Hi,

my wife has a 4 Door Automatic Accord year 91 or 92. She had some problems with the way the car was idleing and the way the engine was running. To be more specific the engine vibrates sort of hard while idle at a stop and the gears feel like they change a little slower (or are hesitant) (Made me wonder if the transmission was going). It has about 150,000+ miles on it.

We took it in to her trustworthy shop and they took a look at it. They suggested the following to her (they mentioned nothing about the transmission, by the way the transmission fluid is at the proper level):

Replace Spark Plugs
Replace Spark Plug Wires
Replace Fuel Filter
Replace Valve Cover (My wife wrote gasket on the next line in her notes, so I think I am going to assume she meant Valve Cover Gasket)

All that for a price of $473.53 (How much should work like that cost?)
Also, do you think replacing the following will help the syptoms above?

I also read about the seafoam stuff, I think that would help this problem to, what do you think?

Aren't those parts cheap, and easy to replace. I haven't done this before, but I would think I could replace the spark plugs, the fuel Filter (even though I do not know where that is), and do you guys think it would be possible for me to replace the spark plug wires?

To give you an idea of what I am capable of doing, I have replaced the front driver side headlight unit for the car. That was easy but it is still required me to remove the front bumper, grill, etc. to get to the broken headlight unit and unscrew it out.

thanks
jnajera

 

You can get all those parts for around $100 and you can do it yourself.

Does she have a Check Engine Light....might be an egr problem or IACV.

 

thanks, I forgot to mention that, sometimes the engine light does come on. We buy that fuel injector cleaner at costco, and use that everyonce in awhile. that usually keeps the check engine light off for awhile.

What is EGR and IACV?

thanks

 

Exhaust Gas Recirculation Valve
Idle Air Control Valve

Both can be cleaned......I would replace what was said in your first post...and if that CEL comes back...read the codes and post em...I got a feeling there for Random Misfire or EGR.

 

thanks F22B Prelude

 

Yeah, you should be able to do all that stuff yourself for nowhere close to $400. The fuel filter is a bit of a pain, the first time I did mine I didn't have the gasket in just the right way and fuel was spraying everywhere. The fuel filter is near the middle of the engine compartment mounted on the firewall. You will probably need to unbolt the vacuum unit from the firewall to get to the fuel filter. But it's do-able. Yeah, hopefully your wife meant valve cover gasket. I don't see what a new valve cover would accomplish unless it was damaged in some way.

 

When I had my 92 civic I had to replace all of that too and my car was idling hard still. So I got some throttle body cleaner and sprayed the inside of the throttle body and wiped it out with a rag that seemed to help my car. I am no tech but just an enthusiast.

 

it's most likely your fuel fliter, if it hasn't been replaced from the stock filter than its probably clogged up. that why whenevr you use the fuel injection cleaner from costco it kinda helps push through, but you probably get clogged back up again after a couple of days huh. I would recomend the fuel filter be replaced and then do a fuel system cleaning,( you can buy these aat your local wal mart) and then change your spark plugs. then you should be running good again.

 

FYI, it's easy to tell a '91 accord from a '92. Different taillights, grille, and turn signals.

 

thanks guys, I am going to take your advice and do the fixes myself. I found a great site for oem parts and was able to find all the honda part numbers so i am going to go ahead and order the parts.

thanks
James