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Hello everyone I am a newbie and not much of a mechanic, more just a part replacer guy. I would like to get some of your expertise on my 1989 Honda Civic LX. It is a 4 door sedan with an automatic transmission. This is just my work car, it is great on gas.

Symptom: When the fuel tank is full, while driving and I come to a stop and I step on the brakes, be it hard braking or moderate the engine is fine. But if the gas tank is about 3/4 full the engine feels like it is dying whenever I brake. Further test, I reset the odometer every time I fill up the gas tank and after some driving and the odometer reading turns to 100 this symptom starts. Therefore, whenever I come to an intersection I have to apply the brakes very gentle especially when the gas tank is at 3/4 tank full.

Repairs Done So Far: replace fuel filter twice at different intervals (6 months in between), use fuel injector cleaners, fill up gas tank using super unleaded gas.

After doing the above repairs the symptom is still there. Does any of you experts have any idea what may be causing this? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.........

 
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Brake booster vacuum leak? Wouldn't explain how the symptom only happens at certain gas tank fluid levels though

 
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Hi Danwat12345,

Thanks for the response. Is it possible that it could be the fuel pump that is causing this issue?

 
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Whats super unleaded gas? Is tha 89 or 91+ or something?

You car doesn't need anything higher than 87 (which it was designed for) higher octane doesn't mean is cleanser gas and actually does more potential harm to engine than good.

As for your gas problem, when was the last time the fuel pump was replaced? An '89 civic has a lot of time on it and could be many things.

Go get yourself a bottle of seafoam and pour half of it in your gas tank (full tank) and the other half of the seafoam into your gas tank on the next fill up.

 
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Hi sl33pyricebo,

Super Unleaded is 91+ octane. I thought perhaps using the high octane would help. I did use Sea Foam, but that did not help either.

I have replaced the fuel filter already, twice since this issue came up. The last time that it was replaced was about 1.5 years ago.

I agree that a 1989 Civic has a lot of time on it. It is like a person, when you're young, you have no aches and pains. However, as you aged you do have aches and pains. Therefore, what old car does not have an aches and pains?

As for mileage, I have 185,000 on it and still the original owner. Just looking for ideas to see if I can fixed this. Thanks for any suggestions.

 
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jmacook,

in a nutshell, higher octane gas allows your engine to burn the fuel slower (also relates to the timing of the engine). the only catch is your engine has to be built to take advantage of the higher octane.

if your engine is designed for 87 (which yours is), putting higher octane will cause possible knock and/or ticking. there a few engines (6th gen v6 accords) have been dyno with 91 and found that it has lost hp (engine was designed for 87)

 
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many have suggest the fuel pump. its not the same as the fuel filter. over time (and in your case, a lot of time) the fuel PUMP gets weaker and weaker.

so as a result, it may not be able to pump the necessary gas or keep the necessary pressure in the fuel lines for what the engine needs.

 
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and kuddos to you for having a 89. that is a very admirable thing (especially if you are the original owner)

keep it forever.

 
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Hi sl33pyriceboi,

Thanks for responding with all the info. Looks like it may be a fuel pump than. Do you have any ideas how to go about replacing the fuel pump? I assume that it is in the gas tank. Does the gas tank need to be dropped in order to get to the fuel pump? Thanks for any info.

Regards,

Joe

 
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U will need to drop the tank.

 
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im not sure where the fuel pump on your 89 is, but i CAN tell you MOST hondas have the fuel bump right under the back seat. its around that area. either that or its under your car in the back area.

 
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Solution. . buy a newer car sell that pos ricer

 
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Thank you to all the nice people on this forum for your expertise comments, at least I can feel somewhat confident in tackling the job now.

And to one individual with not so nice comments, more so to the last commentator (EG907H22), if a forum is not a place for any individuals to pose a question to get feed back then what is it really for? If you're calling a "Honda" as a pos ricer, then why are you on this forum? Then what you're saying is completely contradicting to yourself. Furthermore, since you are on this forum, which means you also drive a pos ricer so that makes you a pos ricer? Kind sir, if you call "Honda" a pos ricer why do you own or even drive a pos ricer? Please keep your wise unfriendly comments to yourself and use your time more constructively instead of wasting it on these precious forum.

Once again, I thank all of you for your kind comments and suggestions.

 
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dont worry about him jmacook, he's just a troll. the 89civic is an absolutely astonishing car. if i ever saw one on sale, id buy it in a heart beat.

 
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I can't add much to help solve your problem but that is really cool that you are the original owner! And only 185,000 miles too?! I have a 04 Civic and it already has 133,000 miles. Kudos to you