weird engine problem

Submitted: Monday, Mar 27, 2006 at 15:06
ThreadID: 32212 Views:1843 Replies:6 FollowUps:6
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Just hoping someone may have had a similar problem to my daughters Honda Accord 1996, 2.3L engine.

Every once in a while the engine just loses power. It doesn't run rough, missfire, stall or other. It feels a bit like a clogged fuel filter, but it doesn't last long. Just allowing it to idle for a few seconds, and it's perfect again. I can't find any pattern to it. It has occurred on the flat at 70kph, loaded up hill, engine hot, engine cold, and it can go perfectly for several weeks, before a brief incident again. The only real pattern, that I'm aware of, is that after a few seconds idling it is OK again.

It hasn't lasted long enough to try blowing a bit of compressed air back into the tank, or any other fault finding exercise. I might just have to wait until it gets worse or stops.

If anyone has any similar experiences or ideas, I would appreciate your comment.

Thanks
Brid
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Reply By: Member - DOZER- Monday, Mar 27, 2006 at 15:56

Monday, Mar 27, 2006 at 15:56
hi
Could be anything to do with fuel or spark....suggest next time, you remove the tank cap and see if it sucks more than usual or pushes air out instead of sucking...also check the efi system for logged faults....maybe the oxygen sensor is on its way...or even the efi pump might be loosing pressure ....there are so many possibilities....
Start with the reference library and your model workshop manual....get the
pages photocopied on how to check the efi system, and go for your life.....
Once, i had a car that would not restart when hot on hot day after sitting for a fewq minutes....after many tows and a few trade in offers....i bought a multi meter and photostated the pages....it turned out being the efi relay...$20 to fix....other places wanted to change $500 bits to see if it would fix it....dont ge5t caught doing this....make sure that if you agree to change something, THEY GUARANTEE IT IS THE CAUSE b4 hand.
Andrew
AnswerID: 163166

Follow Up By: Brid from Cost Effective Maintenance - Tuesday, Mar 28, 2006 at 09:15

Tuesday, Mar 28, 2006 at 09:15
Thanks Dozer
Those are good suggestions. i think I can discount fuel tank vacuum, since it has happened just after a cold start. I'll get hold of the efi check procedure, as I think it is more likely fuel than spark.
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FollowupID: 418128

Reply By: 100TD - Monday, Mar 27, 2006 at 16:42

Monday, Mar 27, 2006 at 16:42
i had a vs(97 model) do exactly the same thing and it turned out to be the fuel pump int slowing then coming good again causing intermittant mass flat spots at any time hot cold coasting accelerating etc hope this helps Paul
AnswerID: 163180

Follow Up By: Brid from Cost Effective Maintenance - Tuesday, Mar 28, 2006 at 09:19

Tuesday, Mar 28, 2006 at 09:19
Thanks Paul
That's worth checking out. It could well be. I also need to find out if it is going into some sort of LIMP HOME mode, if this is a feature of that Accord.
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FollowupID: 418129

Reply By: Member JD- Monday, Mar 27, 2006 at 18:19

Monday, Mar 27, 2006 at 18:19
Hi Brid,
Maybe its a small floating minor blockage,such as the fuel line breaking down..worth a look.Hope this Helps.
JD
AnswerID: 163209

Follow Up By: Brid from Cost Effective Maintenance - Tuesday, Mar 28, 2006 at 09:20

Tuesday, Mar 28, 2006 at 09:20
Thanks JD
I'll check it out. It's got enough age now for that to be possible too.
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FollowupID: 418130

Reply By: Member - Stephen M (NSW) - Monday, Mar 27, 2006 at 20:29

Monday, Mar 27, 2006 at 20:29
Hi there Brid, this is the exact problem our friends had with there Honda accord and was actually something to do with the ignition module/barrell, they live in queensland now but I will try and ring them tomorrow and findout what they did to fix it, I remember them taking it to a bloke in smithfield/whetherill park (sydney) apparently a honda specialist knows more then honda them selves as our friends found out and had it fixed in a day cost them a couple of 100 as you would expect with honda but generally are a great vehicle.Will let you know even if your not in Sydney if I can find out for you what they had done then you will have something to be able to direct the auto sparki in the right way. Regards Steve M
AnswerID: 163277

Follow Up By: Brid from Cost Effective Maintenance - Tuesday, Mar 28, 2006 at 09:24

Tuesday, Mar 28, 2006 at 09:24
Hi Steve
It'd be grreat to find out more about that case, especially if it is about the same model Accord as my daughter's. I appreciate your efforts to chase up the info. Thanks
Brid
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FollowupID: 418131

Reply By: lifeisgood - Monday, Mar 27, 2006 at 21:35

Monday, Mar 27, 2006 at 21:35
Brid My son had similar problem in his Hilux and put up with it for weeks.
I thought it might be either his fuel pump or filter as he always runs on the dregs (last quarter of the tank and below).
When he finally changed the fuel filter - surprise surprise no more problems.
You didnt say whether you actually changed the filter but its a cheaper ist option than most. Cheers
AnswerID: 163303

Follow Up By: Brid from Cost Effective Maintenance - Tuesday, Mar 28, 2006 at 09:27

Tuesday, Mar 28, 2006 at 09:27
Hi Lifeisgood
It certainly is the best first option. However in our case, we have the same problem before and after a filter change, and it is only a very occasional brief interruption.
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FollowupID: 418132

Reply By: Member - Stephen M (NSW) - Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 21:34

Monday, Apr 03, 2006 at 21:34
Hi there Brid sorry I took so long to get back to you but the bloke I was referring to has been out bush for the past 3weeks for work and had no mobile range and hit sat phone bleep e itself, anyway rang him 2 night and he said he got the part from a wreckers in smithfield honda wreckers then went up the road to a mechanic who is a honds specialist and had him fit it, some form of solonoid/ relay that was wired to the ignition which was causing the same symptoms as you are describing only his would stop all together then would start again once the engine cooled a bit and off he'd go again. He has since sold the vehicle which was a couple of years ago (didnt realize how quick time flys) said the specailist was located Victoria St smithfield and there was a mcdonalds near it on the corner. Sorry I dont have a sydney phone book as we live in a diferent area code and telstra too tight to give us the books for sydney otherwise we have to pay for them. Have tried to search the internet using white/ yellow pages quickly but cant find it might pay for you to have a look incase i'm going blind. Sorry cant be more precise with names and things but he cant remember the exact name of the 2 places but said he will ring me back if he or his wife finds it or remembers it.Hope this leads you into the right direction. Regards Steve M
AnswerID: 164629

Follow Up By: Brid from Cost Effective Maintenance - Tuesday, Apr 04, 2006 at 15:08

Tuesday, Apr 04, 2006 at 15:08
Steve

Thanks very much for following up on the Honda problem with your mate. That may well be very helpful. I will check it out.

Regards
Brid
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FollowupID: 419659

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