn't punch as much...and gas mileage seems to be lower....Are these problems covered by Warranty... and what would they do on my car to clear up the problems....?
Well first off, you should have your car serviced every 3000 miles. Thats just good maintainence of your car. And when you put diesel in your car did you have your tank and fuel lines flushed or did they just run the pump through it? BC that would make a difference...definately. as long as they can't find any sign of customer abuse these things are usually covered by warranty.
my car also seems like it has slow acceleration and lower gas mileage....i dunno if it's jus me but my car doesnt seem to save much gas....even my bro's v6 maxima sometimes saves more gas than me....and i dont beat the gas that much either
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 20
From: NV
Rep Power: 812 










Stop double posting! I already told you what to do. Take it to the dealer first, then do a DIY tuneup.
-new plugs
-air filter
-tranny fluid
-tire pressure
fuel injector cleaner
-new plugs
-air filter
-tranny fluid
-tire pressure
fuel injector cleaner
you need to go to the dealer and get a major tune up on your car. They do the full service and its a good one too. I felt a difference in performance when I did this and you need to do OIL changes every 3000 miles like most people do it will prolong your motor than doing it all the time at 5000 miles. About the Diesel, how did you do that????
Repair..
Originally posted by SMURF_KILLER
you need to go to the dealer and get a major tune up on your car. They do the full service and its a good one too. I felt a difference in performance when I did this
you need to go to the dealer and get a major tune up on your car. They do the full service and its a good one too. I felt a difference in performance when I did this
How much did it cost you...? how much does it cost w/out warranty...
Registered!!
iTrader: (4)
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,617
Likes: 0
From: 562/909, California, US
Rep Power: 0 
i do:
- oil change every 3500 miles
- fuel injection cleaner every 5000 miles
- re-Charge my KN&N drop-in filter every 5000 or whenever dirty
- oil filter every 7000 miles
- Tranny fluid flush @ 15000 miles
- i haven't change my spark plug (NGK Laser Platinum) since 1500 miles (now 25000)
- use 89 gasoline everyday and 91 gasoline once every year for my car b'day

- major maintenance ever year for my car b'day

and my car still get 375 - 425 miles per tank, smooth engine
- oil change every 3500 miles
- fuel injection cleaner every 5000 miles
- re-Charge my KN&N drop-in filter every 5000 or whenever dirty
- oil filter every 7000 miles
- Tranny fluid flush @ 15000 miles
- i haven't change my spark plug (NGK Laser Platinum) since 1500 miles (now 25000)
- use 89 gasoline everyday and 91 gasoline once every year for my car b'day

- major maintenance ever year for my car b'day

and my car still get 375 - 425 miles per tank, smooth engine
Originally posted by YS
i do:
- oil change every 3500 miles
- fuel injection cleaner every 5000 miles
- re-Charge my KN&N drop-in filter every 5000 or whenever dirty
- oil filter every 7000 miles
- Tranny fluid flush @ 15000 miles
- i haven't change my spark plug (NGK Laser Platinum) since 1500 miles (now 25000)
- use 89 gasoline everyday and 91 gasoline once every year for my car b'day

- major maintenance ever year for my car b'day

and my car still get 375 - 425 miles per tank, smooth engine
i do:
- oil change every 3500 miles
- fuel injection cleaner every 5000 miles
- re-Charge my KN&N drop-in filter every 5000 or whenever dirty
- oil filter every 7000 miles
- Tranny fluid flush @ 15000 miles
- i haven't change my spark plug (NGK Laser Platinum) since 1500 miles (now 25000)
- use 89 gasoline everyday and 91 gasoline once every year for my car b'day

- major maintenance ever year for my car b'day

and my car still get 375 - 425 miles per tank, smooth engine
I took it to the dealer..and they said there's nothing wrong with the car except that the transmission fluid may be dirty.....
It costs $140 to flush the transmission...if I cleaned that out..will that fix my acceleration problem..?
It costs $140 to flush the transmission...if I cleaned that out..will that fix my acceleration problem..?
Last edited by Dticalman01; Nov 10, 2003 at 08:46 PM.
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 20
From: NV
Rep Power: 812 










Tranny fluid will make the auto tranny shift smoother and maybe improve acceleration. It's worth a try, as are new plugs if the old ones are dirty. DIY and save the $$.
22-25 MPG right???
and yes you need to go and have Honda do the 30000 mile tune up on your car, it will make a difference. they quoted me at about $350 for the whole thing, but if you take it to a reliable non-honda shop most of them will do it for about $200-$225. just make sure they work on imports, cuase yoiu can get some of those guys that don't know what the hell theyn are doin and then you just wasted your 200 bucks!
and yes you need to go and have Honda do the 30000 mile tune up on your car, it will make a difference. they quoted me at about $350 for the whole thing, but if you take it to a reliable non-honda shop most of them will do it for about $200-$225. just make sure they work on imports, cuase yoiu can get some of those guys that don't know what the hell theyn are doin and then you just wasted your 200 bucks!
tune it up and get the tranny flushed make sure they flush it and not just empty and refill alot of places do that it it doesnt help but if you get it fully flushed then that should help the shifting and the acceleration
Registered!!
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 995
Likes: 0
From: longmont, colorado
Rep Power: 0 
Originally posted by 03civicdx
tune it up and get the tranny flushed make sure they flush it and not just empty and refill alot of places do that it it doesnt help but if you get it fully flushed then that should help the shifting and the acceleration
tune it up and get the tranny flushed make sure they flush it and not just empty and refill alot of places do that it it doesnt help but if you get it fully flushed then that should help the shifting and the acceleration
sorry to tell you, but there is no "flushing" of the transaxle on a honda.
if you use a machine, the chemical they pump into it can destroy the tranny.
they just drain and fill.
DIY = $29
Originally posted by civic-king
sorry to tell you, but there is no "flushing" of the transaxle on a honda.
if you use a machine, the chemical they pump into it can destroy the tranny.
they just drain and fill.
DIY = $29
sorry to tell you, but there is no "flushing" of the transaxle on a honda.
if you use a machine, the chemical they pump into it can destroy the tranny.
they just drain and fill.
DIY = $29
Is it a lot more efficient in performance wise to do ourselves?
And also..if i do a DIY...how does the cost come out to be $29
Nothing works better than a Chris except a Honda.
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 5,346
Likes: 0
From: Baltimore, MD
Rep Power: 347 





Yeah, you should change the oil more often and get the tune-ups @ Honda because they will check everything important and stuff that normal use will consume.
Autocross Junky
Hey! Look At Me!! I'm a Supporting Member!!
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,211
Likes: 0
From: Las Vegas, Nevada, US
Rep Power: 380 










^^^ yup ^^^^
The octane rating of gasoline tells you how much the fuel can be compressed before it spontaneously ignites. Higher octane ratings can withstand Higher compression levels wich is why High compression engines and Forced induction cars need it. to prevent Knocking. that is the ONLY Reason!.
It is not refined better nor does it burn better/cleaner.
Since our cars are not High compression engines, runnig a high octane gas is more or less worthless.
The detergents that each brand use are added to ALL of their fuels (unless other wise specified).
The octane rating of gasoline tells you how much the fuel can be compressed before it spontaneously ignites. Higher octane ratings can withstand Higher compression levels wich is why High compression engines and Forced induction cars need it. to prevent Knocking. that is the ONLY Reason!.
It is not refined better nor does it burn better/cleaner.
Since our cars are not High compression engines, runnig a high octane gas is more or less worthless.
The detergents that each brand use are added to ALL of their fuels (unless other wise specified).
Last edited by Zzyzx; Nov 17, 2003 at 06:09 PM.
When are you people gonna learn, 91 octane gas is a waste of money. If you want more performence and for your engines to last longer in the "long run", then you shouldnt put anything in your Civic besides Diesel. Trust me, Diesel is the way to go.
I was thinking a 50/50 diesel and 91 Octane mix. That way I get all the benefits of a diesel engine (high torque off idle) with all the benefits of a high compression engine that needs 91 octane. And it would run clean thanks to the better refined 91 octane gas so the diesel wouldn't plug the cat. I could route exhaust gases out through a vertical exhuast riser on my rear bumper (5 ft tall or so) so during low rpm use to maximize torque. At high rpms it could switch to a twin can dual exhaust.
Is there a sticker I can put on my car to brag about this custom race mix???
Is there a sticker I can put on my car to brag about this custom race mix???


