I have a 1993 Honda Civic VX and it hesitates on acceleration from low RPMs. And at cruising speed it will lose power suddenly and then regain the power suddenly again. Fairly subtle, but want it to be fixed! Any ideas? Could it be the 02 sensor? I am getting the throttle body replaced to hopefully fix another problem: sticking idle when putting the clutch in to shift (the RPM doesn't come down)
Any help or ideas on any of this would be a great help!

Thanks
Jason

 

I would guess it is a tune-up issue. might be plugs,wires,cap or rotor ( or all of them). when was the last time you had these replaced, if you can't than it is about time. I would also look into the O2 sensor as well cuz they tend to fail over time and not give off any codes and your engine runs richer, decreasing power and reducing fuel economy.

It also doesn't seem like you need your throttle body replaced just cuz of a high idle. i would get some air intake and throttle body cleaner (spray can) thats safe for newer computer controlled vehicles and spray the inside bore and the idle air control vavle passage cuz they can get pretty clogged up as well.

 

Thanks for the reply. I did do a tune up and put in the right NGK V-Power spark plugs for the car which did make a big difference. Still, at highway speed, it won't maintain smooth and even power delivery. The faster I go or if I try to drag behind a truck the more feedback I get from the throttle! It's as if it's going in and out of lean burn all the time, but seems too unsmooth and too noticeable to be normal. I'll get a small surge of power, then I'll lose power. I have a feeling it is the 02 sensor.

As far as the throttle body. The mechanic said it had been tampered with and immediately offered to replace it. Someone had been trying to fix something on the car (prolly the sticky idle) and had been bending something on it. I have no idea if it that is reason to replace it or not. It's a fairly inexpensive replacement. ($140)

I was also advised to check that the EGR is working properly, and to do an air intake valve cleaning. I also read on a VX forum to adjust the valves every 15,000 miles. I dunno if any of these things would help or are inexpensive/easy to do. I may ask the mechanic to hold off on the throttle body and try cleaning it myself first. Of course I have no idea how to take the engine apart to clean it!

About my mechanic and mechanic prices. Is it normal practice for a mechanic to quote you more for a part than what you can get it for at Napa or Advance Auto Parts? He is telling me it will be $475 to fix the e-brake and overhaul the rear brakes. He said $72 for each rear e-brake cable and didn't cite why the rest of the brake job would be so expensive. Is this a reasonable amount to pay? On the gassavers forum, I was told the ebrake cables for both would cost $84. I may have my friend do the rear brakes and have the mechanic only do the e-brake. Not sure how much money that will save me. I asked him if the reason the price was so high was because there is a lot of labour in doing the brakes and he said, "no, it's because honda parts are expensive" and then he cited the e-brake cable costs..... My friend also said the brake parts are only like $30. That's about $115 for all the parts required to do the brake job. So $360 for labour? If it takes six hours to do the ebrake and the rear brakes, then okay. But does it? (6 hours x $60 = $360)