Hello!
I'm new to posting on the MB but have looked around here before. I have a problem and am hoping someone out there could be so nice as to help me.
I have a '96 stock GSR that has been wonderful until now. (I purchased the car new.) It has about 111,000 miles on it.
Right when I picked my car up from the dealer after getting a valve adjustment a couple of months ago, the check engine light was on. I noticed it was idling a bit rough and low. They told me they cleaned the engine and probably got a sensor wet. I thought this was a line of crud, but was happy that I got my a new clutch in during the same visit. They reset the light and sent me on my way.
It seemed to run and idle okay for about two weeks and then the light came back on. The computer test showed multiple misfires in cylinders 2-4 and a manufactures code that the local guy didn't know about and couldn't read. (My closest Acura dealer is about 2 hours away.) So, I went to a local mechanic that has a great reputation around here. He replaced all my spark plugs, the spark plug wires, and my distributor cap and reset the codes. My performance was better (didn't know there was a problem) and the light stayed off for about 1 week. Then it came back on.
It was showing misfire codes again. He sent me to a different mechanic that he thought could help more so I wouldn't have to go back to the dealer. I saw him twice. They cleaned my throttle body as it was all "gunked" up. Again I had a slight increase in performance, but the light came back on. The second time I took in to this guy he said he just didn't know what the problem is.
When I come into a stop or slow down from a higher rate of speed (rpm's up to at least 3,500 or so), the tach drops way below 800-900 and feels like it wants to stall. It hasn't yet, but it sure feels like it's going to. It also doesn't feel right at idle speed and the idle is a bit low. My car has always been right around 900 rpms when warm with slight variences when the fan or something kicks in.
My car was included in that Acura/Honda recall thing for emissions, so I wonder if this could all be related to that. I had my emissions checked, oil change, and some ingnition wires or something changed that had to do with the recall. I also have had my A pipe changed. I had a hole or something in it ... at least that's what they told me.
I have a really good mechanic locally now that admits when he doesn't know the answers and doesn't try to screw me. This is great because I am a woman ... I hate to admit that I don't get taken seriously when it comes to my car sometimes because of that, but it's true. (I even had to bring my husband in a few time to "take care" of things.) BUT ... I love cars and really know
my car. Something just isn't right. My mechanic here would love to fix it, but could possibly use some guidance. He can also do it cheaper than Acura.
Also, the other mechanic didn't think the valve adjustment could have caused the light to come on, but my guy thinks it's possible. I've spent close to $400 already on this problem and don't want to spend much more if I can help it.
I plan on keeping this car much longer and hope to make it go faster in the future. I want a sleeper.
If anyone out there has any thoughts on this, I would be soooo appreciative. And no ... I don't want to sell my car
. I'm amazed at how many offers on the street I get. I don't even keep it as clean as I should and it has a good sized dent on the front bumper. I'm glad I don't live in a big city as I would have to worry more about it being stolen.
Take care!
Erika
PS ... I did a search for pervious posts on this type of problem, but couldn't seem to find anything that really hit on my problem. I got some ideas but nothing concrete.