my car is dying
#1
Premium Member
Hey! Look At Me!! I'm a Supporting Member!!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (95)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: NV
Age: 43
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 0
Received 18 Likes
on
13 Posts
Rep Power: 788 my car is dying
I know civics are slow and have their problems, but my car has so many I don't know what to do. Can you guys offer any help?
1) low gas mileage (22mpg) and messed up fuel gauge that NEVER reads the right amount of gas despite getting a new fuel sender.
2) Engine sounds horrible after and during A/C use. Sounds like a very bad rattle or growling.
3) Can't feel VTEC engage at higher rpms anymore. I used to be able to.
4) When cruising at constant speed, pressing on the gas slightly causes rpms to drop like the engine is bogged down.
5) Car feels very slow--more so than usual at certain times. After some driving, I can press the gas down and it feels like the car doesn't want to go.
Old dealer says since the check engine light is not on, your car is fine. I'm going to the new dealer in a few weeks to see if they're any better. Any ideas on what I can do would be great. And I have a new air filter, good tire pressure, and the car is stock except for a muffler.
1) low gas mileage (22mpg) and messed up fuel gauge that NEVER reads the right amount of gas despite getting a new fuel sender.
2) Engine sounds horrible after and during A/C use. Sounds like a very bad rattle or growling.
3) Can't feel VTEC engage at higher rpms anymore. I used to be able to.
4) When cruising at constant speed, pressing on the gas slightly causes rpms to drop like the engine is bogged down.
5) Car feels very slow--more so than usual at certain times. After some driving, I can press the gas down and it feels like the car doesn't want to go.
Old dealer says since the check engine light is not on, your car is fine. I'm going to the new dealer in a few weeks to see if they're any better. Any ideas on what I can do would be great. And I have a new air filter, good tire pressure, and the car is stock except for a muffler.
#2
I log in from time to time
Hey! Look At Me!! I'm a Supporting Member!!
iTrader: (31)
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: VA
Age: 37
Posts: 15,682
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Rep Power: 410 You can feel your VTEC engage? Interesting...
Anyways, sorry to hear about all those problems. I can't drive around with more than 2 people in the car (me and someone in the passenger seat) or else the car won't move, or it will, but not up hills or very "quickly" as it would with only 2 people.
Anyways, sorry to hear about all those problems. I can't drive around with more than 2 people in the car (me and someone in the passenger seat) or else the car won't move, or it will, but not up hills or very "quickly" as it would with only 2 people.
#4
Jap-Euro Fusion
Hey! Look At Me!! I'm a Supporting Member!!
iTrader: (16)
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Washington DC
Age: 41
Posts: 13,151
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
Rep Power: 400 Try changing the spark plugs. That may explain shitty milage and the sluggishness. Its worth a try for the 10 bucks it would cost to get 4 new ones. Also try a bottle of injector flush. You may have just run some bad gas through the car.
#5
Premium Member
Hey! Look At Me!! I'm a Supporting Member!!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (95)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: NV
Age: 43
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 0
Received 18 Likes
on
13 Posts
Rep Power: 788 I'm thinking it might be gas. Now I get mobil1 instead of chevron cause there isn't any here. I still add that fuel system cleaner every 3k miles though. What are some good spark plugs?
#6
DOHC i-VTEC TiMEX
iTrader: (10)
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: the OC
Age: 40
Posts: 7,266
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 339 yep ... and make sure the spark plugs are gapped correctly. Try going for denso iridiums if you have money ... a lot of people say it's a waste of money, but you should just try them out to see if they are any better for your car ...
#9
Premium Member
Hey! Look At Me!! I'm a Supporting Member!!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (95)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: NV
Age: 43
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 0
Received 18 Likes
on
13 Posts
Rep Power: 788 I only have 17000 miles. The mileage was really good when I first had the car. But during the last few thousand miles it has gotten progressively worse. When I had my SRI on, I was actually getting 25mpg. I took it off and it got much worse.
#11
Registered!!
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Diego, California, US
Posts: 2,130
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 0 Originally posted by gearbox
I only have 17000 miles. The mileage was really good when I first had the car. But during the last few thousand miles it has gotten progressively worse. When I had my SRI on, I was actually getting 25mpg. I took it off and it got much worse.
I only have 17000 miles. The mileage was really good when I first had the car. But during the last few thousand miles it has gotten progressively worse. When I had my SRI on, I was actually getting 25mpg. I took it off and it got much worse.
The only other thing I can think of at this time is to take it into an independent mechanic that knows Hondas, that you trust, and have them do a full diagnostic on your engine. It may cost a bit of cash, but at least they'll be more honest with you than your dealer, who seems to be trying to avoid any warranty work.
#12
Registered!!
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: St. Pete Beach, FL, Florida, US
Posts: 1,158
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 0 Almost sounds like you might have a vacuum leak, make sure everything under the hood is tight and connected, check to make sure the intake is tight, plus check for any cracks in all the vacuum hoses. Just a tought.........
#14
Premium Member
Hey! Look At Me!! I'm a Supporting Member!!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (95)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: NV
Age: 43
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 0
Received 18 Likes
on
13 Posts
Rep Power: 788 I had an intake and it robbed low end power. That's why I took it off. The funny thing was I got 2-3mpg more with the intake on! I'm hoping it's just the spark plugs that are bad. I'll post back when I get them installed.
#16
Registered!!
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Baltimore,MD US
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 0 It sounds like a fuel filter to me. Bad gas would clog it up in a hurry. Bogging under acceleration but gets better when you let off the gas is a classic dirty fuel filter symptom. Now as to where it is on the civic...don't know..Hell I don't even know if they have one (although I'm assuming they do). I'm not saying thats what it is...but it sure sounds like it to me.
#17
Premium Member
Hey! Look At Me!! I'm a Supporting Member!!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (95)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: NV
Age: 43
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 0
Received 18 Likes
on
13 Posts
Rep Power: 788 Fuel filter? Don't even know how to handle that problem. Hopefully it isn't, but I'll remember it if the new plugs don't help. The strange thing is it performs fine when the engine first warms up. Once it gets hotter from alot of driving, the engine starts lagging and it feels like it'll break if I step on the gas too much.
#18
Registered!!
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, US
Age: 39
Posts: 2,227
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 0 fuel filter may be the cause. 20,000 miles is the recommended milage to change all that, and if you ran bad gas a few times, it may have shortened the life of the filter. wouldnt be a bad thing to look into. seems like it is somethign more though. sounds pretty strange for a new car.
#20
Registered!!
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: San Diego, California, US
Posts: 2,130
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 0 Originally posted by Drnknmnky13
It sounds like a fuel filter to me. Bad gas would clog it up in a hurry. Bogging under acceleration but gets better when you let off the gas is a classic dirty fuel filter symptom. Now as to where it is on the civic...don't know..Hell I don't even know if they have one (although I'm assuming they do). I'm not saying thats what it is...but it sure sounds like it to me.
It sounds like a fuel filter to me. Bad gas would clog it up in a hurry. Bogging under acceleration but gets better when you let off the gas is a classic dirty fuel filter symptom. Now as to where it is on the civic...don't know..Hell I don't even know if they have one (although I'm assuming they do). I'm not saying thats what it is...but it sure sounds like it to me.
#22
Registered!!
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: St. Pete Beach, FL, Florida, US
Posts: 1,158
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 0 Originally posted by streetglower
maybe you just need a tune up, a major tune up. replace your spark plugs, ignition wires, timing belt, water pump, etc...
maybe you just need a tune up, a major tune up. replace your spark plugs, ignition wires, timing belt, water pump, etc...
If it is the plugs by chance, then he has a problem somewhere else, because plugs with low milage don't just foul out without a reason.
What he describes sounds like a fuel managment problem, or a ECU problem, or a air managment problem. I'd take it into a shop and have it looked at instead of guessing and replacing parts.
Last edited by solar; 09-30-2003 at 01:37 PM.
#23
Premium Member
Hey! Look At Me!! I'm a Supporting Member!!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (95)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: NV
Age: 43
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 0
Received 18 Likes
on
13 Posts
Rep Power: 788 Well, I did order new plugs and they're coming Friday. The old ones were all black, which makes me wonder how they got bad so fast.
Anyone know exactly how to change a fuel filter?
Anyone know exactly how to change a fuel filter?
#25
Premium Member
Hey! Look At Me!! I'm a Supporting Member!!
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Lost Angels
Age: 60
Posts: 2,478
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 278 Well, if the plugs are black, that's usually an over rich condition.
You DID retrain your ECU? It may be getting the wrong signals from the airflow sensor, or throttle sensor and inject too much gas. That would make it bog down when hot. I think someone already asked if any and all vacuum hoses are connected tight?
I doubt it's the fuel filter.
You DID retrain your ECU? It may be getting the wrong signals from the airflow sensor, or throttle sensor and inject too much gas. That would make it bog down when hot. I think someone already asked if any and all vacuum hoses are connected tight?
I doubt it's the fuel filter.
#26
Premium Member
Hey! Look At Me!! I'm a Supporting Member!!
Thread Starter
iTrader: (95)
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: NV
Age: 43
Posts: 51,241
Likes: 0
Received 18 Likes
on
13 Posts
Rep Power: 788 I thought the ECU would learn on it's own. I did reset it a while back just in case. I'll probably do it again when I get all my new stuff installed just to be safe. The plugs may have gotten black from not driving hard enough to burn the carbon off. Who knows. I'll have some answers maybe in a few weeks.
#27
Premium Member
Hey! Look At Me!! I'm a Supporting Member!!
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Lost Angels
Age: 60
Posts: 2,478
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 278 Yeah, put the new stuff on, then reset the ECU and let the car IDLE for 15 minutes without touching it. That should do it.
The ECU SHOULD learn on it's own, but it can and does screw up sometimes if things change too much. Then a proper reset is your best bet.
The ECU SHOULD learn on it's own, but it can and does screw up sometimes if things change too much. Then a proper reset is your best bet.
#30
Registered!!
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: St. Pete Beach, FL, Florida, US
Posts: 1,158
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rep Power: 0 Originally posted by horatio
time for a full tune up...to hell the honda recomendations
time for a full tune up...to hell the honda recomendations
He has a fuel managment problem, or air intake problem.