Hesitating at low rpms?
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Hesitating at low rpms?
Im guessing its the fuel filter. I never changed it in 4 years & dont know when the previous owner did. Could it be anything else? Plugs or wires even? Im thinking about doing a full tune up while Im at it. What else do you guys suggest?
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Thx bro, 96 civic vtec e series. Between about 2000 - 3000k its sputters like its out of gas or feels like the plugs are not firing.If I let off the gas a bit it goes again but I have to keep revs above 3k or it slows down. Its seems a bit worse at night when its cold but maybe its just a coincidence. You can hear it, sounds a little like a machine gun.
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From: Assplosion, NE
If it's fine at higher rpms, I doubt it's the fuel filter, but not a bad idea to change that anyway. Normally I'd assume it must just be something electrical, like a coil on it's way out, etc. but since you mention it's a VTEC-E - those do switch over at around 21/2 to 31/2 thousand rpm if I remember correctly.
Tune-up(plugs,cap,rotor) and filter aren't a bad idea, but I'd hold off on new wires unless you see cracks in the insulation or their resistance is out of spec.
Also, noticing an increase in acceleration as you let off the gas, like if you're at WOT and slowly give it less gas, and notice the car picks up in acceleration just a bit, is often a sign of the ignition timing being off. You could be running at max. retard (dist. cocked towards firewall), although that by itself shouldn't make it feel like the engine is missing.
Perhaps the timing is too advanced, I've never driven a car that was at full advance, close but not quite. Maybe it's enough to cause detonation at those rpms (despite the best wishes of the knock sensor) :shrug:
Tune-up(plugs,cap,rotor) and filter aren't a bad idea, but I'd hold off on new wires unless you see cracks in the insulation or their resistance is out of spec.
Also, noticing an increase in acceleration as you let off the gas, like if you're at WOT and slowly give it less gas, and notice the car picks up in acceleration just a bit, is often a sign of the ignition timing being off. You could be running at max. retard (dist. cocked towards firewall), although that by itself shouldn't make it feel like the engine is missing.
Perhaps the timing is too advanced, I've never driven a car that was at full advance, close but not quite. Maybe it's enough to cause detonation at those rpms (despite the best wishes of the knock sensor) :shrug:
Last edited by A-series; Nov 15, 2008 at 06:37 AM.
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Mine was doing the same thing. It was the fuel pump. Ran fuel test and it had enough PSI but once in a while it would start to cut out and slow down at a steady cruise. You could let off the gas and back on the gas and it will go away or just give it more gas and it will go away. My car had 145k on it. Fuel pump did fix it.