Hey everybody, I have a 1991 honda civic DX. Recently I have been have been having some trouble with it. After driving anywhere for an extended period of time the engine starts to sound and feel like it is going to explode. It is revving super high or something. I checked the fan belt and it looks fine, I have been told it cant be the timing belt, and the temperature guage is still at low so I have no idea what it could be. I really dont feel like paying a garage for this.
Also, this first happened when I went from about 100 -110 km/h to stop/start traffic on the highway. Any thoughts?

 

Is it automatic transmission? Engine revs up a lot but the car doesn't go faster is usually a problem with the transmission.

 

no it is a standard

 

We need more specific details about this problem. As mk suggested, if the engine rpms rise high with the transmission in gear but the speed of the car does not increase, then the clutch may be slipping.

Any CEL codes?

 

It shouldnt be the clutch because the lady I bought the car from 6 months ago told me she repaced it recently, although it is pretty noisy so it wouldnt surprise me if she lied.
It seems to be worse when the car is out of gear actually, like idleing in traffic. Put in back it gear it settles down, take it out of gear it goes mad. My friend suggested that it is actually overheating and the temp guage is just broken, apperently they break easily.
I have not been driving too much anymore in the heatwave where I live so its been ok. Maybe a silly question, but would overheating make an engine sound act like that? I mean I thought if an engine is overheating it just blows, no super revving and such.

 

Revving up when idling is clearly not a transmission or clutch problem. Possible causes of that:

low coolant level / air in cooling system
vacuum leaks (hoses / gaskets / brake booster)
IACV dirty
throttle cable sticky or adjusted too tight
faulty ECT sensor (may or may not throw code 6)

 

Thanks for the info.
I got an oil change today and I asked the guy to check the coolant level. He said there was very little coolant so I had him top it up.
Hopefully thats an easy fix.

 

Check throttle cable also, it could be overtightened.


So how does the car idle? What RPM range would you say? since you don't have a gauge...