PROBLEM-won't go past 3k rpm
 

tuesday afternoon, my 96 civic hatch dx had a slight trouble starting and drove pretty ****ty, it wouldn't rev past 3k rpm and had very little power. it still drove so i just ignored it. when i started it again later, it was fine, and fine again later that night.

next morning, it started and drove fine again to school. then after school, it started like **** again and would barely even idle this time. when i rev to about 3k, the engine just wouldn't go any faster and it would start popping. i was at autotech class so i showed my teachers and they said that it sounded like i was outta gas, but i just got a full tank tuesday morning so i did a fuel pressure test to check the fuel pump and the pressure was fine. so we (me and the auto tech teachers) took a sample of the gas out from the fuel line and it looked really clear, kinda like water with only a very very light tint of yellow. my teacher guessed that a lot of water got into my gas tank somehow so he told me and i did put two bottles of Iso-Heet into my tank, which is supposed to separate and control the water in the gasoline. after i did this, and waited a few minutes, and car wouldn't even start, it just kept on cranking and showed no sign of wanting to start (i did try jumping it). so i had no choice but to leave the car there for the night.

Friday morning, back at school, it started just fine again, WHAT THE ****. it revved fine but in only about a minute or so it started bogging at 3k again. i was able to drive it back home shifting at about 2600, which is normal for me, but it also barely has any power.

so the question is: WHAT'S THE PROBLEM???

i guess i could have gotten a bad batch of gasoline (i get gas from costco) but then why does it run fine sometimes and run like **** most of the time. my brother guessed that it might have a clog, like in the air intake or exhaust system, but if it was this then i would think that the problem should be consistent right? my teacher thought that it might be a timing belt slip, but then that should be really consisted too. HELP ME PLEASE

RE: PROBLEM-won't go past 3k rpm
 

Is the CEL ON?

Sounds like a clogged fuel filter. Also, have you checked the engine timing? How old is the timing belt?

RE: PROBLEM-won't go past 3k rpm
 

If it starts when the engine is cold, but runs ragged after warmup, I would first check the O2 sensor, even if the CEL is not lit up. If you are not the first owner someone may have disabled it.

RE: PROBLEM-won't go past 3k rpm
 

what do you know, after i got it home and let it sit over the weekend, i came back on monday and tried starting it. it started fine, and ran fine, and has been good all week. i don't know what the problem was, but alls well i guess

thankz guys

faulty crankshaft position sensor. Had the same issue with my 99 Honda Civic ex.

And you're replying to an 11 year old thread why exactly?

Phew. I've had this persistent issue for the past 11 years. So happy to finally figure out what was wrong.