So im not new to honda stuff, but i havent done much engine performance with them. This is more of a place to start question...
Just brought home a 95lx coupe, 1.5 auto. I know its not going to be a fast running car, but when u take off, it seems super sluggish, and around 2k rpm is bogs down some, almost to the point u need to floor it to get up to 40mph. I dont think its right, i havent done a tune up or anything yet. But i was wondering if the tune up (plugs wires, cap rotor, fuel & air filters) dont fix it, what is something else i should try?
The car is bone stock minus a short ram intake, and ebay muffler. Anyways if anyone wants to throw out some advice that'd be great.
Thanks!

 

yes, try a tune up

 

Check the spark timing. If you find it is way off (need to turn distributor all the way to one end or beyond), check the cam timing.

Realize that a 1.5 liter with automatic is not going to be that fast to begin with. Also on automatic make sure it properly kicks down to lower gear when you floor it. That is controlled by a cable from the throttle to the transmission.

 

yeah i checked the throttle and kickdown cables, havent tried messing with the timing. It seems to idle fine so i hadnt thought of that. I know its not going to be a quick car, but my auto f22 accord with stock everything and 20" wheels on it pulls the civic by almost a bus length to 70 lol
Its not running under full power, all four wheels spin freely FYI
Thanks guys im gonna keep messin with it

 

So update, i advanced and retarded the timing, doesnt seem to help or hurt much really. ive changed plugs, wires, cap and rotor, seemed to help it a tad but its still not right. Im going to put a fuel filter on it today. Anyone think maybe the cat is clogged up? I drop a buddys 94 auto couple yesterday and its 100x better running than mine, and the only thing he has that i dont is an ebay header on it. so i know thats not going to make it run that much better. Anyways any ideas?

 

The cat could be bad, you'd get horrible gas mileage and it wouldn't just have no power on the low end. I had a bad cat on my 2000 and it did alright except when I gave it lots of gas or took it to higher RPM's. I took it to a mechanic and within minutes he told me the cat was bad. Just FYI, if it is, pony up the dough for a OEM replacment. I went through 3 non OEM's. They just didn't work out.

 

Check the timing with a timing light, don't just try to tweak it. ECU test jumper must be in place to check timing. (also there are no codes, and the CEL bulb test works?)

Clogged fuel filter tends to let it to run normal up to a certain point-- then it obviously starves for gas with a lot of misfiring, etc. Clogged cat is certainly possible. Unbolt it and see if you can see light through the passages in it.

 

We checked timing with a timing light, sprayed out the IAC sensor. There is no check engine light on. Im changed fuel filter, which i didnt think was the problem because it never seems starved for fuel, and it didnt change anything.
I am getting terrible mileage, Its very boggy on the low end, heres an idea, put it in d3 and take off from a dead stop, no matter how hard you push the gas down it will take no less than 20 seconds to get to 60 mph...
so down to pulling the cat off and checkin it out. If its bad im just gonna run all new exhaust...
Thanks guys

 

So....Ive now replaced the cat, plugs, wires, cap, rotor, coil, fuel and air filters, adjusted and checked timing. no check engine light. Its getting 9mpg on average. Cars wont hardly pull itself and tries to die from 1000rpm-2200 or so, after that it seems to run ok, still a litle rich but pulling itself. Anyways if anyone has any other ideas of what to try please jump in!!!!
Thanks

 

Running real rich... fuel rail pressure too high: vacuum line on regulator disconnected, faulty regulator, return to tank blocked. Measure fuel pressure with a gauge.

Or an injector stuck open. A problem with one injector should be apparent on inspecting the spark plugs.

Running rich or misfiring will melt down your cat, they don't become blocked on their own while everything else is normal.