96 Accord runs rough in 1st gear once started

Tiny
KAPTIAN
  • MEMBER
  • 1996 HONDA ACCORD
I own a 96 Accord with 140,000 miles. The car has an auto trans. When I start the car it will have a slight shutter when it idles and the tach will show variance of about half (vary between 1.5 - 2). When I put the car into gear, it hesitates while in first gear (push the gas pedal but will slowly gain speed and hesitate to gain more). However, once the car shifts into 2nd there is no problem. If problem only occurs the first time I am in 1st gear. If the car shifts into second gear and then stop the car and try to drive again; there is no hesitation of sputtering. Is this an engine problem or trans? What could be causing the problem?
Tuesday, July 17th, 2007 AT 8:53 PM

3 Replies

Tiny
BRUCE HUNT
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,754 POSTS
Check the coolant level and when the engine is warm bleed the system to get the air from it. Another thought is the EGR valve. It can be taken apart and cleaned or replaced.
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Wednesday, July 18th, 2007 AT 11:34 AM
Tiny
KAPTIAN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I had my mechanic look at the car because the thermostat would start to read hot when the car would idle. When I purchased the car, the dealer had to change the thermal sensor and a broken wire. However, the engine reading hot was a new development. My mechanic said the radiator was short 1/2 gallon of coolant. He pressure tested the system for 25 minutes and there was no loss in pressure. Asked if he did a head gasket test, he said no because if there was a problem the cylinder would have filled with coolant. He also changed the oil and did not find any signs of coolant in the oil. Where could the coolant have gone? This also leaves me to believe I will have the EGR valve replaced. Thank you in advance for your time.
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Wednesday, July 18th, 2007 AT 8:40 PM
Tiny
BRUCE HUNT
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,754 POSTS
The engine warming and heading to the hot might be the early stages of head gasket failure. Your first sluggish take off could be the car running on gas and water. Moisture could seep in as the car sits. He pressure tested the cooling system. I would consider a leak down test in the cylinders. Not a compression check.
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Thursday, July 19th, 2007 AT 8:37 AM

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