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I have a 99 DX sedan auto with 130K on the clock, just bought the car and need to register it. But, the CEL is on and they won't do an emissions check with it on or reset within 100 miles. Yaay.

It runs ok except it feels like every 30 seconds or so the car shuts off for one revolution then turns back on. Or a half rev. But it's like it's bucking, never shuts off completely, doesnt' stall. I checked the codes with the autostone code reader, got P0303, P0304, and P0420. Last one's a cat code, and it does have a small leak at the #4 cylinder to manifold gasket on the exhaust. I looked for the EGR plate, and could not find it. There was some writeup I read that said if the EGR gasses were dumping into one or two cylinders it would be apparent when pulling off one plug wire. Yeah, I'm used to pulling a wire and one cyl goes dead, which it did for all cylinders, so I'm going to post it just in case someone asks.

Car has a new distributor in it. Plus plugs and wires. They also replaced another sensor with a used one, think it was the TPS. Previous owner did this, and has not answered back as to what it was they changed, sorry I will update it soon.

Drove the car 120 miles round trip last night, and it bucked the entire way. It's my only car and I can't afford to have it down for an extended period of time. My thoughts are:
Replace manifold gasket
Put on ebay o2 sensors - hope these two correct the P0420 issue.
Scratch head, wonder what to do for the 3/4 misfire.


In the future add the ebay header with the EX style cat below the car, not off the manifold, for cost not performance reasons.

Anyone have any ideas as to why the bucking/hiccup issue with the cyl 3 and 4 codes?

 
Rep Power: 216

The p0420 one is a biggie. I got lucky as I'm guessing mine turned out to apparently be a ghost or glitch or something. It's been almost 4 months. I just passed my inspection, so I'm guessing it's fine. Hondas are really picky with things that aren't OEM. I've heard aftermarket O2 sensors don't work very well with our cars. Hopefully you get lucky, but remember, it's the secondary O2 sensor that monitors catalyst efficiency and nothing else, so that might not do anything about your issue. Maybe they replaced the cam sensor? Just a guess. It sucks the PO hasn't returned your questions. Hopefully some of the more knowledgeable guys can give you a little more insight.

 
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HA! Figures he replies minutes after I posted...

He said Idle sensor, water sensor, and a o2 sensor. Unfortunately, doesnt know which o2 sensor.

 
Rep Power: 216

By idle and water sensor, do you mean Idle air temp and engine coolant temp sensor? Those are the only ones that sound remotely close to what he's talking about.

 
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Requested clarification, the text I got back was "I guess so". He dropped it off to a mom and pop shop, so he probably doesn't know. I'm going to try to replace the exhaust manifold gasket on monday, then clear the codes and see what happens with the errors. I'll be happy if the cat error goes away, the misfire ones have me stumped though. New disty, cap rotor plugs wires. 130K on the car, literally it's 130,000 and a tenth. Previous owner was a grandma who parked the car from 2008 until a month ago, she couldn't drive for medical reasons. This guy got it, put a few hundred into it, then when his minivan blew the tranny he bought a pair of kias. He's a decent guy, but pretty much doesn't know much other than what it cost him.

 
Rep Power: 234

For the mis-fire: Service manual says to check EGR, check for good spark, and check the injectors.

EGR looks like this:

 
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Lazlong, that got me thinking. The EGR's purpose is to cool the CC right? Is it possible that it's dumping too much recirculated gas and the spark plug can't fire properly?

 
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^^ Could be.

FYI: A yearly top-end, EGR, and PCV cleaning isn't a bad idea.

 
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You said new plugs and wires? What about distributor cap and rotor..... if the rotor is carbon scored replace both. Also what kind of plugs. I have a 97 dx D16Y7 and she doesn't like any kind of spark plug but the baseline copper.... no platinum.... I had some random missfires a while back and those were the culprits.

AAlso you said it was parked from 08 to a month ago? That's a long time to sit with the crappy gas we get nowadays. I would suggest also replacing the fuel filter and running some injector cleaner..... see what happens

 
Rep Power: 216

Consensus is NGK or Denso for plugs. Wires are usually the same brand, too. If the rotor is scored, yes, replace that as well. The distributor cap might as well be replaced too. Your car is misfiring now, right? What plugs are you using? If this has been a problem before, you really aren't correcting anything if the car is still giving you the same issue with copper plugs, assuming that's what you're using now.
Edit: Realized you aren't the OP here. The continuous misfire probably won't apply to you.

 
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Yes... I had missfire issues in the past while running bosch double platinum plugs. And even after new wires still had the problem till I bought and put in I think champion coper plugs. Haven't had an issue since then. But the OP could have a fuel problem as well. I know I had issues this spring after my car sat for 6 months...... some seafoam and a "spirited" drive cured that though.... sitting for three years though...... can't see that being at all good for injectors or filters.

 
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Edit: nvm. Misread something

 
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Ha! The Italian tune-up strikes again! lol

 
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Oh brother... I'm going to go right ahead and keep my mouth shut before I get myself in trouble... again.

 
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Took it apart and cleaned the throttle body, then went to replace the leaking manifold gasket I found when looking it over yesterday. It has the integral cat to the manifold, and it was cracked all the way around, starting from the o2 sensor... Guess the best bet is the ebay sysem, toss the cat from it and buy a decent one from what I read here. Not a big fan of doing a full aftermarket system on the family cruiser, but under $200 for the header to the tailpipe is better than the stock cat/manifold thing.

This one - probably buying tomorrow morning and hoping it ships quick, whaddya think?
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/99-00...item5198cc6bdb

 
Rep Power: 313

^ That probably won't pass emissions... I don't even think it has a catalytic converter on that unit which is the most important piece to passing emissions.

You need to replace the catalytic converter in order to pass.

 
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That's the idea, use the fleabay kit for the header, mid pipe, and basically to replace the rest of the system with an EX setup cheaply. But toss the "Hi Flow Cat" they include and buy a real unit that will pass the smog test. There's no way I'm bolting another integral cat/manifold setup back in that car.

this one requires a stock cat, does not include the cat or "test pipe"

This item require stock catalytic converter for installation

 
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^^ If you want to chance a used EX cat then hit me up. There are some locals on CL selling there's (full exhaust, gotta love the guys that go turbo) for next to nothing.

 
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Sorry I missed that... I just don't like ebay setups... Hopefully it lasts for you.

 
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I hope it gets the car thru emissions within the next eight days...

LazLong, that picture looks to show the EGR valve next to the valve cover. I don't see it there, or on the intake. it's a D16y7 99, does this use something else?

Edit-- I checked the factory service manual, and it doesn't list the EGR solenoid. Every other model uses it but this one. Does this use that valve overlap setup for EGR? And if it does, would that cause the issue?

 
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I have a '98 dx hatchback. Ex man was cracked front to back and spitting out p0420 codes. Replaced the EM with a used one which has a bolt on cat, not even sure what year it's off of. Called Honda parts and they couldn't tell me what year but said Honda wasn't making parts for it anymore. Still getting the same code. Replaced the downstream o2 with the used one the came w/the em, have to run it 40mi to see if the code comes back. I've seen talk of people using the EX exhaust systems w/o the integral cat. Is this a viable choice and do the o2 sensors remain the same? What year EX systems will fit my '98 dx? Any special issues to deal with?