My girlfiend has a 97 and about a year ago it started to have a very sporadic hesitation problem. It's so hit or miss that the we have had honda take it for a ride 4-5 times and it won't do it for them (figures!) I was wondering if there are any known issues with maybe the emissions controls or some other kind of electrical part. My first option was to give it a tune up (although one was done 15k ago) just to eliminate any questions. WE were told by Honda that the computer would pick up a misfiring wire or plug and send a coad so a tune up probably wouldn't do the trick.

The problem...It doesn't happen all the time which makes it hard to pinpoint. I find it the worst after the car has sat for 45 min to an hour and we get back in it. This is a MAJOR hesitation in the LOW RPM range and mostly noticeable in 1-2 gear. I would say it's below 3500 rpms. Any thoughts/suggestions??

Thanks in advance!!

 

Odd that you mentioned this.

I have found this happening on my '00 5spd. When cruising at top gear at low rpms...(under 3000 rpm), I will feel a split second hestitation. Its hard to explain, but the best way to describe it is if the clutch was pushed in for a split second causing the car to slightly lose its forward momentum...and then regains it.

Its only for a second..and probably not noticeable to a passenger, but the driver will notice. It also doesnt happen all the time. Maybe once a month?

Very odd. I never thought of bringing it to anyone b/c it will most likely never happen for them.

 

I wish I knew what the problem is, too. My '99 has a slight hesitation, and when I took it in to get the ignition recall done, they said that they didn't notice it when they took a test drive. I just wish they would have put the thing on a diagnostic machine and checked the engine settings (CO, timing, etc.), but NO, they didn't!

 

Hers has been on the machines and on test drives. It has to happen while on the machine or set a trouble code. It's done niether. Guess it's time to get rid of the Lude.