Hi I have recently purchased a 1993 honda civic ex from my cousin. It was running perfectly until about two days ago. I was at work i had left to go to the gas station to get a pack of smokes and a mt dew. I left the gas station was about to get on to the road when the car seem to start fluttering when i put my foot on the gas i took my foot of the gas and the car idled just fine so i tried to go again and it started fluttering. i parked the car put it in neutral and and tried to rev it and it fluttered again. i shut the car off and tried to start it and it wouldnt. i tried again and it started i drove back to work parked it and asked a buddy what the problem might be he said try replacing the fuel filter. i did so the car still had trouble starting but ran perfect. the next morning i went out to start the car and it wouldnt start and still wont start. so far i have replace the fuel filter and the main relay and am currently working on replacing the distributor cap and rotor along with the spark plug wires. if anyone has had this problem please let me know what you have done to fix this or what it might be thank you.

 

Well...if you just brought the car and you don't know about it's past that much..I suggest you get a fuel injector cleaner(Lucas is great..but others are good), and check out your timing belt. Make sure there's no cracks or breaks in that sucker...while you're at it make sure the ignition timing is right with the distributor as well...I know there's more problem troubleshooting to do but I can't think of anymore right now.

 

thanks ya i was gonna check the timing belt today my step dad said to crank it over and see if my rotor move.

 

Hey wait...don't believe that "If everything moves inside the distributor and under the valve cover then your timing belt is fine" troubleshooting!
I tried that with my 92 Civic & with the belt all cracked up..and everything spun/moved...but what fixed my problem(sputter acceleration) was replacing the timing belt & fixing the ignition timing.

 

if fuel filter change helped a bit maybe you're not getting enough fuel pressure from the fuel pump??

 

It could be intermittent fuel pump operation. Make sure the pump turns on as you turn the ignition key to "ON" position. You should hear a faint humming noise from under aft seat.

 

Check these ---> CEL codes, spark, fuel, mechanical timing

 

ive checked the fuel pump its working fine. but ive come to find ive had no spark at all. so im gonna try replacing the ignition coil. if that doesnt work should i replace the distributor or whats next?

 

Any CEL codes?

Test the coil and have an auto parts store test the igniter unit. Also make sure the Blk/Yel wire attached to the coil and igniter unit has battery voltage.

 

There will be no sparks if the distributor doesn't rotate due to stripped timing belt. So check that before replacing anything else. A sudden decrease in performance like that is often due to the belt skipping a tooth. Though it is very unlikely to coincidentally skip back and run perfect again for a while.