Heavy engine rattle on acceleration and shuts off

1990 HONDA CIVIC
303,837 MILES • 1.4L • 4 CYL • 2WD • MANUAL
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GRANT VIZZINI
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
May be related or not... brakes started to slip and with in a day the brake pedal now goes to the floor but catches some ability to “grab” once on the floor or if pumped. And car would maybe stall if brakes are held to the floor.

A few days later maybe unrelated...
On the way to work: Engine started to rattle as loud as the exhaust. Shortly after the engine would cut off on deceleration or stop. Huge loss in power. On the way back from work: started up fine and at first after some test revs and starts the engine performed fine with a hint of the former issues. Then as trying to travel home problem came back but worse. Could not exceed 65 on the freeway in 3rd or 4th gears and engine shut off several times as I got off the off ramp and would only turn over on a roll start. Heavy engine rattle on acceleration at this point with no power. Engine stalled at a light and I was only able to keep it rocking along forward by keeping the gas pedal down and was only able to recover from stalling by heavily applying the clutch as I was able to snail it home. Sounds like something is going to fall off.
May 24, 2021 at 5:42 PM
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STEVE W.
  • Experienced Mechanic
  • 15,329 POSTS
The heavy rattle sound is possibly a failing connecting rod or main bearing, both mean that you need either to replace or rebuild the engine. Do you think you could shoot a short video of it and load it here so we can hear it? That would help us to give better information.
May 25, 2021 at 4:00 PM
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