Hesitating and not getting any faster going up hills.

Tiny
STUTSB
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 HONDA CIVIC
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 15,516 MILES
Have a 97 civic ex, it had a missing header bolt, replaced it, tightened it, but car is still putt putt putt. Sounds a little better than before but still hesitates, and when pressed on the gas, doesn't go faster, backfires a little. Help? Thanks. Ps, I am a female that does not know anything about these things, I asked a person about the header bolt that was missing and told me what to do.
Wednesday, July 6th, 2011 AT 11:58 AM

5 Replies

Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
The header bolt should not be the cause of the hesitation, just increased noise level due to exhaust gas leakages.

You need to have the spark plugs and related components checked.

Do you have any coolant losses and overheating issues?
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Wednesday, July 6th, 2011 AT 2:28 PM
Tiny
STUTSB
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No overheating issues.I don't see any coolant missing. Replaced the sparkplugs and wires. Placed a new rotor cap, not the rotor. Or the fuel filter. Added fuel injector/carb cleaner fluid with last fill up yesterday. Going to get oil change and other fluids today. Thinking about taking it to a muffler shop and see what they can do. Someone told me there might still be an exhaust leak somewhere.
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Wednesday, July 6th, 2011 AT 5:35 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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After replacement of the parts concerned, is the engine running any better?
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Wednesday, July 6th, 2011 AT 5:57 PM
Tiny
STUTSB
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  • 3 POSTS
Still the same, had the vehicle almost 2 mos, and it seems to strain more so than before. Could have been from the exhaust leak before. No power when going up hills, and I am stepping on the gas pedal all the way down. Doesn't die or stall. Stays on, but I don't know what else to do. Has after market parts. Headers, one of those pipe attached to a large air filter. I don't know what else the seller added to it. I know he says it has a fairly new engine with approximately 56Kplus on it. What would cause it to not have power when gas pedal is all the way down going up hill. Sounds like no power at all. Thanks KHLow for a lot of your replies.
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Wednesday, July 6th, 2011 AT 7:52 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Recheck the ignition timing and timing belt synchronisation. There is a possibility the timing belt is off a tooth or more.
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Wednesday, July 6th, 2011 AT 8:51 PM

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