Rep Power: 489

Hey Guys,

I don't know why this problem is happening or what is causing it, so I thought I'd give some people who know cars better than me a shot at this before I let a mechanic see it...

Car:
I have a manual 01 EX Sedan w/ header, muffler and SRI. 54,000 miles.

Problem:
A few months ago it started very gently, and got to the point tonight where I could hardly make it drive. The car will go from regular running to incredibly sluggish acceleration (or RPM increase). At times the RPM's just turn to 0, sometimes the RPM's refuse to rise above 3000 when the pedal is floored. Last week, a friend of mine changed the oil and sparkplugs (but not the wires) and the change was noticable, at first it seems as if it had gotten better although it soon began again. It has been acceptably running until tonight, when I could barely drive it a mile. It has also began backfiring for no apparent reason, it did not do this before my friend changed the plugs (that I know of).

Once again, the car will be driving normally, and then suddenly lurch as the RPM's nose dive. Sometimes it will continually do this, sometimes with a little gas it will return to normal. Sometimes it will turn off and I have to coast and turn it on again, when it would usually work. Tonight it got so bad that the car wasn't wanting to even turn on again. I opened the hood and pressed the gas (while off) and I heard some sort of a clicking sound from the engine bay, but could not get out to see where it was (because I wouldn't be able to step on the gas then).

My friend (he owns a 6th gen) seems to think I need my spark plug wires changed...

I know this is not a tranny problem, because today I left it running as it was in neutral, and the rpms continually rev'd up to 1 and then nose dived to .1 or so, and you could hear the engine straining to stay on (sitting by itself) for no apparent reason.

So yeah, this is aggrivating to me... I love my little civic, but I want it to run like it's reputation says it should...! If anyone could at least help me out with this, let me know, please. THANKS.

***I should also add that I was not the original owner, and the spark plugs that were changed were the originals. I did not know it needed a tune up this bad.*Cringe*

Thanks again.

 
Rep Power: 811

Our cars DO NOT have spark plug wires. And that's not the problem anyway. It sounds like a computer problem. If you search, there's alot of topics on stalling with 2k1 civics. I believe there was a tsb to reflash the ecu with new programming.

 
Rep Power: 310

Man, this could be alot of things. So I assume you dont have any CEL's? Sometimes resetting the ECU by disconnecting the battery cable can help. I think the manual says how to properly do that.

Things off the top of my head that could be the problem:

Clogged fuel filter
Clogged cat converter(doubtful, but possible)
Bad 02 sensor
Bad TPS sensor
Bad fuel pump
Bad or clogged fuel injector(s)

Sounds like its starving for fuel. Does your header have a provision(bung) for the 02 sensor or are you using a simulator?

 
Rep Power: 489

my appologies...

The check engine light comes and goes, sometimes if I let the car run for a while, it will go off without any more problems, but now every time I turn the car on, it began's stalling and actually turning off, right off the bat now.

I didn't install the header, so I have no clue, anything about it. It's an HP Racing header...

Thanks again guys, for your input. I'll check into some of these (that I can check into).

Also, my friend swears by the spark plug wires, even though he does have a different engine. He thinks the wires that come out of the vtec and plug into the spark plugs are the spark plug wires... lol go figure...

thanks again guys.

 
Rep Power: 811

We have direct ignition (coil based). No wires. Good luck finding the problem.

 
Rep Power: 0

sounds like the problem i have what i did was disconnect the TPS and the car runs but it idles around 1100 rpms so im thinking its the TPS i just havent found one yet

 
Rep Power: 282

Yes it does sound like a fuel problem. Probably sensor or injectors, especially since you heard clicking.

 
Rep Power: 310

Get it scanned at a shop, or buy your own code scanner and see what the CEL codes are. You can buy a scanner for less then 150 bucks these days. A good investment if your a DIY'er, and I bet worth more then that header..

Maybe think about going back to stock exhaust manifold and see if that helps. Good luck and keep us updated.

 
Rep Power: 0

Ok guys I am going to bump this thread because its says so in the rules and its the closes thing to my car problem..
Ok my car is a 04 ex MANUAL with about 4000 miles on her, just finsihed a oil change with synthetic oil (mobil 1) I noticed this problem after the oil change.. pretty much what the guys was saying before me.. I will be driving and just out of no where I start to lurch, just as if the car is going to stall but then it kicks in again, this usually happens in 5th gear low rpms, I have noticed it in 4th gear also my engine light also comes on while its doing this.. but as soon as it stops the egine light goes out as well... .. but nothing lower then that.. if anyone knows what might cause this or thinks they can help.... I am thinking of just bringing her in to the honda dealership where I bought her but its kinda a far drive, and it seems like it might be getting worse.. not sure if I feel safe driving that far.. Thanks guys/ladies -David

 
Rep Power: 489

I still haven't discovered my problem yet... was thinking it could be the coils for the spark plugs, but I don't know now.

If it's happening on a relatively new (by comparison) 04, then there might be some issue here...

I'm not thinking anymore of resetting the ECU, because then it would erase the codes for the code scanner, and I just may need that working.

Honda04Civic, do you have any aftermarket parts? I'm thinking the problem *could be* with my header, too.....

 
Rep Power: 0

negative no mods just changed my oil, I am thinking they forgot to tighten something? I have to get my lisecense plate still so when I bring her in I will let them look at it.. I'll let you know what they say..

 
Rep Power: 0

After my first post in this thread it seems like my car is driving fine now... how is yours doing Zapthycat?!?! I think maybe my engine was getting used to the new oil???

 
Rep Power: 489

UPDATE:

I took the car down to HONDA and they said it was the timing belt tensioner, it's bad. It also messed up the timing belt, so I get to change that too. They don't know how much damage was done so they want to rip apart the block to make sure the pistons and valves are OK and not bent. Nice eh?

So basically, they want me to pay $1200 for new timing belt, tensioner, and to check and make sure there's nothing else bad with the engine. I can afford that, seeing as how I'm getting married next month, so I'm not sure what I'm going to do. But I'll figure something out (I guess). Thanks for everyone's help here!

 
Rep Power: 0

Its not your timing dont let them fool you on that crap its an ecu problem ive gone through this with my stock engine and with my secong engine as well as soon as i put my 2nd engine in it did it from start up.....dont get me wrong the timing may be a little screwed up but mine was perfect both times and stil with the kicking and stalling and jumping go grab an ECU from a yard or somthing

 
Rep Power: 0

hmmmm intresting... thanks for the updates.. I am still having it.. going back to regular oil in a little to see if it stops.. Thanks for the update.