Car loses power while driving

Tiny
MIKEYBDMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 623 POSTS
Alot of the things your mechanic did could have fixed the problem. That is a problem when you are just guessing at what is wrong.
First thing, do you have the sedan or coupe? Which engine? Just 4 cylinder or 6 cylinder will do after you say coupe or sedan.
If I understand your problem, it idles rough, and is slow to aclerate off of idle, but once you get it going, it runs good? If that is your problem, then it really doesnt sound like an ignition problem unless maybe there is some added resistance in some connections that the higher rpm voltage can over come (Probably not). Your car probably does have a distributor cap, and if there are some bad connections where the rotor sends the spark to the cap, it may give the symptoms you descride. I would have thought the mechanic would have checked this as one of the first things to check. Have uit checked, and replaced if it looks bad, and then move on to what else could cause this problem.
What it sounds like is that your fuel supply at idle is not being correctly controlled. Once you get out of the idle mode, it runs good from there.
I would see if your mechanic, or another mechanic can connect a fuel pressure gauge inline in the fuel delivery system and see exactly what the fuel pressure is doing when it is giving you trouble. Maybe you have a fuel injector that is delivering too much fuel, and making the car rich at idle, but as you get some speed, it needs more fuel so it runs better. When your mechanic replaced your spark pulgs, were any showing signs of burning rich? Maybe a little blacker than the others, or possibly fouled some?
A bad PGM-FI main relay is usually a cause of the engine cutting off, but I can theroize a remote crazy senario in which it could cause this problem. I only through that out as a really remote possiblity.
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Saturday, August 8th, 2020 AT 11:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KWONG
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  • 7 POSTS
I took my car to the dealers today and they diagnostic it or something and test drove the car and cannot find the problem. So what they did was update the computer program in the car. On my receipt it says iac update will this actually fix my problem? Apparently no one knows what the problem is and the dealers said that when they diagnostic the car there is no problem. My car is a 4 cyclinder car and it's a coupe. Yes when I am on the stop sign sometimes, and try to accelerate I have problem accelerating it only happens once in a while.
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Saturday, August 8th, 2020 AT 11:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MIKEYBDMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 623 POSTS
Lets keep our fingers crossed that maybe the IAC you had replaced was bad, and maybe the mechanic didnt know how to set it up properly. The only update I see is for the PCM, however it may have never been updated and maybe this will fix it.
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Saturday, August 8th, 2020 AT 11:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KWONG
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
I took the car to the first mechanic because when im on a stop sign I had problem accelerating that's when he started to change the iac valve throttle body tune up and tp sensor. And then the dealer reset and update the iac. What is pcm? Also I was wondering is it always better to use honda genuine parts instead of generic parts? And does this actually happen to some other cars too?
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Saturday, August 8th, 2020 AT 11:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KWONG
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
But I feel as though I wasted 700 bucks on the first mechanic and same thing still happened and the problem wasn't even fixed. If I went to the dealers in the first place it woudln't cost me as much
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Saturday, August 8th, 2020 AT 11:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
FSPAGAN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2000 HONDA CIVIC
Engine Mechanical problem
2000 Honda Civic 4 cyl Automatic 200, 00 miles

JUST PUT IN HEAD GASKET AND CAR HAS NO POWER NOW
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Saturday, August 8th, 2020 AT 11:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MIKEYBDMAN
  • MECHANIC
  • 623 POSTS
Try not to think of it that way. The parts you had installed are all new now, and will probably last a long time before you need work again. Who knows, one of the parts the first mechanic replaced may have broken this week.
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Saturday, August 8th, 2020 AT 11:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Hi there,

Re check the valve timing, check the comps and check the ignition timing, start here.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Saturday, August 8th, 2020 AT 11:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KWONG
  • MEMBER
  • 7 POSTS
Apparently I still have the same problem. *Sigh* this is pretty aggrevating for me seems as though no one knows what hte problem is. It only happens once in a while what other problems can it be? Can it really be the distributor cap/
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Saturday, August 8th, 2020 AT 11:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TSPILLMAN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2000 HONDA CIVIC
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 130,800 MILES
This is really hard to describe. I bought a 2000 Honda Civic EX Coupe recently and it feels like it is having problems with power when going up hills. It seems to jump and I am wondering if it may be the fuel filter or pump.

It only really happens when I am going up a hill slowly. At first I thought it may be the transmission, but it seems like no matter if it is in 2nd, 3rd or 4th. Feels like it is lurching and has lack of power.

Does it sound like something more problematic or something that can be easily fixed?

I am taking it to an auto parts store today to have a diagonsitc test done. So will follow up if needed.
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Saturday, August 8th, 2020 AT 11:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Hi there,

Some fault codes will not bring on the ECU light, so get a scan done anyway. As for the Cat, if it is a few check and report get it done, but don't get caught out, as I feel you problem is not exhaust related.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Saturday, August 8th, 2020 AT 11:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Hi,

Yes. Sometimes a scan will not show any code because the sensors are not fully defective, they are just providing a false reading whereby the ECU will think that there is nothing wrong.

You need to run the vehicle with scanner plugged in to check all the various sensors to see if they are registering correctly according to conditions.

Since you mentioned while going up hill the problem happens, I suggest you have a look at the MAP sensor.
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Saturday, August 8th, 2020 AT 11:14 AM (Merged)
Tiny
GOLUBELLA
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
  • 2000 HONDA CIVIC
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 102,000 MILES
When I driving my car sometimes when I accelerate, although the accelerator pressed it will not accelerate and also the RPM remain same and the accelerator pressed further a abnormal sound comes and it will then accelerate. This is not always happen. I feel some delay shifting sometimes not always. I will appreciate if some one help me to solve this problem.
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Saturday, August 8th, 2020 AT 11:15 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RICH CRITES
  • MECHANIC
  • 75 POSTS
It could be a bad throttle cable. Have someone step on gas pedal while holding it down, check and see if the throttle body butterfly is fully open. If not replace the throttle body cable.
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Saturday, August 8th, 2020 AT 11:15 AM (Merged)
Tiny
GOLUBELLA
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
Thanks for the reply, I checked the throttle body butterfly, when the accelerator paddle is fully pressed the butterfly is fully opened. There is no problem.
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Saturday, August 8th, 2020 AT 11:15 AM (Merged)
Tiny
GOLUBELLA
  • MEMBER
  • 9 POSTS
I performed full tuneup for the car. Cleaned the throttle body and replaced the fuel filter and also spark plugs. After that it runs very well. Had more power and no such abnormal sound.
But after about 3 weeks, when I'm driving a hill street sometimes that knock sound comes from the engine side. It will comes when I depress the acc. Pedal suddenly to get more power after slowing because of breaking. I will appreciate if some one help me to solve this problem.
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Saturday, August 8th, 2020 AT 11:15 AM (Merged)
Tiny
IBS
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2000 HONDA CIVIC
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
Hi,

I am a new member and hope yuo could help me to solve this problem :

When I start my car after the engine been stop for a while ( 30 mins ), the car do not accelerate. RPM just could not move up > 2000. I need to release the gas pedal and push again for few times then the RPM will be able to move > 2000.

When engine has warm up, everything is ok except the car has lost power during uphill and overtake.

For your information, I had overhaul my engine and gearbox 6 months ago.

I change my engine oil & filter every 5000KM. Previously problem above seldom happen but getting more often and serious recently.

Thanks

IBS
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Saturday, August 8th, 2020 AT 11:15 AM (Merged)
Tiny
F4I_GUY
  • MECHANIC
  • 3,302 POSTS
Scan the ECU for any codes. You may have a sensor issue when the vehicle is cold.

Also, if you haven't done a tune-up in a while, that could be the problem as well. But first have the ECU scanned.
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Saturday, August 8th, 2020 AT 11:15 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CRUZCV
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 2000 HONDA CIVIC
Engine Performance problem
2000 Honda Civic 4 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic

why my engine loose power?
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Saturday, August 8th, 2020 AT 11:15 AM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
If your engine compression is good, check and test the following below:

Oygen sensor
Dirty fuel injectors (cleaning the injectors often fixes this).
Bad MAP (manifold absolute pressure) sensor
Bad TPS (throttle position) sensor
Bad or dirty MAF (mass airflow) sensor
Low fuel pressure (leaky fuel pressure regulator or weak fuel pump)
Vacuum leaks (intake manifold, vacuum hoses, throttle body, EGR valve)
Bad gasoline (fuel contaminated with water or too much alcohol)

Sometimes, what feels like a hesitation is actually ignition misfire rather than lean misfire. The causes of ignition misfire may include:

Dirty or worn spark plugs
Bad plug wires
Weak ignition coil
Wet plug wires
Cap and rotor

Note: If it doesn't apply disregard.
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Saturday, August 8th, 2020 AT 11:15 AM (Merged)

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