1990 Honda Accord LX 130,000 miles

Tiny
GTELNS1000
  • MEMBER
  • 1990 HONDA ACCORD
When I start the car in the morning it runs fine, for about 5 miles when it warms up. Then it runs like it is running on 3 cylinders. I pulled the spark plugs, and one of the spark plug seals is bad but I do not believe this is causing the problem because I pulled and cleaned the spark plug and wire but it had no affect. After the car cools off, it runs fine again until it warms up. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance
Tuesday, April 18th, 2006 AT 3:59 PM

11 Replies

Tiny
BRUCE HUNT
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,754 POSTS
Would you say the engine surges after the car is warm, runs fast and slow and keeps repeating? Can you isolate the cylinder? Have you replaced the plugs and wires?
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Tuesday, April 18th, 2006 AT 11:22 PM
Tiny
GTELNS1000
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I just returned from work, so the car was warm and has the miss, I started the car, and it idles at 900 rpm constant. When I am driving the car, it seems to be a constant miss also. I pulled the plug wire off the plug that has the bad spark plug seal on it and then started the car, it appeared to run the same as with the plug wire on. I shut the car off, replaced the wire and car will not start at all now. I have only had the car about 2 weeks. It ran fine for about the first 150 miles and then the miss started. I have not replaced anything as of yet. I am stationed in the UK so I will probably order the parts from the U.S. So I am trying to order the correct parts the first time.
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Wednesday, April 19th, 2006 AT 12:56 PM
Tiny
BRUCE HUNT
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Got a buddy with a similar engine? You can put on a different wire to see if that fixes it. I have got to believe or would want to check that out first.
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Wednesday, April 19th, 2006 AT 7:36 PM
Tiny
GTELNS1000
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OK, I will try and get new plug wires today. FYI, after the car would not start after I put the plug wire back on, I tried starting it agin after about a half hourand it almost started ( it had a strong smell of gas) then again after about a hour and it started right up. Also, earlier today, after the car was warmed up, it sat for a couple of hours, temp gauge was on cold so Istarted it and it still had the miss, I let it sit a couple more hours and tried again and it ran smooth again for a couple miles.I will get some wires today and let you know what happens, I am starting to think it is a fuel prolem though. I will let you know. Thanks
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Wednesday, April 19th, 2006 AT 8:50 PM
Tiny
GTELNS1000
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I changed the plugs and the wires but the problem is still there.
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Friday, April 21st, 2006 AT 10:42 AM
Tiny
BRUCE HUNT
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It is erratic and you do not get a check engine light? Also, you said you cleaned the spark plug up, did you replace it? Here my reasoning. The oil leaking onto the plug as it gets very hot can cause the plug to break or crack. The behavior of it could be erratic. This doesn't sound like a fuel problem but more an electrical problem. Often electrical components will work when cool but as they warm and expand from the heat they expand and that causes problems.
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Sunday, April 23rd, 2006 AT 4:25 PM
Tiny
GTELNS1000
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Yes, I replaced the spark plugs and wires. The car was warm when I did it, it was barely warm to the touch, and it immediately had the miss. It really is not sparodic, as soon as the car comes up to Temperature, about 3miles. It starts to miss. It has to sit for about 4 or 5 hours for it to cool off to where it will not miss, but then in about 3 miles it wil start the missing again. I have ordered a new gasket set and will replace it when it comes in. Could it be a plugged catalytic converter?
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Monday, April 24th, 2006 AT 1:18 AM
Tiny
GTELNS1000
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Sorry, I forgot to mention, the check engine light does not come on while driving. It does work though, when I turn the ignition switch to on, the light comes on.
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Monday, April 24th, 2006 AT 8:40 PM
Tiny
BRUCE HUNT
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I am stumped, still remain steadfast that this is an electrical problem. The next item I want to recommend is the EFI relay. I recommend that you replace that, but I would also invite you to repost with the essence of what we have talked about captured and then we can let someone else respond like losone.
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Tuesday, April 25th, 2006 AT 6:43 AM
Tiny
GTELNS1000
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It seems to be acting a little different now. When it idles (when warm) it will idle smooth for a few seconds and then the idle drops down, almost like it is hunting for a second, it is hard to explain. Still runs good when it is cold. Just changed the fuel filter, it looks like it was the original so I figured it could not hurt. It did not seem to make a difference.
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Wednesday, April 26th, 2006 AT 1:43 PM
Tiny
ROYBOY
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Is it possible that the temp sensor is defective and not indicating a correct temp to the ecu? If it is reading cold to the ecu the mixture will be rich causing the engine to run bad when warm. Just a thought. Roy
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Saturday, June 3rd, 2006 AT 8:08 PM

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