Rep Power: 0

Hi there, my civic has been doing this for a couple weeks now. Started when I left the mechanics after getting brake lines and a ball joint replaced. It runs fine for the first couple minutes but once it gets up to temperature it will completely lose acceleration for a couple seconds, and then pick back up, and then lose acceleration again. So I've been getting around by just tapping on the gas over and over and using the little jolt it gets, or by hammering down on the gas which usually makes it kick back in. Most cases i've read about it's the opposite. (car runs fine under light acceleration but bogs under hard) It has been idling very roughly, sometimes the whole car will shake, if i'm in park and rev it a couple times it'll start sputtering and almost quit, but then revs itself back up.

The first thing i did was replace the fuel filter and put sea foam (gas/fuel injector cleaner) and filled it up with high octane fuel and it runs pretty good (losing power less frequently and not as bad) with lots of gas in it. But when it gets close to half it becomes almost undrivable. Yesterdy I replaced the spark plugs which helped the idle a lot but it's still bogging. I'm thinking of trying either the ignition coil or plug wires next.

What do you guys think? Any help is hugely appreciated as I'm tight on cash and am desperate at this point.

ps: I should also say that the cars been burning oil for sometime and i'll have to replace the motor eventually, one of the last mechanics that worked on it disconnected the o2 sensor because it kept getting clogged with oil and **** and he claimed it wasn't doing anything anyway.

Thanks again guys sorry about the long post!

 
Rep Power: 235

Check for loose/unconnected connectors. Then clean the trottlebody and IACV (Idle Air Control Valve).

 
Rep Power: 0

Right on thanks. Actually been running a near perfect the past two days but I'm not convinced the problem is gone, as soon as it acts up again I will try your suggestions.

Also which connectors?

Thanks again!

 
Rep Power: 235

Which connectors? All of them. Start by checking those closest to where the work was done and spread out from there. Also, try to have it scanned for codes (most autoparts stores will do it for free).

 
Rep Power: 0

Right on man thanks again, it acted up again last night so I'll try you suggestions.