Hey everyone,
Over the last couple of weeks(around three) I have been noticing some thing is not quite right with my car. I have been noticing like a 5 to 6 mpg drop in my average miles per gallon. I have also noticed that one out maybe every 15 times I start the car it will hesitate and stumble as if it's not gonna start but then it does. The wierd thing is that I have not noticed any loss of power or any wierd noises that would indicate some thing is wrong.

I am sure you guys are gonna ask me if i have checked my plugs and wires and i have not. I am down at school and don't really have a good place or the tools to do it. Can I visualy check those two things to see if some thing is wrong? Help me I can't figure out whats wrong,I would really appreciate your guys help.

ronin

 

sure you can visualy inspect plugs and plug wires..

see what condition the plugs are in.. look for anythign bad.. soot, ash.. wear.. anything like htat.. and on plug wires.. look for any lose ends, or cracks...

another thing that comes to mind is fuel filter..

how about give us a little more info...

car
miles
last tune up.. and extent of last tune up..

 

Excellent suggestions. That's where I was going.

You really don't need a 'place' to do this work. I have changed out my entire suspension in the parking lot of my old apt. complex... depends on how desperate you are I guess.

Just run down to AutoZone or Harbor Freight and get a long extension, ratchet, spark plug socket and a wire brush.

Take your plugs out one by one and clean them off with the brush. Make sure to replace them back to the same cylinder you removed them from. If that doesn't help, you may want to replace the plugs.

Fuel filter is also a good possibility, but it's a little harder to replace (not hard, just harder than plugs).

Hope it helps.

 

I can't believe i forgot to tell you guys what kind of car it is.Its a 97 civic coupe five speed. It has a bout 45xxx miles on it. I got the car last summer from a honda dealership. It was factory certified so plugs and wires were replaced then but i will check them anyway. I have had it for about 10,000 miles ot so, Should i get it tuned up? I hope this helps some.

ronin

 

if it is certified does it have a warranty.. you sound liek you should be well within the warranty period??? i say take it back and *****.. lol

 

what kind of gas do you use? I replaced my fuel filter at 30k and I always use chevron. If you've been using sh1tty gas like race track that could be your problem. But like oc said, check your plugs first.

 

I always use amaco(BP). Yet maybe because i went from Northern Illinois to central illinios there was a change in the gasoline formula. As far as i know they do that don't they?

ronin

 

maybe your alignment is off? there are so many different things that can effect gas milelage, like everyone else said, check the plugs for right gap, wires, and everything electrical....fuel pump is pretty easy todo and maybe the airfilter?

on this matter, if the spark plugs are really soot-y.... does it mean its running too rich? and if your car is basically stock... are you able to adjust the lean/richness? or is it controlled by the ecu

 

The first thing I would check are the plugs. That's a major culprit that people overlook and is really cheap and easy to replace.

 

I second that.