1999 Honda Accord Rough Idle Misfire

1999 HONDA ACCORD
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LOU M
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  • 7 POSTS
I have a 99 Accord LX automatic with 227,000 miles. I was leaving work this afternoon and got about 1/4 mile down the road and the car started to run extremely rough and the engine light came on. As I gave it a little more gas, it ran even worse. I pulled back into the parking lot at work and noticed a strong oder like rotten eggs. I'm getting exhaust out of the tail pipe. It's been running fine, no problems. I don't think that this has anything to do with it, but I replaced the battery and changed the oil on Sunday. Thanks for any help.
Dec 20, 2006 at 1:38 PM
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BRUCE HUNT
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I do not think that what you did had anything to do with it. Now. the engine is telling you something with the codes of the check engine light. Get the codes for us.

Have you looked at the air filter in awhile? I can think of several things to try but get me the CEL codes. Thanks!
Dec 20, 2006 at 2:57 PM
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LOU M
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I dropped the Accord off at the nearest Honda Dealer (I work 60 miles away from home). They told me that they read back engine codes P301 - P302 - P304 - Misfire Cylinders 1 - 2 - 4 and Code P1165 Oxygen Sensor Range Problem. They tried substituting some "Known Good" Sparkplugs and Wires that they had, and this fixed the problem. They recommended replacing the Plugs, Wires, Distributer Cap and Rotor. Seeing that I live so far away, I had them do the tune-up ($320, Ouch). It ran great all the way home. It seems hard to believe that 3 wires or 3 plugs would go bad at the same time. I would think that it would have been more like the Cap or the Rotor. Anyways, thanks for your help and Happy Holidays!
Dec 21, 2006 at 9:30 PM
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BRUCE HUNT
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 3,754 POSTS
Yeah, you were taken, but sometimes when our schedule doesn't permit other options we have to bite perverbial "bullet" and deal with it.
Dec 22, 2006 at 2:02 AM
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Suggested Repair

Read the check-engine codes first. Misfires on cylinders 1, 2, and 4 plus an oxygen-sensor range code were stored. Known-good spark plugs and wires stopped the rough running, and a tune-up of plugs, wires, distributor cap, and rotor restored normal operation. The recent battery and oil service were unrelated.

Conversation Summary

A 1999 Honda Accord suddenly ran very rough, set the check-engine light, and smelled like rotten eggs. The expert said the recent battery and oil service were unrelated and asked for codes, also suggesting the air filter be checked. The dealer found misfire codes P0301, P0302, and P0304 plus oxygen-sensor code P1165. Substituting known-good plugs and wires fixed the rough running, so plugs, wires, distributor cap, and rotor were replaced for $320. The car then ran well; the expert felt the price was high but understandable given the owner's schedule.

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