I have a 1992 Honda civic, automatic with a 1.5L engine, that has 75,000 miles. this car has been expirencing sputtering when the car is at normal temp (warm) during 1k to 3k rpms. I have tried to trouble shoot it while also searching this sight as a guide in helping me solve this issue. I have checked the usuall suspected devices such as the IACV, FITV. The car has had a full tune up within the last 15,000 miles. When I purchased the car a year and half ago I had the entire distrubuter replaced as one unit (the housing unit). this was replaced by a certified mechanic who also ajusted the timing as well.
Some of my symptoms are as follows: the car must be hot ( normal temp), It seems that it only happens while the car is in Drive. If I experince the sputtering and immedietly put it in neutral, rev the car between 1k to 4k no sputtering occurrs. Turning on the A/C seems to make the sputtering worse but again it has to be in drive for this to occur. Also while in drive and hot it seems to want to stall and then recover itself. While in drive with the parking brake engaged I've listened and observed it carefully. It almost seems as if I hear a clicking or sparking sound from the distrubutor prior to the idle becoming low. these symptoms have become worse over the last two to three weeks.
I pulled both the IACV and FITV components tried to clean them up and reinstalled them. The FIT valve was not srewed all the way in so I screwed it in all the way and this made the idle way to low. I removed it tried an exteme opposite and this totally altered the idle to hunt. As best as I could I ajusted it near to where it was when I first pulled it and it seems to be the same as it was. When I first purchased the car it seemed to have a low idle while in drive, low meaning 300 to 400 rpms while hot and in drive. I never ajusted or touched it because it never stalls. I seem to be stumped as to what I should try to replace. I'm not sure if I should continue on thinking it is a lidle problem or an ignition problem or both. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, thank you..

 

Probably an ignition problem. Inspect all the ignition parts carefully. Check the cap and rotor for cracks, inside and outside. Coil could be cracked too. That noise sounds like it's sparks jumping in the wrong place instead of the spark plugs. You can't often tell bad spark plug wires by looking but if you see sparks on the outside in the dark they need to be replaced. Were OEM or aftermarket parts used for this tune up?

 

I believe that they were OEM parts. The ignition parts came from NAPA auto parts. Cap and rotor look imacculate and all interior wires look good and tight. How can you tell if you have a cracked or damaged coil?