Hesitation or Missfire

[Thule]

Sup Fellas

93 Accord SE 180,000 miles

List of parts that have been replaced within the last 2 weeks
Air filter
Fuel filter
Throttle body cleaned
IAC valve cleaned
EGR ports cleaned
Spark plugs
Spark plug wire
Rotor
Cap
Distributor O ring and Inner seal
Lower O rings
Valve cover gaskets
O rings on valve cover
Thermostat
Thermostat sensor cleaned

Here is a little history of the developments of the present problem. 3 weeks ago the car was left to run on really low fuel in the tank which has now caused hesitation or a miss fire. The ECU code was 43 (fuel supply) I've reset the ECU but the hesitation continues and yet no code. I'm thinking it could be the injectors or a clogged cadillac converter or the timing belt.

What do you guys think?

[Losiracer2]

Great itemized list of what you replaced....that really helps. But, could you go further in depth when this misfire occurs? and how often? Does it occur at WOT? or is it just when driving normally? Do you smell any peculiar fumes coming into the car at all? Does it happen when the car is warm or cold? etc.

when i had a misfire, it turned out to be a blown/leaking headgasket. Coolant was getting past the gasket and leaking into the combustion chamber. So for about the first 10-30 seconds when I started the car, it would FEEL like the engine was only running on 2 cylinders and then would smooth out for the rest of the trip. This happened either hot or cold. The car just needed 5 min. or less for the coolant to leak past the HG and then it repeated the cycle all over again.....bogging upon startup/ignition....I pretty much went through your entire list of parts that I replaced in that two month time span diagnosing things.

[Thule]

Thanks for the feed back, much appericated. The missfire or hesitation occurs when the car is warm (temp needle about half way). Currently no smell. At idle it seems fine but the mintue you throw it in drive the hesitation begins. How did you figure out it was a blown head gasket?

[Losiracer2]

Thanks for the feed back, much appericated. The missfire or hesitation occurs when the car is warm (temp needle about half way). Currently no smell. At idle it seems fine but the mintue you throw it in drive the hesitation begins. How did you figure out it was a blown head gasket?

I did a compression test and block leak down test. The compression test revealed numbers in the 90s range....its supposed to be about 170-180ish and the block leakdown test revealed the coolant in cylinders 2&3 of my engine. When I took the HG out, the exhaust side of the HG was completely encrusted w/ this whiteish stain, prob. coolant.

And by hesitation, do you mean shaking when its shifted to D4? or like a shuddering upon acceleration? I'm kinda unclear still, is it at a certain speed? or is it just when you throw it into drive from park and the shaking/hesistation occurs?

shaking when shifted into D4 could be a couple things: bad motor mounts or a rough idle. Shaking upon acceleration could mean bad wheel balance or bad CV joints.

[Thule]

It's a shuddering upon acceleration. It happens when the car is shifted into D4 and u give it gas. Sometimes you could be giving it gas and the car is actually loosing speed, so I'll let off the gas, pump the gas pedal and it will sort of catch and rocket forward. I know I shouldnt be doing this but I have to get to work somehow. Brought the car to a local shop lets see what they have to say.. I'll keep you posted..

[Shadow1]

does the hesitation happen when the tranny is shifting? if it stutters upon acceleration but not when in park or neutral it sounds like something dealing with the tranny


i had that problem when i had my 1st cb. it was an auto and when it shifted from 1st to 2nd it would shutter real bad and it seemed more like hesitation than shuttering to me at the time(when i hardly knew anything about cars. lol)

[Thule]

Trust me Im no pro when it comes to cars, just trying to do my best and hold on to my accord. I dont think its a shifting problem. If Im able to get threw the hesitation by stomping on the gas she seems to go threw the gears ok.

[EJX_Michael]

Same happens to me... Its fine for a while, but some times like after pulling out of a parking spot and pushing the gas it will hesitate, sputter and backfire a bit. It also does it sometimes at a sustained speed.

Must be something in the Fuel or spark system... What happens when the FPR goes bad anyone?

O/T when i replaced my header I noticed some chalkyness on the mating surface. would this possibly indicate a blown HG?

[Losiracer2]

Same happens to me... Its fine for a while, but some times like after pulling out of a parking spot and pushing the gas it will hesitate, sputter and backfire a bit. It also does it sometimes at a sustained speed.

Must be something in the Fuel or spark system... What happens when the FPR goes bad anyone?

O/T when i replaced my header I noticed some chalkyness on the mating surface. would this possibly indicate a blown HG?

no for that you'd have to take the cylinder head off the engine. The head bolts are torqued to about 80ft-lbs each so it isn't exactly doing to spray out onto where the header bolts to. Thats most likely carbon build up from after the air/fuel has mixed and exploded inside the combustion chamber. Could be solved by replacing the Exhaust manifold gasket if you haven't done that in awhile.

[92bently]

hmm did u ever think about the cat being clogged??sounds like it is partially clogged causing a hesitation...when u stomp on it it blows enough exaust thorugh to partially clear it for a sec...just a thought

[Thule]

A few people are telling me the cat is clogged. Haven't heard back from the shop but I'll keep you guys posted so that others can use the info.

[Thule]

Welp $200.00 bucks later the car is back and the hesitation is gone. Turns out I didnt clean the EGR ports well enough and the egr valve was also dirty. I now have the check engine light on with 3 codes 1 12 and 43 Someone please help I have no idea what to do with this car.

[92bently]

check your vacuum lines....sounds like a vacuum leak to me,possibly some other things,what all did this shop do to fix it??

[Thule]

The shop cleaned out the EGR valve and drilled out all EGR ports and cleaned. Car seems to run OK in city driving, but when I get on the highway the check engine light comes on. I've cleared the computer twice by disconnecting the fuse under the hood and re-connecting. The current codes are 1 12 and 43

[EJX_Michael]

01
Primary O2 sensor
Open or short in O2 sensor circuit, defective Primary O2 sensor

12
Exhaust Gas Recirculation Valve
Open or short in EGR valve circuit, defective EGR valve

43
Fuel Supply System
Defective or malfunctioning Fuel Supply System


Replace the o2 sensor and something with the EGR...